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Miami Hurricanes
Offense: All eyes will be on the quarterback play this year. With a redshirt year under his belt, and his broken hand all healed up, Freshman Robert Marve SHOULD be the starter. Of course, Coach Randy Shannon likes to keep everyone guessing until the week before kickoff, so don’t be surprised if local stud recruit Jacory Harris (who has already impressed so far in summer workouts) ends up on top of the depth chart. Regardless, of the quarterback situation, the Canes will rely on the two-headed rushing monster of Javarris James and Greg Cooper to pile up yards for the offensive unit. The offensive line has some question marks, but has enough size and experience to create the holes these guys need to make some game-breaking plays. The running game will only take this team so far though, and unless a young, underachieving receiving corps steps up for the rookie quarterback (yes I am calling you out Sam Shields), points could be hard to come by yet again for the Miami offense.
Defense: Where has the swagger gone? A unit that used to pride itself on creating 3 and outs and momentum-shifting turnovers finished a shocking 10th in the ACC last year in scoring defense. With Kenny Phillips and Calais Campbell headed to the NFL, the Canes will lean on a group of ultra talented, but ultra inexperienced freshmen to compliment the returning veterans who have something to prove. New defensive coordinator Bill Young wants these guys to be more aggressive, but unless a sketchy secondary (Senior safety Anthony Reddick is coming off two torn ACLs, and Senior cornerback Bruce Johnson has blown to many coverages in his up and down career to secure a starting spot.) finds a way to prevent the big play downfield, it will be hard for this team to blitz effectively. Look for a scary group of freshmen linebackers, featuring the nation’s #1 recruit at the position, Arthur Brown, to see the field immediately. This is a young and deep defensive unit that may have some growing pains at the start of the season, but should start to find a groove when conference play heats up.
X Factor: Sophomore Defensive End; Allen Bailey (6’4, 280 pounds!)
Prediction: 8-4; 2nd ACC Coastal
Fun Fact: The Canes will now be playing their games at Dolphin Stadium, located over 20 miles from the main Coral Gables campus. It was hard enough for UM to get students and local Alum to show up for the farewell season at the Orange Bowl. Without being able to tailgate in the indigenous neighborhoods of Little Havanna shadowing the (now destroyed) historic stadium, will the Canes faithful be willing to sit in traffic on I-95 only to pound their beers and grill their burgers in barren parking lots at a professional stadium they barely know?
SouthFlorida Bulls
Offense: Quarterback Matt Grothe became a household name last year after leading USF to a #2 national ranking at one point. Despite stumbling through three straight losses to end the season, the Bulls still managed to average 35 points per game. Grothe was actually the team’s leading rusher in 2007, but his scrambling shouldn’t be as necessary this year with the return of four experienced running backs led by sophomore Mike Ford (645 yards on 138 carries in ’07). South Florida also returns a talented group of receivers who have a knack for finding themselves open in the end-zone. If these guys can recapture the magic of their undefeated run last season, and Grothe can cut down on the interceptions, this could be the most prolific offense in the Big East.
Defense: Outstanding cover cornerbacks are hard to come by, and USF must find a way to replace two of them. With Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams off to the NFL, the Bulls will have to adapt to a more conservative approach on defense. Luckily, South Florida still has All-American Defensive End George Selvie available to torment opposing quarterbacks, a long with a slew of other young talented defenders on the line looking to match his impressive sack numbers. This is a defensive unit that does not need to be spectacular for the Bulls to win, However, as evidenced by USF’s 1-3 record last year when an opponent scored at least 30 points, the new secondary must prevent the big play downfield.
X-Factor: New starting cornerbacks Senior Tyller Roberts and Junior Jerome Murphy
Prediction: 9-3; 3rd Big East
Fun Fact: USF become the fastest program ever in the modern era of college football to achieve a top 10 ranking in the coaches and AP Polls on September 30, 2007. USF became a full-fledged D1-A program in 2001, and 106 AP Polls later, they were ranked #2 in the nation! The growth of the program has been attributed to Tampa’s fertile recruiting grounds, their beautiful home stadium (Raymond James Stadium, which they share with the Buccaneers), and their recent move to the Big-East (a BCS Conference). Perhaps none of these factors has had the impact of the stability Jim Leavitt has brought to the program, whom has been Head Coach of the Bulls since the football team’s creation in 1997.
Florida Gators
Offense: Not many schools in history have been fortunate enough to return a Heisman winning quarterback. No school in history has returned a junior Heisman winning quarterback. Regardless of the decision he will have to make regarding his NFL future, the Gators will need Tim Tebow to play like a Heisman winner again this season if they have any hopes of getting back to the BCS Championship Game. Even though Tebow rushed the ball a mind boggling 210 times with reasonable success last year, the Gators want to preserve his stamina and health by making him become more of the stereotypical drop-back passer (if that’s possible). Tebow will rely on Southern California transfer running-back Emanuelle Moody to carry the load while he targets any insanely athletic receiving corps. The talent is there on the offensive side of the ball, but a green offensive line must make sure Tebow must stays healthy.
