Poll Results: Fans say PSU going January bowling

Expectations are soaring for this year's Penn State football team. With more than 100 votes in, Zombie Nation readers pegged Penn State to be 8-1 by the end of October. That one loss is most likely to Ohio State in Columbus, but a majority (66%) of voters pegged the Lions with that one loss (39%), or undefeated (27%). The less optimistic fans still greatly favored a 7-2 (24%) record over 6-3 (9%). With an easier November schedule, this could be the makings of a BCS at-large bid. Be sure to vote in Zombie Nation's next poll, "PSU's Regular Season Record," coming this afternoon!

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Early Point Spreads You Should Know

The leader in picking college football games, CollegeFootballPoll.com, has released its MAC, Big East and Pac10 previews. I don’t believe there’s a more accurate operation out there for setting lines and picking W/L records in college football. Sure, I love to read the hundreds of previews throughout the year, but when it comes down to game time, I’m checking the lines set by CFP’s computers.*

Not to say that I’m at all surprised, but Penn State is favored by relatively comfortable margins in three games released. The Lions are early 2.72-point favorites against the Beavers in week two, Syracuse is an early 25.74-point underdog in the Carrier Dome, while in-state rival Temple is an early 15.04 underdog for the Owls’ visit to Beaver Stadium in week four.

The only one of those games I'm a little concerned about is Oregon State. Now, I fully believe Penn State will win it, but I also agree with the CFP computers that it could be a very close game. I was really surprised with the Syracuse line. The Orange(men) won't go to a bowl game, not even close. But for CFP to set a line larger than 25 points, the Syracuse faithful should start bracing themselves for an ugly afternoon. This could set up a very interesting story line when the Fighting Illini come to town and Penn State is sitting pretty at 4-0.

*CFP has been freakishly accurate since its inception in 1993. From CFP: “The computer has picked the winner in 74.7% of all games played since 1993 (7,828-2,645) while beating the spread in 54.2% of those games (5,221-4,419)... The computer has predicted the national title match-up three times (1993, 1998 and 2005), and at least one contestant every year except 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2006. The team it picked to win the title did so three times (1993, 1998, and 1999), and lost in the title game four times (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005).” Yeah, I’d call that freakish.

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First Look: Michigan Wolverines

You won’t find a more intriguing story line for 2008 outside of Michigan. Last season was considered by many to be a complete disaster, but lost in the mix were some very impressive highlights. The program is going into overhaul mode, with new uniforms, a new stadium, and most noticeably, a brand-spanking-new head coach in Rich Rodriguez. The offense will look vastly different than anything run in Michigan Stadium in the last, well, ever. The fans are preparing themselves for a worst-case scenario in 2008, but they shouldn’t worry too much. After all, this is Michigan, and even with all the problems, there are enough players to make this season at least palatable, if not surprising. I hate when people say “I can see this team going anywhere from [insert really bad record here] to [insert really good record here],” but in 2008, Michigan can only be labeled as completely unpredictable.

1. The “Snake Oil Salesman” -- Remember how pissed off Kirk Herbstreit was when Les Miles denied his interest in the Michigan coaching job? I’d be. Well folks, that was just the beginning, as no one could have predicted the firestorm coming when Rich Rodriguez shocked his alma mater and left West Virginia (60-26 record, 2 BCS bowl wins) in a cloak of secrecy for Ann Arbor. Any coach in the nation should be afraid to face RichRod on the field, but he’s never been so vulnerable as right now. Defections, staff shakeups and the graduation (and NFL Draft-entering) of some of the best talent this team had, will cause more than headaches in 2008. I don’t want to imagine how scary Michigan will be a few years from now. It could even happen next year, but for 2008, RichRod could lose some of his luster.

2. Starting from scratch -- Losing the career record-holders in passing AND rushing yards wouldn’t look good for this team even if Ryan Mallett (No. 1 recruit ’07) hadn’t transferred to Arkansas. Adding to Michigan’s stress is the mishaps of running back Kevin Grady, who didn’t know when to say “when,” and will most likely be in the dog house for the rest of this season. That leaves a very green running back contingent, but one that’s bursting with potential. Stepping in where Mallett should have been is probably Steven Threet. Although not as hyped as Mallett, Threet has great size (6’6”, 230) and has better mobility that Mallett. The defense loses its top four tacklers (358 total tackles), but the line returns intact and should take some pressure off the back seven. There are enough leaders on this side of the ball to keep things under control in 2008.

3. No more “Big House” -- Ok Michigan, you can still keep “The Big House” nickname, but you’re no longer the “biggest” house. Several thousand seats were removed from Michigan Stadium for renovations (actually, UM was sued because the stadium hasn’t been updated since the Ice Age, and didn’t have enough handicapped seating/accessibility). Unfortunately for the Wolverines, most of the toughest games come on the road, outside the friendly confines of Ann Arbor. However, opening with Utah, at Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Illinois won’t be an easy slate. Then, finishing out the season with trips to Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota and Ohio State, with home games against Michigan State and Northwestern sprinkled in, will present a formidable challenge for a Michigan team that could be looking for a break. With this schedule, even one key injury could spell disaster.

Next week’s First Look: Ohio State Buckeyes

-First Look: Wisconsin Badgers
-First Look: Purdue Boilermakers
-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Poll Archives

Here you'll find all the polls from Zombie Nation.

