|
5
Teams with a chance other than USC
Hey
there! This is Lucky Lester back again for quick title
contenders run through. Unlike every other title contender
article in the world, you won't see USC flashing their
Trojan around the screen here. USC is good, yes, but
they aren't deserving of what they're getting. College
football is one of the best sports in the world, and
the biggest reason is because a team like underdog Ohio
State can win in double overtime against The Miami University
on any given day. Mark my words, hurry; while they're
hot, USC doesn't win the National Title this year. If
you take that as truth then follow me through a quick
look at 5 other teams that could take the trophy.
IOWA
Hawkeyes
National
Ranking: 11
Important
Games: Iowa St., Ohio St., Illinois, Purdue, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Minnesota
Outlook:
The Hawkeyes have all it takes for a National Title
run. Drew Tate, Iowa's starting signal caller, is touted
as the best in the Big 10. Last year the Hawkeye's running
attack was decimated by injuries, leaving the Hawkeye
offense as balanced as an offensive tackle and a kicker
player teeter-totter. Needless to say, there's room
for improvement. Kirk Ferentz is one of the best and
most consistent coaches in the land, so he'll have his
Hawkeyes ready to go week in and week out playing one
of the toughest schedules in college football. Wide
receiver, Ed Hinkel is one of the most underrated players
at his position. He's big enough to get every job done,
and his hands are as sure as the sun shines. Last season
the Hawkeye defense was one of the top units in the
country. With huge losses Matt Roth and Jonathan Babineaux
off to the NFL, it will be hard pressed for Iowa to
get back to the top of the mountain. But if they find
a way with youngsters like Bryan Mattison and Chad Greenway,
they might just climb their way to a Title birth. Antwaan
Allen, who has started every game the last three years,
will be suspended for the season opener against Ball
St., but he'll be back on the corner for the rest of
the season. Don't forget the Hawkeyes.
Virginia Tech Hokies
National
Ranking: 8
Important
Games: Georgia Tech, Maryland, Boston College, Miami,
Virginia
Outlook:
Late in the season the Hokies play four preseason top
25 teams in a row. If they can stick to their early
winning ways, and play tough at home against Boston
College and Miami, the Hokies have a very real chance
to finish the year atop college football. I'm not just
following the hype of Mike's younger brother Marcus
Vick. Oh no, I'm not betting all my marbles on Marcus.
But with his talented group of young receivers, and
Frank Beamer calling the shots, Marcus might just be
in line to do something his brother never did, win a
National Title. The buzz has floated around that Marcus
throws better than Mike did at VT, and his running ability
isn't far behind. Plus, he's not left-handed. One point
for Marcus! Many people are saying that Beamer's defense
lost a few too many important athletes to be the defensive
force they have been. Ha. Frank Beamer gets the best
out of what he has, and he always does a hell of a job
tricking good athletes into coming to Virginia. Don't
count Beamer's boys out, as they have the talent, and
the elite super star to find themselves looking down
at the rest at years end.
Arizona
State
National
Ranking: 20
Important
Games: LSU, USC
Outlook:
"Wait one minute!" you say, "How can
you have Arizona State having a chance at the title,
and not even mention USC?" Okay, I'll mention USC.
They are the paper champions. Bush, Leinart, and they
were champions a year ago. Well, let me tell you, one
of the most impossible things to do in sports is repeat.
Take that to heart, and then multiply that by 10 when
you talk about college football. That being said, USC
doesn't play anybody ranked in the top 10. So, if they
lose, they should be out. Who's going to beat them?
Arizona State. If Arizona State takes LSU down early,
and it could happen with what's going on in New Orleans
down south, then the only game they have left on the
radar is USC. Arizona State lost Andrew Walter, but
Sam Keller will turn out to be much better than expected.
The Sun Devils have a phenomenal freshman runner, and
return most of a decent defense a year ago. If they
find a way to beat the heavily favored Trojans in their
fourth game, the Devils will find all they have to do
is beat up on the rest of their weak Pac 10 conference.
The Washingtons, the Oregons, and then the undefeated
season is there. Who knows, it could happen.
Florida Gators
National
Ranking: 10
Important
Games: Wyoming, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and
Florida St.
Outlook:
Everyone in the world is writing off the young and talented
Gators, but why? They upgraded their coaching staff
when they added Urban Meyer, returned their biggest
star in quarterback Chris Leak, and as if that wasn't
enough they returned 8 starters on a defense that was
as fast and athletic as any other team in the nation.
Sure, write them off. I'll pick them as one of my top
5 surprises and if they make it, I can frolic about
gloating about like Pacman Jones in Titan camp. For
now, listen closely. Chris Leak is one of the biggest
talents at the college level. Some like to question
Chris' ability to pick up Meyer's complicated offense
in his first year, but they don't know Chris. Leak has
the greatest work ethic and study habits of any college
athlete I've ever heard of. Leak has dedicated himself
to college football from the day he signed with Florida.
He'll be the best signal caller Meyer's ever seen, mark
my words. And that defense that struggled last year,
don't expect a repeat performance. They return 8 of
11, that ain't bad. Did I mention the Gators possess
one of the best receiving corps in the nation, led by
Chad Jackson? Well they do. Florida has one of the toughest
schedules I've seen, but they'll be hosting FSU and
Tennessee in The Swamp. Watch their first game, it should
be a big test, Wyoming is no Saturday snorkel.
Texas Longhorns
National
Ranking: 2
Important
Games: Ohio St., Oklahoma
Outlook:
It looks like a lot of Young in Texas. I don't mean
the maturity level, but they certainly are a young team.
When I say young, I mean super athlete Vince Young and
future star Selvin Young. You might remember Vince,
overshadowed Cedric Benson in a big bowl victory last
year, was named the MVP, this guy many have said has
all the talent in the world if he could learn to throw.
Well, he's all of that. He'll have his most productive
passing season of his career, and as a Junior, he has
the best shot in the country at leading his squad of
stellar ball players to a National Title. And then there's
Selvin. Many will start the season asking who the touchdown
happy back in Texas is, few will finish without knowing
Selvin Young. Young has done all it takes to fight himself
back into the starting backfield a year after breaking
a foot that needed 11 screws to get back together. "There's
not really anything I can't overcome," says Young.
I believe him. After only one loss and a Rose Bowl win
a year ago, Vince Young is ready to one-up the outcome...
in more ways than one. Mack Brown won't be begging for
a Championship Bowl bid this year, he'll be able to
keep his mouth shut, and he'll get there anyway.
Lucky Lester
Do you want to use this college
football preview article on your site? If so permission
is granted as long as the article is credited to Lucky
Lester and contains a link back to www.luckylester.com
|
