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
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