NCAA fearless predictions: Version 2k10

I'm ready for the new season of college football. So ready in fact, I'm a week ahead of myself for when games actually kick-off.

Regardless, we can't turn the page on a new season without some fearless and bold predictions. There's a good chance come January, I won't want to look back at these...

Boiler Up! Purdue is going bowling this year especially since its playing a schedule that was a BCS-worst 67-81 in 2009.

UConn will contend for the Big East title, but will come up just short. Also, don't expect Cincinnati, who lost head coach Brian Kelly to Notre Dame, to fall off the wagon.

Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins (16-33 at CU) might just be coaching intramurals by season's end.

Hawkins failures, compounded with Dirk Koetter's snafu at Arizona State (40-34, 2-19 vs. ranked teams) means current Boise State head coach Chris Peterson will be a Bronco for life, despite a disappointing 10-3 season this year for the Smurf turfers.

The Big 12 won't be staying at 10 teams for long. Great seasons by TCU and Houston will fast track them for membership in the new Texas-centric conference.

Nevada's Colin Kaepernick is probably the quarterback you haven't heard of. You'll know about him by the end of the year.

Florida State QB Christian Ponder will pass himself into the Heisman lead by the beginning of October and won't look back.

What about last year's Heisman winner Mark Ingram? Ingram will have fewer total yards from scrimmage then Alabama backfield partner Trent Richardson.

The Crimson Tide will still win the SEC, but will be considered this year's biggest disappointment. It's all relative, because anything less than a second straight trip to the BCS title game will be considered a failure. I don't see that happening because...

A non-AQ will play for the national championship. Which brings to the rest of my predictions.

Conference Champions:

ACC: Florida State (Atlantic), Virginia Tech (Coastal)

Big 10: Ohio State

Big 12: Oklahoma (South), Nebraska (North)

Big East: Pittsburgh

Pac-10: Oregon

SEC: Alabama (West), Georgia (East)

C-USA: Houston

MAC: No. Illinois

Mt. West: TCU

Sun Belt: Middle Tennessee

WAC: Boise State, Nevada (tie)

BCS Bowl Predictions

ROSE BOWL: Oregon vs. Texas

FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Arizona

ORANGE BOWL: Florida State vs. Pitt

SUGAR BOWL: Alabama vs. Miami

TITLE GAME: Ohio State vs. TCU

NFL Predictions: It's going to be a struggle

Will the Pittsburgh Steelers challenge the New England Patriots as the "team of the decade"? Will QB Tom Brady put up ridiculous offensive numbers again? TO is in yet another uniform, but how long until he wear's out his Buffalo welcome? Those are just a few story lines as we begin the 2009 NFL Season. But the biggest story line if you ask me, is along the sidelines.

There are nine first-time head coaches in the NFL (including two in the Bay Area who were interim coaches last year). Their average age is 43.7-years-old and it shows.  Denver's new head man, 33-year-old Josh McDaniels, wasted no time chasing away QB Jay Cutler and killing wide out Brandon Marshall's resolve. Raheem Morris, 33, and Todd Haley, 42, both fired their respective offensive coordinator's days before kickoff. Oakland coach Tom Cable allegedly punched out someone on his staff. How will these coaches fare? We will soon find out.

Now onto my fearless predictions (which I tweeted before Thursday night's slug fest)...

AFC PLAYOFFS

Baltimore (Wild Card): QB Joe Flacco got lucky when Derrick Mason decided to keep playing. The Ravens running game should be dominant, with a strong offensive line and loaded backfield.

Indianapolis (South champ): It doesn't matter who the head coach is (Tony Dungy retired this off season) with QB Peyton Manning starting the season healthy the Colts will reclaim the division crown.

New England (East champ): Tom Brady's back, Bill Belichick is coaching. Enough said.

Pittsburgh (North champ): They return nearly everyone from their sixth Super Bowl championship team. Last year the Steelers slugged through the league's toughest schedule, things ease up with the fourth easiest schedule this year.

San Diego (West champ): In a terrible division, the Bolts should win the division title with relative comfort. If they keep oft-injured players like LT, Shawne Merriman and Antonio Gates healthy, the postseason could be special.

Tennessee (Wild Card): They will continue to play Jeff Fisher smash-mouth football, which means they aren't falling out of the playoff picture.

NFC PLAYOFFS

Green Bay (Wild Card): The Packers' move to a 3-4 defense will be dramatic and help vault the Pack into the playoffs thanks to their potent offense.

Minnesota (North champ): Despite bringing in Brett Favre, the Vikings are Adrian Peterson's team. AP will carry the load as the defense talent remains tremendous.

New Orleans (South champ): The Saints could be a legit Super Bowl contender because their offense is a Brees (that's lead by QB Drew Brees). New coordinator Gregg Williams will improve the D just enough to get them into January.

NY Giants (Wild Card): New York's defense is stacked and QB Eli Manning only needs to come up with a few big plays to win 10 games. Punch their ticket, the G-Men are going back to the playoffs.

Philadelphia (East champ): The Eagles are the most talent laden team in the NFC. With coaching stability, QB Donovan McNabb is out of excuses if Philly doesn't win.

Seattle (West champ): The Seahawks were crippled last year due to injuries. The defense should improve and getting QB Matt Hasselbeck back and healthy will pay dividends. 

And as for the biggest game...

SUPER BOWL: San Diego OVER Philadelphia -- It's a big anniversary for the AFL, one it's original teams is bound to win. The Chargers seem overdue and I think Rivers, LT and company get the job done.

NCAA Kickoff: Who will win it all?

You won't see Florida celebrating again in 2009.