-07/21/08. Fans say PSU going January bowling
-07/14/08. Fans say PSU undefeated by October

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First Look: Wisconsin Badgers

If you want to find a grossly under-appreciated football team, look no further than Madison, Wisconsin. Since 2004, the Badgers have gone 40-11 and played in FOUR straight New Years Day bowls against SEC opponents (UW went 2-2). What more does this program have to do to prove its national worth? Because of some really dumb BCS rules, Wisconsin was left out of the at-large picture in 2006, even with its 11-1 record and an upset of Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl. Under Coach Bret Bielema, Wisconsin is looking more like the Badgers of the ‘90s. Hopefully for them, those ‘90s Rose Bowl wins will come again soon, too.

1. An ideal succession -- There hasn’t been a smoother transition from one coach to another than at Wisconsin. Barry Alvarez will go down as one of the game’s all-time great head coaches, and it looks like another one will follow right after. Bret Bielema seems to have actually improved the football program overall since Alvarez left in 2005, going 21-5 his first two campaigns and two January bowl games. Granted, it will take a lot for Bielema to bypass Alvarez in terms of career accomplishments, but he’s at least on the right track. Bielema is committed to maintaining Wisconsin’s smash-mouth style of football (which doesn’t mean “slow,” SEC fans), and one can argue there’s no need to change anything in the future.

2. The “‘backs” are back -- Under Alvarez, Wisconsin had been known for running the ball right down your throat, but the last few seasons of his tenure, production began to dip at the position. Then came in Brian Calhoun who blew up for more than 1600 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in 2005. No one was sure what would happen once Calhoun declared early for the NFL. Frosh running back PJ Hill quelled any anxiety, rumbling for 2781 yards the past two seasons. In 2008, the Badgers will lean on his talent more than ever with the departure of senior quarterback Tyler Donovan. Allen Evridge transferred from Kansas St. (was beat out by Donovan in ’06), and has some experience in Bielema’s system. But with guys like John Clay, Lance Smith and Zach Brown, don’t be surprised if Wisconsin uses a full three-deep running back rotation in ’08.

3. It’ll be a rockin’ Camp Randall -- Playing at Michigan, then home against Ohio State and Penn State in three straight weeks will give even the toughest teams headaches. Fortunately for Wisconsin, it’s tough enough to at least get through two of those games. I really doubt 3-0, but anything is possible when your team plays in one of the wildest environments in all college football. Other games to watch for will be at Fresno State, Michigan State, and at home against an Illinois team that upset the then-No. 5 Badgers in 2007. Wisconsin hasn’t gone undefeated in Big Ten play in, well, a really long time, and I don’t see 2008 being any different. However, getting through with only one conference loss, and Wisconsin could land itself in a BCS game.


Next week’s First Look: Michigan Wolverines (Homecoming)

-First Look: Purdue Boilermakers
-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Poll Results: Fans say PSU undefeated by October

Well, the optimists have it. With more than 100 votes in, Zombie Nation readers pegged Penn State to be 5-0 by the end of September. It should make for an interesting month of October, with games against Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State on the docket. Be sure to vote in Zombie Nation's next poll, "PSU's record at the end of October," coming tomorrow!

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First Look: Purdue Boilermakers

In this week’s First Look, the Purdue Boilermakers offer up a unique situation. With a departing coach in Joe Tiller, a dynamite quarterback in Curtis Painter, and more question marks than answers, the boys from West Lafayette could surprise more than a few around the Big Ten in 2008. Following the first losing season in more than a decade, the Boilermakers rebounded with consecutive eight-win seasons, yet managed to be far less than impressive along the way. Can this team overcome some major obstacles and send Tiller out on a high note? I’m not sure it will be a season to remember, but there’s no reason Purdue couldn’t go bowling this Christmas.

1. Win one for the Tiller -- Teams do funny things when faced with its coach’s swan song. Joe Tiller took this program from the Big Ten basement to respectability, seemingly overnight with his “Basketball on Grass” philosophy. In one of my all-time favorite quotes, Tiller responded to doubts about his spread attack working in the Big Ten, “Maybe they didn’t know what November was like in Wyoming.” The funny thing about Tiller is that he never gets the credit he’s due when it comes to molding quarterbacks. Drew Brees and Kyle Orton had what it took, and now Curtis Painter is looking to be yet another Purdue signal-caller to go down in the Big Ten record books, all thanks to Tiller’s tutelage.

2. And speaking of quarterbacks -- If there’s one player taking the snaps this fall every team should fear, it’s Curtis Painter. Not only does he have the arm to chuck it around all day (3846 yds ’07), he can take off is he needs to (164 yds ’07). The problem for Painter this season is that Purdue loses four of its top five receivers from 2007 (Greg Orton returns, 752 yds). The running game should be even better, as Kory Sheets (859 yds ’07) and Jaycen Taylor (560 yds ’07) both come back, but their production depends on an offensive line which has the talent for big things this year. None of that matters, though, if the defense can’t stop anyone. This is a unit which loses five of its top six tacklers from 2007, and first-round NFL Draft pick Cliff Avril (8.5 sks ’07). The Boilermaker defense had enough trouble in 2007 (26.5 ppg/389.2 ypg), and I don’t see things looking up for 2008.

3. Make or break early on -- The 2008 Purdue football team will know right away just how good they are with a ton of rough games early on. A very good Oregon team comes to town in the second week, followed by a trip to South Bend, where the Irish are looking to revenge last year’s loss. Then the schedule really gets difficult. Penn State (first team to shut out Tiller-led team, 12-0 ’06) is in West Lafayette, then trips to Columbus to take on a stacked Buckeye team and Evanston where Northwestern might not give in so easy after Purdue scored 21 unanswered 4Q points last year (W 35-17). Purdue has also had trouble down the stretch in recent seasons, and with games against Michigan, at Iowa and Michigan State, and wrapping up hosting Indiana, it will take a bit of Tiller magic to turn around the November slump.

