So Who's in the 2010 Title Game?

Thought I'd give you a little background music this time around.  Adds to the ambiance.  Plus it makes me want to drink, so if it does the same for you, then maybe it'll make my articles more bearable.  You know what else would make my articles more read-worthy?  Ashley Greene, body-painted, all up in this bitch.  You're welcome.  (click them for best, um...experience)

So this morning there was a gameday special with Dez, Fowler, Corso, and Herbie.  I had another nickname for Corso, but my reserved table in Hell is hot enough.  Anyway, it was your usual prediction deal, but unlike the CBS guys, the ESPN analysts seem to actually watch the football games, so they didn't all just say Alabama vs Ohio State in the BCS Championship, which was refreshing.  Sure, I'd obviously enjoy a second straight season if the Tide got there, but come on, there are 119 other teams and absolutely nothing happens if you're wrong, so throw some shit out there.  Be original.  Hell, I'm thinking more teams will be losing more games than they think - damn near all of them - so I'm over here thinking what happens when Iowa will be the #1 seed and because of the above statement, either an undefeated Boise State or TCU will be forced into the BCSCG.  Now how boring slash unfair slash irrelevant would that be?  Maybe it would take something like that for the big wigs to actually change the BCS system to a plus-one or playoff.  I mean seriously, how awesome would a college football playoff be?

Breakdown:

Desmond Howard - Alabama vs Miami 

Lee Corso - Nebraska vs Florida

Kirk Herbstreit - Florida vs Oklahoma

Joker Report - Okay, here's my thing.  Auburn fans clearly have no idea how to do this, so I'm going to  make it bold: you can't base your entire season on ONE FUCKING PLAYER.  If anything happens, be it a blown out ACL or another stolen laptop, then what happens to the Tigers?  Barrett Trotter will come to the rescue?  Really?  What happens when Ryan slams a Mallet(t) on his throwing hand?  What happens when Terrell Pryor slips on a banana peel and shatters his coccyx?  HELL YEAH I just used that word.  I'm eliminating one-man teams from any sort of championship, so I suppose that means Iowa or Wisconsin wins the Big Ten.  Bama or LSU, not Auburn or Arky, plays Florida in the SECCG.  Anyway, we'll get into arguments later, my prediction is:

I still don't know.  Let's try to do this mathematically.

  Alabama/Florida - the odds say that whoever loses first will probably win the second time, and have enough time to work themselves back into the championship picture.  So this one is a tossup, assuming Bama can scrape by all the tough SEC West opponents.  We'll say both here have one loss.

  Ohio State - I think Miami beats the Buckeyes.  A - cuz I just feel like the Canes are explosive enough to do so, and can be up enough for one game to pull the upset, and B - cuz fuck Ohio State, that's why.  If this is the case here, at LEAST one loss for OSU on the year.

Boise State - I'm on record saying they beat VT, and other than Oregon State, would you look at that horseshit schedule?  Undefeated in my book.

Texas - On record saying Oklahoma will beat them, and Nebraska will, too.  Longhorns are out, and Mack should be, too (as head coach at least...he should stay and "recruit").

TCU - Undefeated.  Period.  And here we go again with these stubborn non-BCS conference teams that can't help but keep winning.

Oklahoma/Nebraska - Winner of Big XII CG here has a chance to go undefeated. 

Iowa - I honestly think Kirk Ferentz throws down, the cornfed and boring way, and goes undefeated - BUT, logic throws that one bad game in there to give them one loss.

Virginia Tech - One loss to Boise State, shouldn't lose another with Ryan Williams going buckwild.

And that's just the Top 10, people.  Talk about a logjam at the end for BCSCG rights, this may be the year where the natives finally get off their asses and start throwing molotov cocktails at the BCS system.  Honestly, if what I said above holds true (fat chance of my being 100% correct, but go with me here), then how am I supposed to pick the championship game participants?  I don't know what they'll  be ranked when they lose, or how deserving the undefeated guys are, or even how to arbitrate a decision for or against an undefeated non-BCS team or teams versus a one-loss BCS team or teams.  What a confusing, steaming pile of shit college football will be in December.

