Free Day

Spill your guts on here, in the comments.  Say something, anything, let's stir the pot a little bit.

Got beef, or just want to talk about a team just being absolutely being ignored by the cadre of bloggers we tend to talk to and read lately?

This might be a good barometer for everyone's mindset right now.

Personally, I'm thinking about my top 10 list, and how to put it all together, still sorting out my methodology.  How does one sort out the Big Twelve, for example?  Depends on how you view things.

What sense does it make putting Louisville in the top 3?  Plenty to us, but that might be a tough sell for the rest of you.

Comments

[SC #1?]

Here's what I wanna know: Who's gonna beat USC this year? Anybody?

Does Cal have the talent to get 'em in Berkley this year? I'm guessing no.

ASU in Tempe? Some people probably think that's the most likely loss . . . but I doubt it.

If I had to guess, I'd say Oregon in Autzen, if anyone. SC has had a hard time up there. Even in the Orange Bowl seasons (not last year, but 3 years ago with Carson Palmer), SC's fantastic offensive machine was steamrolling Oregon in the first half . . . but went into the locker room trailing. Just something about Autzen for SC.

What do you think, Resource Admin?

[Todd]

UAB Blazers. Thoughts? I know EDSBS loves Hackney and they had a lot of favorable press during the early half of last season, but once their season fell apart at Tulane you didn't hear about them much anymore. Their schedule sets them up for a pretty good run again this year, and I've already gone on record predicting an upset over the Vols in the season opener. They have some quality games coming up after that with Troy (tough defense and an in state rival), Southern Miss, Memphis (though they've routinely been a Blazer bitch the last several years), and UTEP (on the road no less. Should be a shoot out worth seeing). With a OOC win over UT and perhaps the Conference USA championship, who thinks UAB could pull a Utah?

[Zithromax]

When USC plays California on Nov. 12th, they [Cal] will most likely be an above average team, but nothing close to what they were last year (ok nothing earth shattering there). I believe even though Cal will start out with a good record, once they hit the pac10 they will prove to be a 4th/5th place team. Tedford can coach, no question about it, but I believe they lost too much of what his specialty is- offense (experience mostly), Lynch is great, and will have a great season, but it will come a little tougher because he will be the main focal point, with nobody else really proven to worry about (yet!) (No McArthur, Makkonnen, Cross, Toler at the WR/TE spots to make huge plays). But by the end of the pac10 season they will be improved and ready to play their best game against USC, remembering 2003 up in Bezerkley as their battle cry. Hopefully the team plays more than a half of football like the last 2 bay area trips USC's made.

[Stephen Kim]

ASU is the 2nd best in the Pac-10, and therefore will be USC's biggest threat of an upset loss.

[Stephen Kim]

Antonio Cromartie is out for the year for FSU. Huge blow. IMO, one of the top 3 or so CBs in the nation. FSU does have good depth at CB, but they are young.

[Resource Admin]

For SC#1-

I don't think anybody will beat USC. Cal has the best chance. After that, Oregon. Or someone we don't expect (kind of like last year!). Maybe Washington State has found whatever it lost last year?

I don't foresee ASU being a problem. Funny because ASU is likely to rough up LSU.

Next...

I don't see UAB pulling a Utah. That schedule's fairly tough, surprisingly. Hackney's alright. I'd like to see them at least once this year early on, see what kind of shape that team is in, what it's running.

Zithromax---Cal will be a paper tiger early on, but by that time the USC game rolls around, YES, they should be very good, assuming they have fixed their quarterback situation. I actually think their offense will be the most difficult to defend this year with Lynch as the #1 back. I think it works to their advantage this time to have just one great back, no sharing carries. Plus, he just blows the socks off Adimchinobu and Arrington. HP had some great things to say about him today.

You gotta believe Cal has to break through against USC at some point, and not just a 3OT type win. Now this is USC's year, so can Cal do the impossible? I think its a lot more likely than most think.

Stephen-ASU is probably the Pac's third best, but still, X best doesn't mean a team can necessarily beat a team lower than it. Matchups are crucial. Cal is not as good as USC, but they've basically had a chance to beat them every year the last four. N.C. State matched up well with VT last year. Etc.

And as for Cromartie, I like FSU's backups more than HP, I think they'll fill in alright, but it's not like they have that 'natural' player back there anymore.

[Zithromax]

lets downgrade "cal has had the chance to beat USC the last four" to the last 3, because 4 years ago we beat down those commies 55-14 up in Bezerkley in the rain.

[Zithromax]

sorry, the above point is extraneous, I just don't like giving Cal any more credit than they deserve. And boy were they bad that 2001 year with Kyle Boller. Had Tedford arrived a year earlier Boller may have been competing for the Heisman in 2002.

[Zithromax]

Oops, in my comment 2 entries above I meant to say "the team" beat them 55-14. hehehe

[CFR]

Noted. Didn't do my homework. Wasn't USC down 21-0 to Cal at home three years ago?

[kenneth]

Hey watch the Tulane Green Wave, by no means am I a fan but this is a good year for them, C-USA is in a bit of a down year and well... if they can stop someone they could make a run at the championship. QB Lester Richard has shown some serious signs of brilliance, like in the game against Army last year. This year if Tulane can stop UTEP and Houston then they may be in the driver's seat, at least next year they will be set up to make a run

[kenneth]

oh yeah and as my post on HP states, i believe i Tony Carter and J.R. Braynt at the CB position for the Seminoles. I am not saying they are super stars..yet, but they are good and will need some time. i woudl be too owrried about the Saftey position which is deep and experianced. The Seminoles will defeinetly miss Cromartie, but this will make for a really really really good secondary in 2006.

[Stephen Kim]

Carter is really short. I think you could see the true freshman Garvin play a bit, though he too is undersized. I also wouldn't count out RS Frosh Trevor Ford. FSU has great depth, but too little experience at CB for me (an FSU fan) to feel comfortable at that position. IMO, Cromartie was one of the top 3 CBs in the nation. He is very good at running stride for stride with any WR, and his size is unmatched in the nation right now.