Army Prediction: 3-9
Army may field a better team than last year, but the schedule takes a huge step up, asking the Knights to play the likes of NIU, Miami OH, and Temple, three of the top MAC teams this year, to go along with Northwestern, San Diego State, Air Force, Navy, and Rutgers, all of which will be hard to come away with a win. I just can't see Army becoming bowl-eligible this year. 3-9 is conservative, but to me seems more likely than 6-6.
BYU Prediction: 8-4
BYU was one of the hottest teams in the country at the end of last year; we'd be hearing more about them if they didn't stink it up so much in the first half of the season. I'm betting BYU shows up firing, and beats at the very least one of the first three AQ teams on its schedule (Ole Miss, Texas, Utah) and perhaps two. Three would push BYU to BCS-buster contention, with the only three tough games remaining at Oregon State, at TCU, and at Hawaii. If the cougars can pull off at least one win from each of those two sets of games, they'll be looking good come bowl time.
Navy Prediction: 7-5
The schedule isn't too daunting for the Midshipmen, but I think they lose out on the Commander-In-Chief trophy to Air Force, against South Carolina, in Columbia is too much, and Southern Miss is going to make a run at the Conference USA championship, if not a BCS-buster. Notre Dame will be better (see below), and SMU under June Jones will be rockin' this year, come November. Getting to a bowl game is a great bet, but a truly special season is probably a bit out of reach.
Notre Dame Prediction: 9-3
OK, i know some have Notre Dame going 10-2 or 11-1 and hitting up the BCS for a major payday, I just don't think the Irish are that good... yet. Brian Kelly has an excellent track record, but getting to the BCS in Year 2 is a tough expectation. I don't think the Irish even make it out of the first month without a loss: vs USF, at Michigan, vs Michigan State is a tough, tough way to begin the season. Pitt should be improved, Purdue should be injury-less for the first time in years, and Air Force may be one of the best teams no one is talking about. And that's just the first six games. I think the Irish lose at least two of those, and the season finale at Stanford to just miss out on a BCS bid. (No, I don't think the Irish deserve a bid with ten wins, let alone nine, but I don't get to pick the teams for the BCS, as I'm reminded every December by my friends and family.)
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