Defense: Didn’t it seem like every Florida Gator game turned into a shootout last year? SEC opponents made a mockery of Florida’s underachieving defense last year, a fact that must have infuriated head coach Urban Meyer to no end this off-season. 6’ 6", 290 pound defensive end Carlos Dunlap steps in for the departed Derrick Harvey, and future NFL first round pick junior Brandon Spikes leads a versatile Gator linebacker unit. It will be difficult for teams to rush with much success against Florida, but the area where this team must improve the most is the secondary. Joe Haden and Major Wright aren’t freshmen anymore, and will need to live up to the expectations set for them coming in as blue-chip recruits. The Gators fortunes this season may rest on these young studs’ shoulders.
X-Factor: Freshman DT Matt Patchan (recovering from a shoulder gunshot wound suffered at a playground this off-season)
Prediction: 10-2; 1st SEC East
Fun Fact: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, better known as “The Swamp,” was ranked in the new NCAA Football video game as the #1 toughest place to play in the nation. This alias stuck Former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier once said, “The Swamp is where Gators live and can be hot, sticky, and dangerous…only Gators get out alive.” The Swamp, which seats over 90,000 fans, has been sold out for every game since 1989. The stadium’s claustrophobic design makes it impossible for any breeze to enter the stadium (often leading to 100 plus degree temperatures during football season). This prompted a UF Professor to create a sports drink that would combat dehydration, now known as Gatorade.
Florida State
Seminoles
Offense: When you overhaul your offensive coaching staff, and still finish 91st in the nation in scoring offense while breaking the 30 point mark just once, the season isn’t exactly a success. FSU head coach Bobby Bowden knows this, but also knows that turning things around on the offensive end won’t be easy. Incumbent senior quarterback Drew Weatherford returns, but he could be beat out by talented sophomore Christian Ponder. Whichever QB takes the first snap will have a pair of ultra-athletic receivers in Preston Parker (suspended for the first two games) and Greg Carr to throw the bal to, a long with reliable senior running-back Antoine Smith in the backfield. This is a young offensive line with serious question marks however, and with the plethora of suspensions across the roster, the Seminoles are going to have to overachieve this year to reach the ACC Championship.
Defense: Unlike 2nd year offensive coordinator Jimbo Fischer, defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews is entering his 25th season with Florida State. Opposing teams know what to expect out of Andrews’ 4-3 scheme, which has tormented quarterbacks with fierce blitzes for years. FSU should be able to continue to blitz comfortably with the ACC’s top cornerback tandem of Patrick Robinson and Tony Carter returning. Former #1 overall recruit Myron Rolle should also continue to make strides at the safety position. While the defensive line is not very deep, it should be bolstered by the addition of junior college transfer Markus White (24.5 sacks last year). The Seminole defense is used to carrying the inconsistent offense through games, and this year should be no different. Even with all of the transfers and suspensions, there is enough talent here to give FSU another top-20 defense.
X-Factor: Punter Graham Gano, who may have to handle the kicking duties as well this year after the departure of Gary Cismesia
Prediction: 6-6; 4th ACC Atlantic
Fun Fact: From 1987 through 2000, Florida State always finished in the top 5 of the AP Poll while scoring two national championships (’93 and ’99). Bobby Bowden has also won more games than any other head coach in NCAA D-1 history. With trips to the Emerald and Music City Bowls the past two years, one has to wonder what in the world has happened to the Florida State football program.
FIU Panthers
Offense: When you overhaul your offensive coaching staff, and still finish 91st in the nation in scoring offense while breaking the 30 point mark just once, the season isn’t exactly a success. FSU head coach Bobby Bowden knows this, but also knows that turning things around on the offensive end won’t be easy. Incumbent senior quarterback Drew Weatherford returns, but he could be beat out by talented sophomore Christian Ponder. Whichever QB takes the first snap will have a pair of ultra-athletic receivers in Preston Parker (suspended for the first two games) and Greg Carr to throw the bal to, a long with reliable senior running-back Antoine Smith in the backfield. This is a young offensive line with serious question marks however, and with the plethora of suspensions across the roster, the Seminoles are going to have to overachieve this year to reach the ACC Championship.
Defense: Unlike 2nd year offensive coordinator Jimbo Fischer, defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews is entering his 25th season with Florida State. Opposing teams know what to expect out of Andrews’ 4-3 scheme, which has tormented quarterbacks with fierce blitzes for years. FSU should be able to continue to blitz comfortably with the ACC’s top cornerback tandem of Patrick Robinson and Tony Carter returning. Former #1 overall recruit Myron Rolle should also continue to make strides at the safety position. While the defensive line is not very deep, it should be bolstered by the addition of junior college transfer Markus White (24.5 sacks last year). The Seminole defense is used to carrying the inconsistent offense through games, and this year should be no different. Even with all of the transfers and suspensions, there is enough talent here to give FSU another top-20 defense.
X-Factor: Punter Graham Gano, who may have to handle the kicking duties as well this year after the departure of Gary Cismesia
Prediction: 6-6; 4th ACC Atlantic
Fun Fact: From 1987 through 2000, Florida State always finished in the top 5 of the AP Poll while scoring two national championships (’93 and ’99). Bobby Bowden has also won more games than any other head coach in NCAA D-1 history. With trips to the Emerald and Music City Bowls the past two years, one has to wonder what in the world has happened to the Florida State football program.
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