I know it's early, but give me a prediction . . .

Terry in Crapchester · Sat Jul 07, 2007 12:12 pm

Since it's the offseason, and there still isn't much to talk about, where do you see your team going bowling this year?

I would have to guess that ND is going to the Gator Bowl. That's based on me figuring ND will be 8-4 this year -- not good enough for the BCS, but good enough that the Gator Bowl definitely would consider us. Of course, that's not an ironclad guarantee by any stretch of the imagination. If we're either better or worse than I expect, that would change the equation.

It's also possible that ND could finish about where I expect them to finish and still miss out on the Gator Bowl. The scenarios that could make that happen:

- Gator Bowl is locked into either Georgia Tech or Fredo as the ACC representative: Both of those teams are on ND's schedule this year, and the Gator Bowl probably won't want a regular season rematch. If they have a choice, the Gator would pass on either of these teams for ND, but it's possible, depending on how the ACC regular season plays out, as well as the selection of the Chick-fil-A bowl, that under the one-loss rule, the Gator Bowl could be locked into one of these teams, or a choice between the two (last year, the Gator was locked into Georgia Tech).

- A one-loss team from either the Big East or the Big 12 misses the BCS: This is possible, but somewhat unlikely particularly if ND misses the BCS. The best-case scenario for this to happen would be Rutgers, Louisville and West Virginia all splitting the games between each other and running the table on the rest of their schedules. That would give the Big East three one-loss teams, and a maximum of two could go to the BCS.

- Oklahoma, Texas or Nebraska finishes with two losses and misses the BCS: Probably the most likely scenario to knock a 8-4 ND team out of the Gator Bowl.

Of course, given ND's bowl arrangements, in the abstract the idea of ND fatigue always comes into play with respect to the Gator Bowl. But ND hasn't been to the Gator Bowl since the '02 season, so that's not a concern this year.

L45B · Post by **L45B** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 6:27 pm

Part of me thinks that Jim Tressel is good enough to coach tOSU into a BCS bowl this coming season. A solid defense returning, a young stud RB, a green WR corps and a first-year starter at QB. Sounds eerily familiar to '02, but I still think this group lost too much leadership (not to mention pure talent) from last year.

I think the safe bet is to expect the Capital One Bowl, with a possible rematch vs. Florida. Michigan should be the favorite to win the Big Ten, and if Lloyd can find a defense they might have an outside chance at the BCS championship game.

My prediction going into 11/17:

UM 6-1 (L to Wisky or MSU)
UW 5-2 (L to tOSU & PSU)
tOSU 5-2 (L to PSU & Purdue/Ill/MSU)
PSU 5-2 (L to UM & Illinois)

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 6:58 pm

what's the deal again with the Gator Bowl option with the Big XII. i was kinda surprised they didn't take Nebraska last year....you have a fanbase hungry to travel, a name team like NU....etc.

Oklahoma:

i don't think anyone goes undefeated in the South. i'll say 10-2, on the Holiday/Cotton Bowl/play Hawaii in the lowest BCS bowl cusp (just what we need, to play the next non-BCS juggernaut). hard to really go higher than that with no QB experience and i expect the offense to be conservative to the point of fan bitching (who am i kidding, OU fans bitch about everything). team has upside, but no one has a clue will start at QB and it's a 3 way battle headed into fall practice. probably be Bradford. Halzle looked good in the Spring game, Nichol is probably the future. people forget Bradford was ranked almost as high as Nichol before he committed early to OU. local kid.

Stoops will try and win with the run game and D. try and limit possible QB mistakes. a little like 01, but with a better OL, not as good D. though, the D should be pretty salty. the 01 D was really great.

schedule sets up good: MU, OSU, and ATM in Norman.

Terry in Crapchester · Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:10 pm

King Crimson wrote:what's the deal again with the Gator Bowl option with the Big XII.

Gator Bowl has the option of taking either the #2 team from the Big XII (actually first non-BCS selection), #2 team from the Big East (same as for Big XII), or Notre Dame, if ND doesn't make the BCS. Sun Bowl has to take the opposite, i.e., Sun Bowl must select a team from the Big XII if the Gator Bowl takes a team from the Big East or ND, and must select either a team from the Big East or ND if the Gator Bowl takes a team from the Big XII. Gator Bowl's Big XII selection is the #2 selection, but Sun Bowl's Big XII selection is the #5 Big XII selection. By contrast, either the Gator or the Sun Bowl gets the #2 Big East selection.

The Gator Bowl's Big XII option is not unlimited. They can select a Big XII team a maximum of twice in the four-season timeframe beginning with last season.

Imho, ND was a big factor in this arrangement.

i was kinda surprised they didn't take Nebraska last year....you have a fanbase hungry to travel, a name team like NU....etc.

