CSNbbs

With two consecutive national champions and several teams that could make it three in a row this season, the Southeastern Conference can proudly boast that it's the best conference in college football. Not that the fans down South needed anybody to tell them that.

1) SEC — Florida and LSU, the last two national champions, are contenders again, and Georgia is probably the best team in the league coming into the season. Tennessee and Auburn can play with the top teams, South Carolina is primed to take another step forward and same goes for Alabama. Did we mention Mississippi should be better? Looks like another year of joyous carnage in the SEC.

2) Big 12 — Loaded with star quarterbacks from Graham Harrell at Texas Tech to Sam Bradford at Oklahoma, it's become the best offensive conference in the country. And the North is no longer dragging the league down. Missouri could contend for a national title again. Kansas should have another good year, Colorado is on the way back and Nebraska won't be a joke anymore.

3) Big Ten — The Big Ten has taken a beating in the past couple of years, probably more than it deserves, especially its best teams. Ohio State is the clear favorite this year, and with Michigan in a rebuilding year, the league is a little short on heavyweights. Wisconsin is capable of filling in for the Wolverines in that role this year and the middle of the conference with Michigan State, Illinois and Penn State is tough.

4) Big East — Over the Pac-10? Over the ACC? Yes, and here's why: West Virginia's loss to Pittsburgh and subsequent beat down of Oklahoma said a lot about the good things brewing at Pitt. South Florida will be very good again and challenge the Mountaineers. Rutgers is solid. Louisville should be better. UConn brings back most of last year's surprising team. Cincinnati is likely to slip back, but only Syracuse qualifies as a pushover.

5) Pac-10 — The Pac-10 traditionally tends to be underrated (East Coast bias, its fans claim), but this year the low ranking is deserved. USC is a potential beast again, but if Arizona State, the outfit that appeared to have no right being on the same field with the Trojans and Texas at the end of last season, is the league's second-best team, the conference is in a down year. California and Oregon have the potential to change that perspective, but they have much to prove.

6) ACC — Just too many teams in transition. Clemson is very good and could contend for a national title. Or it could just be Clemson. Best way to sum up the ACC this year: Virginia Tech lost most of its defense to the NFL and is still favored to win whichever division the Hokies are in (who can keep track?), Wake Forest should contend again and nobody outside Florida knows (or particularly cares) when the Hurricanes and Seminoles play.

The rest:

7) Mountain West Conference — Strong up top with BYU and Utah and more balanced than the WAC.

8) Western Athletic Conference — Top heavy with Fresno State and Boise State, but sharp drop off from there.

9) C-USA — This year's BCS buster? How about Tulsa?

10) MAC — Have to respect a league that gives college football fans something to watch on Tuesday night.

11) Sun Belt — The Sun Belters have been saying it for years, but now with Troy and Florida Atlantic it's true: They are closing the gap.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/1...rences.php

When looking at this year, that's a fair analysis. Although, I'd be tempted to put the BE above the Big Ten with Michigan's slip.

I've been a defender of the Pac-10, but I do agree that that league will slip quite a bit this year.

BE could very well be above B10 this year.....of couse nobody in Big10 country will ever belwieve that. Heck, I saw one OSU poster on their scout board saying how Minnesota would have "run the table" in the BE last year.....and he wasn't kidding. Yea, Minnesota would have been lucky to win ONE BE game and that would have been against Cuse, maybe.

How in the heck did the Big 12 become the best offensive conference in the nation? Didn't WVU run all over their best? I don't think so. Hasn't The BEast had several teams listed among the nation's leading offenses for the past few years? Did ONE Big 12 team have a better offense than the Mountaineers or the Cards (if only they had a defense)?

When did the Big 12 suddenly get better? That's what I want to know...

This is one of the multitude of reasons why I hate polls. The pollsters, and the people who actually think these polls mean anything, are complete and utter morons... :coffee2:

I find it amusing that they are saying that Cincinnati is likely to slip back but teams who are losing as many, if not more players are said to be solid or ready to make a move. Cincinnati is bringing back one of the best defenses in the nation, a stronger running game and big time wide receivers. And we are bringing back a senior QB who is actually pretty solid.

These guys know a few teams, and that's it. Look at Rodriguez' move to Michigan. ESPN, and all the rest, have covered the sh!t out of Michigan. We know more about their starting lineup than we do about Ohio State's, and the Buckeyes have won the Big Ten several years in a row now.

And all they can say about West Virginia is that Rodriguez left, and so did Slaton, Schmitt, and Reynaud. The only other thing they know is that Bill Stewart was hired and they don't know much about him. I wonder why? Nobody has really talked to him. There have been a couple of superficial interviews in which they do their best to get him to say something stupid. Nobody knows how to report, and reporters today are really nothing more than cheerleaders anyway.

