Does Anybody have an easier path to the BCS Title game than Florida?

[wayne1218]

Their Schedule is AWFUL and they should be favored by DD in every game. Hell, they even have a Bye week before Lsu and Lsu will be better, but i don't see them beating Florida. Damn, it looks too easy to me.

September 5 Charleston Southern
September 12 Troy
September 19 Tennessee
September 26 at Kentucky
October 10 at LSU
October 17 Arkansas
October 24 at Mississippi State
October 31 vs. Georgia*
November 7 Vanderbilt
November 14 at South Carolina
November 21 Florida International
November 28 Florida State


The question is, Who will they play in the BCS Title game?

[hokie99]

Way to go out on a limb with your out of conference schedule Urban. I'm sure his defense is they have a brutal conference schedule. Except they don't this year. I only see LSU as a real threat to them, FSU will be improved and GA is rebuilding but not a big enough threat. I mean seriously, Fla International near the end of the season? Talk about a disgraceful way to pad your record.

[wayne1218]

Way to go out on a limb with your out of conference schedule Urban. I'm sure his defense is they have a brutal conference schedule. Except they don't this year. I only see LSU as a real threat to them, FSU will be improved and GA is rebuilding but not a big enough threat. I mean seriously, Fla International near the end of the season? Talk about a disgraceful way to pad your record.

What a horrid schedule. No 'Bama, No 'Ole Miss either and they still schedule basically nothing out of conference. Without Stafford, the Dawgs are not beating them and there is no way they lose to FSU at home. Just brutal!!!

[kbsooner21]

With the Right Reverend Tim T. Messiah, I don't know why anyone even bothers to show up and play them anyway.

[vols fan]

Sept 19 WE SHOCK THE WORLD

[mavskidd02]

Oklahoma's schedule is a pretty big joke as well.

[kbsooner21]

Really Mavs? With BYU, who many say will contend for the Moutain West crown and Tulsa, who many say will contend for the Conf USA crown, and @ Miami.

I mean it's no USC, Ohio State, and Florida non conference, but I doubt you find a more daunting non conf schedule from a top tier school.

[bhs4life]

haterade

[mavskidd02]

Really Mavs? With BYU, who many say will contend for the Moutain West crown and Tulsa, who many say will contend for the Conf USA crown, and @ Miami.

I mean it's no USC, Ohio State, and Florida non conference, but I doubt you find a more daunting non conf schedule from a top tier school.

Tulsa, KB? Come on man. I garauntee two things about Tulsa @ OU...... OU will be 20 point favorites, and there will be about a thousand points scored in that game. There toughest non-conference game is week 1 against BYU and it's more or less a home game. After that is Miami, a game they'll be favorites in to win.

Not to mention after the Texas and KU game they essentially have a cakewalk. And they'll be double digit faves in each of their last five games. They have one tough game, Texas, that is all. When you look outside that and see their toughest opponent is BYU, it's not really impressive. I do give them props for going into Miami, but that team isn't the same it used to be, and they have really struggled.

I think they have a much better non-conf. than UF, but Florida plays in the SEC, so it all evens out. IMO.

[hokie99]

I think Frank Beamer is blushing looking at Fla's schedule. He usually loves the JMU and William and Mary type games and this year it's Bama and Nebraska 2 of the first 3 weeks for VT!

[kbsooner21]

Tulsa, KB? Come on man. I garauntee two things about Tulsa @ OU...... OU will be 20 point favorites, and there will be about a thousand points scored in that game. There toughest non-conference game is week 1 against BYU and it's more or less a home game. After that is Miami, a game they'll be favorites in to win.

Not to mention after the Texas and KU game they essentially have a cakewalk. And they'll be double digit faves in each of their last five games. They have one tough game, Texas, that is all. When you look outside that and see their toughest opponent is BYU, it's not really impressive. I do give them props for going into Miami, but that team isn't the same it used to be, and they have really struggled.

I think they have a much better non-conf. than UF, but Florida plays in the SEC, so it all evens out. IMO.

Find me a much tougher non conf schedule I guess is what I'm asking.

[mavskidd02]

It's agreed their non-conf. schedule is okay, I'm just talking about schedules as a whole. I think Florida St. has a 10x tougher overall schedule, their n-c schedule is a lot tougher as well.

