BOLD PREDICTIONS by Ed Cash
Miami will win the ACC. The ‘Canes went 7-6 last year under Larry Coker and he was replaced by Randy Shannon. Shannon is exactly the coach Miami needs. He immediately installed some tough love and discipline into the program and that will be the difference between last year’s team and this years, which returns 61 lettermen, including 17 starters. Everyone knows that Miami has as much talent as any team in the nation and if Shannon gets the most out of it, no one in the ACC will beat them. A very tough schedule might be the only thing that keeps them out of the national title game. South Florida will pull at least one major upset. There are four possibilities: at Auburn, at Rutgers, vs. Louisville and vs. West Virginia. The Bulls did shock West Virginia on the road last year and beat Louisville two years ago, so the precedent is there. Throw in an offensive line that returns all five starters, QB Matt Grothe, a speedy defense that has eight starters back and at least one of the four teams mentioned above will go down in 2007. Jim Leavitt has done a great job with this program and this is his best and deepest team yet. They might even contend for the Big East title this year and be the national surprise!
The Sportsmemo Newsletter College Football Preview contains BOLD PREDICTIONS by all 12 Sportsmemo Handicappers. To pick up a copy today or order a football season subscription, click here.