I say dress 'em all up in the skirts and pompoms used by their alma maters. It would be more honest that way.

bitcruncher Wrote:How in the heck did the Big 12 become the best offensive conference in the nation? Didn't WVU run all over their best? I don't think so. Hasn't The BEast had several teams listed among the nation's leading offenses for the past few years? Did ONE Big 12 team have a better offense than the Mountaineers or the Cards (if only they had a defense)?

When did the Big 12 suddenly get better? That's what I want to know...

This is one of the multitude of reasons why I hate polls. The pollsters, and the people who actually think these polls mean anything, are complete and utter morons... :coffee2:

They are taking into account Mizzou and Kansas coming around. You have traditional powers Texas and OU. Texas Tech will be really good again. And Colorado is on the rise. Texas AM and Kstate aren't pushovers....I think B12 #2 this year is about right actually. The B12 is good. Better than the B10 and ACC IMO.

PS: I also think Kansas is waaaaaaaaaay overrated and will be exposed at USF...go Bulls!

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:How in the heck did the Big 12 become the best offensive conference in the nation? Didn't WVU run all over their best? I don't think so. Hasn't The BEast had several teams listed among the nation's leading offenses for the past few years? Did ONE Big 12 team have a better offense than the Mountaineers or the Cards (if only they had a defense)?

When did the Big 12 suddenly get better? That's what I want to know...

This is one of the multitude of reasons why I hate polls. The pollsters, and the people who actually think these polls mean anything, are complete and utter morons... :coffee2:

They are taking into account Mizzou and Kansas coming around. You have traditional powers Texas and OU. Texas Tech will be really good again. And Colorado is on the rise. Texas AM and Kstate aren't pushovers....I think B12 #2 this year is about right actually. The B12 is good. Better than the B10 and ACC IMO.

PS: I also think Kansas is waaaaaaaaaay overrated and will be exposed at USF...go Bulls!

I agree. It will be SEC and Big 12 battling it out for the two top spots. I think the other four are basically a pick 'em this year, especially with the losses and injury problems the Pac-10 has had.

Big East, depending on how well they do OOC, could slip in as third best this year by the midway point, but I expect it will drop due to the fact that our best teams will likely be 5-2, 4-3, 3-4 in conference.

Just don't see any 7-0, 6-1 conference records this year.

Cheers,
Neil

omnicarrier Wrote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:How in the heck did the Big 12 become the best offensive conference in the nation? Didn't WVU run all over their best? I don't think so. Hasn't The BEast had several teams listed among the nation's leading offenses for the past few years? Did ONE Big 12 team have a better offense than the Mountaineers or the Cards (if only they had a defense)?

When did the Big 12 suddenly get better? That's what I want to know...

This is one of the multitude of reasons why I hate polls. The pollsters, and the people who actually think these polls mean anything, are complete and utter morons... :coffee2:

They are taking into account Mizzou and Kansas coming around. You have traditional powers Texas and OU. Texas Tech will be really good again. And Colorado is on the rise. Texas AM and Kstate aren't pushovers....I think B12 #2 this year is about right actually. The B12 is good. Better than the B10 and ACC IMO.

PS: I also think Kansas is waaaaaaaaaay overrated and will be exposed at USF...go Bulls!

I agree. It will be SEC and Big 12 battling it out for the two top spots. I think the other four are basically a pick 'em this year, especially with the losses and injury problems the Pac-10 has had.

Big East, depending on how well they do OOC, could slip in as third best this year by the midway point, but I expect it will drop due to the fact that our best teams will likely be 5-2, 4-3, 3-4 in conference.

Just don't see any 7-0, 6-1 conference records this year.

Cheers,
Neil

Before I give the Big 12 any props, the Sooners have to prove they can beat Cincinnati. I bet they don't.

If you remember rightly, I bet USF would beat Auburn too...

bitcruncher Wrote:

omnicarrier Wrote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:How in the heck did the Big 12 become the best offensive conference in the nation? Didn't WVU run all over their best? I don't think so. Hasn't The BEast had several teams listed among the nation's leading offenses for the past few years? Did ONE Big 12 team have a better offense than the Mountaineers or the Cards (if only they had a defense)?

When did the Big 12 suddenly get better? That's what I want to know...

This is one of the multitude of reasons why I hate polls. The pollsters, and the people who actually think these polls mean anything, are complete and utter morons... :coffee2:

They are taking into account Mizzou and Kansas coming around. You have traditional powers Texas and OU. Texas Tech will be really good again. And Colorado is on the rise. Texas AM and Kstate aren't pushovers....I think B12 #2 this year is about right actually. The B12 is good. Better than the B10 and ACC IMO.

