#9.  Georgia will lose 2 or 3 games.
The preseason #1 will not live up the hype.  They will be good.  But not great.

Verdict:  We were correct on this one.  After starting the year at #1, Georgia did not live up to the hype and finished the year 10-3. 

#8.  Ohio State will go to L.A. and defeat the Trojans
..and America will collectively groan.

Verdict:  USC crushed the Buckeyes 35-3.  Whoops!

#7.  The Wisconsin Badgers will nearly run the table.
It’s very possible the only loss on the Badgers docket will occur during the three week stretch of Michigan (away), Ohio State (home) and Penn State (home).  We think this team will come within a Ohio State loss of going undefeated.  11-1. 

Verdict:  We were dead wrong here.  The Badgers started out 3-0, then blew a 19-0 3rd quarter lead at hapless Michigan.  That’s when things completely unraveled for Wisky.  They wound up with a 7-6 record.  Not quite the 11-1 we predicted.

#6.  This year’s most improved teams will be…
Colorado - Not on a Kansas or Missouri 2007 level, but we like the Buffs to have a very good season.  Coach Hawkings is in his 3rd season.  The players he’s recruited are finally making an impact. 

Verdict:  Wrong.  Colorado started out 3-0 with a win over WVU, but won only two more games on the season to finish 5-7.

NorthwesternTheir non-conference schedule is a joke.  We think they’ll split their conference games and finish the year a very respectable 8-4.

Verdict:  Correct.  The Wildcats went 9-4 on the year.  They took Mizzou to overtime in their bowl game. 

North Carolina - This team might be a year away from challenging for the ACC title.  OOC games against ND, UConn and Rutgers are not cupcakes.  After finishing 4-8 last year, a winning record this season would qualify as a success.

Verdict:  Correct.  UNC went 8-5 on the year.

Notre Dame - They can’t be as bad as last year, could they?  As stated above, we foresee 8 wins.

Verdict:  Mixed.  They improved from 3 to 7 wins.  One short of our 8 win prediction.

Pittsburgh - Every year the East Coast media thinks the Panthers are going to turn the corner, and every year they disappoint.  Well, we’re taking the bait once again and predicting a good season.  8 wins.

Verdict:  Correct.  Pitt was much improved this year.  They were ranked in the Top 25 for much of the season and won nine games.

#5.  This year’s most overhyped teams will be….
Clemson - They always lose a game or two they shouldn’t.  They have a lot to prove this year and we don’t think they’ll get the job done.

Verdict:  Correct-a-mundo.  After starting the year ranked in the Top 10, Clemson fired their coach in the middle of the season and finished 7-6.

Illinois - The Illini are ranked #15 in the preseason.  Too high.  We like Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn as fantasy options, but this team is going to take a dip back to reality this season.

Verdict:  Bingo.  The Illini finised the year 5-7, a far cry from their stellar 2007 season that ended in the Rose Bowl.

Georgia - They are obviously a very good SEC team, but they are in the wrong conference.  They have yet to prove they can do what the big boys in their conference have done:  win it all.  They have no excuses this year as they start the year at #1.  Even with the built-in margin of error of starting the saseon at the top of the polls, they will lose too many games to get to Miami for the title game.

Verdict:  Correct.  UGA went 10-3 this year.  That’s not exactly living up to preseason #1 expectations.  Looks like we went 3-for-3 in the “overhyped” category!

#4.  This year’s teaser teams will be…
Texas Tech - The Red Raiders have more buzz now than any time before.  Their schedule is laid out as such that a 7-1 start is very possible heading into November.  The hype will be high in Lubbock with that sexy offensive attack.  Just when everything reaches a crescendo, the bottom will fall out on their season when both Texas and Oklahoma spoil their BCS aspirations.

Verdict:  Correct.  Tech started the year 10-0 and were ranked as high as #2 in the land, then faltered down the stretch getting blown out by Oklahoma and Ole Miss, and struggling to defeat Baylor.

Michigan State - Pencil in the Spartans as a teaser every year.  Usually, arch-rival Michigan ruins MSU’s early undefeated season and sends them into a tailspin.  This year, the schedule is backloaded with tough games.  If Sparty can get past Cal in their opener, they could be 7-0.  Therein lies the tease.  Then they play Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue and Penn State to finish the year.  They won’t get through that gauntlet without a couple losses. 

Verdict:  Correct.  MSU started the year 6-1 and were hyping Javon Ringer for the Heisman.  Then they went in the tank, going 3-3 down the stretch to finish the year 9-4.

#3.  Fallout from the RichRod Soap Opera
Out with the old...West Virginia will have another good year, but tough OOC games against Auburn and Colorado will keep them out of the national title hunt.  The prediction for WVU:  10-2 regular season.  In with the new...many pundits are expecting Michigan to fall flat on their face this season.  While it’s true that it will take time for Rodriguez to install his offense and put the right pieces in place, it won’t take as long as people think.  There will be no losing season in Ann Arbor this fall.  8 or 9 wins.

Verdict:  “Wrong and Wronger”.  WVU finished the regular season 8-4, not a good year by WVU standards.  And as for our Michigan prediction…..just a tad off.

#2.  Heisman Prediction
As stated in our Heisman article, we’re going with Ohio State’s RB Chris Wells to win it.

Verdict:  Not even close.  Beanie was injured early in the year and never really recovered.  Only 8 touchdowns on the year.

#1.  National Title Game Prediction: 
Ohio State 31-17 over Oklahoma.  Yes, the Buckeye lovefest continues here at The Geek.  The monkey will be off the Buckeyes’ back, and placed squarely on the Sooners who will have lost their 5th straight BCS bowl game.  Tressel will thank his lucky stars that an SEC team didn’t represent in the title game.

Verdict:  Well, we got half of the prediction correct.