From: "Kayla Fieseler" for Jake Decker Date: Sun, 13 Jul 1997 16:35:03 -0500 1- Florida- Spurrier will have QB Doug Johnson ready to play with the defense carrying the team early. They had problems with injuries last year so look for a more healthy Gator Squad this year. The schedule is favorable and they could have the best home field advantage in all of College Football. They will win their fifth consecutive SEC Title and be in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2. 2- Penn State- Joe Pa has the alumni happy in Happy Valley. All-American RB Curtis Enis his a slobber knocker and leads a tough nosed offense. Linebacker U is back in working order and heads what should be a stubborn defense. This could be Joe Pa's last real good shot. 3- Florida State- A National top 5 fixture. Bowden will have tough competition in the ACC from North Carolina, but he has a two-headed monster at QB in Thad Busby and Dan Kendra. What does Bowden do when he lose talent? Easy, he just replaces it with his next blue chip group. 4- Tennessee- Manning is back and that is enough to have expectations this high. Peyton has only loss four games as QB at Tennessee and three have come at the hands of the Gators-two of those where in Knoxville. Look for that trend to continue in '97 because the Vols must go to The Swamp. There is another trip to the Citrus Bowl to plan for after Christmas. 5- Nebraska- They're still upset in Lincoln and Frost has a year under his belt. The defense is still among the nation's best although the have several starters to replace. The Big 12 will be tougher this year, but Nebraska has a few scores to settle. 6- Texas- This one could be a little bit too optimistic, seeing how the 'Horns have holes on defense and they are switching to the 4-3 this year. It may take a while for the new scheme to be running on all cylinders. The offense is still potent and the young O-line is a year older and that could mean a banner year for RB Ricky 'Lil Earl' Williams. 7- N. Carolina- The Tarheels could have the nation's best defense, but they have to get by FSU if they want to be considered a true contender. The offense should be consistent and even on a bad day the defense is could enough to win the game - except against FSU. 8- Ohio State- So much talent it should be illegal, but they can't beat Michigan. The offense is potent and the defense is among the Big Ten's best. The Big Ten is tougher from top to bottom than it has been in recent years so the Buckeyes can't stumble if they expect to make a run at Pasedena. 9- LSU- DiNardeaux has done a remarkable job in Baton Rouge. After six consecutive losing seasons he has the Tigers in the National Spotlight again in just his third season. The offense has weapons, but QB Herb Tyler will have to be more consistent in his passing to compliment Kevin Faulk and the LSU running game. An SEC West Title could be in sight. 10- Notre Dame- Davie takes over the toughest job in all of College Sports and promises to open up the offense for over-rated QB Ron Powlus. The lack of depth at receiver could led to Davie pulling Powlus for Jarious Jackson and the option. The defense has a few holes, but should perform well. Will the Irish not attend a bowl if they don't make the Alliance this season? We will know come December. 11- Colorado- John Hessler played well in Detmer's absence in '95, but the Buffaloes must run the ball with better results in '97 if they want to win the Big 12 and make a run at the Alliance. The defense has a few key positions to fill, but their performance should equal last seasons. 12- Washington- I understand this is the second coming of the '91 squad, but I refuse to believe it. At least until they beat Nebraska in September. The offense has weapons galore and QB Brock Huard, just a sophomore, is a great one in the making. The defense is also a strenght, but I still think they are a year away. 13- Auburn- Terry Bowden wins his first twenty with Pat Dye's talent and is 16-9-1 since. If he can recruit anywhere near his father's ability he will have Auburn on top of the SEC West. The offense needs to develop a reliable running game. The defense is solid in the front seven, but can they beat LSU? 14- Miami- Butch Davis wants a return to National Prominence, but with discipline this time. He is slowly doing just that. The offense should have a great running game and could have a deep threat if Jammi German can stay healthy. They should win the Big East because Syracuse can't find any way to beat them. 15- Alabama- Mike Dubose, oh excuse me, DuBose takes over for Gene Stallings. The defense is of typical Alabama quality. The problem? Offense. The Tide can't seem to recruit talent at QB who can push them over the top. RB Shaun Alexander has shown signs of greatness, but Dennis Riddle should be the starter. 16- Syracuse- Donovan McNabb can't do it all alone can he? Probably not and that is the problem. The defense should be up to snuff if they fill the holes. A Big East title could be in sights if they stop looking for ways for Miami to beat them. 17- Clemson- Last year's problem was the offense and they should score more in '97. The defense is definitely the strength of this squad. They can probably only expect to finish as high as third in the ACC this year unless the ball bounces their way a few times. 18- Michigan- Back to back 8-4 seasons under Lloyd Carr. Last year they were both great and terrible with wins at Colorado and Ohio State and loses against Purdue and Northwestern-despite a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter. DB/WR Charles Woodson could be the best player in the nation. For a shot at Pasedena, the Wolverines will have to be the model of consistency with the nation's toughest schedule. 19- Texas A&M- QB Brandon Stewart cost the Aggies several games last year and he has never lived up to billing. Will the year of experience help? It should, because the Aggies are in trouble if it doesn't. The defense will be stubbern, but Texas should prove too strong in the Big 12 South. 20- Wisconsin- Ron Dayne could be the best RB in College Football History if he stays all four years and the Badgers rebuild the O-line. The defense should be middle of the road and that could spell trouble if the offense sputters. Pasedena is out of the question, but they will go bowling. 21- Michigan St- Nick Saban's problem area last year was Special Teams and that trend shouldn't continue in '97. The offense will be fine if QB Todd Schultz is healthy and behing the running of Sedrick Irvin. The D-line is young and that could lead to a few problems. The Spartans could be a year or two away from the Big Ten Championship. 22- BYU- The weak WAC means even with a new QB the offensive system will still score points. The defense could lead to trouble against national competition, but should be good enough to win the WAC. Lovell Edwards won't have to worry about being left out of the Alliance this year. 23- USC- John Robinson could be experiencing a case of "what have you done for us lately" from the alumni, although he has won big in the past. The running game needs to step it up and the defense is weak everywhere, but the secondary. If they don't win 8 games it will only be the second time in Robinson's twelve seasons they didn't. 24- Stanford- Tyrone Willingham has his team on the right track. The only concern on offense is at WR. On defense the had heavy losses in the secondary, but the front seven is almost intact. The tough schedule makes it hard on the Cardinal, but they could be in Rose Bowl contention. 25- Northwestern- This could be a sympathy vote, but I won't go against Barnett for the third straight year although there are holes everywhere. Barnett's teams seem to find a way to pull victories out of their hat when they have to. -Others To Watch- Arizona State, Colorado State, East Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, UCLA, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wyoming