College football 2004 picks up where it left off last year, with the same three top contenders looming-USC, LSU and Oklahoma. Let's hope the resemblance to freaky 2003 ends there and one team-not two-becomes the undisputed national champion this year.
Oklahoma starts the 2004 season still in the media's doghouse. Pundits haven't forgotten the Sooners' post-season fade last year, causing the chaos that led to a split championship between LSU and USC. So don't look for OU atop anybody's poll-at first. However, last year's Heisman winner Jason White is back for one more shot, joined by 16 other starters. They play Oregon and Nebraska at home; big away-games include Kansas State, Texas A&M and Texas. Survive all that, and they'll be at No. 1 again by late October and hard to topple.
USC emerged as America's team by the end of last year. That momentum will see them through 2004. Junior QB Matt Leinart is an early Heisman favorite. The team returns 13 starters, delivering a solid offense and an intimidating defense. The schedule? Not so intimidating. The PAC-10 sweeps the board as national underachiever. USC's toughest non-conference opponents look to be Colorado State and Notre Dame.
Georgia is on the mind of pollsters this year. The Bulldogs are the wildcard-16 returning starters, the masterful David Greene at QB, and a schedule (LSU, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, Auburn) tough enough to silence any doubters and win over the BCS computers if the Dogs take care of business.
They went bonkers in Tiger land when LSU won the 2003 BCS championship game against Oklahoma, the Bayou Bengals' first national crown since 1958. Defense carried them last year. And it's their chore for 2004. The QB spot is questionable. But the coach is the best in the land (at least the highest paid): Nick Saban. When 2004 is finally done, we might look back and say this year's national championship game was played Oct. 2. That's when LSU visits Georgia.
Other teams with a shot at foiling all the forecasting-Miami, Texas, Auburn and Florida State.
IT comes down to this
BCS National Championship Game: Jan. 4, 2005 (Orange Bowl, Miami, Fla., 8 p.m. EST, ABC-TV)
Our Prediction: Oklahoma 31, USC 24
