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2008 Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Football Predictions
Overview: While the Colts, Patriots and Chargers remain the 900 pound gorillas in the AFC, Jacksonville lurks right behind them in the pecking order.  Make no mistake about it – this team is thinking ‘Super Bowl’.  Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter designed high octane attacks at the collegiate level at Boise State and Arizona State.  Last year, under his tutelage, the Jags ranked fourth in the AFC in points scored, behind only the three behemoths listed above.  Jacksonville lost defensive coordinator Mike Smith in the offseason when he accepted the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job.  New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was stellar in this role in previous stints with the Redskins and Titans, at one point the highest paid assistant in the NFL.
 
Offense: After years of quarterback controversy, the Jaguars finally settled on David Garrard as the full time starter last year.  That move paid enormous dividends, as the Jags scored more points than they had in any previous year this decade.  Garrard’s leadership and his cool, confident demeanor on the field during crunch time were every bit as important as his stats.  The Jags went 9-3 with him as the starter, and Garrard threw for 2500 yards, completing 64 percent of his passes with an impressive 18-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.  There’s no arguing with a 102.2 quarterback rating.  Garrard signed a big fat $60 million dollar contract extension in the offseason, cementing his role in the Jaguars long term plans.  Cleo Lemon is a solid career backup behind him.
 
One preseason guide calls Fred Taylor the ‘power’ back and Maurice Jones-Drew the ‘speed’ back.  Another guide reverses those two designations.  The reality is that both backs have power AND speed; each capable of gaining tough yards up the middle or bursting through the hole and going the distance for a touchdown.  The Jaguars use them virtually interchangeably.  Between them, Jacksonville had the #2 rushing offense in the NFL last year.  Jones-Drew’s presence deserves at least some of the credit for the words ‘Fred Taylor’ and ‘injury prone’ no longer linked together by every pundit in the world.
 
The Jags spent big in free agency to upgrade at wide receiver.  The two big additions – Jerry Porter from Oakland and Troy Williamson from Minnesota – both have checkered pasts.  Porter has the potential to be a legitimate #1 receiver, while Williamson has the blazing speed to give the passing game a big play threat, although his hands aren’t very good and he’s never lived up to expectations.  Reggie Williams is a solid threat in the red zone, catching ten touchdowns last year.  Dennis Northcutt is an excellent fit as a slot receiver.  The Jags have a trio of quality tight ends.  On paper, this is the best receiving corps that the Jags have had in years.
 
The Jaguars offensive line isn’t loaded with big name pro bowlers, but it’s clearly an underrated unit.  Tackles Khalif Barnes and Tony Pashos are rock solid, while center Brad Meester is well above average at his position.  Vincent Manuwai is the anchor of the line at right guard.
 
Defense: Gregg Williams likes to put all kinds of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  That explains why the Jags traded up on draft day to bring in defensive end Derrick Harvey (Florida).  However, the Jags have been unable to agree to a contract with their top pick, and he’s still holding out as of this writing. 
 
Second round pass rush specialist Quentin Groves (Auburn) got his first NFL start this past weekend, but failed to show up in the box score.  Run stuffer extraordinaire John Henderson returns, paired with Rob Meier in the middle.  The Jags have good depth on the defensive line.  Stellar middle linebacker Mike Peterson is 32 and in a contract year, hoping for one more big payday.  Clint Ingram and Daryl Smith also start on this solid unit.
 
Jacksonville finished fourth in the NFL in interceptions last year, but they did some significant shuffling in their secondary in the offseason.  Free agent cornerback Drayton Florence started ten games with the Chargers last year, and should start alongside playmaker Rashean Mathis.  Strong safety Reggie Nelson is a star in the making, the team’s interception leader last year.  Following the offseason departure of Sammy Knight, converted cornerback Brian Williams will start at strong safety this fall.  Like the rest of the defense, this unit looks very good on paper.
 
Schedule: The Jags have been a fairly anonymous ballclub, playing in a small market as one of six NFL franchises never to reach a Super Bowl.  They’ll get a bit more national publicity this year with three TV games, including a pair in December as the playoff races reach their zenith.  The Jags won eleven games in the toughest division in the AFC last year, while facing the toughest out-of-division slate of any AFC South squad.  This year, the schedule maker has been a bit kinder, with the Jags slate of opponents the easiest in their division, not the toughest.

