College Football: Ten Predictions for 2008 That I Wish I Wasn't Making

Everyone loves predictions.

Before the season starts, when every team has the same clean white slate, the prognosticators abound—and why shouldn't they?  Half the fun of predictions is being blatantly optimistic towards your own team and overlooking any other less-than-pleasant possibilities.

If you're right, you get to show off to everyone that you called it first.  If you're wrong—well, nobody but you will remember the predictions anyway.  The hard part is separating what we want to happen from what we think will happen.

With that in mind, here are a list of ten predictions for 2008 that I wish I wasn't making.  This way if I'm right I can gloat, and if I'm wrong I'll be too busy cheering to notice.

The following go against my hopes and dreams for 2008.

10. Last year's trend of weekly major upsets will end.

Last season, several different factors made for an exciting year full of almost weekly upsets in the top five.  Most of the traditional title contenders had slight flaws or question marks, many non-traditional teams started hot, and a few early upsets forced shake-ups in the polls.

Oklahoma, Ohio State, Florida, and LSU had new starters at quarterback (some more experienced than others).  Oregon, USC, and West Virginia each looked like legitimate national title contenders, but injuries to their starting QBs derailed their chances.

Cal, Boston College, South Florida, South Carolina, and Kentucky each had no more than one loss at the midpoint of the season.  All five were in the AP top 10 during week eight, and all but BC would fall out of the rankings within five weeks.

Those teams skyrocketed through the rankings because of top preseason teams' upsets.  Once these early climbers reached the top and started losing, those losses were then considered upsets, even though the teams would later be proven overrated.

The flukey nature of all of those factors will not continue into 2008.  From the first weekend, when Appalachian State bows out quietly at LSU, it will be clear that the heavy favorites from each conference won't slip up nearly as much as in 2007.

A few marquee match-ups between heavyweights, and some not-so-surprising upsets between ranked teams, will determine the pecking order in 2008.

For example:

9. Ohio State will beat Southern Cal in L.A.

Thanks to consistent recruiting, USC is once again going to have one of the nation's most talented rosters.  And while OSU has reputation issues after two straight title-game debacles, those are about the only issues they have.

Each team's coaches are among the best in the game, so it's hard to pick an edge from that.  Talent, likewise, is probably a wash.  Experience, however, plays a much bigger role earlier in the season, and Ohio State has a decided edge there.

The key match-up is that OSU has arguably the best returning defense in the country, and USC is breaking in a new starter at quarterback.  Look for Mark Sanchez to get knocked around and make some mistakes upon which the Buckeyes will capitalize.

The game will be close, but OSU will go home happy.

8. The Rose Bowl will again be a disappointing match-up.

It seems almost a foregone conclusion that the wi