Mark Ingram, Alabama' Lead the Pack in 2010

2010 will be a year much like 2009.  One team, Alabama, almost everyone will pick to be in the 2010 BCS Championship Game, and a number of good teams fighting for the No. 2 spot throughout the season.  Any of the teams on the list below could be that team. 

Miami has put themselves in position to have the best case at the end of the season.  They have two tough road tests with Ohio State and Pitt to supplement a weak ACC Conference schedule.  If the Hurricanes were to slip up in one of those weeks, winning in the other would help alleviate the pain. 

Oklahoma has done something similar scheduling Florida State just weeks before their annual showdown with the Longhorns at the Texas State Fair in Dallas.  Strategic scheduling has opened the door for a few teams to jump Boise State who should run the table again in the WAC. 

Regardless of how it shapes up, this should be an interesting season to say the least.

No. 1 ALABAMA

With Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson back in Tuscaloosa for at least one more season, I can't see anyone beating them in 2010.  The Crimson Tide might have had some trouble with their visit to Knoxville next season but with Monty Kiffin now in Los Angeles coaching the Southern California defense and Eric Berry and Dan Williams about to be drafted, Nick Saban and crew will have no problem with the Volunteers.

No. 2 OHIO STATE
With Terrelle Pryor back for his junior season the Buckeyes should be able to run right through the Big 10.  Jim Tressel allowed Pryor to throw the ball in the Rose Bowl and the Buckeyes were able to out-gun one of the most productive offenses in college football last season.  Look for more of the same in 2010.

No. 3 TEXAS
The Longhorns shouldn't miss a beat in 2010.  They have winnable games up and down the schedule for 2010.  OU in Dallas should be their only true challenge aside from the trip to Lubbock.  Garrett Gilbert will have entire season to get acclimated to the new talent around him and learn the Texas offense which might switch back to more a pro-style offense and try to build an actual run game with their new running back Traylon Shead now that Colt McCoy is gone.  Though Sergio Kindle and Lamar Houston will definitely be missed Texas has had young talent waiting on the sideline to play for the past two seasons.  If they can get by Oklahoma, Texas should have a real shot at the Big 12 Championship and maybe even a BCS Championship.

No. 4 BOISE STATE
The Broncos return just about everyone from their Fiesta Bowl winning squad of 2009.  The Broncos went undefeated last season and if they can get by Virginia Tech at FedEx Field outside of Washington D.C. on September 6th, and run though the WAC the same as in '09, Boise might finally convince voters they are deserving of a chance at the BCS Championship.

No. 5 OREGON
The Ducks quacked their way back to the Rose Bowl in 2009 and have Pac-10 Freshman of the Year LaMichael James returning next season.  The loss of LaGarrette Blount won't hurt much because they played a majority of the 2009 season without him.  Adding five-star recruit Lache Seastrunk to the roster will make the Oregon offense even more explosive in 2010.  Seastrunk will also give Oregon a scoring threat in the return game, an element that never really took shape last season.

No. 6  USC
With Lane Kiffin taking over in Los Angeles the swagger that USC has walked with over the past 10 seasons has now been elevated to levels I never thought possible.  On talent alone the Trojans can win the Pac-10 for the next four seasons, but what will really turn the Trojans into trouble for the rest of the conference is their new defensive coordinator, Monty Kiffin.  The elder Kiffin was able to turn Tennessee's into a force in the SEC; the Volunteers were the only team to take both Florida and Alabama to the wire and hold Tim Tebow and Mark Ingram to sub-par performances. USC will get Oregon and Washington at home this season, if they can get by Arizona in Tucson, a conference title should be a lock.

No. 7 Florida
John Brantley's transition into the starter at quarterback for Florida will not be as difficult as people may think.  With speedy guys plastered all over the depth chart scoring points will not be problem for the Gators.  But defense will.  Four starters were drafted from the Gators defense.  Important positions such as defensive end, middle linebacker, free safety and cornerback will all have fresh faces.
 
No. 8 Iowa
Ricky Stanzi is back, a positive sign for the Hawkeyes.  Arizona is Iowa's toughest road game.  A favorable schedule could help Iowa run the table.  A slip up by Alabama could open the door to the BCS Championship Game.

No. 9 TCU
I don't think TCU is the seventh best team in the country, but after rolling to an undefeated regular season and close loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl if TCU were to run the table again I would not be surprised.  Jeremy Kerley will be more involved in the offense this year and should catch a few more balls.  In addition, UCLA transfer, Aundre Dean will be eligible to fill the gap at tailback left by Joseph Turners departure.

No. 10 Oklahoma
Landry Jones is likely not the answer at quarterback but Bob Stoops will give him at least one year as the full-time starter.  If Jones can get the Sooners by Florida State in week two and Texas midway through the season, he could lead his team back to the BCS Championship Game.

No. 11 Pitt
With Dion Lewis back and Brian Kelly now in South Bend the Big East is wide open for the Panthers.  Miami will visit Heinz Field in week four, two weeks after visiting Ohio State; a win over the Hurricanes might lead to an undefeated season for Pitt, and a Heisman Trophy for Lewis.

No. 12  Miami 
No. 13  Virginia Tech
No. 14  Wisconsin
No. 15  Nebraska
No. 16  Florida State
No. 17  Cincinnati
No. 18  Arkansas
No. 19  Georgia Tech
No. 20  Oregon State
No. 21  Arizona
No. 22  Penn State
No. 23  Stanford
No. 24  LSU
No. 25 Washington

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