College Football Predictions: ACC

Uh... so, that whole conference re-alignment thing really worked out, didn't it?

Ever since 2004, when the ACC swiped Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech from the Big East - an attempt to challenge the SEC and Big 12 for College Football conference supremacy - results have been...well, mixed.

Florida State, which not that long ago was one of the nation's premier programs, hasn't won more than 8 games since 2005.

Miami, after back-to-back BCS title games in the early 00's, has become one of college football's biggest disappointments, going 19-19 in the past three seasons and frequenting postseason stops like the Peach Bowl and the MPC Computers Bowl.

The one bright spot, of course, has been Virginia Tech.

Frank Beamer has built the Hokies into a perennial College Football power, with three conference titles and three BCS bowls since 2004 to show for it.

But no one will take the ACC all that seriously until someone - anyone? Beamer? -steps up to win another national title.

Just don't expect 2009 to be the year.

ACC:

Player of the Year: Jonathan Dwyer, RB (GT)
Offensive POY: Russell Wilson, QB (NCST)
Defensive POY: Quan Sturdivant, LB (UNC)

ACC Championship Game: Virginia Tech over NC State

Atlantic Division:

1. NC State - Following a dismal 2-6 start, the Wolfpack rebounded to win their final four regular season games in 2008, including an impressive 41-10 dismantling of then-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Now, the 'Pack returns 14 starters, including Jr. Russell Wilson, who may just be the most talented QB in the ACC. Head coach Tom O'Brien also gets back a defensive unit that improved greatly down the stretch in '08, allowing just over 20 points per contest in its final 5 games. The health of LB Nate Irving, injured in a serious car accident in July, is a great concern for the Pack both on and off the field heading into 2009.

Overall: 10-2, Conference: 6-2

2. Florida State - Distractions? What distractions? The NCAA ruling on FSU off-field violations comes at a bad time for Bobby Bowden and the 'Noles. After several years of disappointment on the field, the team finally appears to have a squad capable of winning the ACC. Sr. QB Christian Ponder will lead a potentially explosive offense, and the defense boasts returning stud FS Dekoda Watson. Bowden has plenty of talent, but it's tough to see the 'Noles winning more than 8 or 9 games with trips to BYU, North Carolina, Clemson and Florida on the schedule.

8-4 (5-3)

3. Clemson - After years of underachievement under Tommy Bowden, the biggest asset new coach Dabo Swinney has on his side may just be lowered expectations. For once, no one really expects much out of the Tigers. And while the proof will alwaysin the pudding, the talent is there for Clemson to challenge for an Atlantic title. RB C.J. Spiller led the ACC in All-Purpose yards in '08. Highly touted So. QB Willy Korn takes the reins behind an experienced O-line. And the Defense, which ranked 2nd in the ACC in '08, returns 10 starters in 2009.

7-5 (4-4)

4. Boston College - Sure, the Eagles don't really have, say, a QB. But the BC defense (which ranked fifth in the nation last year) still has enough to keep the Eagles competing in '09. And an experienced O-line should be able to push RB Montel Harris to a big year. Plus, Florida State, NC State and North Carolina all must travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass.

6-6 (3-5)

5. Maryland - Ralph Friedgen has a challenge ahead of him in a year when he may be coaching for his job. The 'Terps lose 12 starters from 2008, when they finished 8-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play. An opening week trip to Berkely to take on Cal should tell us a lot about how competitive Maryland will be in '09.

5-7 (3-5)

6. Wake Forest - The Deacons lose eight starters on a defense that carried them in 2008. They return most of the starters on offense, but is that really a good thing for a team that struggled to score just 21 points per game last season? Yeah... that's what I thought.

3-9 (1-7)

Coastal:

1. Virginia Tech - Frank Beamer may be the most underrated college coach in America. All he does is build Top-10, ACC-winning, BCS-bowling teams year after year after year. While part of me loves the Georgia Tech story (see below), I just can't pick against the consistent Hokies. QB Tyrod Taylor finally takes over as the true no. 1. He'll have plenty of help with the return of RB Darren Evans, who rushed for over 1,200 yds in '08. The Hokies' D, which allowed an ACC-best 16.7 points per game last year, returns a plethora of starters, including DE Jason Worilds and CB Stephan Virgil. Don't bet against Beamer.

