Fodder for the hot BBQ league....Phil Steele Picks Falcons

As you saw yesterday, Phil Steele has picked the Falcons to win the MAC East this year. This is significant because...well, its not actually significant in anyway. Its good fodder for the hot stove league. Which isn't really the right term is it. Its not like anyone is sitting around a hot stove in June anywhere in college football country. More like the BBQ league.

Phil Steele has kind of a mythical status among college football junkies because, frankly, he knows his stuff. He has a systematic approach to his analysis, and he covers the MAC as seriously as he goes the Big 10. Unlike the more popular preview mags, he isn't likely to talk fondly of a guy who left school over the summer. He's on top of it, even for non-BCS Schools.

Like him or not, his system is to look first for returning starters, and that's part of why he likes BG. He also looks at schedule--who has tough games and whose tough games are on the road--because he recognizes in a seven-game season, that matters a lot, and there's no way for any league to equalize it. He likes that Miami is at our place. And 12 starting seniors.

FWIW, he has Central winning the West. And, Central is real good again, with the best QB in the MAC (and he's a JR!!) and a team that is used to winning.

We have lots more speculatin' and arguin' to do before the season starts up. For now, let's pop open a beer, put steaks on the grill, and enjoy the pre-season, when everyone is a contender.