#15 Illinois
The Fighting Illini would have been BCS bound if Rashard Mendenhall had stayed. They are still good enough to make a major bowl game but the questions at running back, linebacker and tough schedule make them third best in the Big 10. Never the less, Juice and Arrelious Benn will be very entertaining to watch. They have a lot of depth at receiver so Illinois’ hope is that RB Danny Dufrene can maintain a solid yards per carry average as the team’s #1 back. The defense took some hits in the off-season but the defensive line is very solid and they should shut ‘run first’ teams down. The schedule kills their chances of a big time bowl with games against Missouri, at Penn State, at Wisconsin and Ohio State. 9-3
#14 Texas
The Longhorns are usually a staple inside the Top 10 but they lost too many key players from last years team to break inside this season. The bright spot should be Heisman candidate Colt McCoy. He has been learning on the job the last two seasons and should really do well this year despite the lack of experience around him. While the offense should be decent, and sometimes exciting, the defense has a lot of holes. They were one of the worst teams against the pass last year and have a new defensive coordinator. Look for Texas to blitz a lot. The schedule looks pretty much as it does every season. They do have a very tough stretch where they play Oklahoma in Dallas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, at Texas Tech and two weeks later at Kansas. It wouldn’t surprise me if they finished 6-6 this season but McCoy is too talented. 9-3
#13 LSU
The domination of 2007 is gone. Gone is Early Doucet, Matt Flynn, Glenn Dorsey and Craig Steltz. Gone is the QB of the futue Ryan Perrilloux. However, the Tigers are loaded with young talent led by QB Andrew Hatch. While he won’t set the world on fire, LSU QBs just need to be good game managers and he should be an excellent one. The defense will have problems stopping the talented offense teams in the SEC. They are very young and are going to make the typical mistakes young defenses make. Over a 4 week period they play at Auburn, at Florida and at South Carolina. Then, a week later, they meet the SEC favorites Georgia in Baton Rouge. 9-3
#12 Texas Tech
This could be your dark horse team in 2008. The offense only lost one starter and under QB and Heismann hopeful Graham Harrell. They have a phenomonal recieving corp led by Michael Crabtree and a solid run game led by Shannon Woods. The defense, while far from dominating, is efficient. The only weakness on that side of the ball is stopping the run but the young, talented group of linebackers TT has should do a fine job. The schedule is as tough as it comes. This is the only reason I didn’t take Texas Tech inside my Top 10. They have a relatively easy non-conference schedule, which hurts them in the BCS voting, and then it gets brutal. They play Nebraska, at Texas A&M, at Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma St. and at Oklahoma. That is as tough a stretch of games as you will find. 9-3
#11 Arizona St.
Arizona State has a REAL chance to up end USC this season. They have the offense, defense and coaching to do it. So, what will stop them? They are the only one’s that can stop a run at the PAC 10 and National Title. Really! QB Rudy Carpenter is a future NFL QB and has a great group of guys surrounding him. On defense they have a stellar front four that will wreak havoc on most of the passing teams in the PAC 10. The only thing that could stop them is inconsistent run play or injuries on the lines. The schedule is tough but they should be able to handle it. The most difficult stretch should be the middle of the schedule where they play Georgia, at Cal, at USC and Oregon. 9-3