11-1 (7-1)

2. Georgia Tech - You've gotta love Paul Johnson. Dude dominates for years at Navy using his non-traditional triple-option offense, then comes to Georgia Tech where supposedly his system "won't work" due to "bigger and faster defenses." Uhhh, yeah...I think it worked. The Jackets averaged 273.3 yards rushing per game last year - per game!! RB Jonathan Dwyer will absolutely find himself in the Heisman hunt this season. And if the Jackets shore up a sometimes-leaky defense, Johnson might just be showing off that triple-option of his in a BCS game.

10-2 (6-2)

3. North Carolina - I heard Tar Heel coach Butch Davis say on ESPN the other day that he can envision a time when UNC football is king on the Chapel Hill campus. I laughed and laughed. That'll happen just as soon as Coach K gets hired for the UNC Assistant AD position. But - make no mistake - Heels football is back, thanks to Davis. The only problem in '09 is that the team's three toughest games - Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and NC State - are all played on the road. At least there won't be any Cameron Crazies there.

9-3 (5-3)

4. Miami - Randy Shannon hasn't done a bad job at Miami. He's gone 19-19 in three seasons and gotten the 'Canes to two decent bowls. The problem is, that's not good enough in Miami. Everyone remembers the "glory days," which weren't that long ago, and want them back. Jr. RB Craig Cooper looks like he's on the verge of a big year, and new Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple will certainly make use of him. But the Hurricanes' first four games are ridiculous - at Florida State, Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech, Oklahoma. 1-3 or 0-4 are real possibilities.

7-5 (5-3)

5. Virginia - Points? Where are the points? The Cavalier offense ranked last in the ACC in '08 with 299.8 yards and 16.1 points per game. Al Groh has certainly brought decent football to Virginia, but lately he hasn't brought much offense - or wins. Either Jameel Sewell or Vic Hall has to have a breakout year for Virginia to factor into the ACC picture.

4-8 (1-7)

6. Duke - Hey, you've gotta give David Cutliffe some credit. In two years, he's made Duke football watchable again. I mean, I watched an entire game last year and didn't lose my lunch - even once! Sr. QB Thaddeus Lewis quietly ranked second in the ACC in pass yards per game in '08. Maybe this year I can even watch two full games without a bottle Pepto Bismol nearby!

4-8 (1-7)

College Football Predictions: MWC

Ahh, it's that time of year. The grass gets cut, the lines get painted, the marching bands warm up and Tim Tebow starts saving the world all over again.

It's (almost) time for College Football.

And to fill the next 31 days until the season kicks off (Sept. 3), I'm going to enlighten you all with my predictions for the 2009 season. Conference-by-conference, and (eventually) bowl-by-bowl.

Today, we start with the Mountain West Conference - the "little brother" of college football. The torch-carrier of the "BCS is BS" debate. The most talked-about conference in the offseason not named the "SEC."

And also, as a matter of fact, a pretty darn good football conference.

Utah shocked the sports world in January with a dominant 31-17 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, once again igniting the argument that non-BCS conferences deserve a clear shot at a national title.

This year, the Biggest Little League in America presents three potential BCS busters: defending conference champ Utah, BYU and TCU.

But, since a 12-0 campaign will likely be needed for a BCS berth, only one of those teams can realistically hope to crash the party this season.

So, who will be the Utah of 2009?

Mountain West Conference:

MVP: Max Hall, QB (BYU)
Offensive POY: Harvey Unga, RB (BYU)
Defensive POY: Jerry Hughes, DE (TCU)

1. BYU - Bronco Mendenhall has done what Cougars fans long anticipated in Provo - he has returned BYU football back to the elite level it enjoyed under LaVell Edwards. Mendenhall has had help recently, though, namely in the form of Heisman-candidate QB Max Hall. Hall threw for a league-best 3,957 yds and 35 TD's in '08. Those numbers are likely to improve in '09, even with favorite target Austin Collie gone to the NFL. Hall still has one of the best TE's in America in Dennis Pitta and workhorse RB Harvey Unga taking pressure off in the backfield. Defensively, the Cougars need to improve on a rush defense that allowed over 140 yards per game a season ago. With both TCU and Utah coming to Provo this year, an undefeated conference record seems highly possible. But 12-0 (and a BCS bowl) may be a different story, as BYU opens the season at Oklahoma on Sept. 5.

