2008 Virginia Tech Hokies College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional NCAA Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting on college football games this season be sure to buy Alex’s college football picks and guarantee a winning NCAA season.

Virginia Tech Hokies (11-3, 7-1 in 2007, 1st place ACC Coastal)
The campus of Virginia Tech was absolutely rattled following the on-campus murders in the beginning of the fall semester last year. Football was the perfect remedy for a campus and a town that needed to heal. Thank goodness the Hokies went 6-1 at Lane Stadium. Though nothing could be more difficult than healing those wounds from last year, HC Frank Beamer will have a harder time producing victories this year than he did in his 11-win campaign a year ago.

2007 Highlight: How could we pick anything but that first game back on the field? Emotions ran high, as even the East Carolina supporters that made the trip up to Lane Stadium had to cheer when the Hokies ran out of the tunnel. To the Pirates credit, in a game that many thought they were going to get run out of the building in, they stood tough from start to finish. The Hokies won 17-7 that day, but the outcome of the game was second to the fact that it was the first step towards returning to normalcy.

2007 Lowlight: In a rare non-conference match-up between two top-10 teams, Virginia Tech traveled down to Baton Rouge to take on the #2 and eventual BCS National Champion LSU Tigers. An offense that sputtered in their first game against ECU had an even worse outing, but DC Bud Foster and the defense had absolutely no answer for anything that LSU was doing. The Tigers rolled up an unheard of 598 yards of offense against a stout VT defense, and smacked the Hokies 48-7.

Offensive Outlook: Depending on your vantage point, it could be a good or bad thing that the Hokies return both of their quarterbacks from a year ago. Sean Glennon has been known to make too many mistakes, while Tyrod Taylor can be wildly inconsistent. Beamer hopes that both have improved in the off-season, though some in Blacksburg think that Taylor could be redshirted this year to save a year of eligibility. The rest of the skill position players must be replaced from ’07, but the entire offensive line remains in tact. The returning wide receivers have caught a combined five passes in their college careers, and true freshman running back Ryan Williams might be the best option available in the backfield.

Defensive Outlook: It feels like it doesn’t matter who keeps graduating from Virginia Tech. The Hokies will always have a strong defense. Foster has his work cut out for him this year, having lost three starting defensive lineman, All-ACC linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi, and CB Brandon Flowers from his ’07 squad that was clearly the best defense in the ACC. The captain of this unit will have to be Macho Harris, who is one of the best defensive backs in the nation.

2008 Preview: Suddenly, a game at East Carolina looks a bit more demanding after the Hokies were nearly shocked in the opener last season. If they can get past that, the team should be 3-0 going into the most important stretch of the season. VT plays four out of their next five on the road, including three conference games and a trip into Lincoln to take on the Cornhuskers. It’s going to be a difficult road for the Hokies this year, but if “Beamer-Ball” continues to thrive, they should still be players in the race for the Coastal Division crown.

2008 will be a success if… Foster can replenish his defense in a hurry. There are a lot of highly touted prospects on the defensive side of the ball, but they need to gel quickly for the Hokies to be successful, especially if Glennon and the offense don’t improve upon their 28.7 PPG average from a year ago.

They may not be an 11-win team like they were last year, but it’s very possible for Tech to repeat their 7-1 mark in conference if they can survive that road trip with only one blemish in the middle of the season.

Prediction: 9-3, 1st place in ACC Coastal

2008 Virginia Cavaliers College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Award Winning Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting on college football games this season be sure to purchase Alex’s college football picks and guarantee a winning NCAA season.

Virginia Cavaliers (9-4, 6-2 in 2007, 2nd place in ACC Coastal)
Al Groh and the Virginia Cavaliers have enjoyed success in the ACC over the past few seasons, but that success could be curbed a bit with only 11 starters returning from last year’s team that went 9-4 and played in its first New Year’s Day bowl game in several years. Not only must the team find a way to replace the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, DE Chris Long, but three other starters due to academic ineligibility and their top recruit from 2007 due to an off-season arrest.

2007 Highlight: In the final game for the Miami Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl, the Cavs crashed the party by spanking the Canes 48-0. Miami had no answer for Jameel Sewell and the Virginia offense, and couldn’t solve Long and the defense either. The offense racked up 418 yards, while the defense held Miami to 189 yards of offense and forced five turnovers.

2007 Lowlight: Though the season ended up being a success for UVA, it sure didn’t start off on the right foot. The team paid a rare visit to Wyoming, and was absolutely taken behind the woodshed. It was the worst offensive game of the year for Virginia, only mustering five first downs and 100 total yards, including -3 on the ground. Sewell only completed 11 of his 23 passes and threw a pair of interceptions.

Offensive Outlook: The offense took a major hit when Sewell was booted off of the team for his sub-par grades, and now must turn to little-used sophomore Peter Lalich to run the attack. The offensive line in front of Lalich is suspect after losing Brendan Albert to the NFL, but Lalich better find a way to stay healthy. None of the other QBs on the UVA roster have ever thrown a pass. If there’s a highlight in the offense, it’s their depth at running back. Mikell Simpson had a solid season a year ago, and Cedric Peerman returns in ’08 after suffering a season-ending injury in the middle of 2007. The three top receivers from a year ago all return, and they’ll be key in an offense that will look to throw the ball a lot more than usual this season.

