College Football: The Top Ten Captains of Chaos

Every year there are a handful or so of college football teams that seem to cause chaos and havoc wherever they go. Just when every armchair quarterback, pundit or prognosticator pegs them as a loser, these teams go out and do something dumb.

Like winning, for example.

Last year we had a few notable chaos causers: Kentucky, Stanford and Pittsburgh. This year, we've got ten.

Ten lovable losers that somewhere, somehow, and some way, will pull off an upset and send a BCS-team whimpering home with their tails between their legs.

10. Washington.

Yep, this is the year Tyrone Willingham gets his revenge on some un-suspecting elite team. While they are still feeling the ramifications of Rick Neuheisel's questionable work habits, they did win a Rose Bowl less than ten years ago so they know what's at stake.

If Jake Locker somehow remains conscious the entire season, the Huskies could bite someone hard. Pick one of these teams to get a case of rabies: Oregon, BYU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, or Arizona State. Woof.

9. Minnesota.

Sure they went 1-11 last year, but they are on many lists to be the most improved team in the Big Ten. Then again, there's not any direction but "up" to go, is there?

Last year they almost beat #24 Wisconsin, losing 41-34. OK, maybe they kept it close instead of almost winning, but the point is, they scored a lot of points. Who could get caught looking past them this year? Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan or Wisconsin.

8. Colorado

Last year the Buffs shocked Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Nebraska and came close to beating Florida State. Dan Hawkins has this team feeling very confident, and with uber-recruit Darrell Scott in the backfield, they could shock the entire Big XII North.

This party school could really be partying if they upset West Virginia on September 18th. Other potential victims could be Florida State, Texas, Kansas, Mizzou and Nebraska.

7. New Mexico

While no one really knows what a Lobo is (a wolf?), Arizona, Air Force and Colorado State all found themselves on the losing side of their respective games with the Albuquerque gang. The Lobos have gone bowling seven straight years, and they expect to make it eight straight.

New Mexico actually has a formidable schedule this year, and the first three games, TCU, Texas A&M and Arizona, could all be against teams looking past them. Throw in BYU and Utah, and all of a sudden, at least two BCS-buster wanna-be's (Utah and BYU) could be out of the BCS picture faster than you can say "Hasta la Vista."

6. SMU

Former Hawai'i coach June Jones makes his debut with the Mustangs. Last year, the ponies went 1-11, but five of their games were real close. Twice, the ponies had 15 and 28 point leads before losing the game in the fourth quarter.

Still not fully recovered from the NCAA's death penalty from almost twenty years ago, June Jones might just have them doing the Haka dance before each game. But make no mistake, Texas Tech, TCU, Central Florida and Southern Miss better be prepared for some trick-plays, lots of five-receiver sets and 300 passing yards per game.

5. Kansas State

The Mildcats have had their roar reduced to a soft meow lately, but Ron Prince is entering his third year as head coach and things should start to get better. Last year the kitties beat Texas, and kept it close with Mizzou.

This year, their O-line and linebackers look strong, while their D-line and secondary look green. Since this is such a mixed bag, they truly could chaos in the Big XII North. They get four biggies, all in a row: Oklahoma, Kansas, Mizzou and Nebraska. One of those teams will go down, along with its BCS hopes and dreams.

4. East Carolina

Ahoy, mateys, the Pirates will be coming soon to a stadium near you and you had better be prepared to walk the gangplank. The Pirates have a weak conference schedule, but have some interesting non-conference games to boost their exposure and recruiting.

Apparently, East Carolina has a thing for Virginian teams, scheduling Va. Tech, West Virginia and Virginia. After almost beating the Hokies last year, somewhere in there, someone's BCS booty will be stolen.

3. Nevada.

Don't laugh! The Wolfpack have two very good quarterbacks, Nick Graziano, and Colin Kaepernick to guide the pack to a winning season in the WAC. Kaepernick was the 6'6" QB whose pants were too short on him last year- he had to fill in for an injured Graziano and the equipment manager must have under-estimated his inseam.

All laughing aside, this team averaged over 200 yards rushing, and 250 yards passing, and they could upset some BCS-buster contenders. Texas Tech, Mizzou, Fresno State and Boise State all have to play the 'Pack. One of them could lose.

2. Stanford.

Already there is some partying in Palo Alto as the Cardinal beat the Oregon State Beavers (whose head coach, Mike Riley, was Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh's coach when he played QB for the San Diego Chargers) in their Thursday night conference opener. Now who's laughing?

Who would have thunk it? The USC Trojans? The Cardinal are picked to finish ninth in the Pac-10, and as of today, stand number one. Arizona State is next on their hit list, and they also get a shot at upsetting Notre Dame, Oregon and USC. Fasten your seat belts.

1. Vanderbilt.

If any SEC fan watched the Commies play Miami of Ohio on Thursday night, they have to be sweating a little bit. Vanderbilt just obliterated the Red Hawks, a team who was projected to have a winning season this year. So much for that pipe dream.

Vandy plays South Carolina on the 4th, and somehow, Spurrier has got to be a bit uneasy about that considering his Gamecocks offense was stymied in the first half against NC State. Throw in Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Wake Forest to the mix and somehow, the Commies will burst a team's "Miami '09" dream. I'm betting on Georgia, who last year won in a heart-breaker, and the year before, lost outright to the 'Dores.