Record: Overall: 11-1 Conference: 7-1

2. TCU - The Horned Frogs return 11 starters from last year's 10-2 squad (which defeated Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl). Most importantly, TCU gets back its best defensive player in All-America candidate DE Jerry Hughes, who anchors a defensive unit that held opponents to a staggering 10.9 points per game in '08 - the second-best mark in the country. Whether the Frogs can win their third MWC title will depend on the success of a frequently-stagnant offense - particularly junior QB Andy Dalton, who needs to improve consistency after completing under 60% of his passes last season. Oct. 24 in Provo will stand in the way of a MWC title - and a potential BCS bowl.

Record: 11-1 (7-1)

3. Utah - The Utes' impressive BCS runs of 2004 and 2008 have almost singlehandedly elevated the MWC to the title of "best non-BCS conference." Their defeat of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl sent shock waves throughout college football. Now, for an encore, the Utes attempt to replace 6 offensive starters lost from 2008, including MWC Offensive Player of the Year QB Brian Johnson. The good news is that the Utes' defense, which ranked 12th in the nation last year, returns 7 starters, including a stout linebacker corps led by Stevenson Sylvester. The unit will need to carry a young offense early in the season, especially on a Sept. 19 trip to Eugene to face Oregon. We should know by the end of that contest whether or not the Utes can repeat some of their 2008 magic.

Record: 9-3 (6-2)

4. Colorado State - For his debut, Steve Fairchild took a program that was fading under its legendary coach and led it to its first bowl victory in seven years. Not too shabby. Now, after losing All-MWC RB Gartrell Johnson (a fourth-round pick in April's NFL Draft) along with graduated QB Billy Farris, Fairchild will try to prove that '08 was no fluke. The Rams boast the league's most experienced offensive line, led by Sr. OT Shelley Smith. Defensively, the Rams need a big year from Sr. SS Klint Kubiak, who has battled injuries throughout his time in Fort Collins. A second consecutive bowl is a legitimate possibility for the Rams, but it won't be as easy this time around. Luckily, the Rams have a relatively manageable schedule.

Record: 7-5 (4-4)

5. Air Force - Things started getting interesting in Colorado Springs when 2008 MWC Freshman of the Year Tim Jefferson began struggling with academics in the Spring. Assuming Jefferson stays eligible, the Falcons should be in line for a third consecutive bowl game. So. RB Asher Clark also returns for an option threat that continues to give opponents fits. The question is whether Air Force can remain consistent for an entire 12-game season. The Falcons started 8-2 in '08, only to lose their final three games, including the Armed Forces Bowl against Houston. Still, Air Force should remain one of the better under-the-radar programs in America.

Record: 7-5 (4-4)

6. UNLV - Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the MWC "Sleeper of the Year." Everyone seems to be jumping on the Rebels' bandwagon. My friend Mike thinks they might win a BCS bowl. Seriously. With junior QB Omar Clayton and SR WR Ryan Wolfe leading a potentially explosive offensive attack, it's easy to understand the sentiment. But UNLV hasn't' won more than 5 games since 2003. What's worse, despite finishing a respectable 5-7, the Rebels allowed 32.6 points per game last season - 32.6 points!! Also, UNLV loses RB "Frank-the-Tank" Summers, who took a ton of pressure off Clayton and the pass offense in '08. Sleepers, maybe, but in Vegas it's always a roll of the dice with this team. Write that down.

Record: 5-7 (3-5)

7. New Mexico - Welcome to Albuquerque, Mike Locksley. Your task is simple: improve upon fired coach Rocky Long's 43-31 record and 5 bowl games since 2001. Um... stil not quite sure why Long was fired, but I'm not holding my breath for any shocking rise to BCS contention anytime soon. The Lobos do return Sr. DB Clint McPeek, who ranked sixth in the MWC last year with 103 total tackles. So... that's good, right?

