Tribune college football reporter Teddy Greenstein previews the 1-A conference races
1. Southeastern
Order of finish:
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EAST WEST
1. Georgia 1. LSU
2. Tennessee 2. Auburn
3. Florida 3. Alabama
4. South Carolina 4. Mississippi
5. Kentucky 5. Arkansas
6. Vanderbilt 6. Miss. St.
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Big games:
LSU at Auburn, Sept. 18
Florida at Tenn., Sept. 18
LSU at Georgia, Oct. 2
Outlook: : Georgia is loaded for a title run, while LSU needs to replace QB Matt Mauck and its top two receivers. Lou Holtz revamped his South Carolina staff after a season-ending 63-17 home loss to Clemson.
2. Big 12
Order of finish:
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NORTH SOUTH
1. Kansas State 1. Texas
2. Missouri 2. Oklahoma
3. Nebraska 3. Oklahoma St.
4. Colorado 4. Texas Tech
5. Kansas 5. Texas A&M
6. Iowa State 6. Baylor
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Big games:
Oklahoma vs. Texas, Oct. 9
Oklahoma at Kan. St. Oct. 16
Kan. St. at Missouri, Nov. 6
Outlook: : Colorado and Nebraska got all the off-season ink, but Oklahoma, Texas and K-State are tops in the conference. Missouri QB Brad Smith has major talent but hasn’t excelled against top-notch opponents.
3. Atlantic Coast
Order of finish:
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1. Florida State 7. N.C. State
2. Miami 8. Gerogia Tech
3. Virginia 9. Wake Forest
4. Clemson 10. North Carolina
5. Maryland 11. Duke
6. Virginia Tech
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Big games:
Florida St. at Miami, Sept. 6
Clemson at Virginia, Oct. 7
Miami at Virginia, Nov. 13
Outlook: : Hoops conference adds big-time muscle with Miami and Virginia Tech. Virginia and Clemson try to bust into the upper crust, while Florida State begs for consistency from QB Chris Rix, who threw 13 interceptions last year.
4. Big Ten
Order of finish:
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1. Michigan 7. Northwestern
2. Ohio State 8. Michigan State
3. Wisconsin 9. Penn State
4. Iowa 10. Illinois
5. Purdue 11. Indiana
6. Minnesota
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Big games:
Iowa at Michigan, Sept. 25
Wisconsin at Ohio St., Oct. 9
Michigan at Ohio St., Nov. 20
Outlook: : Michigan and Ohio State remain a cut above in terms of talent, but Wisconsin could neutralize that with its brawny linemen. Purdue’s Kyle Orton-to-Taylor Stubblefield combo should be enough to sell tickets.
5. Pac-10
Order of finish:
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1. USC 6. Washington
2. California 7. Arizona State
3. Oregon 8. UCLA
4. Oregon State 9. Arizona
5. Washington St. 10. Stanford
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Big games:
California at USC, Oct. 9
USC at Wash. St., Oct. 30
Oregon at California, Nov. 6
Outlook: : The Trojans must replace 10 starters, but QB Matt Leinart returns after firing 38 touchdown passes. Cal’s explosive offense averaged 41 points in Bears’ final six games.
6. Big East
Order of finish:
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1. West Virginia 5. Rutgers
2. Boston College 6. Connecticut
3. Pittsburgh 7. Temple.
4. Syracuse
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Big games:
BC at Notre Dame, Oct. 23
BC at West Virginia, Nov. 13
West Va. at Pittsburgh, Nov. 25
Outlook: : The Big East will get a new look after the season, losing Boston College to the ACC and Temple to oblivion. (The Owls will become independents.) West Virginia figures to earn the conference’s BCS bid by default.
7. Mountain West
Order of finish:
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1. Utah 5. Air Force
2. San Diego St. 6. BYU
3. Colorado St. 7. Wyoming
4. New Mexico 8. UNLV
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Big games:
Utah at New Mexico, Oct. 2
Utah at San Diego St., Oct. 30
Colorado St. at Utah. Nov. 6
Outlook: : Another 10-victory season at Utah could make former Notre Dame assistant Urban Meyer the nation’s hottest coaching commodity.
8. Conference USA
Order of finish:
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1. Louisville 7. UAB
2. TCU 8. Cincinnati
3. Southern Miss. 9. Tulane
4. South Florida 10. East Carolina
5. Memphis 11. Army
6. Houston
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Big games:
South Florida at TCU, Sept. 25
Louisville at Miami, Oct. 14
S. Miss at TCU, Nov. 20
Outlook: : Five schools depart after the season, three of which (Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida) are bound for the Big East. Louisville finished fifth in the nation in total offense last year.
9. Mid-American
Order of finish:
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EAST WEST
1. Marshall 1. Toledo
2. Miami (Ohio) 2. Northern Illinois
3. Central Florida 3. Bowling Green
4. Akron 4. Western Mich.
5. Ohio 5. Central Mich.
6. Kent State 6. Ball State
7. Buffalo 7. Eastern Mich.
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Big games: :
Bowling Green at Northern Illinois, Sept. 24
Miami at Marshall, Sept. 29
Toledo at Northern Illinois, Nov. 9
Outlook: : Five-time conference champ Marshall heads to Conference USA after the season. New coach George O’Leary looks to breathe life into Central Florida, while Northern Illinois vies for another 10-victory season.
10. Western Athletic
Order of finish:
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NORTH SOUTH
1. Boise State 6. Nevada
2. Fresno State 7. Texas-El Paso
3. Hawaii 8. Rice
4. Tulsa 9. SMU
5. Louisiana Tech 10. San Jose St.
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Big games:
Tulsa at Hawaii, Oct. 2
Fresno St. at Boise St., Oct. 23
Hawaii at Fresno St., Nov. 13
Outlook: : Boise State has won 18 straight conference games, prompting coach Dan Haskins to say: “Tradition never graduates.” Strip-club visitor Mike Price takes over at UTEP.
11. Sun Belt
Order of finish:
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NORTH SOUTH
1. North Texas 6. Arkansas St.
2. Troy State 7. Middle Tenn.
3. Utah State 8. La.-Monroe
4. La.-Lafayette 9. Idaho
5. New Mexico St.
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Big games:
North Texas at Texas, Sept. 4
New Mexico State at North Texas, Oct. 23
Troy State at Louisiana- Lafayette, Nov. 13
Outlook: : Conference king North Texas continues to dominate a bunch of Division I-A also-rans. The Mean Green–no joke–have won 18 straight conference games.
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BOWL RECORDS
Based on 2003 conference alignments
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CONFERENCE PCT. RECORD
Atlantic Coast .538 97-83-5
Big East .488 63-66-1
Big 12 .477 132-145-4
Big Ten .507 103-100-3
Conference USA .438 37-48-3
Mid-American .550 22-18
Mountain West .429 35-47-3
Pacific-10 .515 99-93-6
Southeastern .518 165-153-13
Sun Belt .393 5-8-1
Western Athletic .506 39-38-2
Independents .500 17-17-1
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