I’ll be traveling back to PA today, so I’ll try to have something up by Wednesday.

Next week’s First Look: Wisconsin Badgers

-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini

I didn't pretend to know more than I did in the first four First Looks, as nothing substitutes for the intimate knowledge gained from playing the Big Ten foes year in and year out. Now First look will concentrate on the conference opponents, leading off with Penn State's Big Ten opening game, the Illinois Fighting Illini. If you told me two years ago that Illinois would go to the 2009 Rose Bowl, I'd say you were practically nuts. Well, Ron Zook and the Illini did just that, going from 2-9 and 2-10 to 9-4 over the last three seasons. And while the program is certain to post a winning record in their encore season, the Illini will probably have a tough time matching 2007's nine wins.

1. Champaign is a long way from Gainesville -- It seems like ages since Florida fans were calling for Ron Zook's head in The Swamp. The Illini thought Ron Turner was their ticket to glory after he lead the 2001 squad to the Sugar Bowl and an outright Big Ten championship. Things quickly turned sour, and after three straight losing seasons with no sign of improvement, Turner was let go. The school invested a lot in Zook's hiring, which paid off in the end. He proclaimed that Illinois' 63-10 drubbing by Penn State in 2005--a game in which PSU lead 56-3 at the half--would be their lowest point. It was. Not only is Zook a fantastic recruiter, but he's instilled a can-do mentality Illinois hasn't had since the Lou Tepper years. Don't expect the Illini to go anywhere but up from here.

2. Can the loss of one player hurt that bad? -- In this case, it might. Rashard Mendenhall arrived at Illinois with much fanfare in 2005, but didn't play much his first two seasons, gaining only 858 yards over that time. Then last season he exploded for 1681 yards and 15 touchdowns on his way to the Big Ten Player of the Year, Illinois' first since 1990. The problem came when Mendenhall declared early for the NFL, leaving quarterback Juice Williams as the leading returning rusher (755). None of the next three rushers cracked 300 yards in 2007, with Daniel Dufrene gaining 295. If you talk to Illini fans, they'll tell you there's excitement in the air surrounding Dufrene. After all, he was the guy who ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run in Columbus to upset No. 1 Ohio State last November. The Illinois faithful can only hope he can duplicate that kind of playmaking ability in 2008. But unless Williams makes leaps and bounds in his passing ability, don't count on the kind of rushing production Illinois has enjoyed the last two seasons.

3. The tough games just got tougher -- Most of Illinois' toughest games came at home in 2007. That's not the case in 2008, and combine that with the fact that Illinois isn't going to sneak up on anyone this season, don't count on the mammoth upsets of 2007. Missouri is returning most of its superstars. The Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin games are all on the road. And Ohio State is an even better team that it was last year. There are only seven games which Illinois should expect to win this season, but not even the home games against Iowa and Northwestern are certain victories. This team has nearly the same talent as it did in 2007, but experience is the biggest question mark. If Illinois can steal one in Madison, State College or Ann Arbor, fans should consider this season a success, as 2009 is shaping up to be a killer year for the Fighting Illini.

I'm out of town all this week (I'm actually in PA right now), so posting might be light. I promise, though, that I'll have something else up this week to quench some of the college football thirst.

Next week's First Look: Purdue Boilermakers

-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Big Ten Bloggers 2008 "Fearless" Conference Predictions

In the last of three 2008 Big Ten Bloggers Preseason Predictions posts, the Big Ten looks to take a turn for the weird. Outside of Ohio State, not many teams are expected to do extremely well in 2008. (I beg to differ) Michigan State, Northwestern and Penn State seem to be gaining steam among us "experts," with Ohio State still leading the pack. Again, I'd like to thank Lake the Posts for organizing this and putting it all together. So here ya go.

Coach of the Year
Pat Fitzgerald, NU (ZN vote: Mark D'Antonio, MSU) I figured if MSU is as good as I think (more on that later), its coach will get the nod here, but the masses have spoken. I was torn though, having changed my answer from Fitz' just before submitting these picks. Sorry, LTP. Speaking of LTP, he said:

"I was shocked considering the same constituents voted the Cats to finish 9th just two weeks ago. As I mentioned the Cats received votes at nearly every ranking though, and clearly my badgering of the bloggers has influenced the vote. Amazing, a coach who is heavily favored to bring his team to the 3rd straight title game comes in second to Fitz. So much for low expectations by my peers!"

Most Likely To Strike Heisman Pose
Beanie Wells, Ohio State. (ZN vote: Same) Duh. But, of course, I'd love to be pleasantly surprised by one of our own. LTP said:

"The only other competitor in the voting was Wells' Ohio State teammate, LB James Laurinaitis, though most conceded the offensive bias of the Heisman would make this unlikely."

Last Year's Illini Will Be This Year's....?
Michigan State (ZN vote: Same) This one was pretty easy. I think D'Antonio is one of the best coaches no one really respects yet. I could see MSU in the Captial One Bowl or better. LTP said:

"General consensus is Ohio State is in a league of their own with Wisconsin and Penn State a tier below and then it is a free-for-all. Sparty had lots of competition as everyone other than the three top tier teams mentioned above got some love with the exception of Indiana."