Record: 4-8 (2-6)

8. Wyoming - Well, as they say, "go big or go home," right? The Cowboys and their new coach, Dave Christensen, are certainly doing that in 2009. Wyo brings some program called "Texas" into Laramie in Week 2. After that expected beat-down, the 'Pokes head to Boulder to face another Big 12 team in Colorado. By the time they get to the MWC schedule, the Cowboys may have little confidence left.

Record: 2-10 (1-7)

9. San Diego State - SDSU has become one of the country's biggest quagmires. Why can a program - in this large of a city, with this much surrounding talent, and that beautiful of a campus - not consistently compete in football? The latest employed to figure that one out is former Ball State coach Brady Hoke. Hoke will attempt to build around QB Ryan Lindley, who threw for 16 TD's and 9 INT's last year as a freshman.

Record: 2-10 (1-7)

Holliday Travel

It has been nearly nine months since the Colorado Rockies traded Matt Holliday to the A's and I penned this heart-breaking refrain set to Death Cab For Cutie's "Cath..."

No, I still haven't quite gotten over it. (Counseling has helped). But the story today takes an interesting twist.

News broke this afternoon that Holliday has been traded from Oakland to St. Louis, where he will (allegedly) provide ample protection to one Albert Pujols. Never heard of him.

Now, looking back, who benefited most from November's Holliday-to-Oakland trade? The Rockies or Matt Holliday?

Holliday's numbers have dipped well below his production in 2007/2008 in Colorado, as he is currently batting .286 with 11 HR and 54 RBI (although he has been on a bit of a tear recently).

Meanwhile, the chief figure in Oakland's package for Holliday, closer Huston Street, is tied for the NL league in saves (24) and has a quality 2.61 ERA. (OF Carlos Gonzalez, another piece of the trade, has also contributed to the Rockies' surprise run, while P Greg Smith remains in the minors).

And while Holliday struggled in the cavernous Oakland-Alameda Port-a-Toilet, he now goes to a more hitter-friendly park in Bush Stadium, and now finds himself on a division leader - in as good of a baseball town as you'll find in America.

But do you suppose Holliday would have preferred to have stayed in Denver, where he'd be playing for a another playoff contendor in the friendly confines of Coors Field?

Meanwhile, Colorado has performed just fine without their former slugger. Would the Rockies even want Holliday back considering the performance of Street and the high potential of Gonzalez?

And this deal brings another exciting possibility to mind:

With the Cards up just 1.5 games on Chicago in the NL Central, and the Rockies currently leading the NL Wild Card chase, could we potentially see a Wild Card standoff between Holliday and the team that raised him from Rookie ball? Better yet, a Cards-Rockies NLCS?

Ooh, I feel another poem coming on...

The Fast and the Curious

Well, I did it.

I went a week without sports. No sports on TV, no sports on the radio, no sports on my computer, no downloading TECMO BOWL 2000 on my cell phone (though I thought about it).

This Sports Fast wasn't easy, though. Here is the "cliff-notes" rundown of my Week Without Sports...

Monday, 7/13:

7:00 AM - Woke up to a calendar appointment on my phone that read "No Sports." Died a little inside.

9:30 AM - Typed "ESPN.co" into my Web browser, then had to stop.

11:00 AM - Almost decided tht a "4-hours Without Sports" fast was pretty impressive, too.

1:20 PM - Typed "Sportsli..." into my browser, then stopped.

11:40 PM - Wished I could turn on some ESPNradio to fall asleep. Instead listened to some guy on the AM dial discussing whether President Obama was a Russian spy. Seriously. He had a fairly compelling case, too.

Tuesday 7/14:

7:00 AM - Woke up, contemplated if life was worth living or not. Decided it most likely was.

10:34 AM - Typed "FoxSpor..." into my browser, stopped.

7:00 PM - Nearly jumped off the wagon to watch the MLB All-Star game. Instead walked around Old Town Fort Collins and had dinner with Becca. Turns out there are these things called "sunsets" most nights. I highly recommend them.

9:53 PM - My buddy Nick wanted me to come over after some "All-Star program" he was watching. He tells me to come over in about 20 minutes, as they are in the "top of the last segment of the show."

