These teams are better than your preseason mags and the hacks at ESPN are telling you

BYU - The Cougars, 7-6 last season, return 15 starters, including sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps, who happens to be from one of the worst places on earth, Bellevue, Wa. Heaps, playing as a true frosh, got off to slow start a year ago but rebounded big time down the stretch, throwing 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions over his last six games. After a tough opening schedule, which features games on the road against Mississippi and Texas and a home date with arch rival Utah, there's a soft run of about five very winnable games. BYU is already locked into the Armed Forces Bowl if they become bowl eligible -- which is absurd -- but look for them to be worthy of much, much more. Double digit wins for the Cougars.


UCLA - This is the Crew's sleeper to win the Pac 12. Sure, they went 4-8 last season, but they lost 58 starts to injury and had a takeaway ratio of -11. Teams that lose significant starts to injury almost always see improvement the next season. Likewise, teams that have poor takeaway ratios rarely are as bad the following year. Add to that seventeen starters returning, and this is almost a perfect formula for a big rebound. Look for UCLA to be the best team in LA this season and push ASU in the Pac 12 South.


Va Tech - The Hokies will win 12 games and play in the national title game. The main reason for this bold prediction is their schedule, which is embarrassing. They challenge themselves out of conference by taking on the likes of Appalachian St, Arkansas St., East Carolina and Marshall, and all their even remotely difficult conference games (Clemson, Miami, BC and North Carolina) are at home. They could have a poor month and still remain undefeated. We, however, also like their talent. Sure, they lose three-year starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor, but they'll replace him with the multi talented 6'6", 245 pound Logan Thomas, who could be this year's Cam Newton, who no was talking about this time last year.




**Editor's note - The Crew apologizes for its lackluster performance in the preseason. We had been looking forward to much more thorough season preview. After some worthless druggie left a syringe on a Seattle sidewalk about ten days ago, however, plans had to be altered. Suffice to say, never pick up a plastic bag in the street unless you know exactly what's in it.