Top (Fantasy ) Freshmen Prospects for 2007

These are just my early impressions before any of them have had an official practice. I'm not rating them based on this year alone, but on what they may do over their career. Basically I'm weighing their draft value going into this season. Maybe i shouldn't be sharing my secrets, but it's June.....so I assume a lot will change.

1. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois - 5 star - #5 WR (instant impact?)
2. Brandon Saine, RB, Ohio State - 4 star - #5 RB (backup to Beanie?)
3. Clint Brewster, QB, Minnesota - 3 star, #17 QB (starter?)
4. John Clay, RB, Wisconsin - 4 star, #4 RB (if he's eligible)
5. Ryan Mallet, QB, Michigan - 5 star, #2 QB (starter next year?)
6. Andre Tate, RB, Minnesota - 3 star, #30 RB (playing time this year, much more next year?)
7. Deries Hodge, RB, Illinois - 2 star, NR (backup to Rashard Mendenhall?)
8. Toney Clemons, WR, Michigan - 4 star, #12 WR
9. Malcolm Harris, RB, Purdue - 3 star, #19 RB (they need a RB, could get lots of time?)
10. Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin - 4 star, #22 WR (they need receivers)
11. Andre Anderson, RB, Michigan State - 3 star, NR
12. Vince Helmuth, RB, Michigan - 3 star, #9 RB
13. Avery Horn, RB, Michigan - 3 star, #13 RB
14. Taurian Washington, WR, Ohio State - 4 star, #25 WR (they need receivers)
15. Mark Dell, WR, Michigan State - 4 star, #21 WR (they need receivers)
16. Daniel Herron, RB, Ohio State - 4 star, #18 RB
17. Troy Pollard, RB, Illinois - 3 star, #53 RB
18. Colin Sandeman, WR, Iowa - 3 star, #48 WR (they need receivers)
19. Martell Webb, WR, Michigan - 4 star, #29 WR
20. Junior Hemingway, WR, Michigan - 3 star - #38 WR

My New Scaled Down Playoff System Proposal

8 team playoff rotating in the 4 BCS Bowl Games (Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta). Each Bowl would get 2 games except for the rotating Bowl that gets only the national championship game. The games would be played over a 4 week period from early December thought the first week in January, with the 3rd week (probably Jesus weekend) being the bye before the national championship game. The 6 BCS conference champions would get an automatic bid, with the other 2 at-large bids being determined by the BCS rankings. Here's an example for the 2007 season. (all times Central!)

ROUND 1:

ROSE BOWL Saturday December 15th, 7pm
1. Oklahoma (12-0; Big 12) - 41
8. Louisville (10-2; Big East) - 30

FIESTA BOWL Saturday December 15th, 3:30pm
5. Florida (10-2; SEC) - 24
4. Miami (11-1; ACC) - 10

FIESTA BOWL Friday December 14th, 7pm
3. Wisconsin (11-1; Big Ten) - 22
6. Texas (10-2; at-large) - 21

ORANGE BOWL Saturday December 15th, Noon
2. USC (11-1; Pac-10) - 33
7. Michigan (10-2; at-large) - 37

ROUND 2:

ROSE BOWL Saturday December 22nd, 6pm
1. Oklahoma -28
5. Florida -32

ORANGE BOWL Saturday December 22nd, 2:30pm
3. Wisconsin - 23
7. Michigan - 27

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:

SUGAR BOWL Saturday January 5th, 7pm
5. Florida - 31
7. Michigan - 34

I know this isn't the best possible playoff system, but it seems like something realistic that the NCAA might actually get to.

Favorite Teams outside the Big Ten

1. Iowa State
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2. Oregon
3. Washington
4. Missouri
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5. California
6. Kansas State
7. Colorado
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8. Hawaii
9. Oregon State
10. Washington State
11. Rutgers
12. West Virginia

TOTALS:
5 - Pac 10
4 - Big 12
2 - Big East
1 - WAC
0 - SEC; ACC; Mtn West; MAC; Sun Belt

Favorite Teams in the Big Ten (A ranking)

I know we've done this before, but I think my rankings have changed some since we last did this.

1. Minnesota
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2. Northwestern (pompous, but just so bad at sports they're lovable)
3. Illinois (good school, great campus, democratic state, great colors, offensive mascot & nickname)
4. Michigan State (fans are pretty nice, the same with all schools above; just all around inoffensive and slightly likable in every way)
5. Penn State
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6. Indiana (hate the school and state, but I like em in football because they've sucked for so long...I root for em)
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7. Ohio State (meh, dont knoe how to feel; jerk fans though)
8. Purdue (I hate Purdue for reasons that are unclear even to me, I think its Joe Tiller)
9. Michigan (hate em!)
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10. Iowa (terrible fans, school, and state)
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11. Wisconsin (most hated team of all, no words)