Season kicks off in 2 weeks, non-conference schedule topic of debate...agian.

New Year’s Day is just a couple of weeks away as most of the schools in contention open the 08’ campaign with division II quality competition. However, thanks to App State’s “Big House Shocker” they may not be taking them too lightly. It does raise the question of the top schools quality of schedule. Is this going to be another year where the zero in the loss column is compensation for a +150 in the RPI equivalent? Ohio State has been the focus of such controversy over the last couple of years compounded by the weakness in the Big-10. This year they oscillate from one spectrum to the other as they have three cupcakes (Youngstown St., Ohio, Troy) for stat builders, then travel to play the best team in the nation on the battle ground of Downtown LA. However, answering the critics will hurt OSU this year as they will drop the game The Coliseum, (prediction 3-1). Meanwhile, the pre-season number one Georgia has cakes G-Southern, Central Michigan, and also goes out west to play a Pac-10 school in Arizona St. which will not be easy. (prediction 3-0). Oklahoma is not taking on much risk with Chattanooga, Cincinnati, and a rebuilding Washington team, again going out West (prediction 3-0). Lastly, I understand the top to bottom toughness of the SEC but the Trojans have just a strong a case as if the Pac-10 is down this year, SC has more than made up for it by adding Virginia and the afore mentioned Ohio St. in game two, and will be rewarded by a BCS Title game bit if they can get through the Pac (prediction 2-0). Are patterns forming as schools seem to have not fear to come out west and take on the Pac-10 in their cribs? Will this be the statement year that the SEC and Big-12 have been waiting for? To basically send a message that the best football is played there and even a one-loss SEC has more merit in the NCS than an undefeated school from a “sub-par” conference?

Is there another Appalachian State on the horizon?

When Appalachian State upset Michigan in the Big House last year, many were calling it the biggest upset in the history of college football. The Maze & Blue have never lived it down and it may be a few decades before they do. What might ease their pain or take some of the heat off, is if the feat happens to someone else. We looked at some potential games this year where that could be the case and here are the potential upset specials, but don’t hold us to it.

Charleston Southern at Miami
Firstly, this is the type of game that “Nicky the Fish” looks forward to as the Canes’ may be looking ahead to Florida on Sept 6th. Big spread but it’s athletes vs. athletes in this one.

Western Illinois at Arkansas
WI returns 18 starters and has the experience to play though the ether of ruckus crowd take the 24+ points in this one.

Western Michigan at Nebraska
My favorite, the Black Shirts are like the Jedi, all but extinct, Ralph Brown (1999) was the last of their religion. Now they are just another team an can be scored against.

Best chance for the “talk of the year” upset – Northern Iowa at BYU
Remember BYU is predicted to go to a BCS game this year so this would be a big upset, but NI beat Iowa State last year and has many seniors and returning starters. The Cougars might be thinking about the UCLA game when this rolls around.