PS: I also think Kansas is waaaaaaaaaay overrated and will be exposed at USF...go Bulls!

I agree. It will be SEC and Big 12 battling it out for the two top spots. I think the other four are basically a pick 'em this year, especially with the losses and injury problems the Pac-10 has had.

Big East, depending on how well they do OOC, could slip in as third best this year by the midway point, but I expect it will drop due to the fact that our best teams will likely be 5-2, 4-3, 3-4 in conference.

Just don't see any 7-0, 6-1 conference records this year.

Cheers,
Neil

Before I give the Big 12 any props, the Sooners have to prove they can beat Cincinnati. I bet they don't.

If you remember rightly, I bet USF would beat Auburn too...

I sure hope you are right...but I really think from what I've read (I know, the games are played on the field, not paper) that Oklahoma is going to be a better team this year vs. last. Some are saying this is Stoops best defense ever. I think UC certainly CAN win the game..


but you have to also take into account, WVA played them on neutral field...UC is going into Norman. I think they've lost there like once in the last ten years or something.......not the same situation as bowl game in another state.

In the Stoops era, they have two losses at home:

2001: Oklahoma St. 16-13
2005: TCU 17-10

Remember that the Texas game is always a neutral site, so even this stat is somewhat misleading since their biggest opponent never makes the trip to Norman. Still, they are 6-3 in that span against the Longhorns.

maybe it's going to say

2008: Cincinnati 28-21

If the Bearcats don't win that game against OU, I believe they will definitely make them sweat. Down to the wire kind of sweating.

I agree w/ previous posters, I'm not sure why Cincy is expected to drop off, they may be better than last season. They're still my dark horse for BE title, btw.

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:

omnicarrier Wrote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:How in the heck did the Big 12 become the best offensive conference in the nation? Didn't WVU run all over their best? I don't think so. Hasn't The BEast had several teams listed among the nation's leading offenses for the past few years? Did ONE Big 12 team have a better offense than the Mountaineers or the Cards (if only they had a defense)?

When did the Big 12 suddenly get better? That's what I want to know...

This is one of the multitude of reasons why I hate polls. The pollsters, and the people who actually think these polls mean anything, are complete and utter morons... :coffee2:

They are taking into account Mizzou and Kansas coming around. You have traditional powers Texas and OU. Texas Tech will be really good again. And Colorado is on the rise. Texas AM and Kstate aren't pushovers....I think B12 #2 this year is about right actually. The B12 is good. Better than the B10 and ACC IMO.

PS: I also think Kansas is waaaaaaaaaay overrated and will be exposed at USF...go Bulls!

I agree. It will be SEC and Big 12 battling it out for the two top spots. I think the other four are basically a pick 'em this year, especially with the losses and injury problems the Pac-10 has had.

Big East, depending on how well they do OOC, could slip in as third best this year by the midway point, but I expect it will drop due to the fact that our best teams will likely be 5-2, 4-3, 3-4 in conference.

Just don't see any 7-0, 6-1 conference records this year.

Cheers,
Neil

Before I give the Big 12 any props, the Sooners have to prove they can beat Cincinnati. I bet they don't.

If you remember rightly, I bet USF would beat Auburn too...

I sure hope you are right...but I really think from what I've read (I know, the games are played on the field, not paper) that Oklahoma is going to be a better team this year vs. last. Some are saying this is Stoops best defense ever. I think UC certainly CAN win the game..


but you have to also take into account, WVA played them on neutral field...UC is going into Norman. I think they've lost there like once in the last ten years or something.......not the same situation as bowl game in another state.

The Fiesta Bowl isn't exactly a neutral site for Oklahoma. They've won more than one national championship there. It's not that far to drive for a westerner either. They're used to driving longer distances, since things are a bit more scattered. The Sooners never return any tickets, and their fans are the dominant presence, whenever Oklahoma plays in the Fiesta Bowl. So West Virginia didn't exactly play them on a neutral field.

I also remember back in 1982, WVU went into Norman as heavy underdogs (+34 1/2 I think) and played the #9 Sooners. If I remember rightly, Mountaineer fans took over the Sooner Schooner as West Virginia won 41-27. Who's to say whether or not UC can't do the same. It all depends on their QB play. The defense can match up with the Sooner offense easily. The Bearcat* defense is as good as WVU's, if not better, and we all saw how well Oklahoma did against the Mountaineers.

* for some reason, my fingers keep wanting to type Bearcart - maybe now that I've typed it, it'll stop

Wow, actual discussion about football :towel: Am I on the right board?

I think OU does have a good defense, but the one Grutza faces in practice is better, IMO. We have three probable NFL DBs in the starting lineup, whereas OU will be inexperienced in the backfield. They're good, but they can be had.