Upset Game of The Year:
Utah over Michigan (ZN vote: MSU over Cal) I know mine wasn't a "wow" pick, but if MSU can do that, it could be a big year for the Spartans and D'Antonio. I'd have to agree with some of the other guys though, who said that Utah over UM isn't that big of a deal, if you've followed UM's issues lately. LTP said:

"BHGP tried to stir up Happy Valley by taking Coastal Carolina over Penn State (BHGP gets the homerism award for picking Iowa in nearly every category, including Mitch King for Heisman...wise guy!). I chose Central Michigan over Purdue in the combo "its tough to be beat a team 3 times in 2 seasons" cliche along with the classic trap setup between Oregon and Notre Dame games. Wisconsin going down early was a popular choice as, Buckeye blogs led the way. Around the Oval had Akron over Wisconsin while Eleven Warriors had Fresno State upsetting the Badgers."

Name You'll Know In December That No One Knows In June:
Evan Royster, PSU (ZN vote: Bani Gbadyu, PSU) I figured at the very least a few teams knew who Royster was already: Wisconsin, Purdue and Texas A&M. That would cover a good chunk of people in two conferences. But I guess the "that no one knows" was meant figuratively. Sorry, folks, but Gbadyu has a chance to start this fall, and if he plays like he did in 2007 (the small bit we have to go off of), then he'll be up for at least conference HM. LTP said:

"Amazingly only one player received more than four votes as nearly every blogger voted for someone from his own team. Several were able to raise above the fray."

Most Likely to John McLaren (lose it in postgame rant, NOT lose his job):
Rich Rodriguez, Michigan (ZN vote: Same) I just think that the combo of a previously successful coach, a really bad team (relatively), and a media/fan base like UM's, is a formula ready to explode. And Dick-Rod is Mt. St. Helens. LTP said:

"Bonus points to Badger Sports Fan for providing visual aides for several of his answers, especially this one, where he made his case for Mark Dantonio. A Sparty blow-up has become almost a rite of passage thanks to John L. Smith's legacy, but once again Michigan State lost out to its big bro in Ann Arbor as bloggers are warning you to keep Michigan postgame pressers on the TIVO."

Highest Draft Pick In 2009:
Beanie Wells, Ohio State. (ZN vote: Same) There's no other real star in the league right now on the same level as Wells. Granted, he wasn't as well-known as Tebow (SEC love fest strikes again!), but once he broke that long TD run against LSU, his Heisman campaign was officially on. LTP said:

"The voting was much closer, but again it was a two dog race between Laurinaitis and Wells."

Must See Game of The Year That Is Not Michigan-Ohio State:
Ohio State - USC on September 13. (ZN vote: Same) We all kind of knew this one would get the nod, but there are plenty of good games to watch this year. My second would have been a pure homer pick in PSU/Michigan since it could be the first time PSU wins since 1996. We'll see though. LTP said:

"However, Penn State-Wisconsin got quite a few votes and came in 2nd and the Illini got some love, mostly from bloggers whose teams are seeking revenge (most of them!)."

Big Ten Bloggers 2008 Predictions:
Part 1, Conference Order of Finish
Part 2, All-Conference Teams

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First Look: Temple Owls

With this coaching staff, Penn State really needs to schedule Temple as its homecoming game. Really, Temple Head Coach Al Golden was one of the great Penn State tight ends (’91), Defensive Coordinator Mark D’Onofrio was his team mate and an outstanding linebacker for the Lions, and even the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Matt Ruhle is a former lion (’97). I think the biggest draw for this game is already being set up--the pupil vs. the mentor. But the underlying story line--one PSU fans may overlook--is the amazing job Golden has done in Philadelphia since his arrival in 2006. Five years ago, if you said “Temple” and “bowl game” in the same sentence, it was part of a joke. Now, it’s a real possibility. Scary, huh?

Three things you should know about Temple:

1. Could be the best staff in the nation -- That’s not an understatement. If Golden and Co. pull of the once-impossible and take the Owls bowling, this will turn into the new Rutgers-type feel good story. The results may not blow your mind, but this staff has changed the attitude of a program. In Golden’s first year, the Owls were outscored by 365 points. Last year that margin shrunk to 118, and won four games! Those four wins were the most since 2002, and the three-game win streak was Temple’s longest since 1990!

2. Everyone returns -- Temple returns every single starter from 2007, and some have moved to backup spots to make room for some new young talent. That will translate into crucial depth if this team has to finish strong to gain bowl-eligibility. Quarterback Adam DiMichele (PSU Transfer) enters his senior season behind a veteran offensive line, with big play threats like Bruce Francis and Jason Harper, and a shut-down defense. If the Owls can win the turnover battle (broke even in ’07), this could turn from a promising year to a special one.

3. A challenging, but not impossible schedule -- Temple gets only five home games this season, but only one of them is probably out of reach (UConn). The away games set up nicely with trips to Army, Buffalo, Miami (OH), Central Michigan, Navy and Kent State. I figure only Central Michigan and Navy should pose real problems for the Owls. But if Temple could have a winning road record this year, a bowl is certainly reachable, with the final two games at home against Eastern Michigan and Akron.

That wraps up the non-conference slate for First Look. Penn State has every chance to arrive here at 4-0, but that doesn’t guarantee much after last season’s disappointing Big Ten campaign. What purpose these first four games will serve may not be realized until October, as the early schedule will allow Penn State to work in its new quarterback(s) and gain some identity on both sides of the ball. Don’t expect these teams to go quietly. Just ask Michigan how easy I-AA teams are. Just ask Syracuse if they’re going to be jacked up to play a bitter old rival. Just ask Oregon State if they’re going to take their 2,000-mile journey lightly. And just ask the Temple Owls if they want to help their coach beat his old team.

