Class is in Session : The Black Sports Online 2008 College Football Preview

THE ACC

The Good: Parity. Long gone are the days of a league powerhouse. Florida State dominated the league for a long stretch, but the last couple of years have proved that good things must come to an end. Many ACC experts are picking Clemson to win the ACC title this year, due to Clemson's powerful offense and Baby Bowden being able to get over the hump. Their schedule is relatively easy, with only 2 preseason top 25 teams being on their schedule...and those teams are ranked 23 and 24.

The Bad: Clemson's Dual Threat at Running Back (Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning good). CJ Spiller and James Davis form the most dangerous backfield since USC's combo of Lendale White and Reggie Bush.

The Ugly: FSU and its pending divorce with Bobby Bowden. Bowden is overstaying his welcome due to mediocre seasons the last couple of years. Yes, Jimbo Fisher is waiting, but will he be the answer? The Seminoles have had their share of dust-ups with NCAA, including last year's academic fraud scandal. Some believe that Bowden is losing control. But will Fisher be the one to restore it?

Bowden has enough rope to hang himself this season. But when will the AD and the thirsty alumni kick away the chair? Bowden has a good enough legacy to bow out gracefully, but it may be 3-5 years too late.

The No-Doz Pick: The State of Florida. Miami and Florida State are actually in positions to prove something this upcoming season. Scheduled opponents shouldn't take these games lightly. It looks like there is something on the horizon in the Sunshine State.

Conference Champion: Clemson (if they don't choke from the pressure).

THE BIG TEN

The Good: Ohio State. As matter of fact, let's label them REAL good. After returning a bulk of their starters, and adding super frosh Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeyes are poised to be within the top 3 by the end of the season. But, there is that USC game September 13 that looks like the only trouble spot for the Buckeyes.

The Bad: The rest of the league. There is no clear cut contender to knock OSU off the throne. Wisconsin always is consistent, but they normally find a way to choke mid-to-late season. If the Big Ten were to receive a preseason grade, they would earn a C.

The Ugly: The start of the Rich Rodriguez Era. I do not believe the hype. Michigan thinks they have found their answer to the lack of courage and waning hope that Lloyd Carr would beat the Buckeyes, but, its not going to happen. At least this year. Wolverine Prediction: 7-5

The No-Doz Pick: James Laurinaitis. No, he isn't underrated. In fact, he has been on the radar for quite a while. If Laurinaitis can lead the defense to a defeat against the Trojans, and be consistent this season, he will solidify top 7 status in next year's NFL Draft.

Conference Champion: OSU

THE BIG 12

The Good: The top tier of the conference. It looks good for your league if you have 4 teams that can take home the conference title. The 4 Teams: Missouri, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. We learned last year that doormat teams Kansas and Mizzou can ascend from the depths of the barrel to be major players in the National Championship picture. Of course they fell short, but it was good seeing the change of scenery for the league.

The Bad: The mainstream's bias toward ranking the conference teams in the top 25. Five of the teams, OU(#4), Missouri(#6), Texas (#11), Texas Tech (#12), and Kansas (#14) are ranked in the top 15. If history repeats itself, two of these teams will not bounce back well from losses and remain in the latter part of the poll come the end of the season.

The Ugly: The battle for the crown. Colorado has a very tough schedule, and by the time it faces Missouri on October 6th, the battle tested team can do one of two things. Either prove they belong, or let the strength of schedule be the handicap that costs them the North Division crown.

The No-Doz Pick: Colorado. Their schedule at first glance gets progressively tougher. If the Buffaloes are undefeated when they face Mizzou in game 8, they can show the Tigers that the Big 12 food chain is irrelevant.

Conference Champion: Oklahoma. Stoops might luck up this year.

The Big East

The Good? West Virginia. Yes, Rodriguez left for bluer pastures, but the team is still in tact. Slaton's early departure only makes room for Noel Devine to consume the upcoming season's highlight reel with his moves. QB Pat White is back to make a legitimate run at the Heisman. Their schedule? Easy until that date with Auburn on October 23 and the season finale against South Florida.

The Bad? That's how I feel for every team not named South Florida or West Virginia. Yes, UCONN had a breakthrough season, but an encore? Unlikely.

