Below are five of my 2009 season predictions. Yea...maybe a bit out there but we've seen stranger things. It could happen...
1. Florida does not finish #1. Most polls have them listed #1 based on their number of returning starters and their favorable schedule. But it's dang difficult to repeat...even for Florida. And though they have plenty of defensive depth (returning all starters AND back-ups) they are really just one solid sack away from losing Tebow.
2. Colt McCoy takes the Heisman. Sure...most are already leaning towards Tebow and Bradford but I think McCoy has quietly been putting together the right mix of dramatic play and off-field commentary to swing just enough voters his way.
3. Surprise Teams 2009: BYU finally goes to a BCS bowl. I've seen it before...teams think they are in a re-building year and lo and behold they start winning and can't stop. Wins over OU and FSU would provide confidence and momentum for the rest of their season, sealing a place in the ever-growing list of BCS Busters.
4. The PAC-10 Gap Widens. In 2008 five P10 teams went to bowls...and won. The other five didn't even qualify for a bowl. The Pac-10 is NCAA's third world economy (rich and poor - no middle incomes). I think in 2009 that gap will simply widen with even fewer bowl eligible teams and continued dominance by the select few.
5. The Big-10 Exposed. In 2009 more NCAA fans will recognize the patsiness of the Big-10 and realize that power college football has moved from the north-east and mid-west to the south and west.