My Bold and Surprising Picks For The BCS

It is never too early to talk college football. With the season only about three months away, it will be here before we know it. College football is about the BCS and who will be there. Looking at the schedule and the teams on paper, it is never too early to make a prediction.

Looking at college football this year, I won't be surprised if the BCS features some new faces. Traditional powers like USC and Oklahoma have lost a lot to graduation. While both teams will still be good, I wouldn't be surprised if neither are in the BCS.

At the same time, there are some other teams that I feel are right on the verge of breaking out and 2009 could be the year they do it. Going down the four BCS bowls and the title game, here are my bold and surprising predictions.

Rose Bowl

Penn State Vs. Stanford

Penn State is no surprise. On paper they are the best team in the Big Ten. Joe Paterno may be in his coaching twilight, but he has his team looking good.

For some reason I like Stanford this year to win the Pac 10. With the conference not being as strong as it normally is, I like the job Jim Harbaugh has done at Stanford. Tavita Pritchard and Toby Gerhart are one of the most underrated backfields in college football.

My prediction is that experience beats youth in coaching. Penn State 30, Stanford 24.

Fiesta Bowl

Texas Vs. Ohio State

This is the one bowl where I am not going out that far on a limb. This was a great game last year. So why not have a rematch?

This is Colt McCoy's senior season and Texas looks to be the class of the Big 12 with all that Oklahoma lost. They do still have Sam Bradford. However, they lost a lot on the offensive line as well as receivers. Plus Oklahoma already had no defense. Texas should dominate the Big 12.

Ohio State has lost key players like Brian Robiskie, Chris "Beanie" Wells, and James Lauranitis. However, the Big Ten is still down as a conference and Terelle Pryor looks to be the leader. The Big Ten may not deserve a second BCS team, but they travel well and for some reason the Fiesta Bowl has liked Ohio State lately.

My prediction is that Texas totally dominates this one the way they should have last year. Texas 69, Ohio State 3. 

Orange Bowl

Cincinnati Vs. Miami

While the Big East does get scrutinized for not being very strong and worthy of an automatic BCS bid, that doesn't change the fact that Brian Kelly is one of the most underrated coaches in college football.

Tony Pike leads the Bearcats offense. The defense is strong as well. To be honest, I don't really see any team in the Big East challenging them.

In spite of the Robert Marve fiasco, Randy Shannon seems to have the Hurricanes on the right path. With Jacoby Harris now the uncontested QB and Craig Cooper ready to break out, this could be the year that Miami contends in the ACC. Shannon also looks to have a very solid defensive unit.

My prediction is that this will be a very tightly contested game. In the end the home field will be the difference. Miami 21, Cincinnatti 20.

Sugar Bowl

Arkansas Vs. East Carolina

I know I am really going out on a limb here. Skip Holtz is another very underrated coach who has his East Carolina program ready to break out.

This is a team that beat Boise State, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia in consecutive games. Holtz just seems to fill in the holes to his unique running style offense. This is a classic case of getting it done with a bunch of no names.

Bobby Petrino is probably one of the more disliked coaches in college football. Having said that, the guy can coach. With former Michigan Wolverine Ryan Mallet at quarterback, the Razorbacks can be the surprise of the SEC.

My prediction is that this will be too much for East Carolina. That doesn't take away from the great run. Arkansas 42, East Carolina 17.

BCS Title Game

Florida Vs. Notre Dame

You read that correctly. I like Florida and Notre Dame in the title game.

Florida is the defending champions and looks unbeatable. Even in the tough SEC, nobody is taking down Tim Tebow his senior year and Urban Meyer is the best coach in college football.

While nobody is surprised I picked Florida, I bet there is a lot of head scratching with Notre Dame. Let me be clear about one thing. Do I think Notre Dame matches up with Texas, Penn State, or Ohio State? No I don't. However, they don't play Texas, Penn State, or Ohio State.

While Notre Dame may not be the second best team in the country, I do think they have a schedule that will enable them to go undefeated. For some reason, I just have a feeling that the Irish will beat USC this year.

With all USC has lost and guys like Jimmy Clausen, Armando Allen, and Golden Tate now leaders, this is their chance to break through.

Boston College and Michigan State have had Notre Dame's number lately, but both are rebuilding this year. Michigan is still a year away from being a threat.

All in all Notre Dame plays seven teams with new quarterbacks. They have a defense that will surprise a lot of people. The additions of Manti Te'o and Tyler Stockton only make them tougher.

The offensive line is finally in place. With all that an undefeated regular season isn't all that unrealistic. While Notre Dame probably isn't as good as Texas, Penn State, and Ohio State, I don't see any of the three going undefeated. So if Notre Dame is undefeated and those three teams aren't, how do you deny Notre Dame.

My prediction is that Charlie Weis will have done enough to earn an apology from the whole college football world, but at the end of the day Florida is Florida. Notre Dame makes it close, but Florida takes it over in the fourth quarter. Florida 37, Notre Dame 20.

Those are my predictions. I am definitely going out on some limbs and I look forward to others commenting on how wrong I am.