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Sept. 3, 2004This is the fourth of a five-part series by sports writers Drew Williamson and Matt Richards on The Associated Press Top 25 poll.
10. West Virginia Mountaineers
Drew's Outlook: The way the Mountaineers played Miami last season will forever be etched in my mind. For a team that has been usually associated with football mediocrity, West Virginia almost went into the house of then No. 1 ranked Miami and beat the 'Canes on national television. Instead the Mountaineers lost by two in the final minutes. However, they came away from the game with much needed confidence and footage of the greatest stiff arm of all time.
Drew's Prediction: The Big East is there for the Mountaineers to take. Quarterback Rasheed Marshall and running back Kay-Jay Harris lead the Mountaineers to a 10-1 record and a Big East title.
Matt's Outlook: The Mountaineers are emerging as a BCS contender after sharing the Big East title last year. However, much of West Virginia's conference competition -- Miami and Virginia Tech -- is shipping out or the Atlantic Coast Conference. This means fewer top-tier teams for West Virginia to face during the season.
Matt's Prediction: Double threat senior quarterback Rasheed Marshall received a medical redshirt, allowing him a sixth year of eligibility. The Mountaineers will have a big season but against second-rate teams.
9. Ohio State Buckeyes
Drew's Outlook: Coach Jim Tressel has handled the Maurice Clarett saga brilliantly. Distractions now aside, the Buckeyes can concentrate on playing as a team once again. The defense should be strong this season, especially against the run, as last years crew allowed a stifling two yards per carry.
Drew's Prediction: What makes Ohio State's team more qualified than Michigan? Coach Tressel's team is young and returns only nine starters. I realize I'm going out on a limb here, but the Buckeyes finish 6-5.
Matt's Outlook: Writers in the Big Ten tried to pawn off Ohio State's championship as a fluke. Now, with quarterback Craig Krenzel graduated and former running back Maurice Clarett's case overturned, the Buckeyes can simply play football. Ohio State hopes the elimination of distractions transfers into wins for this motivated, blue-collar Buckeye squad.
Matt's Prediction: I think Ohio State will win the Big Ten title, forever proving that Tressel produces winners - not flukes. OSU over Michigan and Iowa for the title.
8. Michigan Wolverines
Drew's Outlook: Senior receiver Braylon Edwards chose to stay in Ann Arbor rather than opt for the NFL Draft. Now that Mike Williams is gone Edwards could challenge OU's Mark Clayton for the best target in the country. Steve Breaston and Jason Avant provide even more depth and create the most talented receiving corps in the country.
Drew's Prediction: Coach Carr has more conference wins than any other coach in the Big Ten. For the second straight year, the Wolverines will win the conference title and will finish 10-1.
Matt's Outlook: Here's my disclaimer -- I despise Michigan football. I think the Wolverines are the most over-hyped and under achieving team in the nation. Every year, there's talk about how this is Michigan's year. The problem is that every year, they find a way to lose the big one. Two years ago, it was Ohio State. Last year, it was USC. I wonder which team will fill the bill this year?
Matt's Prediction: If they couldn't get it done last year, they sure can't get it done this year. I don't think the Wolverines can recover from the loss of running back Chris Perry. OSU will take the Big Ten, with Iowa finishing a close second.
7. Texas Longhorns
Drew's Outlook: Same song, different tune. If the Longhorns beat Oklahoma, they will win the Big 12 championship. Head Coach Mack Brown and his team have lost a ton of talented receivers over the last two seasons and that hurts sophomore quarterback Vincent Young's chance to finally get his head on straight. Linebacker Derrick Johnson, a Waco native, could be a top five draft choice next year.
Drew's Prediction: Oklahoma will be able to put eight or nine guys in the box to contain Benson, and the Horns will fall once again at the Cotton Bowl. Texas finishes 9-2 in Mack Brown's second to last season.
Matt's Outlook: How long till the Longhorns continue squandering the best talent in college football under head Coach Mack Brown? How many Cotton Bowls and Red River Shootout losses will it take? Anybody could and should have won at least one national championship with this group. Hope may be on the way in 2005. Rumor has it Spurrier may be interested in Texas.
Matt's Prediction: Like death and taxes, it's a sure thing Texas will choke the big games away. Sorry Mack, but the housecleaning of old coordinators aren't going to save you. Texas will lose to Oklahoma, which means Brown is history.
6. Miami Hurricanes
Drew's Outlook: The Hurricanes have arguably the most daunted front lines in the nation. On both offense and defense, the Hurricanes are bigger and stronger than almost everyone they will face. Senior quarterback Brock Berlin will be under less scrutiny this year and should improve on his touchdown to interception ratio.
Drew's Prediction: It won't be long before college football fans are able to see a couple of powerhouses collide. Miami will open the season by hosting Florida State on Monday. Miami wins it in a close one, and wins its first ACC title by finishing 10-1.
Matt's Outlook: The Atlantic Coast Conference championship is a two horse race between the Hurricanes and Florida State. History gives the edge to Miami, who has won the last five meetings between the two teams. However, with only nine starters returning from last season, things could be different in 2004.
Matt's Prediction: Senior quarterback Brock Berlin threw five more interceptions than touchdowns last season. Miami will learn just how tough it is in their new conference, falling to Florida State and finishing second in the ACC.
5. Florida State Seminoles
Drew's Outlook: Has Chris Rix finally matured into the person he needs to be to lead this team? That question will be answered soon enough. Running back Lorenzo Booker will take some of the heat of off Rix this season, but it will still come down to whether or not Rix can wise up.
Drew's Prediction: Florida State doesn't have the talent to beat Miami for the ACC title. I am not a Chris Rix fan at all. I just don't think he can get the job done. The Seminoles finish 8-3 in 2004.
Matt's Outlook: For the 12th consecutive season, the Seminoles are picked to finish atop the ACC by the media. FSU's 2003 bowl game in which senior quarterback Chris Rix sat for missing an exam was a difficult end to last season. Despite last year's mediocre season, head Coach Bobby Bowden's team seems poised for another run to the national championship.
Matt's Prediction: FSU is about the safest bet in the nation to finish in the top five. If Rix can drop his legendary cockiness, the Seminoles should take the ACC. Then again, it is Chris Rix.
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