West Virginia typically travels extremely well to any bowl game, perhaps better than Nebraska. And fwiw, West Virginia's ranking in the final BCS poll was higher than Nebraska's, although West Virginia certainly doesn't have the name recognition that Nebraska does.

Imho, the deciding factor was the fact that the Big XII option is not unlimited. The Big East exceeded the expectations of most people last season. I think the Gator Bowl wanted to make sure they had the Big XII option still available in the event the Big East later had a down season.

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:30 pm

To expand on that a bit further, the Gator Bowl agreement with the Big XII lasts for 3 more season, 2 of which WILL send a Big XII team to Jacksonville. Conversely, the Big East will be going to the Sun Bowl in 2 of the next 3 seasons.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:58 pm

My prediction is that Domerfan will continue their reign as the most myopic, irrelevant piece of has-been in the entire wide world of sports.

Q, West Coast Style · Post by **Q, West Coast Style** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:10 am

Some quick Pac-10 thoughts that I may or may not hold myself to by the start of the season . . .

Brady Leaf will beat out Dennis Dixon for the starting job at QB and then lead Oregon to the Pac-10 championship.

The loss of Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith will hurt John David Booty more than the pundits are stating. USC will lose twice in conference play.

Alex Brink will throw for over 3500 yards and is MVP of his 7-5 Wazzu team's bottom tier bowl, thereby saving Bill Doba his job.

Once again Cal will be pretty good. Once again they won't win the Pac-10.

UCLA will not live up to expectations and KD will be canned at season's end.

Without Matt Moore and Sabby Piscatelli, Oregon State will suck.

Dennis Erickson plays too much golf and gets stopped for DUII in Tempe. ASU is mediocre.

UA hangs around in the hunt for awhile so the stakes go up in their later season games. Mike Stoops drops dead from cardiac arrest during a game. UA plays the next week on TNT. Craig Sager covers sideling reporting duties in a black suit.

Stanford goes 0-9 in conference play. UW goes 1-8.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:33 am

Arizona is supposed to be going-with a Taco Tech style offense, it will be interesting to see how Tuitama, Mike Thomas, and company do in the first year. It only did a little for Baylor but Zona actually has some talent to work with.

I see USC depending on the D and running more this year with Jarret and Smith gone. They will be very hard to beat but some week they won't come to play and will be ripe for an upset. It is just a matter of whether pac-team-x can finish business that week.

I don't know what to expect from UCLA, they'll probably play above their heads against USC again and play like shite against some scrub. Maybe the new OC makes a difference but I'll guess 7-5 since their noncon is bereft of creampuffs.

Washington was a respectable team last year before Stanback got hurt. This year will be a major struggle, their sched just sucks. My guess is 4-8 or 5-7.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:33 am

Arizona is supposed to be going-with a Taco Tech style offense, it will be interesting to see how Tuitama, Mike Thomas, and company do in the first year. It only did a little for Baylor but Zona actually has some talent to work with.

I see USC depending on the D and running more this year with Jarret and Smith gone. They will be very hard to beat but some week they won't come to play and will be ripe for an upset. It is just a matter of whether pac-team-x can finish business that week.

I don't know what to expect from UCLA, they'll probably play above their heads against USC again and play like shite against some scrub. Maybe the new OC makes a difference but I'll guess 7-5 since their noncon is bereft of creampuffs.

Washington was a respectable team last year before Stanback got hurt. This year will be a major struggle, their sched just sucks. My guess is 4-8 or 5-7.

SoCalTrjn · Post by **SoCalTrjn** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:18 am

USC is @ Oregon on Oct 27, that seems to be the game that will most likely trip the Trojans up. The team also has road games at Cal and ASU in November but USC has played in November under Carroll. They have a week off after Cal as they play @ ASU on Thanksgiving then a long week before ending with a home game vs UCLA

@ Notre Dame, @ Oregon, Oregon State and @ Cal in consecutive weeks seems to be the gauntlet and I think the Trojans lose one of those 3 away games and Im guessing its Oregon and we get to see another group of fans charge the field after a conf win.

Look for the name David Ausbery a lot next year, he and Vidal Hazleton will need to step up @ WR and Patrick Turner is going to need to meet expectations. Herschell Dennis and Chauncey Washington are both healthy and they with the kids will lead a very good USC rushing attack. If the WRs dont often enough hit look for a lot of passes to Joe McKnight as USC may use him much like they used Reggie his frosh year.

Terry in Crapchester · Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:49 am

MuchoBulls wrote:To expand on that a bit further, the Gator Bowl agreement with the Big XII lasts for 3 more season, 2 of which WILL send a Big XII team to Jacksonville. Conversely, the Big East will be going to the Sun Bowl in 2 of the next 3 seasons.

