Whatever Wednesday: NCAA Preview

Welcome to my NCAA mini-preview! This will be how the Friday post will look starting September 9th. and ending with the Men's National Championship Game in April. Each week, I will list out my top-15, my Heisman front runner, and my story of the week. At the end of the year it will be fun to see what I got right, and what you will ridicule me for getting wrong.

Let's begin:

Top 15

1. Oklahoma -- Easily the class of the nation, but tough conference play may derail BCS dream.
2. Oregon -- Ducks' offense should give them a shot, but a November meeting with Stanford looms.
3. Alabama -- 'Bama's defense is better than some NFL teams, but the iffy offense could stop them.
4. Boise State -- Boise should go unbeaten, but may not rise above this ranking.
5. Stanford -- My dark horse for the National Title.
6. LSU -- Never count out the Tigers, but the always tough SEC is a blessing and a curse.
7. Wisconsin -- Class of the Big Ten. Much better than overrated Nebraska.
8. Oklahoma State -- Could be surprise Big 12 champ, upset special over the Sooners.
9. Florida State -- I don't like the Seminoles this year, but they're talented enough to win ACC.
10. Texas A&M -- Tough-as-nails as Aggies will give the Cowboys and Sooners close games.
11. TCU -- My dream would be a Boise-TCU BCS title game, but Boise's move to MWC ends that.
12. South Carolina -- The old ball coach will have them ready to play. Could be a land mine team.
13. Arkansas --Ditto with the Razorbacks. Wouldn't put the SEC title game past them.
14. Virginia Tech -- Tech is always exciting on paper, but blah on the field. Should win ACC.
15. Georgia -- Tough opener against Boise, but good showing will put the Dawgs back on the map.

Heisman winner: Andrew Luck, Stanford -- Way to go out on a limb, huh.

Surprise team: Penn State -- Talented D will put Lions in the inaugural Big Ten title game.

Game of the Year: Penn State vs. Wisconsin. PSU pulls out 3-point victory to clinch Big Ten title game birth.

Sports Friday: Quick NCAA Thoughts, Hiatus

After reading over the past few week about conference expansion in the SEC, it reminded me of earlier this year when there were thoughts of creating 4 super-conferences, and doing away with the BCS. Anything that gets the latter accomplished is fine by me. The BCS is a joke, and it's obvious why FBS Division I football is the only sport that doesn't determine it's winner in a playoff: Sponsorship money. University AD's Devil's advocates would say, without the money the other 30-plus sports wouldn't have the money to compete. But I say, isn't there a way to have a playoff and sponsors. Like I don't know, maybe have each bowl game sponsor back a playoff game. Hell charge more for the privilege!

There is a dead period in December that is just itching to be used for playoff games. If scheduled right, you could have the championship game on New Year's Day, and avoid pissing off the NFL. Unless a team is flat out dominant, or is the only team to run the table, I will not consider the BCS National Champion a true champion. Even if the winning team wears Blue and White.

One final NCAA thought, I fully support any use of the death penalty in regards to NCAA violations (again, even for Penn State). Even though in some respects the NCAA is a joke, they are still the governing body. And I believe you would only have to do it one time to a BCS school for everyone to get the message. Whether its Ohio State (please God), or Miami, or USC, or eventually the next team Butch Davis coaches, there needs to be a clear message that no one is above the rules; BCS conference or not. Either that or change the rules.

NOTE: This part of the blog will be on hiatus until the special college football kickoff post on Wednesday, August 31st, which will include my first prediction. Also, look for my top-15 every Sunday. It will just list the teams, and a one sentence explanation on their ranking, or other thought. I will wait until the Marshall-West Virginia game is final to post my inaugural rankings.