Every year prior to the beginning of the college football ...



Every year prior to the beginning of the college football season, Vegas Sports Authority handicappers James Kruger and Paul Stone attempt to identify teams which may be underrated and overrated by the bookmaker and public.

Without further ado, here are our "Five to Watch" in both categories (underrated and overrated) for the 2004 college football season:

UNDERRATED

(1) South Carolina - The Gamecocks return 17 starters, the most in the era of veteran coach Lou Holtz who relies quite heavily on junior college talent. Having gone 8-16 against the spread the past two seasons, we feel South Carolina will have lots of "value" during the upcoming season. The Gamecocks boast experience at virtually every position, with super sophomore running back Demetrius Summers fueling SC's ground attack.

(2) UAB - When coming up with a roster of "Who's Who in Major College Football," the Blazers might not be on anybody's list. However, we're trying to cash tickets, not win a popularity contest. UAB has 18 returning regulars, including the top 12 tacklers from a defense, which allowed 24 points a game in 2003 and should be improved this season. And as long as Daunte Culpepper-esque quarterback Darrell Hackney can avoid the injury bug, UAB's offense promises to be a notch or two better as well.

(3) Rutgers - Like UAB, the Scarlet Knights are rarely mentioned when the conversation turns to college football. Rutgers, however, shapes up as just as the type of team which could come up with the "green" in 2004. Jersey native Greg Schiano, the former Miami (Fla.) assistant, has

recruited well and has some talented athletes on both sides of the ball. In the watered-down Big East, now minus Miami (Fla.) and Virginia Tech, the Scarlet Knights are strong bets to flirt with a .500 record this season. By the way, Rutgers is 20-13 against the spread under Schiano.

(4) Georgia - Mark Richt's 'Dawgs are certainly considered national championship contenders by most college football observers, but that does not mean there is not money to be made backing the boys from "Between the Hedges." Yes, Georgia is roughly an "even money" choice to

be favored in ALL 11 of its regular season games. But with a high-octane offense directed by veteran quarterback David Greene, we expect the Dawgs to average more than 35 points a game and be more than capable of carrying the wood as a heavy favorite.

(5) Notre Dame - While there is some feeling that Notre Dame is the epitome of college football's "public team," we look for the Fighting Irish to rebound handsomely from last season's 5-7 setback. Now entering the third season of running Tyrone Willingham's system, the Irish have a

capable young quarterback in Brady Quinn and equally adept receivers in Maurice Stovall and Rhema McKnight. Expectations are not sky high in South Bend this fall. However, that is just the kind of situation that Willingham has prospered in during a previous stint at Stanford.

OVERRATED

(1) Missouri - With Nebraska, Kansas State and Colorado all in a slight downspin, the Tigers are everybody's pick to win the weakened Big 12 North. We have regularly been cashing tickets on quarterback Brad Smith since his debut performance against Illinois in the 2002 season opener.

However, we feel like the Tigers are set up to be the public's darling this season and do not see a porous defense which allowed at least 31 points to four opponents during a five-game mid-season stretch last year as being able to measure up to such expectations.

(2) Nebraska -"In with the new, out with the old" could well be Bill Callahan's mantra as he assumes the reins as the Cornhuskers' head man. In making the transition from its corn-fed option offense to the freewheeling West Coast game, Nebraska will experience some growing

pains. Although the focus certainly changed on the day of Callahan's hiring, the Huskers have been recruiting for one type of offense and are now playing another, one that is drastically different from the vaunted option. Most notably, the Cornhuskers do not have the receivers to

effectively run the West Coast offense and also need time to develop one of their young quarterbacks into the system.

(3) Washington -The Huskies' streak of 27 non-losing seasons might be in jeopardy this fall, as might be the job of head coach Keith Gilbertson. WU's administration gave the reins to Gilbertson following the embarrassing departure of "Slick Rick" Neuheisel. Gilbertson, to this

point, has not been up to the task. Now with star wide receiver Reggie Williams leaving early for the NFL and tough-guy quarterback Cody Pickett lost to graduation, the Huskies really appear to be on the ropes. Washington has not had a running game in ages and its defense is

not nearly as tough as in days gone by, having allowed 26, 26 and 31 points per game the past three seasons.

(4) Arkansas - Houston Nutt is an outstanding coach, but he might be the one "calling the hogs" when he looks at his 2004 preseason depth chart. Arkansas has been decimated by graduation and early defections to the NFL and only returns a whopping total of four starters. Lucky for them,

one of those returnees is rough-and-tough Matt Jones, a fourth-year starter at quarterback. The Razorbacks must replace their entire offensive line and secondary, not a pleasant endeavor in the wild, wild SEC West.

(5) Kansas - The Jayhawks had a winning regular season (6-5), qualifying for a bowl game for the first time since 1995 one season ago. However, we believe KU's winning ways are about to dissolve like a chocolate-covered donut in Mark Mangino's airspace. The Jayhawks' success of 2003 can be summed up in two words: Bill Whittemore. The senior quarterback accounted for more than 2,900 total yards offense last year, but is no longer in the fold. A season-opening tilt against Tulsa, another 2003 bowl qualifier, is not a gimmee, and KU's next 10 are all losable.

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