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Probable 2008 CFB storylines

Tiny by BMG on

With 60 days or so left until the start of the season, what storylines do you think will potentially emerge?  To me the signs points to a few things:

1. Oklahoma, Missouri, and Ohio State have the best shot at going undefeated this season.  USC has a slightly tougher obstacle in having to beat OSU on the road as well as tangle with improving Pac-10 foes.  SEC teams like Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, and Florida have either too daunting of a schedule (UGA, FL) or have too much pressure on a brand new QB (AUB) or both (Tennessee) to really be a threat to win out.

2. Parity.  The last two years have been a dropoff from the epic 2005 season.  I'm obviously biased from the Texas standpoint, but the numbers don't lie.  Texas, USC, Penn State and a few other teams were dominant teams that could have compeated with any college football team in any season.  The last couple of years you would be hard pressed to find any team that you could honestly make that claim about.  While I believe the three teams mentioned above (OU, Mizzou, and OSU) have the best shot to run the table, don't expect an undefeated team in a BCS conference. 

3. BYU.  Get used to hearing about them.  If I were BYU fan, I'd start making the travel plans to be in a BCS bowl game.  As sad as it sounds, if they put together a Hawaii-like season they could find themselves playing for it all.  They return a potent offense and might as would be more challenged facing the Utah School for the Blind 12 straight weeks.

4. Left field.  Parity, injuries, schedules, underclassmen etc means that some teams will seemingly come out of no where to challenge for a spot at the top.  By the same token, there are easily 3 to 4 preseason top 10 teams that may not be in the top 15 to end the season.  Last year it was ASU, Kansas, and Illinois emerging. Most people seem to think Tech is the darkhorse to emerge this year, personally i think the darkhorse will come out of the ACC between VTech and Wake Forest.  On the other hand teams like Clemson, WVA, and Auburn could easily drop following a tough offseason of injuries, arrests, uncertainty at the like. 

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USC gets Ohio State at home

Minor correction.

Good post, though. I’m especially interested to see if last year was just a wacky anomaly or if we’re going to see any dominant teams this year.

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Jul 1, 2008 1:15 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Return of powerhouses

I think 2009 will be the return of the powerhouse teams.

OSU, Texas, USC, Georgia, OU, Florida will all have key players as upperclassmen as well as some impressive recruiting classes coming in. Add in a team like LSU, Bama, or even a - dare i say - Notre Dame and it could really shape up to be an amazing football season.

John Chiles - I'm your foster daddy!

by BMG on Jul 1, 2008 3:42 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I agree

I think your Kansas, Missouri, Arizona State, etc… will start to fall off. The teams who are recruiting the best will emerge.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 2, 2008 7:48 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Another thing

I don’t know that I’d consider any Big 12 team a favorite to go undefeated. This looks like it might be the toughest conference in the country to me. I’ll be a little surprised if any team goes undefeated.

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Jul 1, 2008 1:24 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Tough conference for sure

And while i think these teams have the best shot of the BCS conference teams to go undefeated I did say that I don’t think anyone outside of BYU will run the table. That said, I consider OU and Missou and the top chances to go undefeated because (1) they are the top 2 teams in their conference, (2) they don’t play each other, (3) They really have one or two key games on their schedule and they will be favored to win them.

OU plays Texas in Dallas, has kansas and tech at home, and goes on the road vs Okie State. Yeah its tough, but compared to the schedules of the other teams in the top 5 or 10 who play SEC teams or other Top 10 teams I would take the OU schedule or the Mizzou schedule.

Mizzou gets Illinois at home, goes to Texas, and gets Kansas at home.

Texas is the team that can foil both of these undefeated bids. If we’re healthy and get some quick results from Muschamp’s defense I’m optiimistic we could at least get a split.

John Chiles - I'm your foster daddy!

by BMG on Jul 1, 2008 3:36 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I am optimistic about a split too

But I think if the Horns beat OU, then my optimism that they’ll also take down Mizzou will increase exponentially. More so then usual , I think that the RRS is the barometer for sucess in this year’s conference schedule.

