2008 Predictions Anyone?

I know it's going to be awhile before August rolls around, but what are your thoughts concerning next year?  Here's the non-conference schedule:

1. at UCLA
2. at Kansas State
3. Wisconsin
4. at Toledo

They also have their usual 8 game WAC schedule.  Key games are:

1. at Boise State
2. Hawaii
3. Nevada

The bottom line is that Fresno State played 5 of their 12 games against teams with winning records.  We only won 1 of those 5 games.  You can make arguements all you'd like abou tthe A&M game, but the simple fact is that good teams find a way to win those games.  Here are the 5 teams they played, their records, and the result.

1. Texas A&M (7-6)  LOST
2. Oregon (9-4) LOST
3. Boise State (10-3)   LOST
4. Hawaii (12-1)  LOST
5. Georgia Tech (7-6) WON

I bring all of this up for one reason...in those 5 games, Fresno allowed a total of 198 points.  That's an average of 39.6 points per game.  The only way Fresno will win their early non-conference games next year will be for them to replace Tyler Clutts and Marcus Riley on defense...and actually get BETTER.

I hope they do, but I see us taking second in the WAC next year.  I actually see Fresno sweeping through their non-conference schedule.  Even though those teams are high profile names, Wisconsin is the only one that will field a strong team.  I see Fresno winning that game because it's IN Fresno.  I also see Fresno beating Hawaii and not choking against the bottom chunk of the conference.  However, Boise gets most of their team back again next year, and I see them beating Fresno in Boise.   That makes for an 11-1 record in my mind and another bowl against a second tier team from a BCS conference.

What are your views?

I agree the defense will need to improve next year for the Dogs to be ranked in the top 25.  If that happens and the offense continues its improvement, I see Boise and Wisconsin as the two biggest challenges of 2008.  With UCLA getting used to Neuhisel and K-State not as strong as in the past, those two games are definitely winnable.  Hopefully Pat Hill will have the Dogs fully focused on Toledo, they aren't a team to be taken lightly at home. 

If they do achieve that 11-1 record, a better bowl along with a top 15-20 ranking should be the result next season.