But alas, I feel I should choose two teams that will best represent college football in the 2010 BCS National Championship, so drumroll please...

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1-loss Alabama vs an undefeated Nebraska.  LSU undertones of Nick Saban vs Bo Pelini.  Crimson and White versus Red and Cream.  Dominant defenses who have been put through the ringer of SEC and Big XII play, only to face their toughest competition in the big game.  Who's the loss for Bama?  Who knows. 

It's tough for me, on this date, in this position, as an Alabama fan, to say that Bama wins the whole thing - and to be believed as reasonable, non-biased, and thoughtful of the entire college landscape.  But what if I truly thought that they were the best team this year?  Honestly speaking, if I felt like Ohio State was really the best all-around team in the land, I'd tell you.  But I just can't say it'll be Team A instead of Alabama, just to "seem" non-homer to the casual readers.

For starters, our offense will be disgusting this year.  Up until this very frick-frackin paragraph, I have not thought much about our offense.  We have a defensive mindset as a fanbase, and always have.  But this year, if my hunch about McElroy holds true, you can't stop us.  Nobody can.  I know most people think Julio Jones will just continue to underachieve and drop passes - but what if he doesn't?  What if 2010 is where Julio steps outside his own critical thoughts and just plays ball like he instinctively knows how to.  Only Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara will have the slightest chance.  And tell me something, who's supposed to stop Ingram and Richardson?  You can't.  Sure Bynes can shadow Ingram and do a very good job at it.  But what happens when Saban brings Blake Sims as shotcaller, in pro set, with Mark and Trent to either side.  Shyeah, try stopping that option with Julio blocking on the second level.

Yes, our offense will be the one carrying Alabama to the title game, giving our defense game after game to work out the kinks and gel as one cohesive unit.  If Saban can turn around Marquis Johnson's game, AND get him drafted...what do you think he's going to do with the starting 5-star cornerback tandem of BJ Scott and Dre Kirkpatrick?

Now I'm sure Tiger and Volunteer fans will read this with a grimace.  Their thought processes through the whole explanation was of how arrogant and conceited Alabama fans have grown to be, not giving anyone else a fighting chance.  That's not what I'm saying at all.  I think the SEC West will be tough as shit this year - I did say we'd have a loss - but the fact that we have been winning and stockpiling talent this whole time is enough to keep us at the top right now.  Next year could be a completely different story, but we're talking about this year.  See how that works?

Aaaaanyway, I'm sure this will bring much debate, so bring it.  I haven't spoken much with folks about football lately, only that we're all eager to get started, so this is a welcome reprieve from work and "real life".  Gimme your predictions in the comments, and if you want a guest spot to talk more about it, let me know.

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Comments

[El Matteo]

1.

Can't wait. You are wrong for that naked dude picture. Also, can someone tell me what drugs Herbstreit is taking. Auburn? Winning the West? WTF?

[Joker]

2.

Someone else on Gameday Live I believe picked Auburn to win the west as well. I won't knock them until I see them play, but the constant Newton and recruiting class talk is damn near overwhelming. I need to find an 80 year old Auburn fan who's been through it all, and ask him what he thinks of the upcoming season. Do those guys exist?

[AUoptimo]

3.

You can admit Auburn will be very dangerous if Newton is as good as advertised. BUT that is a huuuge "IF." I am just excited the "if" will be turning into "is" or "is not" beginning next Saturday. Either way, the SEC west is murders row this year. I think Auburn will have early success but lose 2 or 3 SEC games down the stretch.

My championship game is Florida vs. Va Tech. UA will go undefeated in the regular season (again) and beat the inexperienced Bradley at home early in the year. But he will come back and beat UA in the SEC championship (and vault ahead in the ranking similar to 2008). VA tech will beat Boise and have an easy road until winning tough road games at UNC and Miami. Va Tech and TCU are both undefeated but TCU is the weak conference snub (because the BCS powers that be will not allow itself to be exposed).