Defensive Outlook: Not only do the Cavs have to fill in six holes in the defense from a year ago, they also have to replace former defensive coordinator Mike London. There is absolutely no experience up front on the defensive line. Fortunately, three of the four starting linebackers from a year ago return, and should help turn up the heat on opposing quarterbacks with their unconventional 3-4 look. Junior Vic Hall will have to be the captain of a secondary that also lacks much experience.

2008 Preview: It won’t get any bigger for Virginia than the first game of the season when the USC Trojans come to town. However, the likelihood of pulling off the upset is slim to none. Their second game provides an interesting match-up. London left UVA to become the head coach at Richmond. The Spiders will be in Charlottesville the first week of September. If Virginia is going bowling, they’d better have the necessary six wins in the bag before the last three games of the season, because games against Wake Forest, Clemson, and Virginia Tech will provide about as difficult a stretch as any team will have in the ACC this season.

2008 will be a success if… the team can continue to find ways to win close games. The Cavs played five games that were decided by two points or less last year and won all five of them. That grit and tenacity is a must if Virginia is to head back to a bowl game this year.

Prediction: 6-6, 5th place in the ACC Coastal

2008 North Carolina Tar Heels College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Award Winning Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are wagering on college football games this season be sure to purchase Alex’s college football picks and guarantee a winning football season.

North Carolina Tar Heels (4-8, 3-5 in 2007, 4th place in ACC Coastal)
The first year of the Butch Davis era wasn’t completely successful, but the North Carolina Tar Heels certainly took steps in the right direction. With 18 starters returning from last season, this could be the year that Chapel Hill is thrilled to be at football games even after the basketball season starts.

2007 Highlight: It’s rare that your highlight of the season is a loss, but it’s very arguable that the most important game of the year for the Tar Heels was a loss to the #7 South Carolina Gamecocks. UNC fell behind 21-3 in the first half, but rallied to make it 21-15 in the 4th. If there was another minute in that game, the Heels probably would’ve scored the game-winning touchdown, but their last drive came up a bit short. It was a defeat, but Davis and the Tar Heels showed the rest of the country that they can play with the big boys.

2007 Lowlight: In one of the few games that Carolina got blown out in all year, the Heels got knocked off by the South Florida Bulls 37-10. It was the worst offensive game of the year for UNC, as they only mustered 164 total yards. Freshman QB TJ Yates threw four INTs and only threw for 85 yards in the defeat.

Offensive Outlook: Ten, count ‘em, ten starters return for the Tar Heels from 2007. Yates will be the catalyst for the offense yet again, and should thrive under the direction of Davis. Fellow sophomore running back Greg Little had two fantastic games down the stretch last season, and could exceed 1,000 yards with ease this year. The offensive line is full of experience, with four returning starters. Watch out for WR Hakeem Nicks to have another breakout season after posting 74 catches for 948 yards a year ago.

Defensive Outlook: Eight starters return to the UNC defense in 2008. One of the three newcomers will be DT Marvin Austin, who was a 5-star recruit in 2007. He should make a huge impact in the middle of the Carolina defensive line. Three of the returning four starters in the Tar Heels secondary are just sophomores, but started as freshmen and could turn into one of the best units the ACC has to offer.

2008 Preview: We’ll know by the end of September whether the Tar Heels are for real or not. After a tune-up against McNeese State, UNC takes on Rutgers, Virginia Tech, and Miami. If they can survive that portion of the schedule, things set up nicely for a run at as many as nine wins. Don’t be surprised if that game against VT on September 20th turns out to be the deciding factor in who wins the Coastal Division.

2008 will be a success if… Yates limits his mistakes. Davis knows what he’s doing, having led Miami to prominence years ago. This is clearly one of the more talented teams the ACC has to offer, and as long as they don’t make the mistakes that young players usually commit, the Tar Heels could be a huge dark horse to win the conference.

Truth be told, North Carolina is probably still a year away, but this team should drastically improve from a four-win season a year ago.

Prediction: 8-4, 2nd place in ACC Coastal

2008 Miami Hurricanes College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional Sports Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this season be sure to purchase Alex’s college football picks and guarantee a winning season.

Miami Hurricanes (5-7, 2-6 in 2007, 5th place in ACC Coastal)
What a disaster 2007 was for the once proud Miami Hurricanes! For a conference that “The U” and Florida State were supposed to dominate when the ACC expanded to twelve teams, only the Seminoles have won a league title, and neither has won a BCS game. HC Randy Shannon has his work cut out for him to improve on an embarrassing 5-7 squad, or he’ll be out the door very quickly in Coral Gables.

2007 Highlight: The traditional rivalry between FSU and UM has always had its twists and turns, but the 2007 edition was about as strange as it gets. Miami trailed the entire second half until they scored two touchdowns in 11 seconds late in the 4th quarter to give the Canes a 37-29 victory in Doak Campbell Stadium against their in-state rivals.

2007 Lowlight: In the illustrious history of Miami football, never before had the team faced such a demoralizing defeat as it did at the hands of the Virginia Cavaliers in the final home game ever played at the Orange Bowl. Kyle Wright threw three interceptions, and the offense only mustered nine first downs the entire game. Meanwhile, the defense was torched for 418 yards and had no answer for either the rushing or passing game of the Cavs. The doors of the Orange Bowl closed forever after the 44-0 defeat.

