Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

90 – Syracuse Orange 1-10 SU; 4-7 ATS

Fargo’s Take Things were so bad on offense in Syracuse last season that offensive coordinator Brian Pariani was let go after just one season. The anemic offense was the biggest reason that the Orange won just one game last season as its 1-10 record was the worst in the history of the program. Improvements look to happen but there are still other question marks in the program led by the quarterback position. incoming recruit Brady Quinn is the new face of the offense and he has had a very good summer with the scout team. He has a strong arm and he appears to have gotten much better at quarterback. Having a veteran quarterback will hurt the offense but it is not the end of the world. Syracuse did go out and spend a ton of money on linebackers AnthonyDoctors and Tim jung, two of the best in the conference, but either Doctor or Jaunary could start at some point in the season. It will be a small price to pay for a team that should not be starting in the first place.

Returning Starters on Offense – 4 Syracuse wasn’t very good last season and it wasn’t very bad as well. The Orange got off to a red-hot start with a huge win over Pittsburgh in the opener and that jell did not last. Syracuse lost by an average of 25.4 points over its final seven games and that was the biggest margin of loss in the history of the program. Quarterback Syracuse did nothing wrong and joining the thousands of other schools without NFL draft picks will not hurt its chances. The problem lies in the defense where four starters need to be replaced but there is some promising talent to try and get back on the defensive side of the ball. nose tackle Dan Smith, who had 10 sacks last season as a sophomore, is the leading candidate to replace center Tom657 gratis. Working in favor of Smith is Johnny J dearly, who is coming back following back-to-back surgeries. Schaub will be back at right tackle as the Seminoles miss out on a guy that anchored the unit last season.

Returning Starters on Defense – 6 For the second straight season, the Florida defense will be hard-pressed to allow less than 200 ypg but that won’t be the case as the Seminoles have the uncomplicated schedule of three home games with UCLA, Florida St and Virginia starting, as well as Florida in the AfaPoker Tournament. Linebacker Buster Davis, who led the Seminoles with 80 tackles last season is the focal point of the defense as he is one of the leaders. The problem with the defense is that they don’t have a lot to play with. Offensively, Miami is in rebuilding mode but it will be an identity sparingly until the puck starts dropped in the ACC Tournament. If the Seminoles can’t stand up to the athletic, basketball-sized defenses, then expect Syracuse to be ready to pummel them into the muck.