And you thought the non-conference games weren’t that interesting.

Next week’s First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini.

-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Big Ten Bloggers All-Big Ten Team

Again I want to thank LTP for all its hard work in putting this together. Getting 40+ college football bloggers to do anything consistently is enough of a challenge. Last week, we had the BTB Conference Projection. Next week, we'll get into the real juicy stuff, like best games, awards and such. So, without delay, here's the 2008 Big Ten Bloggers All-Big Ten Team:

1st Team All Big Ten Offense
QB - Curtis Painter, Purdue
RB - Beanie Wells, Ohio State
RB - Javon Ringer, Michigan State
WR - Brian Robiskie, Ohio State
WR - Arrelious Benn, Illinois
WR - Greg Orton, Purdue
TE/SB - Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
OT - Alex Boone, Ohio State
OG - Steve Rehring, Michigan
C - AQ Shipley, Penn State
OG - Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin
OT - Eric Vanden Heuvel, Wisconsin

1st Team All-Big Ten Defense
DE- Greg Middleton, Indiana
DE - Maurice Evans, Penn State
DT - Terrance Taylor, Michigan
DT - Mitch King, Iowa
LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
LB - Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
LB - Anthony Heygood, Purdue
S - Anthony Scirrotto, Penn State
S - Anderson Russell, Ohio State
CB - Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
CB - Vontae Davis, Illinois

K - Austin Starr, Indiana
PR - Marcus Thigpen, Indiana
P - Jeremy Boone, Penn State

Here's my ballot. We were originally going to include both first and second team, but realized it would be just too complicated. So LTP just took whoever received the most first-team votes, and went with that player. Simple enough. My picks:

1st Team offense
QB Curtis Painter, PU
RB Beanie Wells, OSU
RB Javon Ringer, MSU
WR Brian Robiskie, OSU
WR Arrelious Benn, Ill
WR Eric Decker, Minny
TE Travis Beckum, UW
C AQ Shipley
OG Kraig Urbik, UW
OG Seth Olsen, UI
OT Alex Boone, OSU
OT Eric Vanden Heuvel, UW

2nd Team offense
QB Todd Boeckman, OSU
RB PJ Hill, UW
RB Evan Royster, PSU
WR Greg Orton, PU
WR Kyle Jefferson, UW
WR Deon Butler, PSU
TE Andrew Quarless, PSU
C Rafael Eubanks, UI
OG Rich Ohrnberger, PSU
OG Steve Rehring, UM
OT Sean Sester, PU
OT Stephen Schilling, UM

1st Team Defense
DL Maurice Evans, DE PSU
DL Mitch King, DT UI
DL Matt Kroul, DT UI
DL Greg Middleton, DE IU
LB James Laurinaitis, OSU
LB Marcus Freeman, OSU
LB DeAndre Levy, UW
S Anthony Scirrotto, PSU
S Anderson Russell, OSU
CB Vonte Davis, Ill
CB Malcolm Jenkins, OSU

2nd Team Defense
DL Matt Shaughnessy, DE UW
DL John Gill, DT NU
DL Terrance Taylor, DT UM
DL Tim Jamison, DE UM
LB Martez Wilson, Ill
LB Anthony Heygood, PU
LB Greg Jones, MSU
S Austin Thomas, IU
S Shane Carter, UW
CB AJ Wallace, PSU
CB Morgan Trent, UM

1st Team
K Austin Starr, IU
P Jeremy Boone, PSU
KR Marcus Thigpen, IU
PR Derrick Williams, PSU

2nd Team
K Ryan Preorius, OSU
P AJ Trapasso, OSU
KR AJ Wallace
PR David Gilreath

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Ok, so we're not the only site doing previews

Tim Curley finally grew a set this past year in dropping Arkansas State and replacing them with Oregon State. Penn State's schedule went from "they didn't play anyone" to "mediocre" overnight. Granted, it's not like this is going to be like playing USC, Oklahoma or Auburn. But it's a definate upgrade, which could pay enormous dividends in terms of getting TV exposure (not that Penn State really needs it) and winning over the pollsters come November. Last week, I looked at Oregon State in my weekly First Look. Today, CFN took a peak at the Beavers. (hehe) I recommend checking it out.

-First Look: Oregon State Beavers

-CFN's Oregon State Preview.

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First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)

Not too long ago, opponents spoke of playing Syracuse with fear in their eyes. Now, not so much. After three straight dismal seasons, the Orange(men)--they changed from “Orangemen” to just “Orange” a few years ago, but I’m still sticking to tradition--are looking for things to finally turn around. Greg Robinson came in promising change. What most ‘Cuse fans didn’t expect was a change for the worse. This program will get better, but won’t see the vast improvement in 2008 some were hoping for when Robinson was hired. This is an improved team, but the record may not show it.

Three things you should know about Syracuse:

1. Greg Robinson is starting to find an identity -- Syracuse was a super-stable program prior to the firing of Paul Pasqualoni, who had only one losing season (2002) from 1991-2004. Robinson hasn’t had a winning season since coming to Syracuse. Part of that problem was his attempt to install a west-coast offense, removing the old freeze-option Pasqualoni used with great success. Also, Robinson’s forte--defense--took a nose dive. In 2007, Syracuse surrendered 418 points, not what one would expect from a defensive specialist who led the Denver Broncos to two Super Bowl wins. Robinson has revamped his coaching staff, and things are beginning to calm down. If the administration is willing to give him more time, things will turn around.

