More NCAA previews

Big Ten/Conference USA Previews

Big Ten (http://www.bigten.org/)

The Big Ten takes on yet another new look this season a few years after adding Penn State as the eleventh team. Nebraska is now a full-fledged member of the conference and there will be a conference championship game this season.

Ohio State will not be as strong after an off season of disarray while Michigan State and Wisconsin look to be conference and BCS contenders. Here is a look around the league:

In the Legends Division, Michigan State looks to be the team to beat. The Spartans finished on a sour note, being trounced 49-7 by Alabama in the Florida Citrus Bowl. The only regular season loss came on the road at Iowa in a strong 11-2 overall campaign. This season the team visits a Notre Dame team at South Bend on September 17 that will be looking to avenge last year’s overtime loss in Lansing. Then in October the team faces a season defining four game stretch with games at Ohio State, home to in state rival Michigan, home to Wisconsin and at new comers Nebraska. The Spartans will also be travelling to Iowa for a danger game in November. Overall, Michigan State should be one of the teams in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game.

If the Spartans falter, Nebraska could easily step into the top spot. The Cornhuskers enter the fray after going 10-4 last season. This seasons schedule is totally new except for what is essentially a rubber match with Washington, a team that Nebraska destroyed in the regular season but was surprised by 19-7, in the Holiday Bowl. The Huskers will be tested on the road at Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan. They will however host tough opponents Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa at home. With no Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma on the regular season slate, Nebraska is looking for a better won-loss record and possible BCS spot.

Michigan and Iowa could pull a few surprises in the Legends Division and are strong candidates for bowl games.

In the Big Ten’s Leaders Division, Wisconsin welcomes the addition of former NC State quarterback Russel Wilson to an already strong team. The Badgers should parlay the advantage of seven home games into a berth in the Big Ten title match and a BCS berth. The Badgers travel to Michigan State in October seeking revenge for last season’s only conference loss. Another BCS Bowl game would give Wisconsin a chance to redeem themselves for last year’s late game deflected pass loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl. Other schedule highlights include a visit from Nebraska in October, a trip to Ohio State and a season ending visit from Penn State.

Other bowl possibilities from this division are Penn State and Illinois.

Look for a second game between Wisconsin and Michigan State for the conference title…at a push I will give the slight edge to the Badgers to take the crown.

Conference USA (http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/)

Last season, Conference USA sent five teams, Central Florida, Tulsa, Southern Miss, SMU and East Carolina went to bowl games. This season, the toll of early games against Top 25 teams and the infighting of conference play may cut into that number.

In the East Division, Central Florida does not face any team ranked in the preseason Top 25 but does play quality non-conference teams Boston College at home and Brigham Young on the road. The Knights are favourites again to play in the conference championship from this division.

East Carolina hosts South Carolina, VA Tech and North Carolina at home before jumping fully into the conference slate. The Pirates are always going to be dangerous and could compete for a conference crown if they do not get too banged up in the first few weeks.

Southern Miss should also go bowling again but are a long shot for the conference title.

In the West Division, Tulsa faces three teams ranked in the preseason Top 10, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Boise State in their first four games. From there, the high octane Golden Hurricanes should run through their division to a conference championship game birth.

SMU may sneak into a bowl berth again this season after last year’s success.

Look for Central Florida to meet Tulsa for the conference championship with Central Florida taking the crown.

NCAA Big East

Big East Preview

Next up in college previews is a look at the Big East Conference (www.bigeast.org).

Last year, I suppose you could say parity prevailed with six of the eight conference teams’ final win-loss record finishing between 7-6 and 9-4. There was a three way log jam at the top with Connecticut, West Virginia and Pittsburgh finishing the conference slate at 5-2. UConn, by virtue of wins over both West Virginia and Pitt received the conference’s BCS bid. The Huskies were trounced 48-20 by Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. This season, the Huskies have to travel to both West Virginia and Pitt so the road to a repeat conference title may be bumpier.

West Virginia is looking to consolidate last season’s 9-3 regular season record. The Mountaineers will again present a tough defensive front for any opponent. After opening with in state rivals Marshall, West Virginia will make the short trip to Maryland to face the improved Terrapins in week three before hosting Top 5 squad LSU at home the following week.  The Mountaineers should battle their way through the conference season, getting bot UConn and Pit at their home stadium. Trips to Syracuse and South Florida could be stumbling blocks on the way to an outright Big East title and BCS berth.

Pittsburgh will be pressed to equal last season’s 8-5 mark. The Panthers face tough road games at Iowa and West Virginia in addition to hosting Notre Dame, Utah, South Florida and Syracuse. The Panthers should play in the post season but not as conference champs.

In Syracuse, the Orangemen will be out to improve on last season’s 8-5 record. A cross country trip to USC on September 17 will be a major test but will put the team on the national stage. In conference, the Orangemen host West Virginia in October and end the season with a trip to Pitt. If West Virginia slips, Syracuse could snatch the conference title and BCS berth.

The South Florida Bulls start the season at Notre Dame and will go in looking to shock the Irish. To improve in the conference, the Bulls will have to beat one of the top four (UConn, W VA, Pitt or Syracuse).

