CFB Pre-Season Magazines offer intrigue - Part Dos

In part two of our article about college football pre-season magazines, we’ll take a look at the other five conferences, the Big Ten, Pac-10, SEC, MAC and Sun Belt. Three of the five leagues and or divisions have unanimous choices and it doesn’t take brain surgeon to figure what teams those are, with a few others up for grabs. Read on to learn more and start preparing to place your bets.

Big Ten
1) Ohio State
2) Penn State
3) Michigan State
4) Iowa
5) Illinois
6) Michigan
7) Wisconsin
8) Minnesota
9) Northwestern
10) Purdue
11) Indiana

Analysis- Here’s a surprise; Ohio State and Penn State are the favorites to win the Big Ten. Well, not really. The Buckeyes reload with the best of them and they will find out early where they are on national scope, hosting USC. Honestly, not sure why the Nittany Lions are rated this high with all the personnel losses and they haven’t recruited like the other top schools in the country. This also might be indictment of Big Ten. Michigan State continues to improve under coach Mark Dantonio, however quarterback and running back positions must be filled. Iowa could finish higher if lines on both sides of the pigskin dominate. Illinois could be most explosive offense in the conference and they might need to be, with so many new faces in back seven of defense. Rich Rodriguez better have a winning record in Ann Arbor, or fans of the Maize and Blue will really become restless. Minnesota opens new outdoor venue, but also has trips to Penn State and Ohio State that will impede progress. The rest of the teams have more holes than a Dunkin Donuts. Another so-so year in Big Ten Country.

Pac-10
1) USC
2) California
3) Oregon
4) Oregon State
5) UCLA
6) Arizona State
7) Stanford
8) Arizona
9) Washington
10) Washington State

Analysis – When somebody raises the bar to a new level, aren’t those chasing the lead dog supposed to at least catch them in time, if not surpass their efforts? In spite of only having 12 returning starters (three on defense), USC is the unanimous choice to repeat as Pac-10 champs. Besides Pete Carroll’s ability to fill a three-deep roster with incredible talent, this happens to be the year the Pacific 10 is quarterback poor. Only Washington and Oregon have field leaders that can be counted on to start the year. If one team has legit shot at the Trojans this year, it is California. If Kevin Riley improves accuracy to receiving targets, the 15 other Bears’ players that started last season should be even hungrier. Cal will know where they stand by early October with games at Oregon and USC, the first two on Pac-10 slate. Oregon has new coach in Chip Kelly needing to rebuild O-Line. Oregon State will have several fresh eager Beavers on defense. The rest are trying cover up weakness, with the Washington universities trying to lay foundation.

SEC East
1) Florida
2) Georgia
3) Tennessee
4) So. Carolina
5) Kentucky
6) Vanderbilt

SEC West
1) Mississippi
2) Alabama
3) LSU
4) Arkansas
5) Auburn
6) Mississippi State

Analysis – In the East Division, Florida is the hands-down choice to be play for SEC title again and is most everyone’s No.1 team to start the season. Georgia has just the kind of team that excels when in this position. Coach Mark Richt’s best teams have been those with lower expectations. Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin will eventually have to stop talking and coach, trying to bring in players that can knock off the Gators and Bulldogs. Steve Spurrier has found out top recruits like Gainesville better than Columbia, SC. As mundane as the East appears, the West Division should be rollicking fun. Ole Miss has gathered the most first place votes, with a talented squad led by QB Jevan Snead and Oxford will play host to Alabama, LSU and Tennessee, with Florida or Georgia nowhere in sight. If Greg McElroy is as prepared to lead the Crimson Tide as he believes, those that choose Bama to win the West should be correct. Coach Les Miles has always been unafraid of change and brought in top notch coaches like John Chavis (14 years at Tennessee) to improve his defense. Check with Bookmaker.com for the latest odds. These Tigers will be trouble. This is still the best conference in football by fair margin. (Did you guess that was Tim Tebow pic?)

MAC-East
1) Buffalo
2) Bowling Green
3) Temple
4) Ohio U
5) Akron
6) Kent State
7) Miami-O

MAC –West
1) Central Michigan
2) Western Michigan
3) Northern Illinois
4) Ball State
5) Toledo
6) Eastern Michigan

Analysis- The MAC conference has its up and down years and this could be one of the not so great years with five new coaches among the 13 universities. What last season proved is mediocrity or losing, won’t cut it in the MAC anymore. This conference needs to put fannies in the seats and have teams that play well with all it’s weekday televised games during the course of the season. Buffalo created vast excitement, winning the East Division and is the odds-on choice to repeat, with Bowling Green and Ohio U. snagging first place votes. In the West Division, the two best quarterbacks in the league reside on that half of the ledger. Dan LeFevour will once again be at the helm for Central Michigan, while Tim Hiller is under center for Western Michigan. None of the rest of the squads are presumed to compete for West crown. Everyone is still scratching their heads at Ball State, why Brady Hoke left his alma mater to coach San Diego State. At best a lateral career move for Hoke.

Sun Belt
1) Troy
2) Arkansas State
3) Florida Atlantic
4) Middle Tennessee State
5) UL-Monroe
6) Florida International
7) Louisiana- Lafayette
8) North Texas
9) Western Kentucky

Analysis- Maybe it’s the nickname Trojans, but Troy has the same appeal in the Sun Belt Conference that USC has out West, being unanimous choice. Troy joined the Sun Belt in 2004 and has won three championships in a row. Coach Larry Blakeney recruits well, sets high expectations and hits the road to play top teams like Florida this season. The league as a whole is improving and Arkansas State and Florida Atlantic are part of that development. The Red Wolves are loaded at skill positions, while the Owls are flying with confidence, having won six of last seven contests a year ago, including the Motor City Bowl upset of Central Michigan. Middle Tennessee State has 19 starters back, however many played as freshmen and sophomores. The Blue Raiders have upset potential if Dwight Dasher emerges as quarterback. The remaining group will try to avoid last place, hoping its newest member Western Kentucky, will occupy that spot in 2009.