2008 Vanderbilt Commodores College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Expert College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this year, be sure to buy Alex’s college football picks each week and guarantee a win!!

Vanderbilt Commodores (5-7, 2-6 in 2007, 6th place in SEC East)
The 2007 Commodores came incredibly close to reaching a bowl game for the first time since 1982. After opening up 5-3, Vandy lost close games to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Wake Forest to keep them home for the winter. The Tennessee game was especially disturbing, as the Commodores held a 24-9 lead through three quarters, only to see the Vols roll off 16 unanswered in the 4th quarter. It will likely be a difficult season in Nashville this year, as the Commodores only return nine starters from 2008.

Offensive Outlook: Vandy ranked near the bottom of all of the offensive categories in the SEC last year, and things don’t look any better for 2008. The quarterbacking duo of Chris Nickson and Mackenzi Adams are back, but neither had any success last year. WR Earl Bennett set all sorts of SEC records in his four years at Vanderbilt, but he has now moved on to the NFL. George Smith and Sean Walker will need to replace his production. The offensive line could be in shambles, as the Commodores will feature five new starters.

Defensive Outlook: If Vanderbilt has any chance of competing in the SEC this year, it will be because of their defense. The unit held teams to 22.6 PPG in 2007, and returns six starters from that bunch. CB DJ Moore is the only legitimate NFL prospect on the unit, but there is plenty of talent with him in the secondary. Reshard Langford could make a big difference at safety. Patrick Benoist is the only returning linebacker, but a promising recruiting class from two years ago could make the difference for the ‘Dores.

2008 Outlook: There aren’t many winnable games in conference for the Commodores, but their non-conference schedule is manageable. If the team has any hope of going to their fourth bowl game in program history, they must win their games against Miami (OH), Rice, and Duke. Even then, their prospects are grim.

2008 will be a success if… flashes of talent can be seen from the youngsters. 2008 is probably a lost season for Vanderbilt, so if some of the younger guys can step in and show some promise, at least there will be a glimmer of hope for the Commodores in the future.

There’s no way Vandy is competing against a very stacked SEC East, and it’s entirely possible that they go the entire season without winning a game.

Prediction: 1-11, 6th place in SEC East

2008 Tennessee Volunteers College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Expert College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this year, be sure to buy Alex’s college football picks each week and guarantee a win!!

Tennessee Volunteers (10-4, 6-2 in 2007, 1st place in SEC East)
In a year that HC Phillip Fulmer had his job on the line, the Tennessee Volunteers responded by winning the SEC East. Rocky Top responded by giving Fulmer a lucrative contract extension, but still expect big things in the future. Last season’s SEC Championship Game appearance was a success, especially considering the fact that they were crushed by both Florida and Alabama on the season. The Vols won six of their final seven games, with only a loss to eventual national champion LSU in the mix.

Offensive Outlook: Jonathan Crompton will be the man of the hour in Knoxville in ’08. He’ll have a heck of an offense around him, starting with RB Arian Foster, who was a 1,000-yard rushing a year ago. WR Lucas Taylor could become a first day draft pick in the NFL with a big season in ’08. Four of the five starters on the offensive line return, including RG Anthony Parker, another highly touted NFL prospect.

Defensive Outlook: The 2007 Vols defense had mixed results. They held strong opponents like Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arkansas under 20 points, but also gave up 40+ points to California, Florida, Alabama, and Kentucky. Replacing LB Jerod Mayo will be an incredibly difficult task, but Rico McCoy should step up and become the leader of the LB corps. Three of the six returning starters are in the secondary, a unit which must improve from a year ago for Tennessee to have success in the always difficult SEC.

2008 Preview: Tennessee does dodge LSU on its schedule, but has a murderous stretch in the middle of their season that includes games with Florida, Auburn, and Georgia. Don’t underestimate that season-opener in UCLA, as Rick Neuheisel’s bunch is good enough to spring the upset if the Vols aren’t careful. The rest of the non-conference schedule is very manageable, including games against Northern Illinois, UAB, and Wyoming.

2008 will be a success if… the defense can slow down the opposition’s passing game. Though the SEC isn’t known for its high-flying offenses, the Volunteers defense must contain opposing passing games if it hopes to give Crompton and the offense a chance to win games.

Tennessee probably isn’t good enough to repeat as SEC East champs again, but the squad is full of talented players and should post another respectable season.