As for the Big East Champions, I will go with West Virginia and warn others, don’t take South Florida lightly.  

Big 12 Preview

NCAA Preview Continued

Ok, back with more of my NCAA picks for the 2011 College football season. 

Big 12 (www.big12sports.com)

Yes it is still called the Big 12 though there are only 10 teams left after the defection of Colorado and Nebraska. There will be no conference championship game this year so conference games will weigh heavier than in the past.

Oklahoma kicks off the season as nearly everyone’s pick to win the BCS Championship fresh from a 12-2 record last season. The Sooners face a stern challenge early on with a visit to Florida State followed by a home test against Missouri, a team that beat them last season.

Oklahoma State comes in looking for another strong showing after an 11-2 campaign in 2011. The Cowboys will not have to face Nebraska this season and hope to pick up an extra win against last season’s bowl opponent Arizona. The Cowboys are hoping to get to the season finale against Oklahoma with a chance to win the conference title.

Texas A&M will be looking to avoid a disaster stretch like the three losses in the middle of last season. The Aggies will have to be consistent throughout the season to be a factor in the conference. Their schedule is littered with tests from within the conference so there will not be room for meltdowns.

The Baylor Bears who finished last season with four consecutive losses could be the surprise packets of the conference this season. Winning a game in the months of November, December and possibly January will be a must.

Texas needs to bounce back after a sub-par 2010 season. Though not a conference championship contender, this team could be a factor in determining the title. Kansas State and Missouri, while maybe not title contenders, could upset the contenders on any Saturday and possibly be postseason bowl participants.

All in all, look for the winner of the Oklahoma-Texas A&M game to win the conference. For spoilers, look to Oklahoma State and Baylor.

High School football picks for my slice of Virginia

High School Football Peg!!!

What does one do while sitting in Australia on a Friday morning watching repeats of Married With Children?? Start to anticipate high school football of course! My high school football of choice happens in the Piedmont District of Virginia’s Timesland Region which is covered by the Roanoke Times, Martinsville Bulletin, BTW21, WDBJ7, Friday Football Extra,  VarsityCast and Martinsville Media.  

I will be consulting my trusty “Chrystal Ball” to predict games each week beginning with usually ten high school games including all games involving Piedmont District teams and selected others. I will also be doing the Fearless Forecaster picks at VarsityCast.

So here we go with VHSL week one:

Piedmont District:

Carroll County @ Bassett

Bassett wins again this season after a close one last year, Bassett by 8.

Heritage @ Magna Vista

Magna Vista comes in loaded once again and should get by Heritage easily at home. Warriors by 18.

Martinsville @ Brookville

Brookville seems to always be strong but pretty much an unknown quantity. Martinsville will be better this year but will lose on the road. Brookville by 4.

Patrick County @ North Stokes, NC

This may be Patrick County’s best chance for a win this season against a team they nearly beat last year. North Stokes by 10.

Tunstall @ Dan River

The annual Pittsylvania County rivalry will again go to Dan River by 12.

Other Games:

Roanoke Catholic @ Carlisle

Maybe a Carlisle/Patrick County game is in order for future seasons? At least one would get a “W”. This year Catholic comes in and wins by 20.

Bluestone @ Chatham

A truly blind pick….I’ll say Chatham by 3.

William Fleming @ Franklin County

Franklin County by 20.

Amherst County @ Northside

Could be a VHSL Playoff preview…Amherst by 13.

Cave Spring @ William Byrd

Cave Spring by 22.

OK, back next week with more and to see how I went....

C.D. Starrz Football Blog: Preview Time!!!

C.D. Starrz Football Blog: Preview Time!!!: "‘Tis the Season Well, it is finally that time of year again after a bit of uncertainty with the NFL lockout, football season is upon us w..."

Preview Time!!!

‘Tis the Season

Well, it is finally that time of year again after a bit of uncertainty with the NFL lockout, football season is upon us with preseason games kicking off Friday morning Aussie time. But before I delve too far into the pro game (I will do my season picks, etc. towards the end of the preseason), I will start off with a look at the NCAA and do a round of the conferences so here we go:

ACC (http://www.theacc.com)

Florida State and Virginia Tech look to be the prime candidates to meet for the ACC championship in December. The Florida State crew finished 10-4 last season including a bowl win over South Carolina to end the season. The teams do not meet in the regular season in 2011 but the Seminoles will face tests at home against Oklahoma in Week three and Miami November along with finishing the regular season with a visit to Florida.

Virginia Tech comes into the 2011 season after an 11-3 record last season. After two tough losses to Boise State and James Madison, the Hokies powered through the regular season before getting thumped by Stanford in the Orange Bowl. The Tech schedule this year seems favourable with the tougher games at home against Clemson, Miami and North Carolina.

Among the other ACC teams, Clemson, Miami and North Carolina are all bowl possibilities.

For the ACC Championship…look for a replay of last seasons VA Tech-Florida State game with Tech holding on again and completing a possible undefeated regular season.

Ok…I’ll be back over the next few days with more.