Offensive Outlook: Fortunately, the ghosts of Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman left with the Orange Bowl for Miami. Neither quarterback ever panned out, and the coaching staff will now turn their attention to redshirt freshman Robert Marve to take over the offense; He’ll be supported by five returning starters. Both RB’s Javarris James and Graig Cooper could have massive seasons running behind a young, but highly touted offensive line. Sam Shields is the only returning wide receiver of note, and he’ll quickly become a favorite target of Marve.

Defensive Outlook: “The U” has always produced some of the fastest and most talented defensive players in the country, and 2008 should be no exception. Once again, the Canes are young on the defensive side of the ball, only returning six starters from a year ago, but incoming freshman linebackers Sean Spence and Arthur Brown are considered two of the best young LB’s in the country. The secondary is senior-laden, headed up by strong safety Randy Phillips.

2008 Preview: Though no one is really expecting Miami to challenge for the ACC crown in 2008, the most important games are the ones against Florida, Florida State, and UCF. Should they lose those three games, not only will a bowl game be out of the question, but the recruiting battles they will inevitably lose in the future could spell the end of the Miami dynasty as we know it. If there’s a plus on the ACC schedule, it’s that the Canes don’t have Clemson on their slate.

2008 will be a success if… they can find a way to win two of the three games against their in-state rivals. To expect Marve to go into the Swamp and knock off the mighty Gators is a bit far-fetched, but home games against FSU and up and coming UCF are absolute musts if Shannon expects to be around in 2009.

Unless these young players step up and return to Miami tradition, Shannon will be in his last year as the head coach at “The U.”

Prediction: 6-6, 3rd place in ACC Coastal

2008 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional award winning College Football Handicapper. If you are betting college football this season and need current college football odds and picks be sure to visit Touthouse.com

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-6, 4-4 in 2007, 3rd place in ACC Coastal)
The Ramblin’ Wreck of Georgia Tech has an entirely new face to its football program. Former Navy HC Paul Johnson takes over the Jackets, which means the triple option is headed to the ACC. Not only is the entire offense changing, but DC Jon Tenuta has left to join the Notre Dame staff. Expect lots of changes in a rebuilding year for Georgia Tech.

2007 Highlight: Hindsight 20/20, knocking off the Fighting Irish probably wasn’t the most difficult task in the world in 2007, but any time you can pound Notre Dame by 30 points in front of the Touchdown Jesus statue, you’ve done something right. Tenuta’s defense flat out dominated the Irish offense, holding them to just 122 total yards for the game. The offense wasn’t spectacular, but RB Tashard Choice did rumble for 196 yards and two TDs in the 33-3 victory for GT to open their 2007 campaign on the right foot.

2007 Lowlight: In a nationally televised game, the Jackets took on #11 Virginia Tech in the friendly confines of Bobby Dodd Stadium. The offense laid a giant egg, only scoring three points against the Hokies’ defense, but giving up 486 total yards was what had to really annoy former HC Chan Gailey and Tenuta. Yes, G-Tech was overmatched in this game, but their 27-3 defeat was embarrassing and probably marked the beginning of the end for the Chan Gailey era.

Offensive Outlook: A very young Tech offense will be centered around sophomore QB Josh Nesbitt and fellow sophomore RB Jonathan Dwyer. Dwyer filled in nicely for Choice at times last year, and his nine touchdowns from a year ago should increase dramatically in the triple option attack that Johnson will bring to the team. The Yellow Jackets only return five starters on offense, three of which are on the offensive line, which should be strong in ’08.

Defensive Outlook: If Georgia Tech has any hope of going bowling this year, the defense must continue its strong play from a year ago. The defensive line is going to be scary with three returning seniors. There are expected to be more starting sophomores on the defense (6) than seniors (4), which is never a good sign. They’re a talented group that will probably turn out to be amazing in a year or two, but this defense likely isn’t ready to compete with the big boys just yet.

2008 Preview: Welcome to ACC football, Mr. Johnson. After a tune-up against Jacksonville State, the Jackets jump right into the ACC slate, traveling to Boston College and Virginia Tech. If they have any chance of being a bowl team this year, GT has to win their three easy non-conference games (Jacksonville State, Mississippi State, and Gardner-Webb), and find a way to notch a few victories in conference. The deeper into the season this team gets, the better off they will be.

2008 will be a success if… the option has signs of success against the quick ACC defenses. Speed is what kills the option, and there’s plenty of that on the defenses in this conference. If Johnson can pull this transformation off, he’ll know that his Jackets are well on their way to becoming an elite program in the ACC once again.

Asking Johnson to install an entirely new offense and defense is way too much for one season, especially when you consider the quantity of sophomores that will get significant playing time. Tech fans should be thrilled with a bowl game, but unless they’re going to shock a Georgia, Clemson, or Virginia Tech, they’ll probably come up short.

Prediction: 5-7, 4th place in ACC Coastal

2008 Duke Blue Devils College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this season be sure to buy Alex’s Expert NCAA picks.

Duke Blue Devils (1-11, 0-8 in 2007, 6th place in ACC Coastal)
As soon as the calendar turns to August, most college campuses around the country are firing up their tailgating gear for football season. Recently in Durham, the only question on the minds of the students is, “When does basketball season start?” Things may soon change in the town they call “Krzyzewskiville,” as David Cutcliffe has taken over the reigns as the head coach. He brings promise to a program that’s only won two games since 2005 and hasn’t beaten an FBS team (I-A) at home since 2004.

