1. Big 12
The best: Nebraska, Colorado and Texas. The Cornhuskers are shooting for an unprecedented third straight national title, but they’ll have to survive the Dec. 7 Big 12 title game to have a shot at it. The Buffaloes have an even tougher road, though: They’ll probably have to beat the Huskers in Lincoln the week before to get to the title game. Texas looks like a solid pick in the South.
The rest: Texas A&M has a shot at making the playoff, and Kansas State and Kansas are dark horses in the North. Iowa State and Oklahoma State are on the way up, while Oklahoma is struggling and Missouri is beyond bad.
Key games: Texas A&M at Texas and Colorado at Nebraska, both Nov. 29.
Fast fact: Big 12 teams went 49-10 against non-conference foes last year. But they were only 3-8-2 against teams that were ranked at the time.
The picks: North Division: 1. Nebraska. 2. Colorado. 3. Kansas State. 4. Kansas. 5. Iowa State. 6. Missouri. South Division: 1. Texas. 2. Texas A&M. 3. Texas Tech. 4. Baylor. 5. Oklahoma. 6. Oklahoma State.
2. Southeastern
The best: Tennessee and Florida. The winner of this game has gone on to win the Eastern Division the last three years. As Volunteer fans know, the winner has been Florida each time. This season, though, the Vols’ Peyton Manning could be the best quarterback in the country. If anyone is going to break Florida’s stranglehold on the East, it’s Tennessee.
The rest: Under coach Gerry DiNardo, Louisiana State is on the verge of recovering its past glory. Arkansas broke Alabama’s grip on the Western Division last fall, and LSU hopes to repeat the feat this year.
Key games: Florida at Tennessee, Sept. 21; Alabama at LSU, Nov. 9.
Fast fact: SEC teams won only two bowl games last postseason, matching the victory totals of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East.
The picks: Eastern Division: 1. Tennessee. 2. Florida. 3. Kentucky. 4. Georgia. 5. South Carolina. 6. Vanderbilt. Western Division: 1. LSU. 2. Alabama. 3. Auburn. 4. Arkansas. 5. Mississippi State. 6. Mississippi.
3. Big Ten
The best: Any one of five teams (Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern, Michigan and Iowa) have a shot at the Rose Bowl, and no one should be surprised if a sixth, Wisconsin, wins the title. This is a balanced league that won’t make much noise nationally but figures to be very entertaining.
The rest: Michigan State is the best of the second-division teams. Minnesota should be fun to watch, as always. If Indiana can stay healthy it may emerge from the cellar.
Key games: Penn State at Ohio State and Michigan at Northwestern, both Oct. 5.
Fast fact: After posting a losing non-conference record in 1992, the Big Ten has seen its winning percentage rise in each year since (.667 in 1993, .705 in 1994 and .720 in 1995).
The picks: 1. Ohio State. 2. Penn State. 3. Northwestern. 4. Michigan. 5. Iowa. 6. Wisconsin. 7. Purdue. 8. Michigan State. 9. Illinois. 10. Minnesota. 11. Indiana.
4. Pac-10
The best: Southern California and Arizona State. The Trojans looked strong against Northwestern in the Rose Bowl, and with quarterback Brad Otton and running back Delon Washington, they have enough firepower to replace the departed Keyshawn Johnson. ASU will try to turn a favorable schedule–its toughest conference games are in Tempe–into its second Rose Bowl appearance.
The rest: Oregon, two years removed from its magical Rose Bowl season, has a terrific offensive line but needs to find a replacement for tailback Ricky Whittle. Stanford and Washington have Top 25 potential.
Key games: USC at Arizona State, Oct. 19. Washington at USC, Nov. 2.
Fast fact: The Pac-10 hasn’t produced a Top Ten finisher since 1991, when Washington split the national title with Miami. Only two teams (No. 7 USC and No. 20 Arizona State) enter this season ranked.
The picks: 1. USC. 2. Arizona State. 3. Oregon. 4. Washington. 5. Stanford. 6. Arizona. 7. Cal. 8. UCLA. 9. Washington State. 10. Oregon State.