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 4:02 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If we get a split

I hope we take down OU. We don’t get a second shot at them (or, realistically, the Big 12 South).

by a0nyme on Jul 1, 2008 5:26 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Thoughts on BYU

I have to admit I know a bit about BYU, having played there a few years ago. In terms of raw talent, there has never been a BYU team like this one before. The team is disciplined and the coaches are great. Its great to see the team getting some press, but to be honest I don’t think that they go undefeated. But I do take issue with the Hawaii comparison – BYU’s schedule may not be terribly tough, but its nothing like the creampuff Hawaii schedule. Remember, they play UCLA and Washington this year. But with a great OL, DL, QB and the best talent at WR we’ve had in a very long time, they will be fun to watch.

by PSUhorn on Jul 1, 2008 2:03 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Hawaii-like season

not comparing schedules, just the idea of a non-BCS school running the table in fairly convincing fashion. BYU beat UCLA on the road last year if I remember correct and UCLA had a coaching change this off season. Washingon however is up and coming and could be a bit of challenge but I don’t think they have the defense to slow these guys down. The conference schedule is not much of a challenge and while I was exaggerating a bit it is safe to say they will not face a top 25 team or top 50 team until their bowl game. This is a good team and if they make it to a BCS bowl will at least deserve it more than Hawaii did.

John Chiles - I'm your foster daddy!

by BMG on Jul 1, 2008 3:52 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Oklahoma and Mizzouri have the easiest roads???

Unless you count that little meeting in Dallas and that one here in Austin…..

We’ll win both of those.

God you people baffle me. Research our team a little bit more and maybe you will see what I see…. and that is a championship team in hiding. We’re young, but young guys are owning college sports right now. Even in football. We MIGHT lose one game this year. MIGHT.

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 2:37 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

With all my MIGHT, I hope your right.

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 2:47 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   1 recs

It's good to be optimistic

and I can see Texas having a great year, but at the same time, when there are growing pains, and there WILL be growing pains, don’t become just another angry belligerent fan. We still have to be realistic.

by owenh on Jul 1, 2008 2:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

angry belligerent fan??

As a fan I reserve the right to say that my team will win every game we ever play, and especially since I am a fan of The University of Texas.

Who cares if I’m not “realistic”???? Realistic is hear say anyways…. I’m not realistic if we end up going 9-3, but I am realistic if we end up going 12-0. Kiss my ass with Realistic talk. I go to school with these guys and I’ll put as much faith as I want to into these guys and God help me be right.

But even if I’m wrong, at least I can talk to these guys and tell them with a straight face that I believed in them, even tho most other fans were being “realistic.”

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 3:43 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Hearsay?

I think when owenh says be realistic he’s inviting you to objectively look at the season ahead – ponder that – really contemplate it. Can you then say you really really really think the Horns will go 12-0. I don’t think you would.

Your rebuttal about realistic isn’t about realism it’s about looking back at season end and judging your original statement that we might lose a game. That’s called evaluating your predictions.

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 3:53 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

And all I'm saying is that

as a fan, I don’t have to do that.

Why are fans criticized when they are unrealistic??? Whats the matter with being unrealistic??

Whats the matter with judging your opinions, not on facts, but on gut feelings and faith?

I’ll leave the realistic points of views for unbiased sports writers. as a fan, ill choose the unrealistic point of view.

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:02 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

A healthy dose of optimism never hurt anyone

There’s nothing inherently wrong with being unrealistic. Just like there’s nothing inherently wrong with being insane. When owenh asks you to be realistic he’s just trying to keep you from going insane if the team does go 9-3. Gasp!

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 4:17 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Whoa

Seriously, I’m all for you being as optimistic as you wanna be.

But I gotta agree: you sound angry. Differing viewpoints are welcome. Screaming that one is right is… less welcome.

There’s no right or wrong here.

