2007 Louisville Cardinals Picks & Predictions
Louisville entered the 2006 season with very high hopes, and slmost met all expectations. Only a botched second half in New Jersey kept the Cardinals from playing in the national championship game. UL went 12-1 last year, won the Big East, and beat Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. Of course, the only blemish on that record was that heart breaking loss at Rutgers, a game wich Louisville led 25-7 at halftime. The Cardinals survived losing RB Michael Bush in the season opener and QB Brian Brohm for two games in midseason to score at least thirty points eight times. In the end, head coach Bobby Petrio bolted for the NFL and was replaced by Steve Kragthorpe, who led Tulsa to a 29-22 mark and three bowl appearances in four years. This year, the ‘Ville returns twelve starters including seven from the second-ranked offense in Division 1. Senior Brohm, with over 6,700 career passing yards and 41 TDs, is a legitimate Heisman contender. And the WR combo of Harry Douglas and Mario Urrutia is excellent.
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2007 Iowa Hawkeyes Picks & Predictions
Iowa started last year 4-0 but then lost six of its next eight games, including defeats to Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes then fell to Texas in the Alamo Bowl. So while Iowa outscored, outrushed and outpassed its opponents on the season, they ended up 6-7 overall and a sorry 2-6 in the conference. This year the Hawks return fourteen starters, six on offenxe and eight on defense, but they lost three year starting QB Drew Tate, three offensive linemen and both starting safeties. Sophomore Jake Christensen seems to have the inside track for the starting QB spot, and RBs Albert Young and Damian Sims comprise a productive backfield duo. And the defense returns its entire front line and senior LB Mike Klinkenborg. Also, like Indiana, Iowa doesn’t have to deal with Michigan or Ohio State this year. So despite going through its most disappointing season under head coach Kirk Ferentz last year, the Hawkeyes could content in the Big 10 this year.
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2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Picks & Predictions
The end of the season left a sour smell around Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets sat at 9-2 before losing their last three games to hated rival Georgia, to Wake Forest and to West Virginia in the Gator Bowl, all by three points. Nonetheless, this was the Jackets’ best season in their five years under head coach Chan Gailey, and their tenth straight year with a bowl appearance. This year, the Yellow Jackets return seventeen starters and both kickers. but among the guys they lost on offense were QB Reggie Ball, who only started fourty nine games for the Wreck, and WR Calvin Johnson, the second pick in April’s NFL draft. Pure passer Taylor Bennett, who threw for 326 yards in the Gator Bowl after Ball got suspended, is the favorite to take over at QB, and the offense returns RB Tashard Choice and four starters on the line. Eight more starters return to a defense that ranked 27th overall in 1-A last season, and 20th vs. the run.
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2007 Georgia Bulldogs Picks & Predictions
Georgia went 4-4 in the SEC last year, the worst in the six seasons under coach Mark Richt. But there were also wins at South Carolina and at Auburn, a sixth straight victory over rival Georgia Tech and a come from way behind win over Virginia Tech in the Chick Fil A Bowl. The defense carried the Bulldogs, ranking eighth overall, but the offense struggled and ranked 90th. This year seven starters return on offense, including QB Matt Stafford, who made eight starts as a frosh in ’06. But there are three holes to fill on the offensive line, and questions surround the running back and wide receiver corps. And the defense returns just three starters, one on the line and zero at linebacker. Also, the schdule sends UGA to Alabama, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida and GT. Ouch, the offense needs to improve and the defense will have to be tough again if the dogs are going to get to the head of the pack in the SEC.
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2007 Florida State Seminoles Picks & Predictions
It was inevitable that the Seminoles would eventually fall from their perch among the perennial college football powerhouses. And it’s no coincidence that this happens just as head coach Bobby Bowden nears the end of his record-setting career in Tallahassee. In their 30th season under Bowden last year, the Seminoles went a very disappointing 7-6. Florida State lost four of its last six regular-season games, including a 30-0 whitewash at the hands of visiting Wake Forest. And then they beat a mediocre uCLA team in the Emeral Bowl. Yet the ‘Noles other five losses all came by seven points and less. The FSU defense was just fine, ranking 18th in A1 ball overall and 12th vs. the run. But the Seminoles offense has become a wreck, ranking 70th overall last year and 103rd in rushing. This season Florida State returns 13 starters, including RB Antone Smith. Junior QB Drew Weatherford also returns, but his status as the starter is dubious heading into training camp.
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2007 Florida Gators Picks & Predictions
Well, that was quick. Brought in to take Florida to a national championship, coach Urban Meyer did just that in his second season in Gainesville. Despite a nice resume, with wins over LSU, Georgia and, in the SEC title game, Arkansas, the Gators were still underdogs to Ohio State out in the Arizona desert. But Florida proved itself the better team by kicking the Buckeyes 41-14. This year the Gators return six starters on offense, including three on the offensive line, but the defense lost both starting DTs, all three starting LBs and three quarters of the defensive backfield. Tim Tebow will replace Chris Leak at QB, and he’ll have some tools to throw to on the outside. But Florida lost its top receiver, and there are questions about who will handle the backfield chores. However, the defense should overcome its inexperience to be very good, and the Gators will again contend not just for the SEC title, but for a spot in the national title game.
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2007 Colorado Buffaloes Picks & Predictions
Colorado struggled to a 2-10 slate in its first season under head coach Dan Hawkins last year, but four of those losses were by five points or fewer, and the defense wasn’t bad. Unfortunately, the offense was dismal, ranking 102nd overall and 116th in passing, This year the Buffaloes return eight starters on offense, including senior Bernard Jackson, who played QB last year. But because Jackson had problems passing, and because he’s a real weapon, he’ll become a “slash”-er and might even return some kicks. The starting QB spot couldgo to the coach’s kid, cody Hawkins, or JC transfer Nick Nelson. Seven starters return on defense, including two on the D line, two linebackers and three in the defensive scondary, But the loss of kicker Mason Crosby, the program’s all time leading scorer, will be felt. The early-season schedule is tough, but if they survive that the Buffs could surprise in a weak Big 12 north.
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