I can say this: If UC doesn't play perfectly, like WVU did, they can forget it.

It all depends on the QB play.

Crimsonelf Wrote:If the Bearcats don't win that game against OU, I believe they will definitely make them sweat. Down to the wire kind of sweating.

I agree w/ previous posters, I'm not sure why Cincy is expected to drop off, they may be better than last season. They're still my dark horse for BE title, btw.

BK said his team is more talented than last year for sure but that means nothing.....it's about execution. UC executed last year and this year's team has yet to prove this. If we execute, we'll be pretty darn good. If not then we'll have a drop off.

Not happy with the fact that BK said because of qb play so far we are going to be more of a grind it out on the ground and play brutal defense team vs last year's high flying act. He said he likes the high scoring offense but he's also had to throttle back before and win with defense and a grinding running game. He said the last time he coached a team that forced him to play three yards and a cloud of dust football was the Grand Valley State team that he won a Div. 2 national title with.....

we'll see

bitcruncher Wrote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:

omnicarrier Wrote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:

bitcruncher Wrote:How in the heck did the Big 12 become the best offensive conference in the nation? Didn't WVU run all over their best? I don't think so. Hasn't The BEast had several teams listed among the nation's leading offenses for the past few years? Did ONE Big 12 team have a better offense than the Mountaineers or the Cards (if only they had a defense)?

When did the Big 12 suddenly get better? That's what I want to know...

This is one of the multitude of reasons why I hate polls. The pollsters, and the people who actually think these polls mean anything, are complete and utter morons... :coffee2:

They are taking into account Mizzou and Kansas coming around. You have traditional powers Texas and OU. Texas Tech will be really good again. And Colorado is on the rise. Texas AM and Kstate aren't pushovers....I think B12 #2 this year is about right actually. The B12 is good. Better than the B10 and ACC IMO.

PS: I also think Kansas is waaaaaaaaaay overrated and will be exposed at USF...go Bulls!

I agree. It will be SEC and Big 12 battling it out for the two top spots. I think the other four are basically a pick 'em this year, especially with the losses and injury problems the Pac-10 has had.

Big East, depending on how well they do OOC, could slip in as third best this year by the midway point, but I expect it will drop due to the fact that our best teams will likely be 5-2, 4-3, 3-4 in conference.

Just don't see any 7-0, 6-1 conference records this year.

Cheers,
Neil

Before I give the Big 12 any props, the Sooners have to prove they can beat Cincinnati. I bet they don't.

If you remember rightly, I bet USF would beat Auburn too...

I sure hope you are right...but I really think from what I've read (I know, the games are played on the field, not paper) that Oklahoma is going to be a better team this year vs. last. Some are saying this is Stoops best defense ever. I think UC certainly CAN win the game..


but you have to also take into account, WVA played them on neutral field...UC is going into Norman. I think they've lost there like once in the last ten years or something.......not the same situation as bowl game in another state.

The Fiesta Bowl isn't exactly a neutral site for Oklahoma. They've won more than one national championship there. It's not that far to drive for a westerner either. They're used to driving longer distances, since things are a bit more scattered. The Sooners never return any tickets, and their fans are the dominant presence, whenever Oklahoma plays in the Fiesta Bowl. So West Virginia didn't exactly play them on a neutral field.

I also remember back in 1982, WVU went into Norman as heavy underdogs (+34 1/2 I think) and played the #9 Sooners. If I remember rightly, Mountaineer fans took over the Sooner Schooner as West Virginia won 41-27. Who's to say whether or not UC can't do the same. It all depends on their QB play. The defense can match up with the Sooner offense easily. The Bearcat* defense is as good as WVU's, if not better, and we all saw how well Oklahoma did against the Mountaineers.

* for some reason, my fingers keep wanting to type Bearcart - maybe now that I've typed it, it'll stop

dude...anyway you slice it the fiesta bowl isn't Norman Ok......i.e OU's home field.

Bearcats#1 Wrote:dude...anyway you slice it the fiesta bowl isn't Norman Ok......i.e OU's home field.

When you consider they've lost the last 2 straight, last year in a 48-28 blowout, you may have a very good point... :coffee2:

You are right in saying it's about the qb play.....I'm bothered by the fact that UC's qb is still uncertain and the OU defensive line is supposedly #1 in the nation.....we may have the best corp of receivers in the BE but it won't matter if our qb doesn't have time to get the ball to them. Mix in the fact that historically Grutza is not a good decision maker when forced out of the pocket and we may have the makings of a disaster...

then again, we are talented enough that it could be a close game and we could even win...especially with our defensive backfield combined with our All Amercian nose tackle....


we shall see....Go Cats!