Here we go - quick and dirty...3 teams in 15 minutes.
#1 NOTRE DAME - PR 7
The 6 win wonders of last year that everyone seems to love in 2009. Why would you love ND and expect anything more from this team than what we've seen the last few years? Well, I have them as a 7, which puts them in the Top 25 so I guess I'm on board to a point. Clausen is back at QB for his 3rd full year under center. 4 OL are back for a strong unit. 3 of the front 7 return on D, but they did pick up John Tenuta the GT DC, which could make a huge difference. Last year this team only averaged 23 ppg and allowed 22 ppg. The offense has to be better than that this year with all the returning talent. The defense should be extremely solid - the talent is there, and now the coaching appears to be in place w/Tenuta. What about the schedule? Well, this might be the biggest thing on their side for 2009. I have them listed at 9-3 with 2 very likely losses against USC and PITT and probably losing either at MICH or at STAN, yes STAN. SPARTY and NEV will not be easy either, so I'm not as sold on this vibe I've been reading that USC is the only loss on the slate. But I also really do not like ND, so take that for what it's worth. Bottom line for me is that they have proven nothing since Weis took over. We know that they have players, but the need to have coaching as well to step back into the spotlight. BTW, if this club does go 9-3 they will get more publicity than a 12-0 Gators or a 12-0 Longhorns team without a doubt. Having ND as a nationl player is good for college football, but they are not going to compete with the big boys in 2009. (9-3)
#2 NAVY - PR 5.5
Navy had a new coach last year, and they did quite well. A +7 in ptdiff and a +16 in TO were very good numbers for an 8-4 team. The offense has to break in a new QB, but most of the D returns. I am expecting something similar to the 8-4 of last season once again. They should start 1-2 at best with games at OHIOST and PITT, but most everything except at ND should be winnable after that.
#3 ARMY - PR 4
Ellerson takes over as the new coach. Who? He was at Cal Poly last year, the team that should have beaten WIS on the finale of the reg season. He brought his entire staff with him, but I'm pretty skeptical about how his game might transition to D1. 1 OL is back and 4/7 on D. They only scored 15 ppg last year, and were a -14 in TO...both need drastic changes if they expect to win more than the 3 games of last year. RUT is the only really solid team on the slate, other than that they play a lot of the bottom feeders from BCS conferences...DUKE, ISU, VAN...but I doubt that they win many of them. I have them at 2-10 in a transition year.
There we go, 5 minutes to spare. Not a lot of good stuff coming from the Independents this season, but ND should be better. My question is do they want to be better, or should they be mediocre enough to get Weis fired and hire Urban Meyer after his 3rd National Title in 4 years at FLA?!?! If I'm a ND fan, that is the scenario I'm hoping for.
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