Prediction: 8-4, 3rd place in SEC East

2008 South Carolina Gamecocks College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Expert College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this year, be sure to buy Alex’s college football predictions each week and guarantee a win!!

South Carolina Gamecocks (6-6, 3-5 in 2007, 4th place in SEC East)
The Ol’ Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, is back for another season in Columbia, and his Gamecocks are quietly lurking around in the SEC East. Spurrier must demand more consistency in 2008, as his squad looked like world-beaters against Georgia and Kentucky a year ago, but also looked poor in games against North Carolina and Vanderbilt. There are 17 starters back, and if the rest of the SEC isn’t careful, the Gamecocks could sneak up on a lot of teams this year.

Offensive Outlook: Spurrier became famous at the University of Florida as being an offensive genius despite rarely having any real talent at the quarterback position. This year he needs to decide whether he will go with redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia, sophomore Chris Smelley, or junior Tommy Beecher as his man under center. Knowing Spurrier, all three will see plenty of action. All three will love throwing the ball to Kenny McKinley, who is one of the better receivers in the SEC. Four starters return on the offensive line, which should leave plenty of holes for the running back trio of Eric Baker, Brian Maddox, and Mike Davis.

Defensive Outlook: There aren’t many “names” on this Gamecocks defense, but ten members do return from the unit that surrendered 23.5 PPG last year. Those numbers are slightly skewed though, as only Arkansas and Florida eclipsed 28 points on this squad. LB Jasper Brinkley is the best NFL prospect on this defense, and he’ll be expected to be a leader as one of the two seniors. Junior CB Captain Munnerlyn excels at all phases of the game, and should be one of the top corners in the SEC in his third year as a starter. The South Carolina defense may be loaded with sophomores and juniors, but the Gamecocks should begin to reap the rewards of starting players as freshmen and sophomores in 2008.

2008 Preview: The Gamecocks should open up 2-0 with games against NC State and Vandy to open the season, but right after that, they’ll get to take their shot against #1 Georgia. Most SEC schedules are loaded, and South Carolina’s is no exception. They play five games against teams in the preseason AP Top-20, including ending the regular season with road games in Florida and Clemson.

2008 will be a success if… some combination of the three quarterbacks can take control of the offense. Most offenses need a leader to succeed, but Spurrier had no problem alternating quarterbacks on every single play back in his day with the Gators. As long as they get some sort of consistent productivity out of the quarterback position, it won’t matter which one is under center.

In any other conference in America, the Gamecocks would be a favorite. In the SEC, they’ll have troubles just becoming bowl eligible. Much like ’07, expect to see South Carolina play several games that make you scratch your head both positively and negatively.

Prediction: 7-5, 4th place in SEC East

2008 Kentucky Wildcats College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Expert College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this year, be sure to buy Alex’s college football picks each week and guarantee a win!!

Kentucky Wildcats (8-5, 3-5 in 2007, 5th place in SEC East)
Give Wildcats HC Rich Brooks a ton of credit for righting the ship in Lexington and putting a winner back on the field. The Wildcats have posted back-to-back 8-5 campaigns after several dismal seasons. The biggest problem that Brooks will face in ’08 is the loss of his star QB Andre Woodson to the NFL. At one point last year, the Wildcats were thinking about spoiling the party in the SEC East after upsetting #1 LSU 43-37 in an overtime thriller. Four losses in five games down the stretch ruined that thought, but the program will bring momentum from their Music City Bowl victory over Florida State into ’08.

Offensive Outlook: Replacing Woodson will prove to be a nearly impossible task for either Curtis Pulley or Mike Hartline. The good news is that Derrick Locke and Tony Dixon are both back in the backfield, and should both have productive seasons. The duo combined for 932 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago, and that’s with Rafael Little rushing for over 1,000 yards as well. The Wildcats are very thin at receiver, only returning one starter from 2007, but the good news is that the offensive line returns three starters and should be rock solid.

Defensive Outlook: For a unit that allowed 29.6 PPG a year ago, the Wildcats have plenty of room to improve. There are three legitimate NFL prospects on this defense in DE Jeremy Jarmon, LB Braxton Kelley, and CB Trevard Lindley. The three must step up and command that the other eight on the field bring their level of play up with them for UK to stand any chance of competing in the difficult SEC East. Look out for sophomore LB Micah Johnson to have a tremendous season playing next to Kelley.

