Op-Ed: Are you ready for some football

The start of college and professional football is right around the corner and for many fans it probably couldn't come fast enough either.

There are some great things about living in the south. The first is everyone is treated like family, the second is southern rock, and the third is football. It really doesn't matter who you root for whether it is Alabama, Florida, Clemson, Texas or someone else fall means football. This year football couldn't come soon enough, the world tried to pass off that World Cup as "football" and I know to the rest of the world that is what it is, but not here, not in the U.S.A. Baseball is coming to an end, there was hockey into mid-June as well as basketball. This summer like the last few we did have "Brett Favre Watch 2010" and this year the drama was intensified because we also had "LeBron James Watch 2010" so there was somethings to follow until camp started. If you are into fantasy football don't read this article, read my next one. Now that football is here it is time to look at a few teams, we'll start with the defending champs, Alabama. Alabama--Welcome back to Earth boys, the SEC don't like you, the NCAA don't like you, and heck most of the country probably don't like you. That is okay, the NCAA schedule makes decided to stick it to you this year and you have six, yes SIX conference games where your opponent is coming off of a buy. Do you smell conspiracy theory? Of course, Alabama is damn good, and unless the officials repeatedly miscounted and let the opposition play 12 or 13 guys Alabama should beat people up again and will more than likely find themselves playing for the BCS Championship, that is as long as they survive the SEC Championship Game. Ohio State--These guys are monsters again and Jim Tressel behind those tinted glasses in his sweater vest is going to push this team. Their biggest hurdle Iowa on the road, and Iowa is going to be good, and probably better than last year. Still, Ohio State could run into trouble and find itself with one or even two loses, just don't bet on the two loses this year. Boise State--When the nation watches these guys shine. They have done awesome in bowl games and if they can get past Virginia Tech on a neutral field, much like last year it is their season to throw away. If Boise State didn't do so well in bowl games though I would have to say their walk is far too easy to deserve such high rankings, but they play the conference they are apart of, this year if either Alabama or Ohio State trips, watch Boise State play itself into a BCS Championship birth. Florida--I am not sold at number four. Urban Meyer was out, then in, then sort of in, then gone, but back and in again, what a soap opera. They will be good, they have lost some players though and the focus of the league is now on Alabama and not them. Tebow is gone, this could be a two loss year and no trip to the SEC Championship. Texas--Two words: Mack Brown. Nuff said, they will wait their time for the people ahead of them to stumble. They play a tougher schedule than Boise State, and could jump BSU in the rankings if they have trouble. Oklahoma--They are ranked to high for a team that may lose twice this year. Nebraska--They want in the Big-12 Championship Game. It would be a great exit for them to make it, they will lose at least once, so they are going to need some help, if they lose more than once in the Big-12 their hopes are basically extinguished. Iowa--These guys shouldn't be a sleeper school, they probably should be above Oklahoma and Nebraska, but they aren't. They will get the help they need to jump the two schools immediately ahead of them. They have to beat Ohio State, their season might hinge on that. Iowa also has to watch out for stupid loses, games they should win but don't, that is learning from their history. Virginia Tech--How they play against Boise State will say a lot. ACC is going to be weak in football this year, and Frank and the boys have a real shot at making some noise. The ACC-Championship is in Charlotte this year as well which means a much shorter drive for fans should they make it. Oregon--Another sleeper, it has been a turbulent off-season but they are still the team to beat in the PAC-10. This year's schedule is no where near is "friendly" as last, but Chip Kelly should have his guys focuses and ready. Also with nearly 100 uniform changes teams may get caught off guard watching that and not handling business. Wisconsin--Wisconsin doesn't have to be perfect, just beat who matters most. They could find themselves the lucky beneficiary of other power-houses killing each other. Playing at Madison is a tough thing to do and winning there is even harder. It isn't worth going through all 25 teams, 12 should be enough. The fact this year is we probably won't see a complete turnover of the top 10 and if you are just outside of that like an Oregon or Wisconsin you can't afford to lose one game let alone more than one. So the season is mapped out and ready, the question is are you?