Season tickets are arriving in the mail. Teams are strapping up their pads. Predictions and analysis flood media outlets such as ESPN, Fox Sports, and Bleacher Report. Your Sports Illustrated college football preview with the regional cover arrives.
Ready or not, the 2008 college football season has arrived and has captivated the attention of the sports world. There is a lot of uncertainty heading into the season.
Many fans wonder, how good is our new recruiting class? Will Coach (insert name here) finally deliver on his championship promise? Is it too early to make flight reservations for Miami in January?
There's no need to worry, college football fans. I am offering you five guarantees you can count on for the 2008 season of college football.
1. Tim Tebow will not repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner.
As a Gators fan, it pains me to make this statement. However, I must face the truth.
Tebow had insane stats last season, racking up 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air. In addition, he led the Gators with 895 rushing yards and set the SEC record for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 23.
This season, however, the Heisman field is crowded. With the likes of Ohio State halfback Chris Wells, Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, and Georgia halfback Knowshon Moreno competing, Tebow will have a tough time defending his title.
Florida will also field a strong running game this season, as opposed to last fall, limiting Tebow's carries and rushing touchdowns.
Tebow will be a finalist, no doubt about it. However, he will not be giving an acceptance speech in New York this December.
2. The Missouri Tigers will win the Big 12.
Although Missouri is a popular pick to win the conference, many experts are going with Oklahoma as the 2008 Big 12 champion. However, I firmly believe that Missouri is the team to beat in the Big 12.
Led by 2007 Heisman finalist quarterback Chase Daniel, the Tigers return six starters on offense, including All-American receiver Jeremy Maclin. Daniel and Maclin should connect for a lot of yardage and many touchdowns in 2008.
If that's not enough, Mizzou returns nine starters on defense and plays two of its toughest opponents, Illinois and Kansas, at neutral sites. Even if the Tigers stumble at Texas in mid-October, they should still win their division and the conference.
3. The winner of the Brigham Young-Utah game will win the Mountain West Conference and crash the BCS party.
BYU and Utah are loaded. Although the Cougars only return three starters on defense, the offense should be able to pick up the slack. Quarterback Max Hall returns to lead the offense after recording 3,848 passing yards in 2007, the best total in the Mountain West.
As for the Utah Utes, the running game will be lethal thanks to senior halfback Darrell Mack. Mack amassed 1,204 rushing yards on only 253 carries last season, recording a phenomenal average of 4.8 yards per carry.
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