Bleacher Report - Articles by Brandon Hamblen

2009 ACC Football Preview: Will Someone Step Up and Win the Conference?

Brandon Hamblen — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:30:14 -0400

Last season was a memorable season in ACC football. The conference as a whole performed fairly well, sending a record 10 teams to bowl games and posting a 41-17 out of conference record.

The problem last year was no one team was able to separate from the pack. Teams with 5-3 records in the conference won both divisions, and only Virginia (3-5) and Duke (1-7) had losing records.

Duke's lone conference win came against UVA early in the season, and had the Cavaliers won this game, they too would have been bowl eligible.

I don't see this season resembling next season at all.

Virginia Tech will win the ACC the Frank Beamer way: great special teams, great defense, and the ability to run the football.

If Tyrod Taylor can throw the ball effectively next season, the Hokies will contend for the national title, but he will have to improve on his two touchdowns to seven interceptions ratio because the Hokies have the toughest out of conference schedule in the ACC.

This is how I see the season playing out. Please post how you think it will go.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES 9-3 (6-2)

Sept. 7 Miami (FL), W
Sept. 12 Jacksonville State, W
Sept. 19 at Brigham Young, W
Sept. 26 South Florida, W
Oct. 3 at Boston College, W
Oct. 10 Georgia Tech, W
Oct. 22 at North Carolina, L
Oct. 31 North Carolina State, W
Nov. 7 at Clemson, L
Nov. 14 at Wake Forest, W
Nov. 21 Maryland, W
Nov. 28 at Florida, L

CLEMSON TIGERS 8-4 (5-3)

Sept. 5 Middle Tennessee State, W
Sept. 10 at Georgia Tech 7:30 PM ET, L
Sept. 19 Boston College, W
Sept. 26 TCU, L
Oct. 3 at Maryland, L
Oct. 17 Wake Forest, W
Oct. 24 at Miami (FL), L
Oct. 31 Coastal Carolina, W
Nov. 7 Florida State, W
Nov. 14 at North Carolina State, W
Nov. 21 Virginia, W
Nov. 28 at South Carolina, W

WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS 8-4 (4-4)

Sept. 5 Baylor, W
Sept. 12 Stanford, W
Sept. 19 Elon, W
Sept. 26 @ Boston College, W
Oct. 3 North Carolina State, W
Oct. 10 Maryland, W
Oct. 17 @ Clemson, L
Oct. 24 @ Navy 3:30 PM, W
Oct. 31 Miami (FL), L
Nov. 7 @ Georgia Tech, L
Nov. 14 Florida State, L
Nov. 28 @ Duke, W

MARYLAND TERRAPINS 6-6 (4-4)

Sept. 5 at California, L
Sept. 12 James Madison, W
Sept. 19 Middle Tennessee State, W
Sept. 26 Rutgers, L
Oct. 3 Clemson, W
Oct. 10 at Wake Forest, L
Oct. 17 Virginia, W
Oct. 24 at Duke, W
Nov. 7 at North Carolina State, L
Nov. 14 Virginia Tech, L
Nov. 21 at Florida State, L
Nov. 28 Boston College, W

NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK 5-7 (3-5)

Sept. 3 South Carolina, L
Sept. 12 Murray State 6:00 PM, W
Sept. 19 Gardner-Webb 6:00 PM, W
Sept. 26 Pittsburgh, L
Oct. 3 @ Wake Forest, L
Oct. 10 Duke, W
Oct. 17 @ Boston College, W
Oct. 31 @ Florida State, L
Nov. 7 Maryland, W
Nov. 14 Clemson, L
Nov. 21 @ Virginia Tech, L
Nov. 28 North Carolina, L

BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES 4-8 (1-7)

Sept. 5 Northeastern, W
Sept. 12 Kent State, W
Sept. 19 at Clemson, L
Sept. 26 Wake Forest, L
Oct. 3 Florida State, L
Oct. 10 at Virginia Tech, L
Oct. 17 North Carolina State, L
Oct. 24 at Notre Dame 3:30 PM ET, L
Oct. 31 Central Michigan, W
Nov. 14 at Virginia, W
Nov. 21 North Carolina, L
Nov. 28 at Maryland, L

COASTAL DIVISION

VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES 10-2 (7-1)