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Jul 1, 2008 3:55 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Not trying to anger anyone

I’m just saying if you go in super geeked up about going undefeated, and we god forbid lose a game, you (and me) will be totally pissed. Losing sucks.
The fact is this team does have potential, but there’s no way of knowing if its all gonna come together immediately. I know “we’re texas, we don’t rebuild”! but I’m sorry I just can’t see us going undefeated…
The fans I’m talking about being belligerent are the ones who think they have all the answers, blame everyone, whine about this and that, and why is so-and-so playing..and on and on, adding nothing of any real value to the conversation.

Do I want us to lose? No way! I live and die with the team just like you obviously do too. I just don’t want to set myself up for disappointment. I’m not demanding perfection of this texas team, not yet at least.

by owenh on Jul 1, 2008 4:04 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It doesn't matter

if we’re going into the season looking for a 12-0 season, or going into the season looking for a 6-6 season…. that first loss feels like a Kimbo Slice kicking you in the balls.

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:07 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Its not even about softening the blow of a loss

As 05 said, every loss feels like a kick in the nuts.

I try to be more realistic because thats my nature. I claim every 10th meal to be the best thing I ever ate, even if its really good, and I dont start every year by proclaiming we will go undefeated.

That doesnt mean I dont expect and hope to win every game that we play.

Its hard for those two statements to make sense together, but thats my outlook. I think its super difficult for any team to go undefeated in a season, thus I dont expect that we will. But I dont see any game as unwinnable. Does that make any more sense?

Anyway, now Im rambling, Ill leave it at that.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jul 1, 2008 4:17 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

That does make more sense.

I’ve calmed down now, I’m just having Texas Football withdraws….

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:20 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Doh

Third sentence should read – I DONT claim every

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jul 1, 2008 4:22 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

What's there to research...

If all our supposed championship players haven’t shown it on the field yet? I think if you research the team, you see a lot of young guys with a lot of potential, but you don’t have to look hard to find guys with huge upside who never pan out. I consider myself optimistic, but saying we MIGHT lose one game when we play OU and Mizzou and Tech are better than they’ve ever been is a bit of a stretch. Not saying we WILL lose any of those games, but we sure as hell MIGHT. Oklahoma State and Kansas are dangerous as well. I’ll start predicting championships once I see results on the field.

by jw4425 on Jul 1, 2008 3:07 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Texas is a year away

This team has all the potential to be dominant in ‘09. But we really need to be realistic in ‘08 – I just don’t see it with this team and this schedule.

John Chiles - I'm your foster daddy!

by BMG on Jul 1, 2008 3:19 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   1 recs

BMG is right

we are a really young team with a tough schedule and new coaches. in 2009 we will have had a full year to install the new D and we will have a year more experienced team and a cream puff schedule (besides OU).

by Hook'em13 on Jul 1, 2008 3:26 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

cream puff?

We play the same Big 12 teams

by Longhorns84 on Jul 2, 2008 11:05 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

well

compare it to this years schedule and next years ou team will be cream puff compared to this years ou team. missouri= no chase daniels

by Hook'em13 on Jul 2, 2008 1:48 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Missouri

The next QB in line is pretty good, and its in Missouri.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 3, 2008 2:58 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If Colt McCoy

can’t get it done this year, what makes you think he’ll do it next year?

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 3:45 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

its called

a sophomore slump. largely due to the fact that he was running for his life… now i understand that you are a anti McCoy boy but he is a good college qb and he CAN win a championship. and it will be a hell of a lot easier to win a national title with him that it will with your beloved chiles who cant hit the broad side of a barn.

by Hook'em13 on Jul 1, 2008 3:49 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

McCoy

Is the only QB currently on the team that has shown any kind of results that could lead me to believe we could win a conference championship let alone a national championship. While I love Chiles and believe he has a spot on the team and can be an awesome weapon but he hasn’t shown the sort of passing ability that can win a championship. He can be devastating in the open field and mack needs to figure out how to do that.