[FB Coach13]

USC has a descent nonconference schedule they have San Jose st{went 6-6 last year and returns 16 starters} Ohio st and Notre Dame{who is supposed to be improved this year}

[ULikeApples]

Texas's is pretty terrible too. Not even one BCS opponent: Lou-Monroe, Wyoming, UTEP, Central Florida. I know pretty much every BCS team only schedules one other non-conf BCS team these days, but at least make an effort Mack!

I actually give credit to Oklahoma though. I'm sure the Miami game was schedule when they were a powerhouse, and playing BYU on a neutral is not too shabby. They will be big favorites in each of them, but they'll probably be favorites in every game, or at least 11 of them. I credit them for trying though.

[flarendep1]

Penn State will be there. Paterno can sleep through to the BCS, his staff will handle it.

Check it out:


Home games in CAPS, * = Big Ten games, # = Homecoming

September 5 AKRON
September 12 SYRACUSE
September 19 TEMPLE
September 26 IOWA*
October 3 @ Illinois*
October 10 EASTERN ILLINOIS
October 17 MINNESOTA*#
October 24 @ Michigan*
October 31 @ Northwestern*
November 7 OHIO STATE*
November 14 INDIANA*
November 21 @ Michigan State*

Initial Thoughts
If Penn State is not in contention for a BCS Championship berth by the end of the season they will only have themselves to blame. While this schedule lacks that strength of schedule factor it does set the Nittany Lions up for a bare minimum of ten wins in 2009, and anything less than eleven wins may be a great disappointment.

The out of conference schedule leaves a lot to be desired and while this is the official release of the schedule the rumors will continue for a bit about rescheduling the October 10 match up with Eastern Illinois, the alma mater of Tony Romo. At first the rumors speculated that Penn State may be getting a deal done with an ACC team (North Carolina was on top of the rumored list) and some sources indicated a possibility of welcoming Missouri or Utah to Happy Valley. My stance is that I would prefer for Penn State to play a team from a BCS conference, or Utah or BYU caliber team, than a team from the FCS ranks. I have nothing against FCS schools but I want Penn State to be regarded as the class of the Big Ten. This schedule will make it hard to convey that to the all powerful media and pollsters.

Penn State will have no excuse for not getting out to a good start with four home games in September. Akron, Temple and Syracuse are the first tests for Penn State before hosting Iowa in the ultimate revenge game. The Nittany Lions only have four road games this year and they all seem to be winnable games. Michigan will likely be improved but let us see what kind of changes Rich Rodriguez can get going in the early going next season. Who knows what Illinois team will show up this year. Northwestern should not scare anybody really. And of course the season ends on the road at Michigan State. I do not anticipate that meeting to carry quite so much weight this season, and if Penn State beats Ohio State the Big Ten crown may already be wrapped up. That's right, I am already saying that Penn State should be a favorite in the Big Ten.

What Happens Now?
Seeing as this is the official release of the schedule I find it harder than ever to believe that Eastern Illinois will be swapped out for a North Carolina or Miami or anyone. I think this may be the schedule but will keep an eye out for any changes.

It is what it is and what it is is a typical weak out of conference schedule for what should be a god team in hopes of putting together a very solid year.

Way Early Prediction
Let us look at the schedule again and mark down W's and L's. Opinions are subject to change as we get close to the season, but it is always fun to go through the fresh schedule and predict what you think will happen..

AKRON - WIN; No chance the Lions get zipped by Akron. Sean Lee returns
SYRACUSE - WIN; A lot of work still needs to be done by the Orange
TEMPLE - WIN; Temple is improving, but Penn State is still on a different playing field than the Owls
IOWA - WIN; Sweet revenge
@ Illinois - WIN; Mark this as the first potential loss
EASTERN ILLINOIS - WIN; Will Tony Romo will be there?
MINNESOTA - WIN; Homecoming victory
@ Michigan - WIN; the Wolverines should be better so mark this down as a potential loss candidate
@ Northwestern - WIN; Remember the last time Penn State played at Northwestern? Won't be that close this time.
OHIO STATE - WIN; Terrelle Pryor's first collegiate game in Pennsylvania should be interesting
INDIANA - WIN; Penn State never loses to Indiana
@ Michigan State - WIN; Penn State wraps up another Big Ten crown

I guess my expectations are a little optimistic here in January.

Missing on the Schedule
Off the schedule this year are the Wisconsin Badgers and Purdue Boilermakers. That's good for Wisconsin, who needs the time off from Penn State after the last couple of meetings.