2008 Preview: The schedule does set up very nicely for Kentucky to make a bit of a run at the beginning of the season. If they can survive their annual meeting with Louisville in Week 1, they should easily be 4-0 heading into the SEC schedule. The bad news is that there probably won’t be many wins once the Wildcats reach that point. Games with Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee are all almost certainly losses, so the team must look to win games against teams like Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt if they think they’re going bowling for a third consecutive year.

2008 will be a success if… Locke and Dixon do enough to take the pressure off of whichever quarterback is under center. Expect to see a lot of erratic QB play from the Wildcats this year, so if they stand a chance, the running game must be a rock.

Eight wins is almost certainly out of the question for UK in ’08, so a more realistic goal will be becoming bowl eligible. Unfortunately, that isn’t a guarantee.

Prediction: 5-7, 5th place in SEC East

2008 Georgia Bulldogs College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Expert College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this year, be sure to buy Alex’s college football picks each week and guarantee a win!!

Georgia Bulldogs (11-2, 6-2 in 2007, 2nd place in SEC East)
If you were to ask anyone affiliated with the Georgia Bulldogs what the one moment was in 2007 that stood out beyond all else, they will all give you the exact same answer. After scoring the opening touchdown against Florida, the entire team flew off the bench to celebrate in the end zone, setting a tone that would carry the Bulldogs to a 42-30 victory over their arch-rivals. Georgia rolled through the rest of their schedule, culminated by a 41-10 spanking of Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.

Offensive Outlook: Eight starters return from a unit that put up 32.6 PPG in ‘07. There are two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates on this unit. QB Matthew Stafford improved by leaps and bounds last year, and should improve upon his touchdown passes thrown. The better candidate might be sophomore RB Knowshon Moreno, who burst onto the scene when he ran for 188 yards and three TDs against the Gators last year. Moamed Massaquoi has had a productive career as a wide receiver, and will look to build his draft stock with an impressive ’08. A young offensive line looked to be strong coming into camp, but a season-ending knee injury to LT Trinton Sturdivant could be a huge loss.

Defensive Outlook: For as talented as the offense appears, the defense could be even better for the Dawgs. Nine starters return from their unit which held teams to a shade over 20 ppg in 2007. Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens are both forces on the defensive line. The secondary is young, but junior CB Asher Allen and safety Reshad Jones are both rock solid and should be able to keep the unit together. Obviously the more Moreno and the offense possess the football, the better shape these guys will be in.

2008 Preview: Without a doubt, the Bulldogs have the hardest schedule in the SEC and probably in all of college football. If Richt can pull off an undefeated season, the Bulldogs deserve to be named the national champions without playing in a title game. Difficult road games are all over the schedule, including dates in South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, and Auburn. They also have to travel to Jacksonville for the annual Cocktail Party against Florida. They’ll have to protect their home turf against the likes of Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech. If by some chance Georgia gets all the way through that brutal stretch of games, their reward will be a spot in the SEC title game where they’ll likely have to fight off another stiff challenge from either Auburn or LSU.

2008 will be a success if… Richt can keep the team’s intensity up week after week. There are a number of potential hazards on this schedule, and the Bulldogs will have a massive bulls-eye on their back for as long as they hold the #1 ranking in the land.

This could be the best team in the nation, but there isn’t a team in the state of Georgia that can get through this schedule unscathed, and that includes the Atlanta Falcons.

Prediction: 10-2, 2nd place in SEC East

2008 Florida Gators College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Expert College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this year, be sure to buy Alex’s college football picks each week and guarantee a win!!

Florida Gators (9-4, 5-3 in 2007, 3rd place in SEC East)
Gator-nation had to be disappointed with Florida’s 9-4 campaign and a loss in the Capital One Bowl in 2007. QB Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy last season, but he also feels as though the Gators have unfinished business coming into the 2008 season. Florida had plenty of things to be proud about in 2007, including embarrassing both Tennessee and Florida State by a combined score of 104-32, but the four losses are placed squarely on the shoulders of a defense that allowed both Georgia and Michigan to put up 40+ points on the scoreboard. Sixteen Gators return from last season, and anything less than another national title will be a disappointment in Gainesville.