2007 Highlight: When you only win one game on the season, it’s easy to pick a highlight. QB Thaddeus Lewis tossed three touchdown passes to lead the Blue Devils to a 20-14 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats. The ‘W’ broke a losing streak of 22 games that dated back to the beginning of 2005.

2007 Lowlight: On the contrary, when you lose 11 games, it’s difficult to just pin down one lowlight. Down Tobacco Road in Chapel Hill, the Dookies had a chance to knock off the North Carolina Tar Heels for the first time since 2003. They led 14-7 late in the 4th, but a touchdown run by Carolina RB Greg Little with 7:09 to play knotted the game at 14-14. A second TD scamper by Little on UNC’s possession in overtime sealed the game for the Tar Heels by a 20-14 final count.

Offensive Outlook: Cutcliffe can only help an offense that failed to score more than 14-points in eight games in 2007. Lewis returns for his junior season, hoping to improve upon his 21 touchdowns a year ago. The best bet for an All-ACC member of the offense is WR Eron Riley, who averaged a whopping 20.8 yards per catch last year. The offensive line gave up 44 sacks a year ago, and doesn’t appear to have improved much this past off-season.

Defensive Outlook: The good news for the Blue Devils is that 10 players return from last year’s stop unit. The bad news is that the unit was torched for 32.9 PPG in ’07. Vincent Rey is a tackling machine at linebacker. All-ACC DT Vince Oghobaase is a nice plug in the middle of the defensive line to stop the run, as well as providing pressure up the middle in the pass rush. Unless the unit drastically improved in the off-season, it could be another year where the opposition lights up the scoreboard.

2008 Preview: Unlike years past, the Duke schedule actually has a few winnable games on it. They open with three straight very winnable games (James Madison, Northwestern, and Navy) before heading into conference play. A trip to Vanderbilt is also a possible victory. Bowl eligibility is out of the question, but a few wins may not be totally unreasonable.

2008 will be a success if… Cutcliffe can turn the mentality of the team around. It’s hard to create a winning atmosphere with a program that’s only won two games in three seasons, but if Duke can just get that feeling that they can compete, it will be the first step towards making the Blue Devils football program respectable.

There’s nowhere to go but up for Duke, but don’t look for Cutcliffe to work magic in his first year in Durham. That being said, if he can win three or four games with this squad, it will be a minor miracle.

Prediction: 2-10, 6th place in ACC Coastal

Article courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you plan on betting on college football this season, be sure to check out Alex’s expert college football picks.

The Buckeye’s start their 2008 campaign in search of completing at least one hat-trick but not wanting to complete another. Back-to-back losses in the BCS Championship games obviously hurts and a repeat visit for the third consecutive year will head the agenda. Clearly the one hat-trick Tressel won’t want on his CV will be three consecutive BCS Championship losses.

So is all the hype coming into the 2008 season valid. Are the Buckeyes capable of returning to the championship game? Well the line makers make them a solid +300 chance to do so.

The last three year’s has seen a one-sided Big 10 Conference where the Buckeye’s have gone 22-2 in conference play while capturing three straight titles. Another Big 10 Championship would equal Michigan’s four consecutive crowns. Given Ohio State’s schedule, the Buckeye’s should either go 12-0 on the year or a more realistic record of 11-1 and should ensure that the Alumni equal history.

2008 Ohio State Schedule
Aug. 30 Youngstown St. (Ohio State has won 29 straight home openers, and have not lost to instate school in 80 years)
Sep. 6 Ohio ( OSU is 23-1 vs MAC including 5-0 vs Ohio)
Sep. 13 at USC (Buckeyes are 11-2 SU since 91 vs PAC 10)
Sep. 20 Troy (Ohio State is 43-1 SU at home vs non conference opposition)
Sep. 27 Minnesota (Bucks have won 3 straight Big 10 openers by an average of 33 points per game)
Oct. 4 at Wisconsin (Last year Buckeyes came from behind ,notching 28 straight points in a 38-17 beat down)
Oct. 11 Purdue (OSU has won 6 straight at home in this series)
Oct. 18 at Michigan State (Buckeyes are 11-2 L13 SU vs MSU)
Oct. 25 Penn State (Since 1933 Buckeyes are 7-0 at home in this series)
Nov. 8 at Northwestern (OSU is 14-1 L15 SU in Evanston)
Nov. 15 at Illinois( Revenge on board , as Bucks go down in flames vs Illinois last season at home)
Nov. 22 Michigan (Michigan has lost 6 of the L/7 meeting SU in Columbus)

The entire sports world will focus on the September 13th mega-showdown against USC that’ll be certain to have national title implications. The game falls nicely for Ohio State given it will be their third game while only the second for the Trojans. Also, given USC will breaking in a new starting QB and six other new offensive starters, I have no doubt that Ohio State will win this early season clash of the titans—stamping itself as the team to beat. There are other land mines to worry about. Going to Wisconsin won’t be easy and dealing with a road trip to Illinois won’t be a plus. The Michigan game is in Columbus, but it comes after going on the road to face Northwestern and the Illini. If this is the national title contender it’s supposed to be, the home schedule, including the date with the Wolverines and the October battles with Purdue and Penn State, shouldn’t be a problem. Outside of the USC game, the non-conference slate is a breeze facing Youngstown State, Ohio and Troy. The Buckeyes miss Indiana and Iowa.

With nine starters back on both offense and defense and with one enormous chip on their shoulders for two straight BCS title game disappointments, Ohio State with their vast array of experience and talent have all the ingredients for a title run.

