Florida does play LSU this year, in Baton Rouge. They will then play the winner of the SEC West ('Bama IMO) in Atlanta. So they will play two of the teams you mentioned that they will not play. Now I agree that their overall schedule is easy, but that is because of the loss of talent that Georgia suffered (and do not count them out of any game) and the three ring circus that Tennessee has turned into. Still, no one is exactly shaking in their boots when faced with games against the likes of Auburn and Miss.State this year. So Florida will eventually play a schedule that will include most of the top SEC teams. For them to run the table, they will have to play the Top 2 SEC teams from the West, unless LSU can win it, and then they play each other twice, neither games at Florida.
As far as an opponent goes, the Big 12 is the most likely candidate to provide one, and right now, I give the slight nod to Texas. The OL is the major reason why. OU has to replace too many players, and this year, if they lose to Texas, they will not be going back to their 6th straight BCS Bowl loss. Both teams must watch out for huge letdown games after their game. OU goes to Kansas, and Texas goes to Missouri. While no Big 12 North teams comes close to stacking up against Texas or OU, upsets can happen. OU must travel to Nebraska, while Texas goes to Okie State the week after the Missouri game.
The Pac 10 will once again depend on USC, but USC has such a difficult away schedule that it is unlikely that they can escape the season with 0 or 1 loss. Going undefeated with games at Ohio State, Cal, Oregon, and Notre Dame is just asking too much form a relatively young team with a new QB. Cal (my pick to win the Pac 10), and Oregon can do it if they can get some consistancy. Both teams have defeated USC in the recent past, but could not close the deal. Cal has an easy non-con schedule, and only one difficult away game, that being at Oregon. Cal's problem is that they lose too many away conference games. Oregon opens against Boise State, and a win there can send them into the national picture. They play 4 straight at home after that game. Oregon's problem is that they are very thin at certain positions, they have a new HC, and they are terribly inconsistant.
The ACC is going to be one of the most improved conferences in the BCS, but the problem is that all of the teams will be improved, and for years, this conference has not had a significant front runner. Va Tech won the ACC last year with 4 losses on it's not so impressive record. Florida State is a mess, coaching wise, and has become major underachievers. Georgia Tech and North Carolina are still young teams on the rise, but not quite there yet.
The Big 10 has boiled down to the Big 2, those being Penn State and Ohio State. Both play schedules that are disgraseful, but Ohio State does host USC. To be fair, it is not the fault of either school that the Big 10 is so bad. Because of the Big 10's very poor bowl record of late (0-6 in BCS Bowls and 3-11 in bowls overall in the past two years), the Big 10 will have to have a team go undefeated to have a shot at the NC game. JoePa's boys have the best shot at this.
The Big East is going to be a very entertaining scramble between 5 teams, none of which will finish in the Top 10, much less contend for a NC bid.
Outsiders include Notre Dame, who many think will finally play up to expectations this year. The Irish have a very soft schedule. Only USC looms as a definate threat. The other 11 games are all very winnable. Notre Dame should be favored in 11 out of their 12 games. TCU is the early favorite to win the MWC, and they do have two games on the road agaisnt Tobacco Road teams (Virginia and Clemson), but the chances of any non-BCS team playing in the big game are very slim. Boise State plays Oregon at home, but the rest of their schedule is very soft.
:toast: LT