Offensive Outlook: Just between Tebow and do-it-all Percy Harvin, the Gators have one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Add on a rushing game that includes Emmanuel Moody and Keastahn Moore, plus one of the biggest offensive lines in the country, and HC Urban Meyer has the perfect recipe for not only one of the best offenses in the land in 2008, but one of the better offenses that college football has seen in recent memory. If there’s a dark cloud looming over Gainesville, it’s that TE Cornelius Ingram is out for the season with an ACL tear. For an offense that averaged 42.5 PPG a year ago, it’s scary to think that the Gators could post even bigger numbers in ’08.

Defensive Outlook: This will be the key to whether the Gators are going to win the SEC East or not. The defense had way too many lapses last season, frequently putting the offense in holes that were difficult to work out of. Last year the unit only returned two starters, but this year, eight will be back. Florida is young in their secondary rotation, with two sophomores and a number of juniors, but they are incredibly deep with talent, and most of the players have gained some level of experience from previous seasons. The defensive line won’t be the same without DE Derrick Harvey, but both Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham should be able to fill in his production.

2008 Preview: Meyer has to have his sights set on four games that could spoil his undefeated season in 2008. Games at Tennessee and Florida State are always difficult, but there is no doubt that the Gators will be the better team on the field in both instances barring a rash of injuries. On October 11th, LSU comes to the Swamp for what should be a fantastic game, but if Florida gets past that, all eyes will be on the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville between the Gators and Georgia Bulldogs. There is a very legitimate chance that these two teams could be undefeated and ranked #1 and #2 in the country at that point in time.

2008 will be a success if… the defense doesn’t have any significant lapses. Though the Gators offense is phenomenal, the question marks are all on the defensive side of the ball. The Georgia running game blasted the Gators last year, and if the unit has too many games like that, Florida will be making another trip to the “lowly” Capital One Bowl this winter.

The Gators are for real this year, and though an undefeated season wouldn’t be overly shocking, don’t expect to see too many “L’s” on the schedule at seasons end.

Prediction: 11-1, 1st place in SEC East

Article Courtesy of Ted Sevransky, An Expert Football Handicapper Featured on Touthouse.com. If you are interested in NFL football betting this season and need Winning NFL predictions, be sure to Buy Ted’s NFL Picks and make this season a winning one!

2008 Indianapolis Colts NFL Football Predictions
Overview: In the salary cap era, the Colts run of regular season success is virtually unprecedented.  Indianapolis has won at least 12 regular season games in each of the last five years.  They’ve made the playoffs six straight times; eight times in the last nine seasons.  While signs point towards this being the final year of Tony Dungy’s tremendous run in Indianapolis, continuity here is virtually assured with assistant head coach Jim Caldwell ready and able to step into Dungy’s shoes when he steps down.
 
The Colts have 20 of 22 starters back from last year’s squad returning, giving them great continuity from last year’s 12 win squad heading into 2008 as the Colts prepare to open their brand new Lucas Oil Stadium.  But Indy is not a deep team by any stretch of the imagination.  This team is in trouble if they suffer injuries at almost any position – quarterback, receiver, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers.  The effect of their top heavy salary cap structure, with the numerous established stars making the lion’s share of the money could come back to haunt them.
 
Offense: Peyton Manning has only known one offense since he arrived in the NFL in 1998.  There’s no other quarterback in the league that has enjoyed the luxury of a decade long run with only one offensive coordinator, the venerable Tom Moore.  Manning has been to eight pro bowls, and enjoyed eight 4000 yard passing seasons.  At 32 years old, only Brett Favre has more starting experience as an NFL starting quarterback than Manning. 
 
But this year, Manning has missed all of training camp while recovering from knee surgery.  Originally, the word out of Indianapolis was that Manning would definitely be ready for the start of the regular season, but rumors began surfacing this past week that Jim Sorgi could be the opening day starter, a big a drop-off as you can find between starter and backup in this league.
 
Running back Joseph Addai has struggled to stay healthy in his first two years in the league, but when he’s been on the field, he’s been dynamite.  Still, Indy was worried enough about his health to re-sign former Colt Dominic Rhodes after he was cut by the Raiders, while drafting former Michigan workhorse Mike Hart this past spring.  Kenton Keith was a solid backup last year as well, giving the Colts better depth at running back than they have at virtually any other position.
 