[Joker]

4.

I'll admit Auburn can be dangerous all day and all night. They're our rival and they hate us and they have an offensive coach that uses space to beat defenses. That's a deadly combo...but can they get through the gauntlet before coming to our house? It's really hard for fans or opposing fans to know exactly what they're capable of, so it really is a "wait three weeks and see" kind of deal with them.

I can see your UF/VT scenario panning out. I do see Florida getting to the big game your way, too. I told Matt that I really like Brantley's attitude and tempered cockiness, so if he can sling it like I'm hearing, watch out. VT...for me, it's just hard to see them not fuck up somehow, be it Tyrod or a defensive slip up.

If your Florida meets my Nebraska in the end, just like Corso said, will the world blow up?

[El Matteo]

5.

I am about to shock the world...

My championship game is Bama and last year's Heisman vs. Pitt and this year's Heisman, Dion Lewis.

Done deal.

[Breck]

6.

First off, since when did "Bradley" get a team? I know that they have made a couple of appearances in the NCAA's for basketball but I just didn't know they pulled a Georgia State on me. Anyway, I agree with AUoptimo that they will probably be "inexperienced" then, but I don't see them getting a last minute addition to the Bama schedule so I am a bit lost...

Speaking of "The Secret of My Success", Brantley will shake, rattle and roll his way (PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER) to a very impressive season in my opinion but, unlike my dear Plains wandering friend, I actually think that UF's best shot at Bama will be the first one. 1) I don't see Saban letting THIS team lose a championship game (of any kind for that matter) and 2) playing Florida in between Arkansas (away) and South Carolina (away) is tough any way you slice it. Demps is obviously fast, the D will be good (as always...or at least lately), Meyer is a helluva coach, and Brantley will actually prove to be a better QB than Jesus (I didn't say Fullback), but, and it pains me to say it, Tebow used to get those guys fired up when needed and I just don't see that spark from the new guy.

As for Virginia Tech, every year I think they will live up to the hype and they always seem to blow it. 2010 is no exception as I see them blowing the first game of the year and then finishing third in their own conference (SEE FSU, UNC and maybe even Ga. Tech). Call me Hokie, but I just can't show any love to the boys from wherever the hell Blacksburg is.

Nebraska...ummmmmm no. I think that Texas and Oklahoma are still the class of the Big Whatever You Call It and it will show. Boy Named Suh is gone, that Gilbert kid is better than Colt McCoy, and OU has some big boy weapons again. I see the winner of the Red River Shootout taking one of the spots on the train to AZ.

As for TCU, I think they probably go undefeated but they won't play for the championship unless the SEC Champ has 2 losses. That's just the way it goes and I don't see the SEC Champ (UF or Bama) being in that situation.

The only team that, apart from a few sleepers, could really screw up the BCS (again) is Boise State and they honestly have as good a shot as any team to get to AZ. I think they get by Virginia Tech in the first game but I could see them losing (yes, on the blue turf) to Oregon State if their backfield goes off like it could.

Pittsburgh, what can I say about the Steelers? The coach has a sweet 'stache? Apart from that, I see them probably losing 3 games and, while there is no denying Neon Dion Lewis looks good in the highlight reels and will make some subpar defenses in the Big East look bad, he will have a seat in NY but no trophy to show for it. Who knows though? That is why preseason predictions are so awesome because, given recent history, there is really no way to predict.

With that being said, let me tell you what is going to happen. I am saying Bama or Florida (unless the champ has 2 losses, then Boise State/TCU) and UT/OU winner, so basically (let's cut thru the B[C]S) we will be watching Bama and Texas in a rematch of last year.

Sleepers for 2010:

Watch out for the following teams to screw some stuff up: Iowa, Miami, Georgia Tech (if they ever learn how to pass the ball...period), and Arkansas (if they learn to play any semblance of defense).

To all an enjoyable season. Good luck...even to San Jose State

[El Matteo]

7.

I never was any good at predictions. I only know about one team. After that, I'm toast.