The offense is led by Heisman Trophy candidate Chris Wells at tailback who will score points in abundance. Wells job will be made easier behind a talented offensive line—led by two senior’s that will both see action in the NFL in LG Steve Rehring and LT Alex Boone. Senior QB Todd Boeckman should have a big year throwing to Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie.

DE Vernon Gholston who went sixth in the NFL draft will be a loss for Ohio State’s defense. But given the Buckeye’s defense was so dominant last year, finishing top in the nation in scoring defense (allowing 12.7 points per game), the loss may not be as detrimental as it would to other college programmes. The talent on defense that is at Tressel’s dispersal would be the envy of many a coach with two-time All-American LB James Laurinaitis being supported with DE Cameron Heyward and CB Malcolm Jenkins.

I have listed some interesting Buckeye trends below.

Ohio State are 96-0 SU when they score more than 28 points. Along with that perfect 96-0 SU record , are ATS marks inside that number of 56-12 when the Buckeyes are off a win, 49-8 ATS in conference games and 12-0 ATS when playing with revenge.

The Buckeyes are 10-3 ATS their last 13 as home favorites of 10.5 or more points.
Ohio State are 17-6 ATS against conference opponents since 2005.
Ohio State are 29-4 SU and 24-8-1 ATS at home in conference play, including 19-1 SU and 17-3 ATS their last 20.
Ohio State are 21-3 SU and 14-9 ATS in their last 24 non-conference games, including 4-2 ATS in bowl games.
Ohio State are 5-15 ATS vs. the Fighting Illini the last 20 in this series.
Ohio State is 6-14 ATS on the road off a double digit win.
The Buckeyes are 6-16 O/U as home favs of -10.5 points or more

Click Here for Current Ohio State Betting Odds from BetUS

ACC Conference college football predictions courtesy of The Prez, A professional college football handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting on college football this season, be sure to check out The Prez, Expert Football Betting Picks.

The Atlantic Coast Conference was supposed to be the next super-conference when Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College joined the league, but the ACC has taken a beating in the BCS bowls.

The ACC has lost eight straight BCS bowl games since Florida State won the 1999 national title by beating then-Big East member Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Since the BCS was formed in 1998, the ACC is 1-9 in BCS bowls, the worst record among the six power conferences.

Click Here for Current ACC Conference Betting Odds from BetUS

The ACC expanded in 2004 to improve its football image, and in terms of NFL draft picks that has worked. And Virginia Tech has upheld its part of the bargain, reaching two BCS games in the past four seasons. However, Miami made the BCS four times as a Big East member but only once in the ACC, with the Hurricanes beating conference foe Florida State in the 2004 Orange Bowl.

Will that change this year? That largely depends on the Hurricanes and Seminoles finding the magic that has departed each program.

Bobby Bowden’s ’Noles finished 7-6 last season and only fourth in the Atlantic Division, which has been a trend in Tallahassee. Yet that was still better than their rivals in Coral Gables, who missed a bowl in Randy Shannon’s first year as head coach, finishing 5-7 and second-to-last in the Coastal Division.

But FSU once again landed an excellent recruiting class, and Miami got its top recruiting class in years, ranked No. 1 by some experts. The two schools seem a bit on divergent paths, however, with Shannon injecting enthusiasm into the Hurricanes and the Seminoles seemingly swimming in place under Bowden. In fact, 2008 could be Bowden’s last on the sideline, with coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher standing right next to him.

ACC Conference favorites
A Bowden could be in the national title race this season, but it won’t be Bobby. It’s Tommy Bowden’s Clemson Tigers who appear to be the class of the ACC. The Tigers should be a preseason top 10 in the nation with arguably the best pair of running backs in the country in James Davis (who decided not to go pro after all) and C.J. Spiller.

Davis has led the Tigers in rushing for three straight years and needs 837 yards to break Raymond Priester’s career school rushing record of 3,966 yards. He also is tied for the second most touchdowns — 36 rushing and two receiving — in school history and needs 13 this season to break Travis Zachary’s school record of 50. Spiller is no slouch, leading Clemson with 1,723 all-purpose yards and averaging 5.3 yards per carry last year.

If defenses try to load up and stop the run, QB Cullen Harper (2,991 yards passing, 27 TDs last year) and WR Aaron Kelly (88 catches, 11 TDs) can beat them through the air.

This is Bowden’s 10th season at Clemson, and it’s time for this often-underachieving team to put up or shut up.

While Clemson should win the Atlantic Division, Virginia Tech is the favorite to again win the Coastal. Under Frank Beamer, the Hokies have four straight seasons of at least 10 wins, and they have won two of the past four ACC Championships.

The new isn’t all good for the Hokies, as a defense that was the strength of the team last year lost seven starters. And projected starting running back Branden Ore, the fifth-leading rusher in school history, was booted off the team. Oh, and the top four receivers from last year are gone.

The two leading candidates to replace Ore are coming off severe injuries. Jahre Cheeseman, who broke his left fibula in mid-April, and Kenny Lewis Jr., who was No. 1 on the depth chart until he tore the labrum in his left shoulder, will both be back in time for preseason practice, however. Lewis ran for 205 yards on 57 carries last year behind Ore.