Hall-of-Fame receiver Marvin Harrison is 37 years old.  He missed eleven games last year, and is no longer the big play threat that he once was.  Reggie Wayne stepped into that big play role in ’07, earning a pro bowl berth, while last year’s #1 draft choice Anthony Gonzalez appears ready to step up his production in ’08. Tight end Dallas Clark is a premier level pass catcher. There is very little quality depth here behind the starters.
 
The Colts offensive line allowed only 23 sacks on 599 pass attempts last year.  Center Jeff Saturday earned a Pro Bowl berth for the third consecutive season.  Young tackle Tony Ugoh stepped right in to a starting role as a rookie and excelled, as did the perennially underrated Ryan Diem on the other side.  2008 second rounder Mike Pollack could earn a starting job at right guard this fall.  Again, there’s virtually no quality depth behind the starters here.
 
Defense: Defensive coordinator Ron Meeks covets speed, not size, for his version of the Tampa-2 defense.  This is not a defense that gives up many big plays, forcing their opponents to dink and dunk their way down the field without making mistakes.  It all starts with the Colts pass rush, as ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have combined for 89 sacks and 47 forced fumbles since 2003.  Freeney has suffered from injury problems, and hasn’t yet stepped foot on a football field this August, still recovering from last year’s season ending foot injury.  The Colts can get pushed around at the line of scrimmage with their undersized tackles.  Guess what?  Depth is a problem here.
 
All three starters are back at linebacker, a unit that has no stars and no depth.  The secondary, however, is truly a tremendous unit when safety Bob Sanders is healthy.  Sanders, however, has missed all of training camp thusfar coming off shoulder surgery.  The Colts have four excellent young cornerbacks, all in their third NFL season or less, led by Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson.  Last year, it was the secondary that was primarily responsible for the Colts registering the NFL’s best scoring defense – well, the secondary AND Peyton Manning rarely putting the defense in bad position due to turnovers.
 
Schedule: I can describe this schedule in one word: Brutal.  The Colts faced a middle-of-the-pack slate last year.  In 2008, it’s a very different story, as the Colts face the second toughest schedule in all of football.  All eight road games come against teams that are expected to be in the playoff chase.  To make matters even worse for a team with depth problems, their bye comes very early, in Week 4, giving Indy a 13 week stretch against top notch opponents without any sort of a break.

Article Courtesy of Ted Sevransky, An Award Winning Football Handicapper Featured on Touthouse.com. If you are interested in football betting this season and need Winning NFL predictions, be sure to Buy Ted’s Football Picks and make this season a profitable one….guaranteed!

2008 San Diego Chargers NFL Football Predictions
Overview: The San Diego Chargers have absolutely dominated the AFC West over the last two seasons, winning the division by five games in 2006 and four games last year.  They’ve gone 10-2 against their divisional rivals (both losses coming against the Chiefs) during that span.  With 20 of last years 22 starters returning, and both new projected starters being promoted from within, there’s little reason to think that the Chargers won’t roll to their third straight AFC West title in 2007. 
 
This team has great depth and continuity at every position as well as on Norv Turner’s coaching staff.  On paper, the Chargers are as good or better than any team in the NFL, even with a dozen players coming off surgery in the offseason.  One area of concern, however, lies in the stats.  The Chargers led the league with a whopping +24 turnover margin last year, and those types of numbers don’t tend to repeat themselves two years in a row.
 
Offense: Quarterback Philip Rivers is a leader and a winner, dating back to his collegiate days at NC State.  Rivers struggled at times over the first half of last season adapting to Norv Turner’s offense, throwing ten interceptions and only ten touchdown passes in his first nine games.   But he closed out the season with a nice flourish: 11 TD’s with only five picks over the Chargers final seven games.  Rivers is coming off ACL surgery, but he’s shown no lingering effects thusfar in preseason.  Clipboard holding Billy Volek is an above average backup.
 
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson has led the NFL in rushing for each of the last two years, the premier player in the NFL at his position.  This unit did suffer the free agency loss of quality backup Michael Turner and they cut aging blocking fullback extraordinaire Lorenzo Neal.  Yet the Chargers appear set, depth wise with Andrew Pinnock as the new starting fullback, Darren Sproles as a change of pace tailback, and rookies Jacob Hester (LSU, third round) and Marcus Thomas (UTEP, fifth round).
 
Tight end Antonio Gates is an elite level pass catcher; one of the best in the league at his position.  Chris Chambers made an enormous impact on the passing game after arriving midseason from the Dolphins last year, deserving at least some of the credit for Rivers second half turnaround.  Including three playoff games, Chambers had 51 catches, averaging just shy of 16 yards per reception.  Vincent Jackson emerged during the postseason, with 300 receiving yards in the playoffs.  Buster Davis was a first rounder last year, but had a limited impact in his rookie season.
 
All five starters are back on the offensive line, including pro bowlers left guard Kris Dielman and left tackle Marcus McNeill.  You could make an argument that center Nick Hardwick deserved a trip to Honolulu as well.  LJ Shelton, who started all 16 games with the Dolphins last year, was brought in during free agency to compete with second year pro Jeromey Clary at right tackle, giving San Diego a solid backup at tackle regardless of who wins the starting job.
 
Defense: San Diego defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell continues to find employment at this level despite the enormous amount of criticism that he has taken over the years.  In my opinion, Cottrell was far too conservative last year, sitting back in coverage instead of attacking the line of scrimmage on every down.  That being said, you won’t find many defenses in the NFL with as much talent as this one – even Ted Cottrell can’t turn this defense into anything but an elite level stop unit.
 
Defensive tackle Jamal Williams is one of the dozen Chargers that had surgery in the offseason, and he’s 32 years old, an eleven year veteran.  That being said, Williams remains the premier run stuffer at his position in the AFC; a one man wrecking crew who requires constant double teams.  Defensive ends Igor Olshansky and Luis Castillo are both strong pass rushers, and the depth behind them is excellent.
 
The Chargers rank first in the NFL with 149 sacks over the past three seasons.  Much of the credit must go to their linebacking corps. Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman leads the NFL with 39.5 sacks over the last three years.  On the other side, Shawn Phillips has 27 sacks during that three year span, giving the Chargers a pair of absolute monsters at LB.  12 year veteran Derek Smith started 14 games for San Francisco last year, landing here in free agency.  He’ll immediately improve their depth in the middle.
 
As a team, the Chargers led the NFL with 30 interceptions last year.  Cornerback Antonio Cromartie led the NFL with ten interceptions last year, and had three return touchdowns, including a never-to-be-beaten 109 yard missed field goal return touchdown.  On the other side, Quentin Jammer doesn’t have Cromartie’s great hands to pick passes off, but he’s a top notch cover corner.  Safety Clinton Hart is coming off a career year, while Eric Weddle enjoyed a tremendous rookie season.
 
Even the Chargers kicking game is top notch, not always the case on teams with numerous salary cap challenging star players.  Punter Mike Scifres has a 38.6 net punting average over the past four seasons, best in the league during that span.  Scifres also leads the league with 125 punts downed inside the 20 yard line during that span.  Kicker Nate Kaeding is the most accurate kicker in the NFL over the past three seasons, and his 4-4 field goal performance at New England in the playoffs last January squelched any doubts about his ability to kick under pressure.
 
Schedule: The Chargers are being treated like a bonafide Super Bowl contender by the networks this fall, with five nighttime national TV games.  They only face two East Coast trips with 1 PM start time games.  And, one of their ‘road’ games is actually a neutral site affair in London against New Orleans.  And, to top it all off, the Chargers face one of the easiest schedules in the NFL on paper, with both the Colts and Patriots visiting San Diego and only one road game against a team with a winning record from last year (Pittsburgh). 

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2008 Oakland Raiders NFL Football Predictions
Overview: The Raiders have had the worst organization and the worst record in the AFC since their Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay following the 2002 season.  Oakland is 19-61 SU over the last five years, losing at least 11 of their 16 games in every single season.  Al Davis’ front office is dysfunctional, to say the least.  His well publicized differences with head coach Lane Kiffin in the offseason puts Kiffin squarely on the hot seat heading into the 2008 campaign.  Kiffin also has issues with his defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, but Davis refused to let Kiffin name his own coordinator, one main source of their troubles. 
 
Despite Davis opening his checkbook in the offseason, Oakland still has holes all over their roster.  And with big name draft choices at the offensive skill positions, the general public and mass media seem to be viewing the Raiders as an ‘upside’ team, giving bettors excellent potential value going against them as they stumble towards another bottom tier finish.
 
