The Crystal Ball: Haiku Review...

A summary of The Crystal Ball's Saturday predictions...

Iowa beats Pittsburgh in a no-offense slugfest.

Alabama beats Arkansas with offensive balance.

UPSET ALERT: Troy gives Ohio State a run for its money in Columbus.

Florida handles Tennessee in Knoxville.

Miami's speed and defense help the Hurricanes beat Texas A&M.

Michigan State forces Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen into some poor decisions and the Spartans beat the visiting Irish.

Virginia Tech beats North Carolina with speed on defense.

Utah beats Air Force with offensive balance.

UPSET ALERT: Ball State beats in-state rival Indiana. The Cardinals will rely heavily on screens and draws.

TCU runs over SMU in Dallas, but the Mustangs show signs of improvement offensively.

Florida State take an early lead over Wake Forest and then hold on for dear life.

LSU beats Auburn by converting on third down when it counts.

Arizona State keeps it close early, but Georgia pulls away and wins comfortably.

The Crystal Ball: "Yay for Cooler Temps" edition

Fall is just about here, which for Texas means 85-degree afternoons and nights in the 60s. After suffering through nastacularly hot weather for the last six months, I'll take it... Cooler temps means football season is ramping up. And with a big weekend here, the Crystal Ball is feelin' it. Some predictions:

Iowa beats Pittsburgh at Heinz Field on the strength of their defense, but it's close. I foresee one of those anemic-offenses, no-one-can-convert-on-third-down kind of games.

Alabama is clearly better than Arkansas this year, but Nick Saban's teams tend to show inconsistency once conference play starts. Still, I think 'Bama handles the hostile Hog crowd and beats Arkansas with offensive balance.

UPSET ALERT: Watch for Troy to give Ohio State a run for its money in Columbus. Ohio State is coming off a bad loss and Troy is hungry and has the talent and offense to pull off the upset. If Ohio State comes out angry and uses QB Terrelle Pryor early and often, I think the Buckeyes win. If the Bucks look like they are sleepwalking and feeling sorry for themselves, then I predict upset city.

Florida handles Tennessee in Knoxville, but it's one of those classic afternoon-on-CBS, SEC slugfests that comes down to defense and special teams. Florida's defense and special teams are better and that makes the difference.

Texas A&M will be fired up in College Station, but Miami's speed and defense help the Hurricanes overcome an anemic passing game to win.

Michigan State forces Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen into some poor decisions and the Spartans beat the visiting Irish by more than a touchdown.

Virginia Tech at North Carolina. A tough one. One week, North Carolina barely survives against McNeese State. The next, the Tar Heels hit the road and crush Rutgers on national television. What's the Crystal Ball to do? As the experts say, always put your money on defense: Virginia Tech's D has gotten better and is certainly much stouter than the one Rutgers puts on the field. The speed of the Hokies neutralizes Carolina's burning WR Brandon Tate and Virginia Tech wins in Chapel Hill.

An interesting league matchup in the solid-as-a-rock Mountain West: Utah (3-0) at Air Force (3-0). The cadets will raise a fury in the stands, but I think Utah has too much offensive balance to lose.

UPSET ALERT: An inspired and surprisingly talented Ball State team beats in-state rival Indiana. The Cardinals will rely heavily on screens and draws.

TCU runs over SMU in Dallas, but the Mustangs show signs of improvement offensively.

Is Florida State good enough to knock off Wake Forest at home? I say yes, but it's awfully close. In fact, I would not be surprised if the Deacons steal one at the end. Wake has a lot of heart and a good junior QB in Riley Skinner. The Seminoles take an early lead and then hold on for dear life.

Now for the Big Ones...

Many have focused on defense in the LSU-Auburn showdown. Both Ds are stacked, yes. That said, I think it will come down to who can convert on third down, especially when the stakes are highest. The answer is LSU.

Georgia at Arizona State. A big game for both teams. Georgia can chalk up a successful "road test" and solidify its Top Five standing. Arizona State can infuse some pride into the Pac-10 and reestablish itself on the national scene. The crowd will be into it early, but I think Georgia is just too talented and balanced offensively to lose. ASU and QB Rudy Carpenter will do their best, but the Bulldogs win comfortably.

Rankings Review, Sept. 15 / Crystal Ball, in retrospect...

Ohio State plummets and USC consolidates first-place votes in the new polls. I'm surprised at how impressive voters thought South Florida's win over Kansas was. The Bulls are now at No. 12 (and clearly overrated). Good news? Kansas is roughly where it should be: No. 19ish.