John Chiles - I'm your foster daddy!

by BMG on Jul 1, 2008 4:08 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Colt

We hope it was a Soph. slump.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 2, 2008 11:03 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It's not Colt that concerns many of us

We’re concerned by freshman RBs, receivers, and a young, but improving O-line.

by learned hand on Jul 1, 2008 3:55 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   1 recs

Really?

I’m not worried at all about the RB’s, Recievers, and young but improving O-line. They’re all gonna be great.

But we know what Colt is. And that’s what worries me

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:03 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You'd take a guy...

...who has never touched a football in front of a hundred thousand people, and never played football against near NFL competition, over the QB with the most accurate season and career in the history of Texas football?

by learned hand on Jul 1, 2008 4:11 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I'm not saying that I want Chiles to play over Colt

All I said was that I am worried that Colt can’t get it done for us.

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:15 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Starting QB’s for BCS MNC winners.

2007 LSU- Matt Flynn/Ryan "Gamecock" Perriloux
2006 Florida- Chris Leak/Tebow
2005 Texas- VY
2004 USC- Lineart
2003 LSU- Matt Mauck
2002 tOSU- Craig Krenzel
2001 Miami- Ken Dorsey
2000 Oklahoma- Josh Huepel
1999 Florida State- Chris Weinke
1998 Tennessee- Tee Martin

by learned hand on Jul 1, 2008 4:21 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Déjà vu?

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 4:22 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Straight up, unapologetic plagarism (from myself)

I’m mildly annoyed with the perception that Colt McCoy is so bad he’ll keep a team from the promised land.

That’s like saying Craig Krenzel, Josh Heupel, Chris Leak, and Matt Mauck reached another, rarefied level of QB play.

by learned hand on Jul 1, 2008 4:26 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I know you did.

How about Todd Boeckman last season @ tOSU? All he had to do was stay out of the way of Beanie Wells.

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 4:31 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You think he's Jorvorskie Lane's long lost twin?

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 4:44 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

defense

The teams with the mediocre QB’s had great defenses.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 3, 2008 3:00 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

All of the teams

had great defenses. VY had a top 10 defense, and Leinart had one of the best defenses on the list

Hence my issues with laying too much responsibility at the quarterback’s feet.

by learned hand on Jul 3, 2008 9:09 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

All those QB's had one thing in common

They didn’t F it up for their teams…

18 interceptions and like 7 fumbles might hurt even the best teams…

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:26 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I agree he can't have another season like that

But we’ve also seen what he’s capable of when surrounded by MNC level talent (‘06). In that event, he’ll prove solid enough to join this list.

by learned hand on Jul 1, 2008 4:36 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

So if Colt has a bad season as a starter, then you're not game?

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 4:40 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Right, if he has a bad year again, then I don't want

him bringing our team down to mediocrity next season either.

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:43 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

This is a ridiculous conversation.

Bowel Movement Guy (BMG) started a thread asking us to predict the overarching theme of the 2008 season. While the history of this upcoming season is yet to be witnessed or even recorded it’s fun to speculate. How does a conversation starter like this degenerate into another McCoy can/can’t perform thread?

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 4:43 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Amen

It’s hard to have a discussion with someone who already knows everything -and predicts App St wins over Michigan. Next he’s going to tell us who wins the November election.

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jul 1, 2008 4:46 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

And i really did predict AppSt over Mich

as a joke. and it came true.

I was just trying to say that blind optimism shouldnt be looked down on….

It’s football, have fun

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:50 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Let's avoid politics

it would really devolve into a mess…besides, PB doesn’t abide such idolatry.

by learned hand on Jul 1, 2008 4:52 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

not unwarrented, but whatever

some people just like to second guess the coaching. As last year proved by Mack putting seniority over skill, Coaches aren’t always right.

by texasfan05 on Jul 1, 2008 4:52 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Your first comment about McCoy

At the beginning of this snakey thread, about him not being able to “get it done” next year is what I would call, an unprovoked unwarranted potshot at the QB, and is what generated this long list of return comments.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jul 1, 2008 5:03 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs