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5 Teams with a chance other than USC Hey there! This is Lucky Lester back again for quick title contenders run through. Unlike every other title contender article in the world, you won't see USC flashing their Trojan around the screen here. USC is good, yes, but they aren't deserving of what they're getting. College football is one of the best sports in the world, and the biggest reason is because a team like underdog Ohio State can win in double overtime against The Miami University on any given day. Mark my words, hurry; while they're hot, USC doesn't win the National Title this year. If you take that as truth then follow me through a quick look at 5 other teams that could take the trophy. IOWA Hawkeyes National Ranking: 11 Important Games: Iowa St., Ohio St., Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota Outlook: The Hawkeyes have all it takes for a National Title run. Drew Tate, Iowa's starting signal caller, is touted as the best in the Big 10. Last year the Hawkeye's running attack was decimated by injuries, leaving the Hawkeye offense as balanced as an offensive tackle and a kicker player teeter-totter. Needless to say, there's room for improvement. Kirk Ferentz is one of the best and most consistent coaches in the land, so he'll have his Hawkeyes ready to go week in and week out playing one of the toughest schedules in college football. Wide receiver, Ed Hinkel is one of the most underrated players at his position. He's big enough to get every job done, and his hands are as sure as the sun shines. Last season the Hawkeye defense was one of the top units in the country. With huge losses Matt Roth and Jonathan Babineaux off to the NFL, it will be hard pressed for Iowa to get back to the top of the mountain. But if they find a way with youngsters like Bryan Mattison and Chad Greenway, they might just climb their way to a Title birth. Antwaan Allen, who has started every game the last three years, will be suspended for the season opener against Ball St., but he'll be back on the corner for the rest of the season. Don't forget the Hawkeyes.
National Ranking: 8 Important Games: Georgia Tech, Maryland, Boston College, Miami, Virginia Outlook:
Late in the season the Hokies play four preseason top 25 teams in a row.
If they can stick to their early winning ways, and play tough at home
against Boston College and Miami, the Hokies have a very real chance to
finish the year atop college football. I'm not just following the hype
of Mike's younger brother Marcus Vick. Oh no, I'm not betting all my marbles
on Marcus. But with his talented group of young receivers, and Frank Beamer
calling the shots, Marcus might just be in line to do something his brother
never did, win a National Title. The buzz has floated around that Marcus
throws better than Mike did at VT, and his running ability isn't far behind.
Plus, he's not left-handed. One point for Marcus! Many people are saying
that Beamer's defense lost a few too many important athletes to be the
defensive force they have been. Ha. Frank Beamer gets the best out of
what he has, and he always does a hell of a job tricking good athletes
into coming to Virginia. Don't count Beamer's boys out, as they have the
talent, and the elite super star to find themselves looking down at the
rest at years end. Arizona State National Ranking: 20 Important Games: LSU, USC Outlook: "Wait one minute!" you say, "How can you have Arizona State having a chance at the title, and not even mention USC?" Okay, I'll mention USC. They are the paper champions. Bush, Leinart, and they were champions a year ago. Well, let me tell you, one of the most impossible things to do in sports is repeat. Take that to heart, and then multiply that by 10 when you talk about college football. That being said, USC doesn't play anybody ranked in the top 10. So, if they lose, they should be out. Who's going to beat them? Arizona State. If Arizona State takes LSU down early, and it could happen with what's going on in New Orleans down south, then the only game they have left on the radar is USC. Arizona State lost Andrew Walter, but Sam Keller will turn out to be much better than expected. The Sun Devils have a phenomenal freshman runner, and return most of a decent defense a year ago. If they find a way to beat the heavily favored Trojans in their fourth game, the Devils will find all they have to do is beat up on the rest of their weak Pac 10 conference. The Washingtons, the Oregons, and then the undefeated season is there. Who knows, it could happen.
National Ranking: 10 Important Games: Wyoming, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and Florida St. Outlook: Everyone in the world is writing off the young and talented Gators, but why? They upgraded their coaching staff when they added Urban Meyer, returned their biggest star in quarterback Chris Leak, and as if that wasn't enough they returned 8 starters on a defense that was as fast and athletic as any other team in the nation. Sure, write them off. I'll pick them as one of my top 5 surprises and if they make it, I can frolic about gloating about like Pacman Jones in Titan camp. For now, listen closely. Chris Leak is one of the biggest talents at the college level. Some like to question Chris' ability to pick up Meyer's complicated offense in his first year, but they don't know Chris. Leak has the greatest work ethic and study habits of any college athlete I've ever heard of. Leak has dedicated himself to college football from the day he signed with Florida. He'll be the best signal caller Meyer's ever seen, mark my words. And that defense that struggled last year, don't expect a repeat performance. They return 8 of 11, that ain't bad. Did I mention the Gators possess one of the best receiving corps in the nation, led by Chad Jackson? Well they do. Florida has one of the toughest schedules I've seen, but they'll be hosting FSU and Tennessee in The Swamp. Watch their first game, it should be a big test, Wyoming is no Saturday snorkel.
National Ranking: 2 Important Games: Ohio St., Oklahoma Outlook:
It looks like a lot of Young in Texas. I don't mean the maturity level,
but they certainly are a young team. When I say young, I mean super athlete
Vince Young and future star Selvin Young. You might remember Vince, overshadowed
Cedric Benson in a big bowl victory last year, was named the MVP, this
guy many have said has all the talent in the world if he could learn to
throw. Well, he's all of that. He'll have his most productive passing
season of his career, and as a Junior, he has the best shot in the country
at leading his squad of stellar ball players to a National Title. And
then there's Selvin. Many will start the season asking who the touchdown
happy back in Texas is, few will finish without knowing Selvin Young.
Young has done all it takes to fight himself back into the starting backfield
a year after breaking a foot that needed 11 screws to get back together.
"There's not really anything I can't overcome," says Young.
I believe him. After only one loss and a Rose Bowl win a year ago, Vince
Young is ready to one-up the outcome... in more ways than one. Mack Brown
won't be begging for a Championship Bowl bid this year, he'll be able
to keep his mouth shut, and he'll get there anyway. |
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