Sept. 5 vs. Alabama, L
Sept. 12 Marshall, W
Sept. 19 Nebraska, W
Sept. 26 Miami (FL), W
Oct. 3 @ Duke, W
Oct. 10 Boston College, W
Oct. 17 @ Georgia Tech, L
Oct. 29 North Carolina 7:30 PM, W
Nov. 5 @ East Carolina 7:30 PM, W
Nov. 14 @ Maryland, W
Nov. 21 North Carolina State, W
Nov. 28 @ Virginia, W

MIAMI HURRICANES 10-2 (6-2)

Sept. 7 @ Florida State, L
Sept. 17 Georgia Tech 7:30 PM, W
Sept. 26 @ Virginia Tech, L
Oct. 3 Oklahoma, W
Oct. 10 Florida A&M, W
Oct. 17 @ UCF 7:30 PM, W
Oct. 24 Clemson, W
Oct. 31 @ Wake Forest, W
Nov. 7 Virginia, W
Nov. 14 @ North Carolina, W
Nov. 21 Duke, W
Nov. 28 @ South Florida, W

GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS 9-3 (6-2)

Sept. 5 Jacksonville State, W
Sept. 10 Clemson 7:30 PM, W
Sept. 17 @ Miami (FL) 7:30 PM, L
Sept. 26 North Carolina, W
Oct. 3 @ Mississippi State, W
Oct. 10 @ Florida State, L
Oct. 17 Virginia Tech, W
Oct. 24 @ Virginia, W
Oct. 31 @ Vanderbilt, W
Nov. 7 Wake Forest, W
Nov. 14 @ Duke, W
Nov. 28 Georgia, L

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS 9-3 (5-3)

Sept. 5 Citadel, W
Sept. 12 @ Connecticut, W
Sept. 19 East Carolina, W
Sept. 26 @ Georgia Tech, L
Oct. 3 Virginia, W
Oct. 10 Georgia Southern, W
Oct. 22 Florida State, W
Oct. 29 @ Virginia Tech 7:30 PM, L
Nov. 7 Duke, W
Nov. 14 Miami (FL), L
Nov. 21 @ Boston College, W
Nov. 28 @ North Carolina State, W

DUKE BLUE DEVILS 4-8 (1-7)

Sept. 5 Richmond 7:00 PM, W
Sept. 12 @ Army, W
Sept. 19 @ Kansas, L
Sept. 26 North Carolina Central 7:00 PM, W
Oct. 3 Virginia Tech, L
Oct. 10 @ North Carolina State, L
Oct. 24 Maryland, L
Oct. 31 @ Virginia, W
Nov. 7 @ North Carolina, L
Nov. 14 Georgia Tech, L
Nov. 21 @ Miami (FL), L
Nov. 28 Wake Forest, L

VIRGINIA CAVALIERS 2-10 (0-8)

Sept. 5 William & Mary, W
Sept. 12 TCU, L
Sept. 19 @ Southern Miss, L
Oct. 3 @ North Carolina, L
Oct. 10 Indiana, W
Oct. 17 @ Maryland, L
Oct. 24 Georgia Tech, L
Oct. 31 Duke, L
Nov. 7 @ Miami (FL), L
Nov. 14 Boston College, L
Nov. 21 @ Clemson, L
Nov. 28 Virginia Tech, L

The 2009 ACC championship game will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. I have Florida State from the Atlantic versus Virginia Tech from the Coastal.

Virginia Tech wins the conference title and goes on to the Orange Bowl.

This could be the year that the ACC gets an at-large BCS game, and if Miami finishes 10-2, the Canes will get that at-large game.

I only have Va Tech and Miami finishing in the top 10, but the ACC could have as many as eight bowl teams and as many as seven in the top 25.

It looks like another exciting season is ahead of us.

I can't wait.

Alabama Football: Key Games in 2009

Brandon Hamblen — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:54:31 -0400

Alabama will be a preseason top five team. The Tide will return several key skill players, but will begin 2009 with a new QB.

Julio Jones and Mark Ingram should take the pressure off, but with a young QB and O-line the offense is going have some growing pains.

The defense will be among the SEC's and nation's best and will have to carry the team until the offense gels.

With Mount Cody up front, a great trio of linebackers, and a solid secondary, the Tide D will need to make big plays to set the young offense up in good situations to build confidence early in the season.