Most overrated in the polls: Missouri at No. 6. The offense is potent, yes. But who have they played? This is a team that gave up six touchdowns to Illinois. On Saturday, Louisiana-Lafayette held Illinois to 20 points and almost pitched the upset.

Most underrated in the polls: Vanderbilt at unranked (They've only beaten three solid teams: Miami (Oh), South Carolina and Rice.)

Why are these teams getting votes? Ball State, Northwestern.

A review of how The Crystal Ball did:

The Crystal Ball has a sixth sense:

"Tulane is better than people think. They held Alabama to 20 points last week --- something the vaunted Clemson Tigers could not do. I still think East Carolina wins this game because they have the better offense, but it's a close one."

"The pro-Huskie crowd will scream its lungs out, but to no avail. Oklahoma does a woodshed job on Washington. I predict an ugly score, and even uglier sports columns calling for Ty Will's firing on Sunday."

"Fresno State has been pointing to this home game with Wisconsin for some time, but Wisconsin has heart and is well conditioned. My prediction: The game goes into the 4th quarter close. Ultimately, I think Wisconsin pulls it out because they have a slightly better offense. But I would not be surprised to see the Bulldogs snatch one here."

"Ohio State at USC...I think the Ohio State defense keeps it close early on. I also think coach Jim Tressel will have some tricks up his sleeve involving freshman sensation QB Terelle Pryor. But USC is just too talented to be stopped. The Trojans win comfortably."

The Crystal Ball was kind of right:

"Vandy jumps out early on Rice and withstands a furious late rally from the Owls, who are well conditioned and tend to play their best football in the 4th quarter."

"Texas Tech puts up a big number on SMU in Lubbock. The spread is 36.5, but given how poor SMU's defense is, I think Tech will cover."

"Missouri beats Nevada in Columbia. It's close in the first half, but Mizzou turns it on in the second half and adds a couple of TDs late to make the final score pretty for the newspapers."

The Crystal Ball was sniffing glue:

"Cal at Maryland... This one is not even close. Cal unleashes an offensive storm on the Terps and puts up a big, big number."

NFL Quick Notes: The Cleveland Browns are a mess. Unless they get it together in a hurry, I predict an ugly season this year.... I think RB LaDanian Tomlinson of San Diego is running out of gas. His body has taken such punishment over the years and it's starting to show.... Minnesota's stellar young RB Adrian Peterson is going to get hurt this year. He runs with abandon. But his greatest strength also could be his undoing.... Aaron Rodgers is playing out of his mind. The Green Bay QB is accurate and making all the right decisions. But will it last? .... Patriot QB Matt Cassel is no substitute for His Holiness, Tom Brady. The Pats will win some games this year because of defense and sheer will. But they are kidding themselves if they can compete with the elite with Cassel calling the signals.

Crystal Ball, Hurricane Edition...

Here are some early, abbreviated predictions for the weekend lest we lose power come Saturday... Knowing our luck, the Dallas metro area will go dark just as Ohio State is kicking off at the L.A. Coliseum...

Vandy jumps out early on Rice and withstands a furious late rally from the Owls, who are well conditioned and tend to play their best football in the 4th quarter.

Texas Tech puts up a big number on SMU in Lubbock. The spread is 36.5, but given how poor SMU's defense is, I think Tech will cover.

Missouri beats Nevada in Columbia. It's close in the first half, but Mizzou turns it on in the second half and adds a couple of TDs late to make the final score pretty for the newspapers.

Baylor takes care of Washington State. Yet there is a wildcard: If Hurricane Ike interrupts the game with wind and rain, anything can happen.

Tulane is better than people think. They held Alabama to 20 points last week --- something the vaunted Clemson Tigers could not do. I still think East Carolina wins this game because they have the better offense, but it's a close one.

The pro-Huskie crowd will scream its lungs out, but to no avail. Oklahoma does a woodshed job on Washington. I predict an ugly score, and even uglier sports columns calling for Ty Will's firing on Sunday.

Fresno State has been pointing to this home game with Wisconsin for some time, but Wisconsin has heart and is well conditioned. My prediction: The game goes into the 4th quarter close. Ultimately, I think Wisconsin pulls it out because they have a slightly better offense. But I would not be surprised to see the Bulldogs snatch one here.