Offense: JaMarcus Russell was the #1 overall draft choice last year.  Then, in typical Al Davis fashion, he didn’t pony up the dough, allowing Russell to hold out for most of the preseason.  That’s the kiss of death for any rookie QB – the learning curve for rookie quarterbacks is especially steep.  As a result, Russell sat on the bench for most of the season, getting only two starts with a 55.9 QB rating.  Russell’s weight was an issue in the offseason, and he showed no signs of improvement in his preseason opener.  Andrew Walter is a solid backup, but the Raiders will sink or swim with their franchise QB this fall, unless Russell gets hurt.
 
Darren McFadden was the best running back in college football over the last two seasons, and the Raiders were thrilled when he dropped down to them with the #4 overall pick.  In my opinion, this pick was about selling tickets, not about improving the team.  Oakland’s running back corps was the best and deepest unit on the offense prior to picking McFadden.  They finished sixth in the NFL in rushing last year.  McFadden was a luxury they simply couldn’t afford, with Justin Fargas and Michael Bush capable of carrying the load themselves.  That being said, running back is still the deepest and most talented unit on the offense, a real area of strength.
 
The Raiders spent big bucks in free agency bringing in Javon Walker from Denver to be their #1 receiver.  Then Walker got beaten and mugged after a night of partying in Vegas, and contemplated retirement in the just days before the start of training camp.  With his history of injuries, Walker is clearly a big question mark coming into the season. 
 
So is the rest of the Raiders receiving corps.  Ronald Curry is an adequate second option, but he’ll never be a star in this league.  Another free agent acquisition, Drew Carter (Carolina) has done little in his NFL career.  Speedster Johnny Lee Higgins had an electrifying punt return touchdown in the Raiders preseason opener, but he’s still got a ways to go to be an impact pass catcher, and he was the goat last night after fumbling a punt return in his own end zone, giving the Titans an easy touchdown.  Tight end Zack Miller, however, is a nice option for Russell in the passing game.
 
Oakland’s offensive line is another area of major concern.  Oakland did show some improvement last year after allowing 72 sacks in 2006 while finishing #29 in the NFL in rushing.  Their new left tackle, Kwame Harris, couldn’t break the starting lineup for lowly San Francisco last year.  Former #2 overall pick Robert Gallery has been mediocre at best during his tenure in Oakland.  Center John Wade started all 16 games for Tampa Bay last year, but the Bucs were quite willing to let him go in free agency.  With new faces in new places, the Raiders OL is still very much a work in progress.
 
Defense: Oakland finished with a #31 ranking against the run last year and, on paper, their front four doesn’t look much better heading into 2008.  Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly signed the biggest contract for any defensive tackle in NFL history, despite his status coming off a torn ACL that cost him the second half of the ’07 campaign.  Kelly has been good, not great, in his four previous seasons.  The Raiders have no other impact players on the defensive front, lacking a dominant pass rusher, as Derrick Burgess’ production has declined over the past two seasons since his breakout campaign in ’06. 
 
Middle linebacker Kirk Morrison played every single defensive snap last year at a pro bowl level, while outside linebacker Thomas Howard wasn’t far behind.  The Raiders have decent depth here; good depth if Ed Hartwell can ever stay healthy for a full season.
 
The Raiders secondary is an area of strength after the big free agent signing of strong safety Gibril Wilson (New York Giants) and the trade for former Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall.  Hall forms a stellar duo with Nnamdi Asomugha, giving the Raiders a pair of top notch cover corners.  Wilson teams up with former first rounder Michael Huff, an emerging talent in his third year as a pro.  If the Raiders find some kind of a pass rush, this secondary has the potential to be excellent.
 
Schedule: Somehow, some way, the NFL always finds a way to stick it to their longtime nemesis, Al Davis.  This year, it’s the Raiders  road schedule, which sends them East for 1 PM EST start time games on six different occasions, by far the most 1 PM start time games for any West Coast team.  And, of course, West Coast teams travelling East create the biggest hidden factor in strength of schedule issues – those 10 AM Pacific Time starts are extremely difficult for West Coast teams to adjust to. 
 
That being said, Oakland faces a fairly manageable slate in terms of their overall strength of opposition, playing only four games against playoff teams from last year.  Once again, however, the league has stuck it to the Raiders – three of those four come in December, giving them ample opportunity to turn a decent start into a lousy finish.