since I'm an FSU fan, everyone feel free to ignore everything after now, but, I think 7.5 is a fair line. I would not bet it either way.
Last 3 years have been 6,7,8 wins. Problem now is the schedule is harder than last year. Plus side is better recruiting over the past few years and a much improved coaching staff is making a difference.
This is an improving team that did not graduate much. They had very few guys drafted. Offensive line last year started 2 freshman and 2 soph and was supposed to be a disaster, actually was a good unit. Coach is Rick Trickett who was at WVU a few years ago when their OL and ground game terrorized everyone. Line returns all 5 starters. QB Ponder is average, but may improve with more experience now. Only upside or no change there. New tailback is Jermaine Thomas, unless beaten out. Thomas averaged 7 YPC last year. He is a tall guy, classic tailback type, not some scatback they ran trick plays or used as a change up to get that 7 YPC. They do not have anything returning at receiver. 4 of their receivers had legal problems in offseason, 3 recently were resolved favorably and they are clear to play. 4th is pending. they will have a mix of inexperienced and yound guys at receiver. Any team at 7.5 wins has problem areas somewhere. reports indicate that with so many pointitng this as a problem area, in practice they are not having trouble exceeding expectations.
Defense has some spots to fill at DL and LB, but key is losses were not great players other than pass rusher Everette Brown, 2nd round NFL pick i think, and they are being replaced with as Phil Steele calls them, very highly touted recruits.
I don't see any drop off at all. This team is going to be very close to the 7.5 either way without much room for variance. They arent elite and going to win 10, they are not going to win 5 or less and 6 seems very unlikely though not impossible to me. 6 or less would take some severe injury problems I think.
good luck, pass for me.
where are they lined 7 and whats the juice on the over?