2. Personnel losses, good and bad -- The unit which couldn’t stop anyone loses four of the top six tacklers, which might not be a bad thing. After that, only five of the top eleven tacklers are lost. On offense, the academic ineligibility of leading wide receiver Mike Williams is a crushing blow to what this team wanted to do in 2008. That, combined with graduated Taj Smith, virtually eliminates all the receiving yards from 2007. All is not lost, thought, as the Syracuse running game looks to improve greatly with the return of Curtis Brinkley, a better offensive line, and underrated quarterback Andrew Robinson. If he gets any time to throw this year (54 sacks in 2007), he’ll put up even better numbers than his 2192 yards with a 13/7 ratio.

3. The schedule won’t help the record -- If Syracuse is looking for a break, it won’t look towards the schedule, as away games at Northwestern, West Virginia, South Florida, Rutgers and Notre Dame are all near-certain losses. But remember last season the Orange(men) beat Louisville in Kentucky and Buffalo, with three-point losses against Pitt and Miami, OH. If Syracuse improves on last season’s 2-10 record, the season should be considered a success.

As promised, I’ve invited Orange::44 blogger Brian Harrison to discuss this game, which he was happy to oblige. So I give you the Penn State/Syracuse series through some Orange eyes:

ZN: How excited is the Syracuse fan base to finally play PSU again?

O44: I can first hand say that it is very exciting to get the chance to play Penn State again, both at the Carrier Dome and in Happy Valley. This rivalry was one of the premier college football games in the east and certainly was always an exciting and interesting game to watch. While I am a little too young (25) to really appreciate the hay day of the rivalry in the late 80's, I am still enough of a Syracuse and college football fan to have done my homework and realize that these were some of the best games of football in those days. Joe Pa would be in battles with Syracuse Coach Dick MacPherson, often with championship implications. While overall there is excitement in the fan base to play PSU again, it is a bit marred by the fact that Syracuse is still not as good as they were when the rivalry was peaking. Yes, Syracuse is improving (I say this not just as a fan, but as an objective observer), but it is not where it can compete at the level it enjoyed the past several decades. That, unfortunately is the back drop for this renewed rivalry game.

ZN: Which SU player could give PSU fits? (offense or defense)

O44: It is very possible that our running game could surprise a lot of teams next season. After a year in which Syracuse's running game ranked second to last in Division 1-A, Syracuse has their top running backs returning from a year in which they both had season ending injuries. Delone Carter broke his hip in preseason camp and Curtis Brinkley broke his leg a few games into the season. Both are good running backs and both will be at full strength for the start of the season. Syracuse also recruited the #1 recruit out of New York State in running back Averin Collier, so look for him to make a moderate impact on the running game right away.

ZN: Random thoughts on the game and/or Syracuse’s season...

O44: The game itself should be good. I imagine that plenty of Syracuse fans will pack the Dome, whether or not the team is good, as well as several people making the trek to Syracuse for the game from State College. I think there is a lot of anticipation building for Orange fans and there is buzz already starting, as it is probably the best game on the Syracuse schedule next season, at least non-conference wise. Like I said, I'm excited about it. I'm not sure what PSU thinks of playing Syracuse. I can't imagine you think that highly of the Orange anymore. Rest assured that Syracuse will be better in the coming years though, as we have started to recruit top talent to the program again. The week after Penn State, 1-AA Northeaster will be entering the Dome for SU's Homecoming game. If Syracuse loses this game, and Penn State absolutely blasts SU, look for Athletic Director Darryl Gross to more than likely fire Greg Robinson mid season.

ZN: What would be your point spread for the game?

O44: I would have to give PSU a 17 point advantage. While I would like to say that Syracuse's reputation should put the spread smaller, the truth is I like to play the favorites. I think Penn State will be favored in this game, but it is hard to say how good Syracuse will really be before the first game of the year. It could be that Syracuse will surprise people, or it could be that we are in for another season of heartbreak. Only time will tell.

Next week's First Look: Temple Owls.

-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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Zombie Nation featured on SI On Campus

I hate the main stream media, probably because I used to want to work for it. But now I'm doing this blog for over a year. Quite frankly, it's been slow gaining a reader base. It's tough to get your name out there to make a real impact in visitor numbers. Now, it appears there's a light fast approaching.

SI On Campus--the rumor mongering, wanna-be insider section of SI.com--plugged Zombie Nation today. Honestly, I'm happier than a pig in shit right now. I just hope I don't blow the site's capacity.

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ZN's College Football Top 25 :: Pre-Preseason 2008

Now that spring practice is long gone and signing day a distant memory, we’re finally getting our first good look at the teams going into 2008. Stocks have risen and fallen, some up like a rocket and some down with a thud. It pains me to say this, but on paper, the SEC should retain its top conference reputation. I’d follow that closely by the Big XII, and then the Big Ten. It’s not the usual landscape we’ve been used to, with teams like Kansas, Missouri up top, and Illinois and Pitt bringing back old memories. 2008 should be a very fun year for college football. At least, I think it will be.

Rank. Team (Last Week), [Record will go here during season] – Comment on each team.

