A mere three teams make up the INDEPENDENTS, yet all three have a unique bearing on the outcome of the National Championship BCS game for 2006. Rest assured, without a conference affiliation, this self-governing triumvirate has plenty of veto power to put an end the hopes and dreams of many BCS Championship Game aspirants.
Here is my take on the INDEPENDENTS for 2006. Coming up next: the MID AMERICAN CONFERENCE. Enjoy…
ARMY
It’s apparent that head coach Bobby Ross has put his stamp on this program. In two short years his teams have won more games than in the previous four years combined. Despite losing both their four-year starting quarterback and running back, the Black Knights are steeped deep in experience. “It is really important that academy teams are veteran teams,” concludes Ross. “We have a chance to be competitive and that means giving us a chance to win every ballgame.” Eight starters are back from last year’s defense, one that improved 143 YPG. Best of all they face only three winning teams in 2006, two in their final two games of the season. Go Army.
PLAY ON: as dog vs. Tulane (10/28)
NAVY
There have been a lot of ‘firsts’ since Paul Johnson came aboard and joined the Navy. The latest comes on the heels of last year’s stellar eight-win season as the Middies become the ‘first’ team in Naval history (since 1906-08) to compile three straight years of winning eight-plus games. They also played in, and won, its third straight bowl game for the ‘first’ time in Academy history, albeit against a lightweight schedule laced with nothing but non-winning teams from 2004. They were, however, the youngest team in America with the fewest returning starters last season. Seventeen returning starters should keep this ship on course in ’06.
PLAY ON: vs. Connecticut (9/30)
NOTRE DAME
It’s not often a team that has lost eight-straight bowl games finds itself atop the pre-season polls. After all, you have to win your bowl game to win a national championship, don’t you? History aside, the Fighting Irish, and their prolific offense, have once again won the fancy of the their loyal supporters after posting nine-wins in Charlie Weis’ rookie year. Forget the fact they allowed the most yards in a single game in school history (Ohio State), or that they scored 40 points in a game and lost for the first time since 1885 (Michigan State). Remember, this is Notre Dame - and its 400-yard defense - we’re talking about, isn’t it?
PLAY AGAINST: as a favorite vs. Michigan – *KEY Play - (9/16)
This article was extracted from the 2006 PLAYBOOK FOOTBALL HANDICAPPERS' YEARBOOK magazine. To order your copy of this 248-page best selling football preview click here www.playbook.com or call 1.800.PLAYBOOK for instant service.
Marc Lawrence has enjoyed success as a handicapper since 1975. He publishes the Playbook Football Handicappers Yearbook magazine and the weekly Playbook Football and Playbook Basketball newsletters. He is also a featured columnist for Football News.
In addition, he hosts Right on the Line, a 30-minute nationally syndicated cable TV show that airs Saturday mornings during the football season, and the 60-minute Right on the Line radio show, heard every weekend on over 100 radio stations across America, including the Sirius satellite radio network.
You can watch and listen to Right on the Line at www.playbook.com.