Wednesday 7/15:

7:30 AM - Wondered if kicking the soap in the shower qualified as "sports" or not.

7:35 AM - Made a freaking amazing "soap goal" just insde the left shampoo bottle. Money.

2:22 PM - Typed "Deadspi..." into my browser, stopped, cried a little.

9:49 PM - "Read" something called a "book" ??

Thursday, 7/16:

7:30 AM - Had my Dial bicycle kick denied by the Head and Shoulders bottle. Apparently it protects against dandruff and game-tying goals.

12:21 PM - Typed "Depression" into my browser, researched a little.

6:30 PM - Made a phone call to a family member and had something commonly referred to as a "conversation." Strangely informative...

9:12 PM - Received a text reading "DUDE THIS GAME IS AMAZING!!!!" from my brother. Not helping, bro.

Friday, 7/17:

11:11 AM - Typed "Addiction" into my browser. Wondered if there were "Sportsaholic Anonymous Groups" around... Me: "Hi, my name is Jeff. And I can tell you Todd Helton's On-Base Percentage in 1999." Group: "Hi, Jeff."

5:00 PM - Made an amazing Mix CD. Decided I needed to spend more time listening to music.

8:00 PM - Attended an 80's Rocky show at a "Neighborhood Nights" festival in Greeley. Wow this is lame.

8:59 PM - Screamed"DON'T STOP...BELIEVIN!!!" at the top of my lungs.

Saturday, 7/18:

8:00 AM - Woke up, wondered if going a "week" without sports necessarily included the weekend or not.

8:30 AM - Went for a "jog." It might be a silent "j," I'm not really sure...

10:28 AM - Laid at the pool and talked with Becca. Turns out time really flies when spending quality time with people.

4:00 PM - Took a tour of the Budweiser brewery in Fort Collins. Turns out time really flies when you get free samples of beer. Hey, I'm just saying.

Sunday, 7/9:

9:16 AM - Made an amazing fade-away Dixie Cup shot. Nothing but toilet water.

2:00 PM - Nearly decided to jump off the wagon a bit early to watch the Rockies' series closer with the Padres. Instead, I fell asleep. It was a miracle, I tell you. Something supernatural at work here.

5:10 PM - Got some "excercise." Decided I needed to do this more often, too.

8:00 PM - Started counting down the hours until the Fast was over at Midnight.

10:17 PM - Decided the only viable sports option on TV at midnight was a replay of the 1988 NCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship. It's amazing how excited you can be about Men's Volleyball after a week-long sports drought.

12:01 - Fell asleep during the national anthem.

Monday, 7/20

5:30 AM - Woke up early, flipped on SportsCenter.

6:00 AM - Saw Tom Watson's devastating loss at the British Open. Heartbreaking. Changed the channel.

7:30 AM - Thanked God for all the things that really mattered in life, things I often take for granted - like friends, family, sunsets and, of course, a slippery bar of soap in the shower.

It was a good week, after all.

Life Without Sports

Breathing.

Eating.

Drinking (water, of course).

U2.

And... sports. Sports and lots of sports.

This is the "stuff" of my daily life (not including: God, family, my beautiful girlfriend, and friends, of course. Oh...and my job... right, can't forget the job). These are the things I not only enjoy spending time on, but actually feel I almost "need" to spend time on.

Yeah, seriously. I go a few days without some "Where the Streets Have No Name" and I feel like I missed breakfast. Go a few hours without checking ESPN.com and I feel parched. No, seriously, I do.

Am I obsessed? Probably. Am I concerned? Not really.

But this is why I have decided that I will be going a week - this week - without sports. That's right - no ESPN, no Rockies, no Jim Rome, no Sports page, no predicting how many TD's and INT's Kyle Orton will have in December road games this year (not that I've done that...recently).

I guess I just want to make sure that my priorities in life are in the right place. I guess I just want to make sure I can live a normal, well-adjusted, healthy lifestyle without sports.

Call it lent, call it a revival, call it insanity...whatever it is, it will teach me just how much I want (or need) sports in my life.

Time to get out there and give it my best shot...er, try.

Wish me luck.