1. Georgia (1) – I’m sticking to my guns. Georgia returns a great core of elite players like Stafford, Moreno and that top-notch defense.
2. Oklahoma (7) – I know the Sooners bombed in the bowl, but I think this year will be special in Norman. The Big XII Championship Game will be must-see TV.
3. Kansas (3) – Kansas’ defense was the real star in 2007, but even with some losses, the offense will be even better in 2008.
4. Florida (11) – The only reason I didn’t put Florida at No. 1 is because I think Georgia will win the conference and play in the title game. But if the Gators beat UGA, Florida fans can book tickets to Miami.
5. Missouri (4) – The Tigers were royally screwed out of a BCS bid (ala Wisconsin 2006), and could take home the North title again this year. But I’m giving the early edge to KU in 2008.
6. Ohio State (5) – Too low? Ok, Buckeyes prove me wrong. The only way the Big Ten champ plays in the title game is by going undefeated. I don’t see that happening in 2008.
7. USC (6) – Similar to the Big Ten, if the Pac-10 champ loses even one game, they’re out of the title hunt. But you can switch OSU/USC based on the winner of their September match up.
8. Auburn (16) – I’m riding the Tiger wave right now. Seeing Auburn’s new spread look, combined with Tommy Tuberville’s very underrated coaching, gives me reason to peg this team as the SEC West champ.
9. West Virginia (3) – The Mountaineers could win 11 games, and still end up this low. But I’m not going to count them out yet. This ranking will depend heavily on how tough the Big East is in 2008.
10. Penn State (10) – I told you I wasn’t moving the Lions from this spot. The No. 10 ranking in college football is sort of tricky, as that team will be assumed to be in the BCS picture. PSU will be the second-best Big Ten team, and land a second BCS bid for the conference.
11. BYU (15) – This team came within a hair of the BCS in 2007, and with so much returning, there’s no reason to think the Cougars can’t do much more in 2008.
12. LSU (12) – Talk about a big step back. I know, SEC fans will freak, but come on. Someone has to win the West, and it won’t be LSU.
13. Arizona State (18) – Arizona State only goes this high because Dennis Erickson is the coach. Pull off one huge upset, like USC, and this will be the darling team for 2008.
14. Texas Tech (19) – Some people actually have the Red Raiders going to the BCS. It’s not that they can’t, but the Oklahoma win last year was against a depleted Sooner team. Tech won’t do that again.
15. Wisconsin (17) – This team has the potential to win 10 regular-season games, but will most likely wind up losing one it’s not supposed to. This will look more like the Ron Dayne Badgers of old.
16. Virginia Tech (8) – I dropped the Hokies because they’ll need some consistency before moving back up in the rankings. I really like Sean Glennon, but the losses on defense will hurt.
17. Texas (9) – Everyone’s jumping off the Longhorns bandwagon, and I’m one of them. Colt McCoy will have a fantastic season, but the team as a whole doesn’t have what it needs to return to the elite in 2008.
18. Clemson (NR) – With the best running back tandem in football, and a killer (well, for the ACC) defense, the Tigers will turn some heads by November. This might not be the Tommy Bowden teams we’re used to.
19. Oregon State (21) – After listening to Oregon State fans bash me for the last month, I’m beginning to come around to the Beavers. They’ll still have to deal with a rough schedule from start to finish, but should win their bowl and reach eight victories.
20. Pittsburgh (23) – One big upset will get you far in college football, and the Panthers’ win over West Virginia did just that. If Pitt plays like it did in that game, look for a really big jump in the 2008 win column.
21. Illinois (25) – I’m not so sure I’m comfortable with this pick. The Illini lose a lot on both sides of the ball, and the recruiting classes haven’t yet added enough depth to sustain eight- or nine-win seasons.
22. Tennessee (14) – Playing in the SEC never hurts the media’s perception of a team, and the Vols will benefit from playing in the East. Don’t expect a huge year in 2008, but it won’t be like the meltdown of 2005.
23. Mississippi St. (24) – Sly Croom finally turned it around for the Bulldogs. There are some really good players coming back, and this program wants to prove 2007 wasn’t a fluke.
24. Boston College (13) – Some leave, some return for the Eagles. Although I don’t envision any No. 2 rankings for 2008, I do see this program sustaining its long run of winning seasons.
25. Michigan State (NR) – This is sort of my wildcard pick. Mark D’Antonio is a great motivator, and all his teams play like Rocky Balboa losing to Apollo Creed. I’m calling for one big upset in 2008 to launch the Spartans into a new era in East Lansing.

Dropped Out:

Michigan (20) – Poor, poor Michigan. This program has enjoyed continued success for 40 years. They knew it would come to an end sometime, and 2008 is it. They won’t implode like PSU in ’03 or Notre Dame in ’07, but a losing season is more than possible.

On the Cusp:

South Carolina (NR) – This is Steve Spurrier’s program finally, and he knows how to run a winner. If things fall right for the ‘Cocks, this could be the surprise team in the SEC East.
California (NR) – When Cal is ranked too low, they perform well. The Bears are better than a non-ranked team, but they’re also a team that can’t win when it has to. This is one of those “prove it” teams for 2008.
Rutgers (NR) – Even with Ray Rice gone, the offense will run on all cylinders in 2008. And with the elite recruits pouring into New Brunswick, the Knights are here to stay.
Utah (NR) – I don’t see the Utes beating BYU this year, and could very well drop one or two more. Unfortunately for a non-BCS team, three losses won’t get you ranked.
Oregon (NR) – The Ducks won’t be the killers they were last season, but there’s talent waiting in the wings to fill in for departed stars.

Previous Rankings:
Jan. 10, 2008

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Big Ten Bloggers Preseason Picks!

So, after berating the pre-season magazines for their lack of intelligent analysis and predictions, LTP took it upon himself to gather the fellow Big Ten Bloggers and tap into a collective voice of reason to hear from the true fans who know these teams inside and out.

So, without further ado, here are the inaugural picks with some calling out of certain bloggers votes to stir the collective pot:

(All commentary by LTP, and I'll get the hyper links up later today)

1 - Ohio State

The Buckeyes received the first place nod from every Big Ten Blogger with the exception of Maize & Blue Nation who opted for the Nittany Lions. About as much of a surprise as Ryan Field being out of hot dogs at halftime for the Big Ten home opener.