I was under the impression that the Big XII was only an option, not mandatory, for the Gator Bowl. I could be wrong about that. If that's the case, ND being headed to the Gator Bowl could be a longshot this year. The Gator Bowl may be looking at a Big XII team this year. In that event, I see 8-4 landing ND in the Sun Bowl, or possibly in the Cotton Bowl (I believe the Cotton still has an option to take us in lieu of the SEC representative).

To expand a bit farther, we could be on the cusp of the BCS if we exceed my expectations by a little bit. 9-3 is a longshot for the BCS, though. We'll start the year unranked, which is a hindrance. And the schedule, while certainly respectable, does not shape up as a tremendous worldbeater, at least not for now. 9-3 could get us in the BCS if our losses are against USC, Michigan and Penn State; AND if USC and Michigan both finish in the Top 5, Penn State finishes in the Top 10, and at least a few teams we beat (Georgia Tech, Purdue, Fredo and UCLA are the best possibilities) finish in the Top 25. Otherwise, we'll need 10-2 to even be eligible for BCS consideration. That means an upset win against either Penn State or Michigan, both of which are on the road this year (I'm assuming USC will be a loss).

peter dragon · Post by **peter dragon** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:52 am

L45B wrote:Part of me thinks that Jim Tressel is good enough to coach tOSU into a BCS bowl this coming season. A solid defense returning, a young stud RB, a green WR corps and a first-year starter at QB. Sounds eerily familiar to '02, but I still think this group lost too much leadership (not to mention pure talent) from last year.

I think the safe bet is to expect the Capital One Bowl, with a possible rematch vs. Florida. Michigan should be the favorite to win the Big Ten, and if Lloyd can find a defense they might have an outside chance at the BCS championship game.

My prediction going into 11/17:

UM 6-1 (L to Wisky or MSU)
UW 5-2 (L to tOSU & PSU)
tOSU 5-2 (L to PSU & Purdue/Ill/MSU)
PSU 5-2 (L to UM & Illinois)

Rack you for calling UM at 6-1 but not calling a loss to UM on tOSU's schedule.. if Lloyd doesnt beat tOSU this year I dont know if he gets another season to try..

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:30 pm

Terry in Crapchester wrote:I was under the impression that the Big XII was only an option, not mandatory, for the Gator Bowl. I could be wrong about that. If that's the case, ND being headed to the Gator Bowl could be a longshot this year. The Gator Bowl may be looking at a Big XII team this year. In that event, I see 8-4 landing ND in the Sun Bowl, or possibly in the Cotton Bowl (I believe the Cotton still has an option to take us in lieu of the SEC representative).

The way I understood the agreement was that the Big XII would be playing in Jacksonville in 2 of the 4 seasons and the Big East would go to El Paso in 2 of the 4 seasons.

I believe the Gator Bowl was protecting themselves from the Big East because they didn't think that the league would rebound that quickly from the conference realignment and the prospect of not getting ND if they went to the BCS. I think the Gator Bowl now realizes that they would be all right since WVU and Louisville would bring a good number of people there. Rutgers would also bring a good number of their fans. I'm sure that when Syracuse turns things around they would travel well. As much as a longshot that USF would be to play there, I know we would bring a a very good number of people there. We'd bring a good deal more if the opponent was FSU.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:54 pm

Danimal wrote:Washington was a respectable team last year before Stanback got hurt.

Yeah, the Washington Stanbacks did OK while Stanback was healthy. I swear that dude should have won the Heisman -- his team was OK when he played(even cracked the top 25, IIRC), and weren't even worthy of an OOC game with the SEC once he went down.

They damage NewWeasel did is being undone, slowly but surely, but the Fuskies better hope they find an off-the-chain QB if they hope to win more than one game.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:46 pm

My expectations are high for Michigan State.

The Spartans will be well rested, and will make multiple trips to the Toilet Bowl as they watch all the good teams play on Digital Cable.

Mr T · Post by **Mr T** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:52 pm

Hoping Jimbo gets us back...

at Clemson W
UAB W
at Colorado W
Alabama W
NC State W
at Wake Forest W
Miami-FL W
Duke W
at Boston College W
at Virginia Tech L
Maryland W
at Florida W

ACC Championship
Virginia Tech W

Orange Bowl
West Virginia W

13-1

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:08 pm

Dinsdale wrote:
Danimal wrote:Washington was a respectable team last year before Stanback got hurt.

Yeah, the Washington Stanbacks did OK while Stanback was healthy. I swear that dude should have won the Heisman -- his team was OK when he played(even cracked the top 25, IIRC), and weren't even worthy of an OOC game with the SEC once he went down.

They damage NewWeasel did is being undone, slowly but surely, but the Fuskies better hope they find an off-the-chain QB if they hope to win more than one game.

They didn't crack the top 25. And good luck to them getting back in there, considering Ty doesn't like to recruit.

BlindRef · Post by **BlindRef** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:03 pm

Our schedule is nice...8 home games.