It's the first big day of the 2009 college football season, which means it's time for some fearless predictions.

Nearly every writer and analyst is picking the Florida Gators to make back-to-back appereances in the BCS Championship game. Most are taking the Gators to will win it all. I can see why. 

The Florida defense returns 11 starters and all the top reserves, making it one of the deepest units in the country. And fearless leader QB Tim Tebow returns for his senior season. But I see trouble in Gainesville this year.

First, new offensive coordinator Steve Addazio has been experimenting with the I-formation this offseason. That means the Gators will likely use Tim Tebow more under center and not exclusively out the shotgun. Basically, Florida's explosive spread offense will be handicapped by their play calling. Why change something when it clearly not broken?

I think this is the ball game for Gator coach Urban Meyer and his spread. If his coaching staff cannot shape Tebow into a NFL caliber quarterback, elite QB recruits will recognize Alex Smith and Tebow could not make the professional jump and snub the Gators.

The second area of trouble for the Gators is fact they will speedy wideout Percy Harvin (now a Minnesota Viking). Harvin was a college game-changer and his presence is really irreplaceable. Put the ball in his and something special happens. Like USC without Reggie Bush, I think Florida will struggle in some key situations without Harvin.

Where do the '09 Gators end up? Here are my picks...

ORANGE BOWL: Georgia Tech (ACC champ) vs. Ohio State (At-large)

SUGAR BOWL: Florida (At-large) vs. West Virgina (Big East champ) 

FIESTA BOWL: USC (At-large) vs. Texas (At-large)

ROSE BOWL: Penn State (Big 10 champ) vs. Oregon (Pac-10 champ)

TITLE GAME: Oklahoma OVER Alabama

Fearless NFL Playoff Predictions

After 17 weeks on the gridiron, dozens of amazing plays and an inexplicable tie it's time for the playoffs. That's right, we're taking about the playoffs!?

One obvious storyline includes Miami and Atlanta, two of last year's worst teams, both making the postseason. But what jumps off the page in this Wild Card round is that only one home team (Arizona) is considered a favorite.

Without going into prolonged detail, here are the FPS expert prediction for the 2009 NFL playoffs.

WILD CARD WEEKEND

DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION

NFL '08 Story lines galore

It's football time again. And there are only two story lines entering this NFL season.

Brett Favre and his messy divorce with the Green Bay Packers, and Brett Favre's move to Broadway.

OK, I'm only joking. There have been several other high-profile changes since the NFL's memorable '07 finale. Dominant stars such as Michael Strahan, Warren Sapp and Jonathan Ogden all retired. And Pro Bowl caliber athletes like Jeremy Shockey and Jason Taylor will don new uniforms.

Injury watch is also on. Three of the games biggest stars didn't play a down this preseason. QB's Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and running back LaDainian Tomlinson all start the year nicked up.

So how will it all play? Without further ado here are the Fearless NFL Predictions for 2008.

AFC OUTLOOK

1. San Diego -- The Chargers start the year banged up: LT, Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates and Shawne Merriman all need ice packs. However, the Bolts are the most talented team and should finish tops in the AFC.
2. New England -- The Pats will experience a post-Super Bowl hangover. But the Brady-to-Moss connection is good for at least 12 wins in a weak division.
3. Jacksonville -- This is the year a team breaks through in the South division. If the defense shows up, the Jags are a legit Super Bowl contender.
4. Pittsburgh -- The schedule is brutal (toughest in the NFL), but the Steelers will benefit from a down division and a healthy Troy Polamalu.
5. Indianapolis -- Peyton Manning (infected bursa sac) will be fine as the perpetual MVP candidate will guide the Colts to the playoffs again.
6. Denver -- Jay Culter will prove he was the best quarterback in the '06 Draft as Mike Shanahan & company won't miss the playoffs for a third straight season.
Playoff bubble: Buffalo -- I think the Bills are still a year away, but they are moving in the right direction. Edwards, Lynch and Evans make up a great young offensive trio.
Over-hyped: Cleveland -- Some analysts are picking the Browns to win the AFC North, but their 10-6 record last year was a tease. Cleveland only beat one team that finished with a winning record in 2007.

NFC OUTLOOK

1. Dallas -- The Cowboys have the best collection of stars in the NFL and on paper are the best team in the NFC East. Last season's 13 wins weren't a fluke, the 'Boys will be back.
2. Green Bay -- The Packers are built for another long playoff run. With Aaron Rodgers assuming the helm, Green Bay will prove last year's championship game wasn't just Brett Favre's doing.
3. Seattle -- I'll probably regret this, but the Seahawks look like the most consistent team in the NFC Worst.. I mean west. They should run away with their weak division again.
4. New Orleans -- Will somebody please give Drew Brees an MVP award already! Brees has a plethora of targets to throw to and the Saints should regain their conference championship form.
5. NY Giants -- Losing Osi Umenyiora for the season hurts. But it seems like the Giants can plug anyone into their D-line and get results. This is a scary power football team.
6. Tampa Bay -- The Bucs are going to win their games in the trenches. Both the offensive and defensive lines are great, and the ageless wonder Jeff Garica can still deliver the goods.
Playoff bubble: Arizona -- The Cardinals playoff hopes are contingent on one big if. If Kurt Warner starts at QB in place of Matt Leinart, Arizona should make a playoff run.
Over-hyped: Philadelphia -- The Eagles seem to be a consensus pick for the Wild Card. But Donovan McNabb & company can't stay healthy, which doesn't bode well for making the postseason.

AFC Championship: Chargers over Jaguars

NFC Championship: Giants over Cowboys

Super Bowl: Chargers over Giants