5. Big East
The best: Its flagship team, Miami, is trying to rebound from NCAA sanctions and repair its reputation for lawlessness. Syracuse and Virginia Tech are solid. Despite all the sniping at the league last year, the Big East went 2-0 in bowls. That was as many postseason victories as the Big Ten and SEC posted.
The rest: Temple and Rutgers are among Division I-A’s weakest teams. Pitt isn’t much better.
Key games: Virginia Tech at Syracuse, Sept. 28. Miami at Syracuse, Nov. 30.
Fast fact: Syracuse fullback Rob Konrad wears No. 44, the same number worn by Orangemen Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis.
The picks: 1. Syracuse. 2. Miami. 3. Virginia Tech. 4. Boston College. 5. West Virginia. 6. Pitt. 7. Rutgers. 8. Temple.
6. Atlantic Coast
The best: Florida State, as usual. Virginia, which handed the Seminoles their first-ever conference defeat last year, looks to be strong again. And Georgia Tech improved to 6-5 last year after winning only one game in 1994, while Clemson has nosed its way into the preseason Top 25.
The rest: North Carolina and Maryland have the potential to spring a surprise on one of the better teams, not including Florida State. Duke and Wake Forest will be happy when basketball season arrives.
Key games: Clemson at Florida State, Oct. 5. Virginia at Florida State, Oct. 26.
Fast fact: The ACC allowed Maryland and Wake Forest to move “home” games with Florida State to Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, respectively. After ponying up about $1 million, the Seminoles assured themselves of nine games within Florida boundaries.
The picks: 1. Florida State. 2. Virginia. 3. Georgia Tech. 4. Clemson. 5. Maryland. 6. North Carolina. 7. North Carolina State. 8. Duke. 9. Wake Forest.
7. Western Athletic
The best: The WAC has expanded to 16 teams spanning four time zones, but the class of the league still resides within the borders of Utah, where the Utah Utes and Brigham Young Cougars will battle for supremacy. The winner of their showdown probably will play Air Force in the WAC title game Dec. 7.
The rest: San Diego State has All-America tailback George Jones and two 1,000-yard receivers in Will Blackwell and Az Hakim. The talent isn’t quite as deep in the rest of the league. San Jose State, UNLV and UTEP have a chance to be among the worst teams anywhere.
Key games: Brigham Young at Utah, Nov. 23. Air Force at San Diego State, Oct. 5.
Fast fact: If BYU advances to the WAC title game Dec. 7 and goes on to a bowl, it will play a 15-game schedule, unprecedented in Division I-A. The Cougars will also have played twice before Labor Day (Aug. 24 against Texas A&M in the Pigskin Classic and Aug. 31 against Arkansas State, both in Provo).
The picks: Mountain Division: 1. Utah. 2. Brigham Young. 3. Texas Christian. 4. Tulsa. 5. Rice. 6. Southern Methodist. 7. New Mexico. 8. Texas-El Paso. Pacific Division: 1. Air Force. 2. San Diego State. 3. Wyoming. 4. Colorado State. 5. Fresno State. 6. UNLV. 7. Hawaii. 8. San Jose State.
8. Conference USA
The best: Louisville and Cincinnati. The Bearcats went 6-5 last year, shut out eventual Sugar Bowl champ Virginia Tech and nearly knocked off Kansas State and Kansas. They’ll be tough to beat in the league’s first football season, but the Cardinals will make a push.
The rest: Southern Mississippi has a quarterback named Heath. Unfortunately, his last name is Graham, not Shuler. The Golden Eagles may threaten for first place if their running attack remains strong.
Key games: Cincinnati at Louisville, Oct. 26. Memphis at Louisville, Nov. 2.
Fast fact: The champion of Conference USA will receive a bid to the Liberty Bowl–unless East Carolina has an equal or better record, and then it may take the slot.
The picks: 1. Cincinnati. 2. Louisville. 3. Southern Mississippi. 4. Memphis. 5. Houston. 6. Tulane.
