Thoughts on the new season

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Florida vs Miami is less than a week away. The season is HERE! Are you ready?

 

Okay, so here are some thoughts.

 

We've got some teams that have been very good for a few years, but not yet quite over the hump. The question is, do they make the jump this year?

 

1. Michigan. This team has had a good defense in recent years, but they've been stagnant on offense. The QB Patterson has high potential, but he's been hobbled by a pro style offense. But now, a new offensive coordinator who is moving the team to a spread, more dynamic offensive style. Patterson unleashed. Can Michigan produce enough offensive fire power to overcome their defensive losses, and beat Ohio State, Michigan State and Northwestern, to win the Big 10, making it to the playoff? I'm not a fan of Harbaugh, but I'm not a fan of Ohio State either. I'd be happy if they all eat each other alive during the season. Despite Michigan's high rankings, I just don't see it.

 

2. LSU is always a terror defensively, but they have sucked offensively for such a long time. But this year, they have an offensive coordinator who is supposedly moving to a more dynamic offensive scheme. Burrow is a veteran QB. Can LSU defense maintain its dominant game, and the new offense generate enough points to topple Bama, Auburn, A&M and Florida?

 

3. Florida always has a stout defense. The problem has been offense. But in the latter part of last season, Felipe Franks and the Florida offense stepped up, beat the s*** out of Michigan. Mullen is now in full flow. Has he got Franks up to the challenge? We will see next week when Florida plays Miami, but the big test will be Florida vs  LSU and UGA. Is UFA fr real?

 

4. UGA has had recruiting classes right up there with Bama and Clemson. They have talent equal to any team in the country. The problem is their tired offense. Yes, they have had great RBs year after year. The QB (Fromm) has been fine in the pro scheme as a game manager. They just haven't had explosiveness offensively. Can they find a stud player to give them that great break out answer?

 

5. Oklahoma has been amazing offensively for years, but they have just not been able to field a defense that can stop anybody at all. With a new defensive coordinator, can they figure out a defense? Alternatively, Texas has gotten a lot of press about their great improvement. And fact is, they beat UGA in the bowl game last year, worse than the score suggested. It's a good team. Will they rise up and beat out Oklahoma for their conference, and can they make it to the playoff?

 

6. Out west, that Oregon QB Herbert is the #1 Heisman contender going into the season. Stud RB, triple-stud OL may be the best in the NCAA, good receivers. The question is, can they play defense? And can they show up week after week? They have that PAC12 patsy conference schedule, with only Utah as a genuine opponent. Of course, in the PAC12, patsy teams beat contender teams because ..... nobody knows. If this Oregon team beats Auburn in their opening game, they could potentially make the playoff. Or not. Because ya know, PAC12.

 

7. Notre Dame may actually have to play some decent teams this season. Playoff? Nope!