Its the eve of the opening day of college football, but it feels more like Christmas eve. The jock straps are hung by the locker with care in hopes that Dr. Lou will soon quit doing that lame segment on ESPN.

Please stop...please!

Another season is upon us and the road to Pasadena will be paved with potholes, roadblocks and detours.  If the past is any indication then there is more than a good chance that the teams ranked high in the preseason polls won’t be the teams playing for the National Championship in the Rose Bowl in January. Florida is an overwhelming favorite in the preseason poll followed by Texas and Oklahoma and while I do believe that a SEC team and a good chance a Big 12 team will be  playing for the BCS in January. I’m not so sure it will be the boys from Gainesville playing for their 3rd championship in 4 years. The money says Florida, being led by Tebow,  is the team again this year, but I’m not so sure. The SEC is by far the toughest conference in college football. No matter what those in the Big 12 and Big 10 will lead you to believe.  You have LSU, Alabama and Georgia as well as every other SEC team looking for that SEC championship and a trip to Pasadena.

Then you have Texas and Oklahoma battling it out in the Big 12, with the winner of that matchup(s) more than likely winning the Big 12, but nothing is ever for certain in the world of college football. You have Ohio State, USC, Virginia Tech and others wanting in on the action. That is what I love about college football, especially in the past couple years where you have more and more parity. Anyone can upset anyone at any given Saturday as Appalachin State showed us a few seasons back.

One thing is for certain its going to be an exciting season weather you’re a die hard college fan or just there for the brats and beer. So lets cut to the chase and I’ll give you my predictions. Conference by conference.

Big East: West Virginia

I think this comes down to the winner of the South Florida-West Virginia game. I’ll be curious to see how West Virginia’s young o-line does this year, but they have the skill players and the defense to compete for the Big East championship along with South Florida. Pitt lost too many offensive skill players or they would be in contention.

Big 10: Ohio State

Will Michigan have another losing season or get above .500 that is the question, but not the question when it comes to who wins the Big 10. Ohio State and Penn State will battle it out and again could come down to the winner of that game.

Big 12: Texas

Sam Bradford could have went to the NFL along with other Oklahoma key players, but decided to come back and that is why they will be in the hunt for the Big 12 championship. This conference will come down to Texas and Oklahoma with last years other competing teams dropping down after losing their key players. Texas ends up winning the Big 12.

ACC: Virginia Tech

The ACC will be much improved from last year and will come down to Florida State and Virginia Tech with VT losing just one game and that will be to Alabama on opening day.

SEC: Alabama

SEC is always tough and anyone can beat anyone in this conference with the speed and defenses they have. Florida is the defending national champion, but I’m picking Alabama to win the conference.

MAC: Temple

Temple, Bowling Green or Buffalo…does it really matter.

PAC-10: USC

USC will again win the PAC-10 and be in the thisck of things with Oregon following.

CUSA: East Carolina

Skip Holtz got the Pirates where he wants them.

Mountain West: Utah

Utah very well may go undefeated and throw a wrench in the BCS AGAIN.

Sun Belt: Troy

Who will get the best tan…probably Troy.

WAC: Boise State

Boise State will win the conference if they don’t get blinded by that blue field.

So after all these conference predictions who do I think will play for the national championship? I predict it will be Alabama-Texas in Pasadena in January. Of course that could very well change tomorrow during opening day. Got to love college football.