The special teams will again be a strength for Alabama. Javier Arenas should be handling the kickoffs/punt returns again as he was one of the premier punt returners in 08.

Leigh Tiffin was solid as the kicker last season but was only four out of 10 beyond 40 yards.

Four games the Tide will be tested

No. 1 Virginia Tech in the Georgia Dome

Va Tech is fundamentally sound and play excellent special teams. Head Coach Frank Beamer is a conservative coach who is content to let his special teams and defense win games for him. Tyrod Taylor is still a question mark at QB, but still an exciting player to watch.

My prediction: Alabama 20 - 13.

No. 2 Ole Miss in Oxford, MS.

Ole Miss was the surprise team in the SEC last season winning their last five games, including a Cotton Bowl victory over highly tauted Texas Tech.

Head Coach Houston Nutt is as innovative as they come, sometimes this has led to unforced turnovers by his offense. Jevan Snead is one of the top QBs in the country and Greg Hardy is possibly the best DE in the nation.

My prediction: Ole Miss 23-21

No. 3 LSU in Tuscaloosa, AL

LSU was disappointing in 2008, but still finished with nine wins. Head Coach Les Miles is one the the top recruiters in the country, and LSU will be talented again.

The QB will be upgraded whether its Lee or Jefferson. The defense is not likely to get lit up like they did against UF and UGA.

My prediction: Alabama 17-14.

No. 4 Auburn in Auburn, AL

New Head Coach Gene Chizik is going to have to pull out all the stops to beat the more talented Tide, but this is a rivalry game and upsets happen more frequently in rivalry games and the Tigers will have their crowd behind them.

My prediction: Alabama 28-13

When its all said and done, I have the Crimson Tide finishing 12-2 with a loss in the SECCG to Florida and a win in the Cotton Bowl over a Big 12 team.

I don't think Bama will get an at large BCS game next season. I think the BCS will award the bid to Ole Miss instead. The Tide should finish ranked in the top five in the nation.

2009: Another Strong Season For The SEC

Brandon Hamblen — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:32:30 -0400

Only four months until the college football season starts so its the perfect time to preview the upcoming schedule. I chose the SEC to start because I believe in my heart of hearts that the SEC is the best and most competitive conference. No disrespect to any other conference intended.

I think Florida will be the national champion next season based on 3 things.

#1 They will have more team speed than anyone else in the nation.

#2 Florida's defense will be dominant.

#3 Florida is the only team with Tim Tebow playing quarterback for them. As an Alabama fan, its hard to say this but Tebow is the best player in all of college football and he willed UF to a victory of Bama in the SEC championship and a victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl to win a national title.

With that said, Let's take a look at the full schedule courtesy of ESPN.com and my predictions for 2009:

SEC EAST

FLORIDA 11-1 (7-1)

September 5 Charleston Southern, W
September 12 Troy, W
September 19 Tennessee, W
September 26 at Kentucky, W
October 10 at LSU 8:00 PM ET, L
October 17 Arkansas, W
October 24 at Mississippi State, W
October 31 vs. Georgia*, W
November 7 Vanderbilt, W
November 14 at South Carolina, W
November 21 Florida International, W
November 28 Florida State, W

GEORGIA 10-2 (6-2)

September 5 at Oklahoma State, W
September 12 South Carolina, W
September 19 at Arkansas, W
September 26 Arizona State, W
October 3 LSU, W
October 10 at Tennessee, L
October 17 at Vanderbilt, W
October 31 vs. Florida*, L
November 7 Tennessee Tech, W
November 14 Auburn, W
November 21 Kentucky, W
November 28 at Georgia Tech, W

TENNESSEE 7-5 (4-4)

September 5 Western Kentucky, W
September 12 UCLA, L
September 19 at Florida, L
September 26 Ohio, W
October 3 Auburn, W
October 10 Georgia, W
October 24 at Alabama, L
October 31 South Carolina, W
November 7 Memphis, W
November 14 at Mississippi, L
November 21 Vanderbilt, W
November 28 at Kentucky, L

KENTUCKY 7-5 (3-5)

