The 2009 season begins tomorrow and here are my top 10 questions.
1. Will any team be able to compete against Florida? With 18 returning starters, the defending national champs are a lock for the SEC title game, and most likely the BCS Title game. Tebow's leadership, Meyer's discipline and a ferocious defense will be a difficult to overcome for any team. The schedule is pretty kind too. The only crack I can see is the loss of Dan Mullen.
2. Will the Heisman race stay hot throughout the season? The last two winners, Tebow and Bradford, are back. Add in McCoy and there is no debating that we are looking at the best Heisman race in a long time. Is there a darkhorse? Yes. The list includes Jahvid Best, Jonathan Dwyer, Jimmy Clausen and maybe Javon Snead.
3. Will USC see a drop off with the personnel losses? USC lost Sanchez, their LB corp, most of their DL and both coordinators. No one could blame them for a down season, but Carroll is an elite coach who will have this team ready to compete. Besides, the offense is loaded and should carry the team until the D catches up in mid season.
4. Will Texas run the table and make it to the BCS title game? The Longhorns were victims of the Big 12 rules last season, and did not get to play in the BCS title game against Florida. Texas controls their own destiny and needs to go undefeated to make the title game. I think they make it.
5. Will Ohio State's offensive line play be improved, and will Terrelle Pryor make the leap from athlete to QB? The Buckeyes' offensive lines has underperformed for three straight seasons. For this team to be great, a huge improvement is necessary. Coaches are relying on Michigan transfer Justin Boren to establish the nasty tone needed to dominate a game. Pryor is coming off a solid freshman season. The chains will be loosened this year. The expectations are high for a more solid passing game. The word is he is ready to deliver.
6. Will Notre Dame ride a relatively manageable schedule back into the BCS? This is the season where Charlie Weis' genius should come to fruition. His players are seasoned. The leaders are now upperclassmen with 1-2 years experience. Anything less than a nine win regular season would be a disaster.
7. Who will be this year's BCS buster. For the last few years, there has been some non traditional teams make it to a BCS bowl game. Kansas, Utah, Boise, Hawaii. Which team will make it this year? I don' think this happens in 09. With ten slots available, I see two SEC teams, two Big 12 teams, one ACC team, one Big East team, two Big 10 teams, one PAC 10 team and Notre Dame. Perhaps the Pac 10 and Big 10 flip. The room for error is minimal. I think Boise, Utah, TCU and BYU all lose a game and that will kill their chances at a BCS game.
8. Which highly ranked team will go bust? Oklahoma State is on my radar. OSU will score a lot of points, but the good teams will keep the Cowboys offense on the sidelines and keep the O in check. I think they lose three games which is not a complete bust, but certainly kills any chance at a BCS game or Top 10 ranking. Other teams on the radar - NC, Cal, Ol Miss, Iowa and LSU.
9. Will the SEC's non conference regular season record improve? The SEC has dominated their bowl games for the last three years, but the regular season record against BCS conference opponents has been pretty bad. Losses to Wake, WVU, Duke, Ga Tech, Clemson, UCLA cannot be ignored. Early season tests - Ga at Ok St and Bama vs Va Tech will show just how good the SEC is this season.
10. Will the Big 10 win more bowl games? The Big 10's image has taken a hit lately largely due to some OSU losses in big games, but this can all change quickly. The Big 10 is 4-4 against the SEC the last few years which suggests the conference is not far off from being elite again, but some big wins are needed to overcome the general impression that the conference can no longer compete in big games.
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