Who will left be standing?

By Piet Van Leer Sports Central Columnist

Familiar faces are aligned at the top of most of the polls this year. Miami, Oklahoma, Florida State, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas all have the talent to make a run at No. 1. What is different about this year as compared to most is the schedule.

Last year, Miami cruised to a national championship without facing a Top 5 team the entire year. They crushed both FSU and Nebraska, but they failed to schedule anyone with the pedigree of Oregon, Florida, Colorado, or Tennessee. This year, the Hurricanes not only renew their rivalry with Florida, but they also go to Knoxville to take on the Volunteers of Tennessee. This is all in addition to their game with a vastly improved Florida State.

The Hurricanes might repeat, but it isn't very likely. The three aforementioned games certainly make their consecutive championship bid unlikely. They have also undergone massive changes in the secondary and offensive line, as well as losing Clinton Portis and Jeremy Shockey. The Hurricanes are plenty deep, but I'm not sure any team can repeat when dealing with these many obstacles.

Oklahoma is the Sports Illustrated No. 1 team, which basically spells doom. SI likes to stir up debate with their preseason pick, which also means trouble for whomever graces the cover (see Oregon State last year). Oklahoma has two games on their schedule worth noting: Texas (in Dallas) and Colorado (at home). The problem is in the Big 12, any team can sneak up on you, as Oklahoma State proved in Norman last year. And if Oklahoma can survive the losses of Roy Williams and Rocky Calmus and make it through the regular season in the hunt for No. 1, they still have to play in the Big 12 championship game.

That also applies for Florida and Tennessee. They play in the SEC, which consistently is the best conference year in and year out. And after their grueling schedule (they both play Miami and Florida plays Florida State), they have an SEC Title game.

The ACC is no SEC or Big 12, but Florida State schedules Miami and Florida every year, just like this year. In fact, they travel to the Orange Bowl which has been a house of horrors biannually.

Texas is another Big 12 team that has a quarterback with an Achilles' of playing poorly in the biggest game. Chris Simms has yet to win a game of consequence, and in the Big 12, playing the likes of Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas State, you will at some point run into a fast defense that can follow the quarterback's eyes. Simms rarely looks off defenders, which is part of the reason Oklahoma beat Texas last year. Mack Brown will more than likely have to explain how all this talent failed to go the distance yet again.

As we learned last year, one loss doesn't necessarily mean you're done. If Miami only loses once, odds are that with their pre-season No. 1 ranking, they will have a spot in the title game, because the likelihood of two significant teams going through the season unscathed is rather small.

Now I have failed to mention any Pac-10 team, which is part of the on going conspiracy in college football. Can a West Coast team get any love? Oregon lost Joey Harrington and Maurice Morris and Washington State barely makes a blip on the radar. This could be the year that another team, like Oregon State two years ago, bursts on the scene and surprises everyone. Bob Toledo likes to stockpile weapons out in Los Angeles, and they are so unnoticed that this could be their year.

I have also left the Big 10 off, mainly because of their production in the last two years. After Michigan and Illinois were trounced by Tennessee and LSU, respectively, they need to have a respectable out-of-conference record before they are considered to be the dominant conference they were in years past.

As for my prediction, against all logic, I like the Buffaloes of Colorado, which spells about as much disaster for them as SI does for the Sooners. Something about Gary Barnett and having his team playing well at the end of the season, despite their lack of defense, tickles my fancy. Sure, they play in Oklahoma and Nebraska and possibly might not even make the Big 12 title game, but that's what pre-season picks are all about!

Article courtesy of Sports Central.