Most years I have my college season picks basically done by the end of the July. But due to my recent marriage I'm a little behind on getting caught up on my college previews. As I go through them over the next three weeks in the run-up to the season, I'll try to give you a sense of where all I-A teams are stacking up with the prognosticators, starting with Air Force tonight with more to follow the rest of the week. Go to Stassen if you want an easy-to-read chart of who's picking who where.
Publication abbreviations for this series:
PS: Phil Steele
ATH: Athlon
LN: Lindy's
Air Force Falcons
(9-4 in 2007; 3 returning starters on offense, 5 on defense)
(Predicted MWC finish — PS: 7; ATH: 6; LN: 6; overall average 6)
New Head Coach Troy Calhoun (above) got the Falcons off to a quick start last year after Air Force pulled upsets against Utah and TCU on their way to a 3-0 start. They struggled for a stretch afterward, but finished strong at 9-4 with a near upset of Cal in the Armed Forces Bowl.
The consensus seems to be that Air Force is unlikely to match last year's win total. They lose more than half their lettermen, their top six rushers, top two receivers, their QB and four of their top five tacklers.
Three freshman made the two-deep depth chart, and it looks like inexperienced senior Shea Smith will take over behind center.
The one area that could be a strength is the DL, where all three starters return to lead a rush defense that finished in the middle of the MWC with 3.45 ypc. But it looks like Coach Calhoun will have to work some magic to bring Air Force back to a bowl game.
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