Interesting story lines in '09 Part Two

1)Will Lane Kiffin have to eat his words-
That is a huge question nationally as Lane Kiffin has talked a big game this offseason. Kiffin has ripped high schools in South Carolina & Florida, slammed Florida, called USC graduates Gas-pumpers, ripped into both Nick Saban & Mark Richt, and pretty much pissed off every single fanbase in the SEC. Everybody wants a piece of Lane Kiffin. But will they get what they want.

The Vols have the benefit of having 8 home games including 5 of the first 6 games and 7 of the first 9. All 4 SEC home games are winnable, but they include a game against a Mark Richt Georgia team he has pissed off and a Gamecock team under Darth Visor whom he may have pissed off the most. Spurrier and USC in particularly were treated harshly by Kiffin and will have guns a blazing on Halloween night. The gas-pumper jokes have upset the gamecocks and they will be looking for vengeance.

The Vols four road games will be extremely difficult. They have games at Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Depending on how Kentucky plays in '09 the Vols will be underdogs in all 4 games. Florida and Bama will look to run up the score if at all possible due to Kiffin's antics.

I predict a 7-5 record and a trip to the Cotton Bowl. Tennessee is a favorite of the folks at the Cotton Bowl and with so many even football teams in the middle and bottom of the SEC expect them to select the Vols. Controversy creates cash and a controversial Kiffin will be what the doctor ordered for the SEC. More fans will tune in next year just because they hate the man in hopes of seeing somebody lay the wood on Kiffin. He will dissapoint some, but others will love the beatdown they lay on the Vols.

2)Can Georgia overcome the losses of Moreno/Stafford and an incredibly tough schedule
Joe Cox will be asked to replace a very successful Matthew Syafford as quarterback of the Dawgs. Cox was an Elite 11 quarterback 5 years ago out of Independence High School in Charlotte, NC. Rather than transfer he bided his time with patience and is now prepared to lead the Dawgs in 2009. Cox has a nice arm and has been in the program for five years now. He will be a good quarterback that makes few mistakes. He won't lose any games for the dawgs.

Caleb King is expected to be a future NFL Draft Pick. King is only a sophomore and played quality minutes as Moreno's backup in 2008. He has a quality and talented offensive line to run behind and should rush for over a thousand yards in 2009.

All that being said Georgia's schedule is a BEAST. They start off with games away against Oklahoma State(Top 15), at home against USC(Top35), away against Arkansas(Top 35), at home against Arizona State(Bowl team), and at home against LSU(National Title Contender). The schedule is NUTS!!!

If the Dawgs can find a way to start off 3-1 or 4-0 they might be national title contenders. They have LSU at home, and winnable road games against Tennessee, Vandy, and Georgia Tech.

The Dawgs will suprise people by going 9-3 or 8-4 and have a top 20 season before playing in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. But, fear not Dawg fans, the Dawgs will be a top 10 team in 2010. Be a little patient and they will be back to old form!!!

3)Can CJ Spiller be a Heisman Contender-
Clemson is a 7 to 9 win program right now. Spiller needs to lead Clemson to an ACC Title game to be strongly considered for the award. He also needs to have huge games in national television games.

The tigers have several opportunities for Spiller to make a case. The first comes on September 10th in Atlanta against Georgia Tech. The Thursday night telecast will be a great early season showdown with some major buzz on ESPN. The Jackets are predicted to be a Top 15 team in 2009. If Spiller plays the way he did against them in 2006 when College Gameday was in town he will certainly enter the fray. If he plays the way he played against Tech in 2007 Spiller will no longer be considered a real candidate.

If he is successful against Tech the tigers will almost certainly have a national television game against a top 15 TCU team on September 26th. Playing a potential BCS team(note:they are my personal pick to make the Sugar Bowl)gives Spiller the opportunity for more exposure nationally. A huge game here combined with a big game against the Jacket will give him a great opportunity at making the top 5.

He will have two opportunities against FSU and NC State in November. FSU and NC State will both be better in 2009 and both of these games could determine whether Clemson, NC State, or FSU makes the ACC Championship Game. If he has huge games in these two games he makes it to New York.

Colt McCoy is going to win the Heisman. But, Spiller will have a legit shot at making it to New York. He is the most dynamite player in college football and will be on highlight reels all year long.

4)Is NC State a legit top 25 team-
NC State has a tougher schedule than people might think. Home OOC games against South Carolina and Pittsburgh will be tough. They also have conference road games at FSU, Wake Forest, and Virginia Tech. Home games against Clemson and North Carolina will also be tough.

The schedule will prevent NC State from being a bigtime team. The Wolfpack will be underdogs against South Carolina to open the season, and possibly the fourth game against Pitt. If NC State finds a way to win one or both of those games to start 3-1or 4-0 they could challenge in the ACC, but if they can't get past two decent programs in South Carolina or Pitt, how will they win against programs like Virginia Tech, Florida State and Wake Forest on the road.

I see a 7-5 season for the Wolfpack. I love Coach O'Brian. There is a toughness that is developing at NC State that is SECesque. By 2010 they will challenge for the division title, but I don't see them ready to do it in 2009.

5)Will South Carolina improve on the 2008 season-
People are beginning to question Steve Spurrier as a head coach, but South Carolina is closer than people think to turning the corner in the SEC East. The East isn't as strong as it used to be outside of Florida and when Tim Tebow leaves USC will challenge Georgia for the East title in 2010.

This year the Gamecocks should expect an improvement in the offensive line. The o-line will have 2 seniors and 3 juniors. Junior and senior laden offensive lines tend to be great in college football. Garrett Anderson at center will anchor a offensive line that should give young quarterback Stephen Garcia more time. With more time to throw the ball Garcia could be the third best in the SEC behind Tebow and Sneed. Jarriel King will also be a beast on the o-line for USC!!!

Jarvis Giles will be the number one impact freshman in the SEC as the starting running back for USC. I expect Giles to challenge for a 1,000 yard season. HE IS THAT GOOD!!!

Record wise the cocks will be the same as last year at 7-5, but they will be more competitive against Florida and Clemson and beat Tennessee for the second year in a row for the first time in school history. I have them going to the Music City Bowl and finishing 8-5 overall with a bowl victory over North Carolina to set them up to challenge Georgia for the East in 2010!!!