Best Of The Rest for 2009

So, we've finished the Top 10. Some suprises and some automatics, but rounding out my next 10 picks will have some people shaking their heads in disbelief. If you're a betting man, some of these teams could win you some money from those Vegas oddsmakers.

11. Brigham Young
12. L.S.U.
13. Boise State
14. Georgia Tech
15. Mississippi
16. Georgia
17. Nebraska
18. T.C.U.
19. South Florida
20. Penn State

What ??? Brigham Young ??????? Nebraska ??????? South Florida ????????. Listen, Max Hall will put up Ty Detmer like numbers for Brigham Young and "if" possibly they pull a shocker in their opener against Oklahoma, they could run the table. L.S.U. has talent on both sides of the ball, speed and size. The one thing hurting coach Les Miles team will be consistent quarterback play. The folks in Baton Rouge hope sophomore Jordan Jefferson will step up and show the promise he showed in late November of last year. The Tigers do have a top dual threat recruit in QB Russell Shepherd, but look for him to play a variety of positions and formations for the Bayou Bengals until he is ready or Jefferson implodes. Boise State should surprise knowone. They have been a bigtime program for the past 10 years and coach Chris Peterson has another loaded team. They do lose all time rushing leader Ian Johnson but returning QB Kellen Moore will throw for over 3,000 yards toss 30 TD's. Another potential BCS party crasher "IF" they can take care of Oregon at home on the blue turf. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is one of the better coaches in the country and has won wherever he has traveled. He has brought his triple option attack to the ACC and it paid dividends early. Running back Jonathan Dwyer is poised to have another All-American type year and most of their offensive starters return. They do lose 8 defensive starters and coordinator Jon Tenuta. Who was the team that beat the Gators last year in the swamp....answer MISSISSIPPI. Which QB outplayed Tim Tebow last year....answer JEVAN SNEAD. The Rebels have an abundance of starting experience back on both sides of the ball so look for Ole Miss to battle L.S.U. and Alabama in the SEC West. Georgia loses some key players from last years 9-4 squad, most notebly number one pick QB Matthew Stafford and fellow first rounder Knowshon Moreno. Joe Cox will try to fill the void left by Stafford and Coach Mark Richt will test Caleb King and Richard Samuel to see who will replace the departed Moreno. The Dawgs' do have a super talent at WR in sophomore A.J. Green. Like Bama's Julio Jones, I think this will be Green's final year before leaving for greener pastures. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is as hard nosed and tough as they come and is re-establishing the Cornhusker tradition. Under former coach Bill Callahan, Nebraska (although recruiting well) became a "soft" west coast offensive, passive zone defensive team. Thing are changing in Lincoln...Pelini has restored the "Blackshirts" into a ball hawking gang tackling unit. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (DO NOT ASK ME TO PRONOUNCE IT !) is a 6'-4" 320 BEAST ! The Huskers will take a hit as top returning RB Quinten Castille was suspended indefinately by coach Pelini for conduct reasons. Inexperience at the quarterback position will be a hurdle, but Zac Lee will play better as he gains experience. Look for Nebraska to unseat Kansas and Missouri in the BIG 12 North. The Horned Frogs return 8 starters on offensive including QB Andy Dillon. All-American defensive end Jerry Hughes (15 sacks) returns to terrorize opposing QB's. They will battle Brigham Young and Utah in the Mountain West. I like South Florida to edge past Cincinnati and Rutgers in the BIG LEAST...I mean BIG EAST. Okay, not to knock the BIG EAST but honestly, top to bottom the Mountain West is a better conference and more deserving of an automatic BCS bid. That being said, the Bulls have exciting QB Matt Grothe and running back Mike Ford returng not to mention sack specialist George Selvie back at defensive end. Selvie will need to get back to his sophomore form when he led the nation in sacks with 18. Penn State rounds out my top 20. Most people have them in the Top 10, but Daryll Clark is mistake prone and loses his top three receivers. Evan Royster bolsters a capable running back corps and a solid defense does return linebacker Sean Lee from injury. Sorry Joe Pa...not this year !