The Ugly? The battle that will ensue when South Florida has to go to West Virginia in December for the season finale. A BCS birth is at stake.

Conference Champion: Umm, West Virginia. Wait, South Florida. Wait, neither? If WVU doesn't choke like they did last year against Pitt, then I'll wholeheartedly pick the Mountaineers....I think.

THE PAC-10

The Good? USC's injuries. No I'm not crazy. I just think that the more the Trojans get to show their depth, the more of a headache it will cause for opponents. And the defense that everyone feared last year during the start of the season, is a year older, and a year better.

The Bad? The fact that Pete Carroll has a conference record of 44-6 since 2002. The title is always theirs to lose.

The Ugly? The State of Washington. Both the Huskies and Cougars have an uphill battle to face. This may be Ty Willingham's last chance to prove that he is still worthy of being a Head Coach. The Huskies open up with a hell of a schedule facing Oregon, BYU, and the Sooners in its opening games. Ouch.

The No-Doz Pick: Arizona State. They are ranked 15/16 in the AP and USA Today polls. They went 10-3 last year. Its up to them to prove to USC that there are legitimate opponents in the league this year. The Georgia game on September 20th will make men out of them.

Conference Champion: USC. Barring any upsets, which we know they are good for.

THE SEC

The Good? The talent within the conference. The SEC can always make claim and prove that it's the nation's best conference year and year out.

The Bad? Georgia's lack of discipline. Richt acts like everything is kosher, and it may be on the field, but after a bevy of arrests this summer, it may be the lack of control that costs them the National Title and its number 1 ranking early.

The Ugly? The battle for the SEC West crown. Between Auburn, LSU, and Alabama, it can go either way. Either of these teams can beat the winner of the SEC East and land a spot in a BCS bowl.

The No-Doz Pick? Nick Saban. Saban knows the SEC in and out. With Julio Jones at receiver, Saban has the chance to make Alabama a contender again.

Conference Champion: Somehow someway, Florida will be left standing at the end of the season. They do have Tim Tebow and a lot of returning talent.

THE SEAT-FILLERS ( MOUNTAIN WEST, SUNBELT, WAC, CONFERENCE USA, INDEPENDENTS, AND THE MAC)

The Good? BYU(Mountain West), Fresno State (WAC), Tulsa (The weak Conference USA), Bowling Green (The weak MAC), and FAU (Sunbelt, returning 18 starters, makes a strong case for being the 2nd best team in South Florida, besides South Florida)

The Bad? Any of the 5 teams can go undefeated, pull off major upsets, and still get the raw end of the deal when it comes to the BCS.

The Ugly? What it will be if Notre Dame struggles this year. Charlie Weis has a price on his head.

BCS BOWL PROJECTIONS

The Rose Bowl (Thursday January 1) : Arizona State versus LSU

The Orange Bowl (Thursday January 1) : Georgia versus Missouri

The Sugar Bowl (Friday January 2) : Oklahoma versus Clemson

The Fiesta Bowl (Monday January 5) : West Virginia versus Florida
The BCS National Championship (Thursday January 8) : USC versus Ohio State*

*That's if voters are weary of putting the Buckeyes there again after the last couple of years left Buckeye fans thoroughly disappointed and heartbroken.

THE FOUR HEISMAN HORSEMAN:

Chase McDaniel, Sr. Missouri QB

Tim Tebow, Jr. Florida QB

Chris Wells, So. Ohio State RB

Pat White, Sr. West Virginia QB

WHAT TO WATCH FOR/ RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

The Bowl Schedule: Why are the Cotton Bowl (January 2) and Liberty Bowl (January 2), scheduled after the Rose and Orange Bowl? And the International Bowl between the Sugar and Fiesta? But that's not the kicker. The kicker is that between the Fiesta Bowl and BCS National Championship game, The GMAC Bowl will be played on Tuesday January 6.

Bobby Bowden vs. Joe Pa: Which one of Jesus' long lost disciples will call it quits this year?

More arguments about a tournament will be made after somebody gets cheated out of a BCS game.

This will be Charlie Weis' last year as the coach of the Fighting Irish.

The USC vs. Ohio State Game on September 13 will be the biggest game of the year.

The Florida/Georgia Game November 1 will be the second.

It's highly probable that the predictions made in this preview will be 33% true by the end of the season.