The QB situation remains in flux between Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon, who both had their moments (good and bad) last year. Beamer originally was contemplating redshirting Taylor, a Michael Vick-type multiple-threat quarterback. Glennon is the pocket passer type and had a 137.6 efficiency rating last year, hitting 143-of-235 passes for 1,796 yards, 12 scores and five interceptions. Taylor was 72-of-134 for 927 yards, five touchdowns and three picks, but he was second on the team with 429 yards rushing.

During the spring it didn’t appear much was resolved, as the duo shared snaps. Taylor was injured and missed several practices, but it appears Beamer will go with the platoon again this year.

Despite so many questions, the Hokies appear to be the class of their division – which either speaks to Beamer’s coaching or the quality of the competition.

Darkhorses
Florida State only has to leave the Sunshine State three times all season. And the Seminoles essentially return their entire starting backfield and their top two receivers. Yet senior QB Drew Weatherford has been very uneven in his 33 starts and is still fighting for his job, including against top freshman E.J. Manuel.

The ’Noles do have two good receivers in Greg Carr and all-purpose threat Preston Parker (their best player), who will be suspended for the first two games of the season (both against cupcakes). In fact, FSU will be dealing with several suspensions as fallout from last year’s academic scandal in the first few games, but they are all winnable.

Fifteen starters return, and the defense should be very good. If Weatherford, or whoever is the quarterback, can be just good, this team should improve.

FSU’s rival, Miami, definitely appears on the upswing, but the Hurricanes are very young. Whether they can challenge in the Coastal Division likely will depend on how fast redshirt freshman QB Robert Marve, the expected winner of the QB competition, will grow up.

But the ’Canes have a good two good running backs in Javarris James and Graig Cooper, a very solid offensive line and arguably the best young group of defensive players in the country. Could Miami surprise this season? Yes. But watch out in 2009.

Wake Forest has been the surprise team of the conference in the past few years, so it’s hard to believe the Demon Deacons will do so this year. But they do have QB Riley Skinner, who has been the starter in 18 of the 20 games Wake Forest has won over the last two seasons. He led the country in completion percentage last year.

Wake also has a star running back in the making in ACC Rookie of the Year Josh Adams, who rushed for 953 yards (third best in the ACC) and 11 touchdowns, while catching 34 passes for 123 more yards and another score.

Add in nine returning starters on defense, and it’s easy to see Jim Grobe working another minor miracle in Winston-Salem.

There’s a chance
Boston College overachieved last year, but that was mainly due to Matt Ryan, the most celebrated Eagles’ QB since Doug Flutie. Expect a step back this year as Chris Crane takes over under center. BC still will be competitive, however.

Butch Davis’ recruiting magic should finally start to show dividends at North Carolina. The Heels return 19 starters from a team that had six losses by a touchdown or less in 2007.

ACC Conference predictions (with odds to win ACC title)

Atlantic Division
1. Clemson (+250): Easily the most talented team in the conference.
2. Florida State (+450): Young, inexperienced offensive line could be FSU’s downfall.
3. Wake Forest (+600): Losing star WR Kenny Moore will hurt. And how much longer before a bigger school lures coach Jim Grobe?
4. Boston College (+2500): Paging Matt Ryan. Paging Matt Ryan. Only 10 starters return.
5. Maryland (+1400): Ralph Friedgen was a magician early on at Maryland, but now there are doubters.
6. North Carolina State (+5000): Maybe Tom O’Brien should have stayed at Boston College.

Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech (+250): This team is young — and will be awesome in 2009. If the Hokies can learn during an early weak schedule, they could loom large in the National Championship picture.
2. Miami (+350): Another team that looks to make a giant leap in 2009. Many freshmen will play this year.
3. North Carolina (+800): T.J. Yates is one of the better QBs in the ACC. Ever heard of him?
4. Georgia Tech (+1200): Paul Johnson has some work to do cleaning up after Chan Gailey.
5. Duke (+10000): Thaddeus Lewis might be the best QB in the whole conference. Ever heard of him?
6. Virginia (+5000): Cavs were a bit of a fluke last season – they were only 19 points from being 3-10, and they lost a lot from that team.

Article Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com, If you are betting on college football this season, don’t miss Alex’s Expert 2008 College Football Predictions

2008 Boise State Broncos Predictions
In terms of what the Broncos have achieved in the last nine years, seven ten-win seasons and 96 wins over those nine years, a 10-3 record last year with two of those three losses to close the season marred what was yet another strong season. A Bowl loss to East Carolina and the WAC title game against Hawaii will no doubt have left a sour taste in the mouths of some.

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There are some concerns on both sides of the ball heading in to 2008 and the early games will see some rebuilding take place, but there is more than enough good pieces in place to reclaim the WAC championship. The Broncos schedule has been kind, and on paper, an 11-1 season is realistic, but teams don’t play on paper, although Bosie certainly have an advantage on the blue carpet in Glendale. The one almost-certain loss is probably at Oregon. Everything else is winnable and there’s a nice build up to the trip to Autzen with relative layups against Idaho State and Bowling Green along with a week off. The road trip to Southern Miss will be a battle and WAC away dates against San Jose State and Nevada will be challenging, but overall this isn’t that bad. The big key is getting Fresno State at home in the regular-season finale. If they can beat the Bulldogs on the blue turf, the WAC title should be theirs. Since joining the WAC, the Broncos are 26-3 in November with all three losses coming on the road. They haven’t lost at home in November since dropping a 36-35 heart breaker to Idaho in 1998.

