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5
Teams with a chance other than USC
Hey
there! This is Lucky Lester back again for
quick title contenders run through. Unlike
every other title contender article in the
world, you won't see USC flashing their
Trojan around the screen here. USC is good,
yes, but they aren't deserving of what they're
getting. College football is one of the
best sports in the world, and the biggest
reason is because a team like underdog Ohio
State can win in double overtime against
The Miami University on any given day. Mark
my words, hurry; while they're hot, USC
doesn't win the National Title this year.
If you take that as truth then follow me
through a quick look at 5 other teams that
could take the trophy.
IOWA
Hawkeyes
National
Ranking: 11
Important
Games: Iowa St., Ohio St., Illinois, Purdue,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Outlook:
The Hawkeyes have all it takes for a National
Title run. Drew Tate, Iowa's starting signal
caller, is touted as the best in the Big
10. Last year the Hawkeye's running attack
was decimated by injuries, leaving the Hawkeye
offense as balanced as an offensive tackle
and a kicker player teeter-totter. Needless
to say, there's room for improvement. Kirk
Ferentz is one of the best and most consistent
coaches in the land, so he'll have his Hawkeyes
ready to go week in and week out playing
one of the toughest schedules in college
football. Wide receiver, Ed Hinkel is one
of the most underrated players at his position.
He's big enough to get every job done, and
his hands are as sure as the sun shines.
Last season the Hawkeye defense was one
of the top units in the country. With huge
losses Matt Roth and Jonathan Babineaux
off to the NFL, it will be hard pressed
for Iowa to get back to the top of the mountain.
But if they find a way with youngsters like
Bryan Mattison and Chad Greenway, they might
just climb their way to a Title birth. Antwaan
Allen, who has started every game the last
three years, will be suspended for the season
opener against Ball St., but he'll be back
on the corner for the rest of the season.
Don't forget the Hawkeyes.
Virginia Tech Hokies
National
Ranking: 8
Important
Games: Georgia Tech, Maryland, Boston College,
Miami, Virginia
Outlook:
Late in the season the Hokies play four
preseason top 25 teams in a row. If they
can stick to their early winning ways, and
play tough at home against Boston College
and Miami, the Hokies have a very real chance
to finish the year atop college football.
I'm not just following the hype of Mike's
younger brother Marcus Vick. Oh no, I'm
not betting all my marbles on Marcus. But
with his talented group of young receivers,
and Frank Beamer calling the shots, Marcus
might just be in line to do something his
brother never did, win a National Title.
The buzz has floated around that Marcus
throws better than Mike did at VT, and his
running ability isn't far behind. Plus,
he's not left-handed. One point for Marcus!
Many people are saying that Beamer's defense
lost a few too many important athletes to
be the defensive force they have been. Ha.
Frank Beamer gets the best out of what he
has, and he always does a hell of a job
tricking good athletes into coming to Virginia.
Don't count Beamer's boys out, as they have
the talent, and the elite super star to
find themselves looking down at the rest
at years end.
Arizona
State
National
Ranking: 20
Important
Games: LSU, USC
Outlook:
"Wait one minute!" you say, "How
can you have Arizona State having a chance
at the title, and not even mention USC?"
Okay, I'll mention USC. They are the paper
champions. Bush, Leinart, and they were
champions a year ago. Well, let me tell
you, one of the most impossible things to
do in sports is repeat. Take that to heart,
and then multiply that by 10 when you talk
about college football. That being said,
USC doesn't play anybody ranked in the top
10. So, if they lose, they should be out.
Who's going to beat them? Arizona State.
If Arizona State takes LSU down early, and
it could happen with what's going on in
New Orleans down south, then the only game
they have left on the radar is USC. Arizona
State lost Andrew Walter, but Sam Keller
will turn out to be much better than expected.
The Sun Devils have a phenomenal freshman
runner, and return most of a decent defense
a year ago. If they find a way to beat the
heavily favored Trojans in their fourth
game, the Devils will find all they have
to do is beat up on the rest of their weak
Pac 10 conference. The Washingtons, the
Oregons, and then the undefeated season
is there. Who knows, it could happen.
Florida Gators
National
Ranking: 10
Important
Games: Wyoming, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU,
Georgia, and Florida St.
Outlook:
Everyone in the world is writing off the
young and talented Gators, but why? They
upgraded their coaching staff when they
added Urban Meyer, returned their biggest
star in quarterback Chris Leak, and as if
that wasn't enough they returned 8 starters
on a defense that was as fast and athletic
as any other team in the nation. Sure, write
them off. I'll pick them as one of my top
5 surprises and if they make it, I can frolic
about gloating about like Pacman Jones in
Titan camp. For now, listen closely. Chris
Leak is one of the biggest talents at the
college level. Some like to question Chris'
ability to pick up Meyer's complicated offense
in his first year, but they don't know Chris.
Leak has the greatest work ethic and study
habits of any college athlete I've ever
heard of. Leak has dedicated himself to
college football from the day he signed
with Florida. He'll be the best signal caller
Meyer's ever seen, mark my words. And that
defense that struggled last year, don't
expect a repeat performance. They return
8 of 11, that ain't bad. Did I mention the
Gators possess one of the best receiving
corps in the nation, led by Chad Jackson?
Well they do. Florida has one of the toughest
schedules I've seen, but they'll be hosting
FSU and Tennessee in The Swamp. Watch their
first game, it should be a big test, Wyoming
is no Saturday snorkel.
Texas Longhorns
National
Ranking: 2
Important
Games: Ohio St., Oklahoma
Outlook:
It looks like a lot of Young in Texas. I
don't mean the maturity level, but they
certainly are a young team. When I say young,
I mean super athlete Vince Young and future
star Selvin Young. You might remember Vince,
overshadowed Cedric Benson in a big bowl
victory last year, was named the MVP, this
guy many have said has all the talent in
the world if he could learn to throw. Well,
he's all of that. He'll have his most productive
passing season of his career, and as a Junior,
he has the best shot in the country at leading
his squad of stellar ball players to a National
Title. And then there's Selvin. Many will
start the season asking who the touchdown
happy back in Texas is, few will finish
without knowing Selvin Young. Young has
done all it takes to fight himself back
into the starting backfield a year after
breaking a foot that needed 11 screws to
get back together. "There's not really
anything I can't overcome," says Young.
I believe him. After only one loss and a
Rose Bowl win a year ago, Vince Young is
ready to one-up the outcome... in more ways
than one. Mack Brown won't be begging for
a Championship Bowl bid this year, he'll
be able to keep his mouth shut, and he'll
get there anyway.
Lucky Lester
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