2 - Penn State

After Ohio State's 1-slot, it became a wild west of voting as there was as much disparity here as in different preseason magazines, but the Nittany Lions have this post to look forward to as a new "list" to concentrate on. Penn State received no vote lower than 5th place as Enlightened Spartan and Off the Tracks were the biggest Penn State pessimists.

3 - Wisconsin

The Badgers dropped to third by the skin of Bucky's fur - 1 vote separates Penn State and Wisconsin. Like Penn State, no voters had the Badgers any lower than 5th with MGoBlog being the culprit/non-believer.

4 - Illinois

Amazingly, the Illini's Rose Bowl halo effect continues, especially when you consider there is currently no Illini blogger on board as part of the BTBers. The Illini received six 7th place votes, yet still managed to emerge in the upper tier with MGoBlog trying to secure as many links as possible (as if he needs them!) from LTP for his controversial picks. MGoBlog has Illini back in BCS land with a projected second place finish in the Big Ten.

5 - Michigan State

Enlightened Spartan displayed some homerism with a "3" pick, but he was saved by Boiled Sports and Zombie Nation who seconded and thirded (sic) that emotion. Sparty received votes all over the map from 3 through 8. Enlightened Spartan also wins the award for most creative names for his submissions as LTP had to use the ES decoder to decipher entries like "yellow bellies" (Michigan).

6 - Michigan

The Wolverines emerge the inaugural predictions as the official wildcard team. The RichRods secured votes as high as 3, as low as 10 and every slot in between. MGoBlog went conservative (6), Maize & Blue Nation went homerific (3) and LTP went Lou Holtzian (3).

7 - Iowa

What's in the water in Happy Valley? Perhaps the recent Ferentz rumors/sightings combined with the kindred spirit of Fulmer Cup Overfloweth has bonded the Big Ten border state schools. Black Shoe Diaries and Zombie Nation went the highest with 4, while the Hawkeyes received a few double digit finishes, including one 11th place vote from rival Gopher Nation. Where the hell are the Cats? C'mon...I put this damn thing together and this is the love I get?

8 - Purdue

The Joe Tiller farewell tour didn't have many takers as no one picked the Boilermakers any higher than 5th. So much for QB experience eh?

9 - Northwestern

Thank you for nothing. Really?!!! Ninth? Ahhhh...thanks for the annual angst fuel as we'll be sure to revisit these in November. The Cats are the only team on the list to receive a vote in every slot from 4 through 11. Off the Tracks and MGoBlog are the best blogs ever, errr, voted the Cats at number 4, while Around The Oval (Ohio St) penciled us in at 11. Considering the last half century of results, I can't exactly blame them. LTP voted for NU in the 5 slot.

10 - Indiana

For the record, there was quite a bit of distance between Purdue, NU and the 10 slot Hoosiers. It was a nip and tuck race with Minnesota to avoid the cellar, but the fact that the Kellen Lewis question mark remains, I'm puzzled how Indiana didn't end up at 11. Enlightened Spartan knows something the rest of us don't as he picked them the highest at 8.

11 - Minnesota

I'm not sure how the Adam Weber-led, year 2 spread Gophers ended up behind Indiana, but they did - but not by much. I'm sure the BTBers picks will serve as inspirational stuff in the Metrodome lockerrrooms - that is if the Vikings don't tear down the shared space on Sundays. The Gophers only had two believers - Gopher Nation and Nittany White Out - both of whom voted the Gophers at number 8.

Reax

I was surprised at the wide disparity in voting. It isn't often teams get votes ranging 8 spots as a few did, including Northwestern. I was surprised by the Illini and Michigan State outcomes. I haven't bought in to the fact that Dufrene will keep "Ds" in check like Mendenhall for the Illini and also the on-field leadership of J. Leman is a bigger impact from a chemistry standpoint than I think non-Illini followers realize. For Sparty, I simply don't believe they have proven they know how to finish and while Ringer is legit, the loss of Devin Thomas removes an electrifying wrinkle that kept teams off-balance. That being said, my Michigan pick at 3 is completely irrational and goes against my better judgment. Perhaps I'm trying to hype them as I believe, truly believe, we will beat them in the Big House this year and who wants to win against Michigan and have it be a "down" year for them?

Zombie Nation's Official Ballot (Sorry, no witty commentary right now. Maybe later.):

Predicted order of finish:
1. Ohio State (t)
2. Penn State (t)
3. Michigan State
4. Wisconsin
5. Purdue
6. Iowa
7. Illinois
8. Northwestern
9. Indiana
10. Michigan
11. Minnesota


*Note from ZN: Sorry guys, I know I promised my new top 25 yesterday, but I'm moving it to tomorrow (Friday), Thanks.

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You can take your "accurate" rankings and shove'em

Who's rocking the accurate pre-season Penn State rankings, bitches? Me! On January 10, I threw out my early pre-season top 25 for 2008. Where did I put Penn State? Why, No. 10. The chance that was just a lucky guess is slim, and that No. 10 ranking was validated this week by Mr. Pre-season Football himself--Phil Steele.

You're probably sick of my apparent love fest with Steele, but I'm not alone. When you find a magazine that accurately predicts college football the way Steele's does, bring it to me and I'll buy you a drink. But that's not why I'm here gloating today. Sure it's a small, petty reason to get excited. But when I rank Penn State No. 10 in ZN's January