The 2009 UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS College Football Preview (Mid Majors & Independents)

It's that time of the year and finally, I have time to give you my opinions of the 2009 College Football Season. I know everyone wants to hear how I think the SEC is going to pan out. However, I only want to wet your appetite for the time being. I save the best for last and the worst for first. That explains why my first blog of the 2009 Football Season will focus on the Conference USA, Sun Belt, WAC, MAC, Mountain West, and of course the Independents. Don't worry, I'm not going to make rocket science out of conferences that you could care less about. I can decipher these conference on their own short paragraph.

Here goes nothing........

Taking a look at the Western Athletic Conference is pretty much a no-brainer with few surprises. Boise State is once again on the watch list for one of those teams to bust up the BCS. The Broncos do have the easiest road to make that happen again. The only games I could see that could give them some trouble would be Oregon Sept. 3, @ Tulsa Oct. 14th, @ Louisiana Tech Nov. 6th, and at home versus Nevada on Nov. 27th. The Nevada Wolfpack looks to be the only team to dethrone the dominate Broncos, but that is wishful thinking. Colin Kaepernick is the best QB in the WAC and they return 13 other starters, but it's a tough mountain to climb for the Pack this year. A sleeper team that could bust up the WAC conference is Louisiana Tech. They return 16 starters with an O-Line that combines for 91 career starts. Their non-conference schedule is tough and could leave them battered and bruised, but watch out for the Dawgs from Ruston, LA, they might bite a few hands. Many people have Fresno St. as Miss Congeniality in the WAC, but I'm not seeing it. With only 10 starters returning and very brutal non-conference schedule, I can only see the Bulldogs being bowl eligible.

WAC Projections

Boise St. 11-1 (8-0)
Louisiana Tech 7-5 (6-2)
Nevada 8-4 (6-2)
Fresno St. 6-6 (6-2)
San Jose St. 5-7 (4-4)
Utah St. 4-8 (3-5)
Hawai'i 4-9 (2-6)
New Mexico St. 1-11 (1-7)
Idaho 0-12 (0-8)


Troy is the obvious pick in this conference, and for good reason. Larry Blakeney has taken this program from a D-II powerhouse into a Mid-Major powerhouse in the FBS. I'd like to pick Florida Atlantic to take this conference but the lack of defense for the Owls gives the Trojans my edge in this conference. A team that could break the cycle in the Sun Belt is the mighty Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee. The Red Wolves of Arkansas St and UL-Monroe could also be lurking in the shadows to make a few surprises.

Sun Belt Projections

Troy 10-2 (8-0)
Middle Tennessee 6-6 (6-2)
Florida Atlantic 8-4 (6-2)
Arkansas State 6-6 (5-3)
UL Monroe 5-7 (4-4)
Florida International 4-8 (3-5)
Louisiana 3-9 (2-6)
North Texas 1-11 (1-7)
Western Kentucky 1-11 (0-8)



I'd like to meet the few people that actually picked Buffalo to win the MAC last season. I, along with many others, drank the Central Michigan koolaid and overlooked the fighting Letterman's of Ball St. If you thought this year would be easier to pick, you're wrong. Dan LeFevour is back for the Chippewas of Central Michigan who also return 10 of their defensive starters. Western Michigan is picked behind them in the West, but their defense leaves me with many questions. I like Toledo to be the buster of this division. The Rockets only lose 7 letterman, return 7 defensive starters and they play something called defense, which is rare in the MAC. Forget about Ball St. making a repeat run at the West, they lose alot of experience and could be a long season. In the East, Phil Steele likes the Ohio Bobcats, but the media likes Buffalo or Temple. Everyone forgets about Akron who returns 15 starters and has a combined 85 career starts on the O-Line. Although I think Ohio will make a run at the East, I go with the Zips with the Bobcats and Temple Owls following not far behind. I expect Central Michigan and Akron to meet for MAC title with Central Michigan making up for a disappointing missed trip last year.

