Here are five bold predictions about the 2008 Season that have little, if anything, to do with UGA.
1) Ohio State will beat USC in Los Angeles.
When you think about it, this is just common sense. USC is going to have a down year this year, with even Mark Sanchez an unproven commodity and now injured and what with Ohio State having everybody except Woody Hayes coming back, I think Ohio State will put a hurting on USC. Beanie Wells will run half a mile and Mitch Mustain will be on his back looking up at Animal's kid more than a couple of times.
2) Mississippi State will share or win the SEC West outright.
LSU has no quarterback, Auburn has no quarterback AND a brand new offense, Alabama is still a year away, Arkansas has a great coach but no running backs, and Ole Miss is Ole Miss. Say what you want about them hapless \"other Dawgs,\" but they're the team in the West with the fewest question marks. And they're certainly the only team in that division with a credible, classy coach. Mark it now, because it might be a Bulldogs vs. Bulldogs game in Atlanta come December.
3) Wake Forest will win the ACC.
This doesn't seem so bold since the Deacs just won the conference two years ago, but they did so in an admittedly down year for the ACC and Clemson's a preseason top 10 team this year. But I don't know. Clemson tends to lose in Winston-Salem, where they have to go this year, and Va Tech is going to be WAY down. I think Wake gets past CU and beats Va Tech in Tampa to go Orange Bowling. Here in North Carolina Jim Grobe is something of a saint, and for good reason.
4) Armanti Edwards will go to New York.
I think that if Appalachian State has a good game against LSU (notice I didn't say they had to win) and avenges their loss to Furman last year, the Mountaineer quarterback will be in the top four or five in votes in the Heisman race. I know that the class is crowded right now -- Tebow, Knowshon, Chase Daniel, Michael Crabtree, Beanie Wells, etc. -- but some of those folks will fail to distinguish themselves, and let's not forget that Steve McNair (Alcorn St.) made the trip, too.
5) Terry Bowden will have a coaching job by bowl season's end.
How does a guy who starts his coaching career 20-0 still not have a job? I guarantee that several schools -- Washington, Washington State, Northwestern, and (if Brooks retires) Kentucky -- will be looking for coaches at year's end. If West Virginia falls apart, Terry might even get the job he wants. But he'll be back in the skipper's seat for 2009.
Let me know your thoughts!!!
Red and Black, Win or Lose