2008 Boise State Broncos Schedule
Aug. 30 Idaho State (Broncos have won 11 straight FCS Games by an average of 26 PPG)
Sept. 6 OPEN DATE
Sept. 13 Bowling Green ( (Boise State has won 15 straight regular season non conference games)
Sept. 20 at Oregon(Broncos have lost 12 straight BCS road games straight up)
Sept. 27 OPEN DATE
Oct. 1 Louisiana Tech( The Broncs have dominated the Bulldogs in the recent past winning 6 straight in this series by an average 24 PPG)
Oct. 11 at Southern Miss (BSU is 14-2 SU vs CUSA teams)
Oct. 17 Hawaii(Boise has won 6 of the L/7 meetings SU)
Oct. 24 at San Jose State( Boise State has won 8 straight meetings by an average of 4 TDs a game )
Nov. 1 at New Mexico State( Broncos won last years meeting 58-0)
Nov. 8 Utah State( Broncs have pounded Aggies of late winning 8 straight by an average 27 PPG)
Nov. 15 at Idaho( Vandals have been crushed by Boise State 9 straight times)
Nov. 22 at Nevada(BSU has pummeled the Wolfpack winning 8 straight meetings by an average of 34 PPG)
Nov. 28 Fresno State( In the Broncos last 48 conference games they have lost just twice, one of which was against FSU)

Challenging Boise State this year will be Hawaii, Nevada and maybe even New Mexico State, however,the biggest challenge should come from Fresno State. The WAC still belongs to Boise State and until the other teams can step up to the mark, it will continue to be so.

The season will be a success if Boise State wins the WAC title. The schedule works out well with the toughest league games coming late in the year. By that time the holes should be plugged and the lines should be jelled. Last year could just be a hiccup as the Broncos get back on their title train again.

Due to the success of the Broncos over recent seasons, it’s quite a surprise to find many positive trends and so few negative ones. Clearly, Boise State must still be flying under the public radar , or could it be the fact that the WAC is just being ignored.

Final notes & Key Betting Trends:
Boise State are 96-18 SU and 68-38 ATS since 1999.
Boise State are 47-24 ATS vs. conference opponents since 1997.
Boise State are 37-13 ATS at home on the ‘Blue Rug’ since 1991.
Boise State is 25-9 ATS vs. winning teams.
Boise State is 18-4 ATS vs. teams that average 425 or more yards a game.
The Broncos are 18-3 ATS when the Total is 63 or higher.
Boise State is 15-6 ATS as an underdog.
Boise State are 7-16 ATS playing on foreign soil.

2008 Mountain West Conference College Football Predictions courtesy of Alex Smart. A Professional Football Handicapper at Touthouse.com. If you are betting on college football this season, don’t miss out on Alex Smart’s Expert College Football Predictions!

Despite the Mountain West not being a BCS conference, they are a cut above most of the non-BCSers and are better than those at the lower end of the BCS leagues.

Gradually, the Mountain West is getting more respect. Fan base is swelling due to the exposure the conference receives, especially on the East Coast compared to the other non-BCS leagues. In fact it could be argued that the MWC has greater exposure on the Atlantic side than does the Big-12 or ACC.

View Current MWC Mountain West Conference Betting Odds at BetUS

The BCS conferences have had to sit up and take notice to how well the MWC has represented itself when it goes up against the big boys. Just last year alone Air Force handed Notre Dame a spanking, BYU beat UCLA, Wyoming defeated Virginia to go with Utah’s destruction of UCLA and victory over Louisville. In all, the Mountain West went 9-10 against BCS schools and given that two of the MWC worst teams in Colorado State and San Diego State accounted for five of the losses, it really was a commendable effort. The season was rounded off nicely when the five Mountain West teams went 4-1 in bowl games. Compare those numbers to the Pac 10, who registered an 8-5 record against non-conference BCS schools, and removing USC from the equation, the Pac-10 went just an even 5-5.

The following Non-Conference Games that Mountain West opponents we had better take seriously are:
UCLA at BYU, Sept. 13
Utah at Michigan, Aug. 30
TCU at Oklahoma, Sept. 27
Texas A&M at New Mexico, Sept. 6
Oregon State at Utah, Oct. 2

Conference Series Trends:

AIR FORCE/UTAH Series: UNDERDOG is 7-4 SU and 10-1 ATS in L11 games.

BYU/AIR FORCE series: Since 1983, the Cougars are 17-5 SU and 15-7 ATS in this series including 7-0 SU and 7-0 ATS in this situation priced as a favorite of -9 or more points.

NEW MEXICO vs. SAN DIEGO STATE Series: New Mexico are 12-3 ATS their last 15 games vs. San Diego State.

UTAH vs. BYU Series: This is a series that has seen the underdog cover 17 of 23 since 1982, including 14-2 ATS when getting +11 or less points.

KEY MOUNTAIN WEST Conference Trend: Road underdogs are 8-0 ATS before a road game @ Wyoming.

AIR FORCE
Air Force like all service academies, always have to retool year by year. This year the Falcons have to find replacements for QB Shaun Carney, RB/WR Chad Hall who was the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year together with three All-Mountain West defensive performers. Not only that, but the entire offensive backfield has to be replaced along with six starters in the defensive back eight. Talking of defense, Troy Calhoun was able to transform the defense from abysmal to solid in his first year thanks in a large part to switching to a 3-4 scheme. Given all the replacements needed, it might take a few games before the new group start to produce.

Air Force are 11-23 ATS on the conference road and matched up against a foe that enters off a SU win, including 6-15 ATS in this set with the Falcons coming off a conference affair.

