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Making preseason predictions amongst your family and friends is one thing.
After all, it's easy to be bold and stick your bloated, need-to-go-on-the-Subway-diet, 19-inch neck out there when nobody but your in-laws or buddies is listening. (As if they paid any attention to what you say in the first place.)
But putting predictions here in print and online for everyone to see — and, most likely, to ridicule later after your predictions suggest that, in that your youth, you apparently played football without actually wearing a helmet — is a recipe for public humiliation. However, I've been doing this a long time and, if I've learned anything at all along the way, it's that last year's dunce cap-wearing clown can become this year's prognosticating genius faster than you can spell (or pronounce) the name of BYU sophomore defensive lineman Kalama Kaluhiokalani.
Oh, by the way, speaking of last year's college preseason picks, pardon me while I brag a little bit. I managed to hit BYU's and Utah's records right on the nose at 10-2 and 9-3, respectively — bowl games not included — and wound up just one game off each on Utah State, Weber State and Southern Utah. I predicted the Aggies would go 5-7, and they went 4-8; the Wildcats went 7-4 in the regular season after I picked 'em to go 8-3, and the Thunderbirds were 5-6 after my 4-7 prediction. And, let's face it, that's a much more accurate forecast than you're usually gonna get on the 10 o'clock news.
So, let's get it started by saying that, in 2010, none of the "Big Five" college programs will have a losing record. That's right, you heard it here first, folks — BYU, Utah, Utah State, Weber State and Southern Utah will each finish at .500 or better this year. And if they don't, well, I owe you a double-scoop of Aggie ice cream.
OK, so that may not sound like we're climbing out on a limb too much but, since Utah State's last non-losing season came back in 1997, it's definitely a skinny limb for such a fat guy.
And as we peer into our crystal football, here's what the future holds for the "Big Five" in 2010:
BYU: The Cougars are breaking in a new quarterback (or two) and, while they decide which conference they wanna be a part of in the future, their schedule really stacks up against them this year.
With a non-conference road game against Florida State (which blasted BYU last season in Provo) and difficult Mountain West roadies with Air Force, TCU and Utah, the Cougars' schedule-maker definitely didn't do 'em any favors.
Still, there's enough easily winnable home games with the likes of Nevada, San Diego State, Wyoming, UNLV and New Mexico each coming to play in Provo that BYU certainly will win its share this season.
Predicted finish: 8-4.
UTAH: Just as the schedule bites BYU on the back side this season, the Utes have three of their most difficult games — Pittsburgh, TCU and BYU — at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Of course, there will be some road toughies at Iowa State, Air Force and Notre Dame, but don't be too surprised if Utah's Mountain West swan song produces another sweet-sounding 9- or 10-win campaign.
Predicted finish: 9-3.
UTAH STATE: The Aggies' reclamation project continues under second-year head coach Gary Andersen, who knows full well that, with a late-game break or two, last year's 4-7 slate could've easily been transformed into a solid 6- or 7-win season.
Well, by golly, it's gonna happen this year. A favorable schedule — excluding their season-opener at Oklahoma — should be enough to get 'em over the hump. And nobody will ever be as happy for a .500 season as those long-suffering fans in Cache Valley.
Predicted finish: 6-6.
WEBER STATE: The Wildcats have earned back-to-back trips to the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history. And a third straight postseason appearance certainly appears possible this year.
Sure, they'll start and finish their season with a couple of pain-for-pay games with Boston College and Texas Tech. But in between, don't be surprised to see the Weebs win a whole bunch and challenge for the Big Sky title.
Predicted finish: 7-4.
SOUTHERN UTAH: The Thunderbirds also play a couple of FBS foes this year, though Wyoming and San Jose State don't strike fear in the hearts of too many teams.
But SUU will be favored in four of its five home games, and if the T-Birds can break through a couple of times on the road, it'll spell a winning season in Cedar City.
Predicted finish: 6-5.
e-mail: rhollis@desnews.com