Time to find out
No. 1, unbeatens, national champ, Heisman -- let's go
Posted: Friday September 04, 1998 05:27 PM
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Michigan coach Lloyd Carr seems to have his opposite's number: He has defeated John Cooper's Buckeyes eight of the past 10 games AP |
By John Donovan, CNN/SI
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- For sheer pageantry, few sports can match college football.
This season, though, the pomp and circumstance has been injected with computer rankings, the BCS, quartiles and all sorts of stuff that has nothing to do with pulling guards or school spirit.
So, to straighten out the whole mess, here's CNN/SI's nickel package of football questions, observations and predictions heading into the 1998 season.
Five burning questions
Who's No. 1, and how did they get there? The new bowl system -- the Bowl Championship Series -- guarantees that the two top-ranked teams will meet in the national championship game, which this season is scheduled for January 4 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Not everyone's happy, but the new system (click here for a quick explanation) will prevent the dual champion problems of last year, when undefeated Michigan was voted No. 1 by the Associated Press writers' poll and undefeated Nebraska got the nod from the coaches. It's still possible we could have two undefeated teams not playing for the national championship. But the odds are a lot longer.
But who's No. 1 now? It really doesn't matter, now, does it?
Can John Cooper beat Michigan? Mark down November 21 to find out the answer to that one. Clearly, Ohio State has had its problems with its nemesis to the north. Anyone in Columbus can tell you what 1-8-1 means. Cooper has won two Rose Bowls (one each at Arizona State and Ohio State) and always has his teams near the top. The Buckeyes are the preseason No. 1. But in Columbus, and now in much of the country, he and his team will be judged by what they do against the Wolverines.
Kansas State in the Top 10? Believe it. The Wildcats finished No. 8 last year, at 11-1, capping off their fifth straight winning season. They've long-since shed their 10-losss seasons. Still, they have to beat Nebraska (which they haven't done in 30 years). And that schedule -- which includes non-conference foils Indiana State, Northern Illinois and Northeast Louisiana -- isn't helping their cause any. Remember, strength of schedule is a factor in the new Bowl Championship Series.
What is the best conference in college football? Like we're about to touch that one. Let's just say this: In the preseason Top 10, there are three Southeastern Conference teams, two Big Ten teams, two from the Big 12, a couple from the Pac-10 and one from the Atlantic Coast. So, yeah, we like the SEC from top to bottom. But, at the top, it's tough to top the Pac-10 and Big Ten.
Can a defensive player win the Heisman again? If Ohio State's Andy Katzenmoyer picked off 10 passes and had 20 sacks, the folks at the Downtown Athletic Club probably still wouldn't give it to him. Michigan's Charles Woodson used up all the defensive chits last year. Instead, look for Texas' Ricky Williams (who may set the NCAA career rushing record) and a trio of quarterbacks -- UCLA's Cade McNown, Kentucky's Tim Couch and Central Florida's Daunte Culpepper.
Five teams that could go undefeated - really
Florida State. Yeah, the Seminoles have Florida, but that game's in Tallahassee. Their other potentially tough game is against North Carolina. Also in Tally. And the Tar Heels never beat FSU.
Arizona State. The Sun Devils open at home Saturday against Washington. The rest of them are really, really winnable. Except those darn Wildcats of Arizona, whom they face November 27 in Tucson.
UCLA. Last year, the Bruins were the best team in the nation by the end of the year. They have a real good chance of being undefeated going into Seattle on November 14. If they can nip the Huskies then, it'll be hello, national championship game.
Ohio State. West Virginia could give them a test in the opener, and there's always those confounded Wolverines of Michigan. But the Buckeyes' toughest games (besides West Virginia) are at home. And they clearly have the talent.
Nebraska. That opening performance against Louisiana Tech didn't prove much. The Cornhuskers play Washington and Missouri at home, and Kansas State in Manhattan. Utterly winnable, one and all.
Five games that will make a difference
Washington at Nebraska , September 26. The last time the Cornhuskers lost at home was in 1991 -- to Washington.
Florida at Florida State, November 21. Florida bumped FSU out of the national title game last year, but Gators coach Steve Spurrier is 0-3-1 in Tallahassee.
Michigan at Ohio State, November 21. Cooper is 1-8-1 against Michigan.
UCLA at Washington, November 14. McNown vs. Washington's Brock Huard.
Arizona State at Arizona, November 21. Arizona beat ASU last season, knocking them from the Fiesta Bowl to the Sun Bowl.
Five fearless predictions
1.) Five teams won't go undefeated.
2.) At least one undefeated team won't make it to the Fiesta Bowl.
3.) John Cooper will get the Michigan monkey off his back.
4.) UCLA will play for the national championship.
5.) And so will Florida State.
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