Bodog NCAA Football Preview

The USC Trojans had an NCAA Dream Team in the backfield: Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and LenDale White. The Texas Longhorns had Michael Jordan in cleats, Vince Young. Both teams averaged about 50 per and were unstoppable to anyone but each other, making for an ESPY-worthy matchup that will forever be remembered in Rose Bowl lore.

But when the game ended, all the superstar combatants accepted their awards and accolades and took the exit to the NFL, leaving no sure-shot college program to grab the BCS title. That means a wide-open battle looms for NCAA supremacy.

So which squads have the talent to emerge as this year's elite? And which ones are due for a drastic drop? Let’s take a look:

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 2005 Record: straight up 9-3/against the spread 7-5
Odds to win 2006-2007 BCS National Championship: 4/1

Four things you’ll hear about all season in Notre Dame: BCS title, Charlie Weis, Touchdown Jesus and Touchdown Quinn.

With a slew of cereal box superstars jumping from college godliness to NFL paycheck, Brady Quinn is the NCAA’s ambassador, poster boy and best quarterback.

Former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis has already proven his genius by coaching another Brady into leading a potent attack. Last year, the Weis-led Irish averaged 477 total yards per game with Quinn throwing for 32 touchdowns and 3,919 yards. This year, despite losing big targets in tight end Anthony Fasano and wide receiver Maurice Stovall, the offense still has two 1,000-yard secret weapons in running back Darius Walker and All-American wideout Jeff Samardzija.

Questions still surround a defense that allowed 24.5 points per game last season, but as long as the Irish survive Michigan and Penn State, both in South Bend, on Weeks 2 and 3, respectively, they should create enough momentum to carry them to at least a BCS bowl game - if not the national title.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 2005 Record: SU 10-2/ATS 9-3)
Odds to win 2006-2007 BCS National Championship: 11/2

When fans and bettors got a glimpse of the 2005 Ohio State offense, most circled wideout Tedd Ginn Jr. and quarterback Troy Smith as the team’s breakout superstars. What followed was an up-and-down season in which the duo only showed flashes of their potential. Surprisingly, the only steady production came from running back Antonio Pittman who put up 1,331 rushing yards.

And then in the Fiesta Bowl the offense clicked and, 617 total yards later, the Buckeyes showed that their official “breakout” was actually scheduled for 2006-07.

"We’ve got some guys who can make some big plays, and the nice thing about it is it is equally run and pass," offensive coordinator Jim Bollman told the Columbus Dispatch.

The Ohio State defense is only returning two starters but they have an abundance of hard-hitting talent waiting in the wings. With all the pieces finally taking shape, anything less than the national championship game will be a major disappointment.

Texas Longhorns - 2005 Record: SU 13-0/ ATS 11-2
Odds to win 2006-2007 BCS National Championship: 8/1

Yes, “Saint” Vince Young is gone. But take a look at what's left.

The Horns have 16 starters coming back in full force and may be boasting their best front four in years with tackle Frank Okam and ends Brian Robison and Tim Crowder. Safety Michael Griffin should compensate for the leadership lost with Michael Huff's graduation to the pros.

Besides the rematch with Ohio State on Sept. 9, the Horns have an easy schedule. They could realistically own an 11-1 mark at the end of the regular season - and that smells like a BCS bid.

West Virginia Mountaineers - 2005 Record: SU 11-1/ATS 9-2
Odds to win 2006-2007 BCS National Championship: 7/1

Last season, nearly everyone slept on these Mountaineers. Now, eyes are wide open - thanks largely to the team's performance in the Sugar Bowl. On Jan. 2, the Mountaineers faced the Georgia Bulldogs - owners of one of the best defenses in the country - and took care of business.

While checking the stats for the West Virginia starters, this thought comes to mind: “Wait a minute, their starting QB Pat White only throws 9.5 passes per game? And rushes about 11 times per? They’re a one-dimensional, option offense! They couldn’t possibly keep this up in a bowl game, could they?”

But they could, and they did, and they still will.

White may well improve his passing, but in college football the adage always seems to be “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it til you lose by 50”. So look for the Mountaineers to keep running all over their easy schedule, whether it be with their quarterback or returning 1,100-yard running back Steve Slaton. As long as it equals a W, WV will keep running all the way to a bowl game.

BCS Busts

USC Trojans - 2005 Record: SU 12-1/ATS 6-7
Odds to win 2006-2007 BCS National Championship: 7/1

You knew the 2006 USC Trojans were going to be here didn’t you? The 2005 offense was the “Illmatic” of college football - a classic. From quarterback to running back to wide receiver the Trojans were absolute offensive perfection. However, in college football, when your players are the best, they leave sooner than the rest. This year coach Pete Carroll is left with only wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett as a reliable target.

And the Trojans' defense? Well, they never really had one. The defense gave up 23 points per game last year and were taken to school by Vince Young in the Rose Bowl.

Their only shot at staying in the BCS hunt is to have junior quarterback John David Booty (327 yards passing, 3 TDs and 2 INTs) become the second coming of Matt Leinart. Of course, if his name is any indication on how he might play, things aren’t looking good in Southern Cal.

Florida Gators - 2005 Record: SU 9-3/ATS 6-5-1
Odds to win 2006-2007 BCS National Championship: 10/1

Even though Gators quarterback Chris Leak’s progression at quarterback under coach Urban Meyer’s “spread” offense has steadily improved, his numbers aren't good enough in the category that counts: wins.

“Chris Leak, in my opinion, had a very good year in the spread offense.” Meyer told MSNBC.com recently. “But at t the University of Florida, you’re evaluated not on yards thrown, but on winning championships.”

Unfortunately for Leak wins are likely to be hard to come by this year. The SEC has a warranted reputation as a cruel, hardnosed conference, and with a schedule that has the Gators at Tennessee, versus Alabama, versus LSU, at Auburn, versus Georgia and at Florida State, there just doesn’t seem any way for the Gators to come out without a couple of big losses and some bad injuries. All the hurdles in conference play adds up to BCS bust.

PHOTO: Brady Quinn has Notre Dame pointed to the top. (AI Wire photo)

Note: All NCAA Football Lines subject to change.

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