Who is for real?

By Brian Wisowaty

I suppose this is part two of the previous post, and the time to get into who may emerge as a BCS contender this year.

Preseason rankings have been set for a few weeks, and the bowl projections are starting to trickle in. It can be clearly seen that a few programs are expected to run through their respective conferences and head into the national championship game.

But, even the casual sports fan knows this doesn't work anymore. The BCS system, amid annual controversy, and the strength of dangerous conferences (SEC fans, be prepared for a wild ride) can assure a fun filled fall until December and the plethora of bowl games. Until then, all we can do is analyze the top 25 and figure out who has some "staying power".

The top five and "cream of the crop": Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio State, USC, Georgia

Florida has quarterback gem Tim Tebow who may be enough, along with ultra-athletic Percy Harvin, to propel the Gators back into the title game. I am not convinced, however, that UF can survive a tough conference schedule including a four-week span featuring at Tennessee, at Arkansas, and vs. LSU. Oklahoma is my dark horse pick to take the championship, mainly because of they seem much better than fellow Big 12 competition. And, on a local note, stay cognizant of Georgia HB Knowshon Moreno of Middletown South (Middletown, NJ) High School. He's may already be the nation's best running back in his second year as a Bulldog. Most overrated in this group is USC, as per to an untested quarterback core of Mark Sanchez and Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain. But, playing in the Pac 10 will help them out greatly. Ohio State stays the perennial power with a talented defense and definite home-field advantage.

Rest of the top ten: Missouri, Clemson, West Virginia, LSU, Auburn

Clemson has the best running back duo in the ACC, with James Davis and C.J. Spiller. They are the class of the conference, and anything but the conference title would be a letdown. Food for thought: the next ACC team in the top polls in Virginia Tech, pegged in the 20-25 range. West Virginia can benefit from a Big East in limbo, with teams like Lousiville suffering a setback. Pat White and Noel Devine are just a more talented QB/HB tandem than Rutgers or South Florida have to offer. Louisiana State opens its title defense in 2008 with three easy contests before traveling to Auburn, a Sept. 20 showdown and marquee game for both squads. Missouri, once again due in part to a shaky conference, can emerge similar to Oklahoma. Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin form a quarterback/wide out team that can put up points quick.

It's expected that your national champion will come from this top ten group. I'll go with the Sooners to take it all in early 2009.

Meanwhile, the Heisman watch never stops. In a short but brief analysis, keep an eye out for:

Pat White, West Virginia (favorite; will torch lower-level Big East teams)

Tim Tebow, Florida

Matt Stafford, Georgia (at quarterback, his numbers might be down if Moreno eats up TD's and stats)

Dark horse: Joe McKnight, Southern California (if the quarterbacks are shaky, and Sanchez cannot recover fully from a recent dislocated kneecap, this halfback can put up some big numbers)



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