Our away schedule is ok, with games at Wisky, Sparty, Illinois and Northwestern.

Henne and Hart are seniors.

This may be Lloyd's last year.

Therefore...

12-0, BCS Championship game.

QED.

Cornhusker · Post by **Cornhusker** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:13 am

Terry in Crapchester wrote:West Virginia typically travels extremely well to any bowl game, perhaps better than Nebraska.

So what's your sayin' is ND fans' memory doesn't stretch back ..oh, let's say about 7 years?
Oh, BTW, bowl games are pretty much bigger deals than your typical roadie. Least wise for us.
We'd know, seeing as how we've had far much more experience in the matter than Domers and Mountaineers.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:40 am

Wow. That's a sweet pic.

Terry in Crapchester · Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:02 am

Cornhusker wrote:
Terry in Crapchester wrote:West Virginia typically travels extremely well to any bowl game, perhaps better than Nebraska.
So what's your sayin' is ND fans' memory doesn't stretch back ..oh, let's say about 7 years?
Oh, BTW, bowl games are pretty much bigger deals than your typical roadie. Least wise for us.
We'd know, seeing as how we've had far much more experience in the matter than Domers and Mountaineers.

That was Bob Davie for you. And $128 will buy you a lot of beer at Linebacker Lounge, sayin'.

But I'm not quite sure how you stretched a comment that West Virginia "perhaps" travels better than Nebraska to bowl games into that, particularly when I mentioned the tie-in to the Big East for at least two of four seasons and the relative success of the Big East last season as being the most likely reasons the Gator Bowl chose West Virginia over Nebraska last year.

PSUFAN · Post by **PSUFAN** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:57 pm

Wow...sorry Domers, but Cornhusker just went apeshit yard on you.

RACK

the_ouskull · Post by **the_ouskull** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 2:57 pm

I love football season. It's time to shake the pussydust off of this board. :D

the_ouskull

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:33 pm

the_ouskull wrote:pussydust

No reason to drag Terry's wife into this, dude.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:20 pm

Yeah, there were a shit ton of husker fans there, but that pic is wytched.

But Terry is right, that's what Bob Davie gets you. Oh well.

SoCalTrjn · Post by **SoCalTrjn** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:36 pm

werent that many Husker fans in LA last year, they were pretty much just up in the corners behind the sun deck

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:29 pm

Nebraska wasn't number one in the country, and you didn't have Paul Hackett as your coach. Add those two together, and I'm sure there would have been a Husker fan sitting in your seat.

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:49 pm

The expectation level is pretty high for USF this season. We return 16 starters from last years team (18 starters from the Bowl game). The early season has a couple of real tough games @Auburn (9/8) and vs. WVU (9/28), so we'll find out real quickly where we stand. The only other difficult road game outside of the Auburn game is when we travel to play Rutgers (10/18). We have Louisville (11/17) at home, which should help us.

I'm hopeful that the expectation level will not affect the team that much since we are still relatively young. If Grothe stays healthy and we have any form of a running game, then we should be good enough to win 9-10 games. That should be good enough for an outside shot at a BCS game depending on how the Big East plays out. However, I see us going to Charlotte to play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl again.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:47 pm

Killian wrote:Nebraska wasn't number one in the country, and you didn't have Paul Hackett as your coach. Add those two together, and I'm sure there would have been a Husker fan sitting in your seat.

that Husker-Irish game went into OT as i recall. all things being equal, not a bad showing from Paul Hackett's Irish. :wink:

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:10 pm

King Crimson wrote:
Killian wrote:Nebraska wasn't number one in the country, and you didn't have Paul Hackett as your coach. Add those two together, and I'm sure there would have been a Husker fan sitting in your seat.
that Husker-Irish game went into OT as i recall. all things being equal, not a bad showing from Paul Hackett's Irish. :wink:

Fuck that pussy bitch. Sits on the ball to go to OT against the #1 team in the country. At least he didn't tell the team that they were making him look bad. Well, he didn't say it that game.

SoCalTrjn · Post by **SoCalTrjn** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:51 am

Killian wrote:Nebraska wasn't number one in the country, and you didn't have ^%$# *&^%*&& as your coach. Add those two together, and I'm sure there would have been a Husker fan sitting in your seat.

Leave he we dont speak of out of this, that name isnt brought up in civil discussions

Terry in Crapchester · Thu Jul 12, 2007 11:58 am

SoCalTrjn wrote:
Killian wrote:Nebraska wasn't number one in the country, and you didn't have ^%$# *&^%*&& as your coach. Add those two together, and I'm sure there would have been a Husker fan sitting in your seat.

Leave he we dont speak of out of this, that name isnt brought up in civil discussions

Would have been the same thing with Ted Tollner as your coach. Or Larry Smith. Or John Robinson, second time around.