MAC Results

West

1)Central Michigan 8-4 (7-1)
2)Toledo 7-5 (6-2)
3)Western Michigan 7-5 (6-2)
4)Northern Illinois 6-6 (4-4)
5)Ball St. 5-7 (3-5)
6)Eastern Michigan 1-11 (1-7)

East

1)Akron 8-4 (6-2)
2)Ohio 8-4 (6-2)
3)Buffalo 6-6 (6-2)
4)Bowling Green 5-7 (4-4)
5)Temple 5-7 (3-5)
6)Kent St. 3-9 (2-6)
7)Miami (OH) 0-12 (0-8)


If you're looking for explosive offenses and no defense, this conference is for you. The media is high on East Carolina and Houston. However, against my will, I'll stick to some Phil Steel logic on this one. Tulsa loses their offensive co-ordinator, QB, RB, and #1 WR this season. I expect them to be down. There's not much talk about Southern Miss. being a BCS buster. Their non-conference schedule consists of Alcorn St., UCF, Virginia, and @ Kansas. Although, I could see them winning all four of them. I picked them to go 10-2 and 7-1 in the conference. Mike Price may finally turn the curve and get UTEP into the Championship game. Their toughest conference games against Houston and Tulsa are at home, and they avoid Eastern Carolina and Southern Miss. With 19 starters returning,the best defense in the conference, and if DeAndre Brown can stay healthy; I like Southern Miss to edge East Carolina and beat UTEP in the Championship.

C-USA Results

West

1)UTEP 10-2 (7-1)
2)Tulsa 8-4 (6-2)
3)Houston 9-3 (6-2)
4)Rice 3-9 (2-6)
5)SMU 4-8 (1-7)
6)Tulane 1-11 (0-8)

East

1)Southern Miss 10-2 (7-1)
2)Eastern Carolina 9-3 (6-2)
3)Memphis 6-6 (3-5)
4)UCF 5-7 (3-5)
5)Marshall 4-8 (3-5)
6)UAB 0-12 (0-8)


The Mountain West may have an argument to grab a piece of the BCS pie as 3 teams are ranked in the Coaches Poll while no Big East teams ranked. This conference will come down to 3 very good teams. Phil Steele likes BYU while the media likes TCU. Has everyone forgotten about that team that whipped Alabama into submission in last year's Sugar Bowl???? Yes, I'm talking about the Utes. I know that they play BYU and TCU on the road this season. I like the Utes but one thing really stuck out to me. Until last year, Utah had never beaten TCU and BYU in the same season. Although Utah may have lost Brian Johnson, the O-line still has 74 combined starts to TCU's 57 and BYU's 23. If you're looking for a fourth team that may make some noise, look for Air Force to get bowl eligible. I like the Utes to repeat as Mountain West Champions to capitalize on the momentum of last years undefeated season.

Mountain West Results

1)Utah 12-0 (8-0)
2)BYU 9-3 (7-1)
3)TCU 11-1 (7-1)
4)Air Force 7-5 (5-3)
5)Colorado St. 5-7 (3-5)
6)UNLV 5-7 (2-6)
7)San Diego St. 5-7 (2-6)
8)New Mexico 1-11 (1-7)
9)Wyoming 2-10 (1-7)


INDEPENDENTS



I wouldn't expect Army to finally snap their losing streak against Navy, but I do expect some improvements since going back to the option offense. Their schedule is very favorable as it is filled with very vulnerable teams. Some projections have them going 1-11, but I am very optimistic. Plus they have favor with me after unveiling those bad ass digital camo uniforms. If the breaks are just right, Phil Steele calls for a winning season. I like them around 4-8 or possibly 5-7.



Although The Midshipmen lose 28 lettermen, they have the benefit of an average schedule. Besides non-conference games against @ Ohio St., Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, and at home against Wake Forest; Navy has 8 games they can win. Even with only 36 career starts on the offensive line, they still return 7 defensive starters. I see the Midshipmen going 9-4 at best and worst case scenario 6-7.




Finally, the most important FBS Independent, The Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Last year was a moderate improvement from their 3-9 season in 2007. Jimmy Clausen passes behind an O-Line with 100 career starts. If the Irish can stay healthy, I look for vast improvements this year, or Charlie Weiss will probably get the boot. Some experts have Notre Dame a Darkhorse to compete for the National Title with a favorable schedule. I can see the Irish around 9-3, possibly 10-2 with a possible bid into the BCS.

Later this week I will preview THE BIG EAST!!!!