Holy Joe

The past year in Denver, sports fans have watched an inexperienced coach dismantle a talented team, a spoiled young QB demand a trade, a spoiled young WR get in trouble with the law again - and then demand a trade, and an all-star outfielder turn down a $16 mil/year contract with the team that raised him in hopes of finding a bigger deal elsewhere.

It's enough to make even the most dedicated, local fan nauseous. It seems as if there is no longer any remnant of loyalty, class or commitment in pro sports today.

But then there's Joe Sakic.

"Burnaby Joe," as he is known internationally (or "Super Joe" as he is known to Avalanche fans), was the type of athlete who made you proud to be a sports fan.

Not only did he remain - incredibly - with the same franchise (Quebec/Colorado) for all 20 of his seasons in the NHL (and several times turned down potentially bigger contracts to do so), he excelled enormously throughout his career.

Sakic ranks 8th all time in the NHL for points, 7th in postseason points, and 1st in playoff OT goals - a stat that helped make him a Denver legend, helping leading the Avs to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001.

He is one of just six players in NHL history to record 600 goals and 1,000 assists in his career, alongside some guys named Gretzky, Howe and Lemieux.

And Joe not only excelled in the NHL, but also in international play, leading Canada to the Gold Medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics, becoming one of only 22 players in history to win a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal and a World Championshp gold medal.

But what made Joe so endearing to fans was his quiet demeanor, his "lead by example" style, his selflessness and commitment to his family and community. Sakic's charity work is estimated to have given over 7 million meals to underpriveleged children.

With all of the records, statistics, medals and cups, the thing that Avs (and Nordique) fans will always remember about Joe was that he was the ultimate professional - a man who never placed himself before his teammates or his work.

No Avs fan will ever forget June 9, 2001. The Avs had just won an emotional second Stanley Cup, made more dramatic by the recent addition of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, who joined the Avs in hopes of winning the first Cup of his career.

Though tradition holds for the captain of the Stanley Cup winner to receive and take the first skate with Lord Stanley's cup, "Super Joe" immediately handed it off to an ecstatic Bourque.

Joe knew he would have his time in the sun, though he never asked for it.

Here's hoping the sun shines bright over Burnaby the rest of his life.

Thanks, Joe.

Monday morning, 30 years of dawning...

It's been nearly three decades since Bono first screamed those opening words to "Out of Control" on U2's debut album, "Boy."

If only that Bono had known that 29 years later, on a Monday morning, the world would be heralding the relase of his band's 15th studio album.

Today is the worldwide release of No Line on the Horizon, the first U2 album since 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

Of course, most of the world has already heard the new album, thanks to online leaks and a massive screw-up by the band's label in Australia.

(By the way, if you can't wait until you get the real thing in your hands, you can listen to it on teh band's myspace page.)

I, myself, have heard only three songs on the new album - Get on Your Boots (the lead single), Breathe and I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight.

Based on those three songs, along with what I've heard from those who have already digested "No Line," I can say that this album promises to be a serious change-up from the band's last two albums.

"All that You Can't Leave Behind" in 2000 returned U2 to its anthemic-rock roots, with a collection of songs that were both accessible and radio-friendly (see: "Beautiful Day.")

Four years later, U2 released "Bomb," which was less radio-friendly and a bit darker than its predecessor, but still an album that appealed to the masses.

"No Line on the Horizon," I think, will evoke differing reactions among both U2 fans and the general public. I think many will love the album and insist upon its genius (like ... in the Rolling Stone, who gave the album a Five-star, "masterpiece" review).

Others may not be so sure. While I'm not going to search one out, I'm sure you can find plenty of average-to-worse reviews of the CD.

But the beauty of being a U2 fan is that - honestly, it doesn't matter. There will be plenty in this new album that connects to me and means something to me, regardless of whether it gets (or deserves) the acclaim of The Joshua Tree.

I love every U2 album - yes even "Pop." Because Pop brought us plenty of gems, like the emotional verocity of "If God Will Send His Angels," the techno-rock of "Gone," and the unique classicness of "Please."

And Pop, like all U2 albums, means more to U2 fans than just another album.

That's because U2 is not just another band.

Enjoy the new album, world.