BYU
I predict that BYU’s ‘Quest for Perfection’ will come unstuck. If it’s not broken before the final week (November 22nd), then the Cougars better look out, as they travel to one really upset opponent in Utah that has some serious revenge. Utah had the Cougars under control all game long before they gave up a 49-yard pass on fourth-and-18 which led to BYU’s game-winning score with 38 seconds to play. Two years ago, John Beck came up with a heart-stopping, last-second scramble/touchdown pass to beat the Utes. This year’s encounter should be on everyone’s must watch list. That aside, BYU’s offense led the Mountain West in every major category except for rushing offense. And once again this year there will be plenty of passing and lots of points as nine starters return. On defense only three starters return to the 3-4 D that finished 10th in the nation and ninth in points allowed. Even with all of the replacements, the front seven should be tremendous as the BYU coaching staff know how to plug the holes. Bronco Mendenhall has everything in place, and the schedule works out well with UCLA and New Mexico coming to Provo.

BYU are 8-20 SU and 8-17-1 ATS as a non-conference guest, including 3-12 ATS in this set coming off a straight up win.
BYU is 11-4 O/U off a win against a conference rival since 2005.

COLORADO STATE
Steve Fairchild will bring in a new and fresh attitude to the team. A slew of new starters will make it a losing year, but given last season’s ending two-game winning streak might just be something to build on. The offense will surprise very few, if any, with a big, beefy, veteran line, and the powerful 1-2 rushing punch. The Rams are just going flat out to try to flatten defenses. The defense wasn’t awful last season, but it was ranked among the worst in the Mountain West. The line isn’t anything special and has to be far more physical, but given the line backing corps is set with all three starters returning, as are the two safeties, the bits are in place to be more successful.

Colorado State are 9-3 ATS as home dogs.
Colorado State is 22-35-1 ATS in their last 58 games, including 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games.

NEW MEXICO
New Mexico has enough pieces in place to have a successful season, but not enough to get past BYU, TCU and Utah. Last year the offense did just enough to get nine wins despite not putting many points on the board. Defensive coordinator Osia Lewis has left for UTEP and Troy Reffett takes over, but there won’t be much of a change in styles as this is still head coach Rocky Long’s defense with the 3-3-5 system looking to attack and blitz and be disruptive. The system and the defense will be better than the players, and there will be production as the season goes on, but it could be a long first month.

New Mexico is 19-9-2 ATS their last 30 road games, including 8-2 ATS when playing off a conference game.

SAN DIEGO STATE
The loss of QB Kevin O’Connell will be a huge loss and with little experience at the RB and WR positions, the offense is going to struggle to put points on the board with any regularity and will be a work in progress as the season moves along. The defense lived up to expectations last year finishing 115th in the nation in yards allowed while giving up 34.42 points per game. The potential is there for some improvement as nine starters return and the front four will have to be stronger against the run.

San Diego State is 15-36-1 ATS their last 52 games after rushing for 100 yards or less.

TCU
They often say that you need to take one step back to move two steps forward and that is exactly what I expect from TCU’s offense this year. The offense comes together off a solid running game and this year could be devastating if the running backs (Aaron Brown and Joseph Turner) can remain healthy. The defense finished 15th in the nation and tenth in scoring defense and this year’s D should be rock-solid given that 4-2-5 should be fantastic against the run.

TCU are 43-8 SU and 33-16 ATS at Amon G. Carter Stadium since 1999, including a more recent 9-2 ATS when off consecutive SU losses.

UNLV
Nine starters return to the Rebel Shotgun Spread which should be able to produce on a consistent basis. The line is big and strong while the receiving corps boasts one of the Mountain West’s best 1-2 punches. The one big question mark hovering over the offense is who will prove to be the most consistent at quarterback. On the defensive side of the ball, UNLV as always have plenty of good athletes and there’s more talented depth than usual. But the size of the back seven could be a big problem for new defensive coordinator Dennis Therrell.

UNLV are 1-19 SU and 3-16-1 ATS in their last 20 road games.

UTAH
Utah’s season was in turmoil after just two weeks last year as QB Brian Johnson and RB Matt Asiata were lost in first game of the season and top receiver Brent Casteel’s services were finished in the second game. This year all the pieces are in place to explode. The defense became a killer last year as the season went on and this will be the Mountain West’s best D this year as the secondary welcomes back four starters in a five-spot rotation that led the nation in pass efficiency defense last year.

Utah is 15-0-1 ATS as a conference dog versus an .800 or less opponent.

WYOMING
Five starters return up front which should help the running game, but let’s face it, the offense failed to improve as the weeks went past last year and struggled mightily against the better defenses. The Mountain West’s most inefficient passing attack needs more production. On defense it was the same old story it has been in past seasons . Three straight years, the Cowboy defense started strong and died at the end. On the positive side the pieces are in place to improve upon previous campaigns.

Wyoming are 8-20 ATS off a SU and ATS loss.

Summary
While everyone assumes it’ll be BYU and their “Quest For Perfection that run out convincing winners of the Mountain West, don’t forget Utah who are loaded, TCU will be nasty again, and New Mexico are better equipped than most give them credit for. From top to bottom the conference has improved and given the returning talent and experience, everything is in place to make even more noise.

Don’t fall into the trap that the BCS conferences will run rough shod over Mountain West opposition. Your wallet will be lighter taking that attitude.