There is no doubt that KSU achieved more wins and enjoyed a better success rate, but I’m not completely sold. Yes they went to the playoffs and won! Congrats! And I mean that! I like KSU. But every conference winner gets the automatic bid. KSU competes in the smallest and, let’s face it, a very weak conference. Big South powerhouse Liberty University really fell off over the past couple years. Hell, they came in 4th last year just before departing for the BCS this year – Good luck flames. That’s right LU finished 2-3 in that conference of 5 teams. KSU went undefeated in the conference 5-0. Monmouth came in second at 4-1, but that’s not really the Missouri Valley, Mid-Eastern Athletic or Southland conference is it? In theory, you could go to the playoffs in the big South if you posed a 5-6 losing record providing all of your wins came in your conference. Charleston Southern is nowhere near the team they used to be, Gardner Webb went 1-10 with their only win over DII Shorter University, need I continue. Is KSU better – Yes, but let’s look at the Bucs. IMO the old school coaching staff did not relate to the modern players like the young staff at KSU. Bringing in a new HC who can relate to the players is huge. Perhaps he will light fire under them whereas the old regime tended to suppress excitement. The new OC departed after one week, so let’s hope the new, new OC (Raider) doesn’t follow the same mistakes of the old regime. The Bucs went 4-7 last year, and with each year a slight improvement. Looking at their conference over the past couple years, they are .500 against Mercer, Sanford, VMI and WCU. They were extremely close at beating Wofford and the Citadel. James Madison, Samford, and Western Carolina were blowouts last year, but they also beat Samford and WCU the previous season and you can bet those universities circled those dates. No one will surprise anyone this year. The only concern I have other than the UT game is the Chattanooga team. A new coaching staff always brings about change. Let’s hope the Bucs turn it around this year. Making predictions is simply a tool used to get people chatting. I honestly think they can get six wins this year with the possibility of seven. Call me crazy, but if they can muster up 6 conference wins – that would be Huge.