September 5 at Miami (OH), W
September 19 Louisville, W
September 26 Florida, L
October 3 Alabama, L
October 10 at South Carolina, L
October 17 at Auburn, L
October 24 Louisiana-Monroe, W
October 31 Mississippi State, W
November 7 Eastern Kentucky, W
November 14 at Vanderbilt, W
November 21 at Georgia, L
November 28 Tennessee, W

SOUTH CAROLINA 5-7 (2-6)

September 3 at North Carolina State, W
September 12 at Georgia, L
September 19 Florida Atlantic, W
September 24 Mississippi 7:30, L
October 3 South Carolina State, W
October 10 Kentucky, W
October 17 at Alabama, L
October 24 Vanderbilt, W
October 31 at Tennessee, L
November 7 at Arkansas, L
November 14 Florida, L
November 28 Clemson, L

VANDERBILT 4-8 (1-7)

September 5 Western Carolina, W
September 12 at LSU 8:00 PM ET, L
September 19 Mississippi State, W
September 26 at Rice, W
October 3 Mississippi, L
October 10 at Army, W
October 17 Georgia, L
October 24 at South Carolina, L
October 31 Georgia Tech, L
November 7 at Florida, L
November 14 Kentucky, L
November 21 at Tennessee, L

SEC WEST

ALABAMA 11-1 (7-1)

September 5 vs. Virginia Tech*, W
September 12 Florida International, W
September 19 North Texas, W
September 26 Arkansas, W
October 3 at Kentucky, W
October 10 at Mississippi, L
October 17 South Carolina, W
October 24 Tennessee, W
November 7 LSU, W
November 14 at Mississippi State, W
November 21 Chattanooga, W
November 28 at Auburn, W

OLE MISS 10-2 (6-2)

September 6 at Memphis 3:30 PM ET, W
September 19 Southeastern Louisiana, W
September 24 at South Carolina 7:30 PM, W
October 3 at Vanderbilt, W
October 10 Alabama, W
October 17 UAB, W
October 24 Arkansas, W
October 31 at Auburn, L
November 7 Northern Arizona, W
November 14 Tennessee, W
November 21 LSU, W
November 28 at Mississippi State, L

LSU 9-3 (5-3)

September 5 at Washington, W
September 12 Vanderbilt 8:00 PM ET, W
September 19 Louisiana-Lafayette 8:00 PM ET, W
September 26 at Mississippi State, W
October 3 at Georgia, L
October 10 Florida 8:00 PM ET, W
October 24 Auburn 8:00 PM ET, W
October 31 Tulane 8:00 PM ET, W
November 7 at Alabama, L
November 14 Louisiana Tech 8:00 PM ET, W
November 21 at Mississippi, L
November 28 Arkansas 8:00 PM ET, W

ARKANSAS 6-6 (3-5)

September 5 Missouri State, W
September 19 Georgia, L
September 26 at Alabama, L
October 3 vs. Texas A&M*, W
October 10 Auburn, W
October 17 at Florida, L
October 24 at Mississippi, L
October 31 Eastern Michigan, W
November 7 South Carolina, W
November 14 Troy, L
November 21 Mississippi State, W
November 28 at LSU 8:00 PM ET, L

AUBURN 7-5 (3-5)

September 5 Louisiana Tech, W
September 12 Mississippi State, W
September 19 West Virginia, W
September 26 Ball State, W
October 3 at Tennessee, L
October 10 at Arkansas, L
October 17 Kentucky, W
October 24 at LSU 8:00 PM ET, L
October 31 Mississippi, W
November 7 Furman, W
November 14 at Georgia, L
November 28 Alabama, L

MISSISSIPPI STATE 4-8 (1-7)

September 5 Jackson State, W
September 12 at Auburn, L
September 19 at Vanderbilt, L
September 26 LSU, L
October 3 Georgia Tech, L
October 10 Houston, W
October 17 at Middle Tennessee State, W
October 24 Florida, L
October 31 at Kentucky, L
November 14 Alabama, L
November 21 at Arkansas, L
November 28 Mississippi, W

* denotes neutral site game

I have Florida over Alabama in the SEC championship game and going on to win their second straight national championship. I think that Ole Miss will get an at large BCS bid pushing Alabama into the Cotton Bowl.

I have the SEC receiving 9 bowl bids with as many as 5 teams finishing in the top 10. Looks to be another great college football season. How do you see the season playing out?