Cal at Maryland... This one is not even close. Cal unleashes an offensive storm on the Terps and puts up a big, big number.

Now the big one... Ohio State at USC...
I think the Ohio State defense keeps it close early on. I also think coach Jim Tressel will have some tricks up his sleeve involving freshman sensation QB Terelle Pryor. But USC is just too talented to be stopped. The Trojans win comfortably.

Crystal Ball Part II: Sizing up Saturday...

The weekend is upon us and the Crystal Ball has some predictions to make:

Washington gives BYU a run for its money, but loses.

Cincinnati keeps it close against Oklahoma... in the first half.

Florida absolutely crushes Miami in the Swamp, sinking the ACC even lower than it already is. Gator Percy Harvin runs buck wild.

Stanford keeps things competitive but ultimately loses against Jake's boys from Arizona State.

Bowling Green beats Minnesota and skirts the Top 25.

Wake Forest, its misdirection plays neutralized by SEC speed, nevertheless squeaks one out at home against Ole Miss.

Texas Tech plays a closer than expected one at Nevada.

Ian's gang SMU rebounds and runs up the score June Jones-style against Texas State.

Crystal Ball: The Giants are a one hit wonder...

NFL Thought:

As a proud former New Jerseyan, I'm all for NYC, the Manning family, the Meadowlands, yada yada yada. But, I'm sorry: To say that the New York Giants are anything but a playoff flash-in-the-pan is foolish. They are Menudo in pads. The Colorado Rockies of football. Michael Phelps in about 15 minutes from now. Sure, they may beat the Washington Redskins tomorrow in the NFL opener tomorrow. But is that because the Giants are destined to repeat? Or is it because Danny Snyder's team is destined, yet again, for 7-9ish?

No D-Line. No more sneaking up on people. No Manning karma.

You heard it here first from The Crystal Ball: The Giants don't make the playoffs this year.

What's that Crystal Ball? Another App State upset?!?

No fewer than 24 major college football games are on national television and satellite Saturday.

Here are some predictions:

USC crushes Virginia in an ugly one (another sign the ACC is just not up to par with the other power conferences).

Michigan doesn't necessarily beat Utah, but gives it a strong go.

QB Armani Edwards runs buck wild and Appalachian State makes it another close one at LSU. Will they win? I'm still undecided.

Florida Atlantic keeps it close against Texas.

Missouri beats Illinois with, get this, defense.

Alabama squeaks one out against Clemson.

Oregon beats Washington in Eugene, Ore., late at night when only me and Jake Batsell are watching.

Ted Kim keeps watching television and doesn't mow the lawn like he's supposed to.

Predictions, in a nutshell...

With the college football season finally upon us, a few final predictions need to be made. Who will win each major conference? Here are my picks:

ACC
Who is being picked to win? Clemson
Who am I picking to win? Virginia Tech
Watch out for: Wake Forest, Miami
Biggest disappointment: Clemson

Big East
Who is being picked to win? West Virginia
Who am I picking to win? West Virginia
Watch out for: South Florida, Connecticut
Biggest disappointment: Pittsburgh

Big Ten
Who is being picked to win? Ohio State
Who am I picking to win? Ohio State
Watch out for: Michigan State
Biggest disappointment: Penn State

Big 12
Who is being picked to win? Missouri, Oklahoma
Who am I picking to win? Oklahoma
Watch out for: Colorado, Texas, Kansas State
Biggest disappointment: Kansas

Conference USA
Who is being picked to win? Central Florida
Who am I picking to win? Central Florida
Watch out for: East Carolina
Biggest disappointment: Houston

Mountain West
Who is being picked to win? BYU
Who am I picking to win? BYU
Watch out for: Utah, Air Force
Biggest disappointment: TCU

Pac 10
Who is being picked to win? USC
Who am I picking to win? USC
Watch out for: Oregon State
Biggest disappointment: UCLA

SEC
Who is being picked to win? Georgia
Who am I picking to win? Florida
Watch out for: Every team except Vandy.
Biggest disappointment: Georgia

WAC
Who is being picked to win? Fresno State
Who am I picking to win? Boise State
Watch out for: Nevada, San Jose State
Biggest disappointment: Fresno State

Heisman trophy
Who is being picked to win? Chase Daniel, Tim Tebow
Who am I picking to win? Chris Wells
Watch out for: Pat White, Michael Crabtree, Ian Johnson
Biggest disappointment: Chase Daniel (of course!)