10. Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish assured themselves a winning season thanks to a cream-puff November schedule against Navy, Air Force, Duke, and Stanford. Coach Charlie Weis can show his team Rudy all he wants; we predict a 10th straight bowl loss unless the Irish handpick a punching-bag opponent.

9. Vanderbilt
The Commodores haven’t had a winning season since 1982. Coach Bobby Johnson (15-43) upset Georgia last year. Vandy fans, enjoy that memory as you gaze longingly at the Jay Cutler Fathead on your bedroom wall. This season the team faces Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina on the road.

 

8. Indiana
It’s been 13 years since they’ve been to a bowl game, and this year won’t be any different. Coach Terry Hoeppner’s untimely death in June makes a difficult situation impossible. He turned Miami (Ohio) into an offensive power with Ben Roethlisberger at QB, but the Hoosier D surrenders more than the French.

7. Baylor
What happens when you lose 34 lettermen from a 4-8 team? That’s right: You suck! Victory took a restraining order out against Baylor in last season’s final four games, as the Bears didn’t come within 150 yards of a win. Maybe losing the top rusher from a 40-yards-a-game ground attack is a good thing.

 

6. Iowa State
Last year the Cyclones were college football’s version of the Cincinnati Bengals. After several off-season player suspensions followed by a litany of key injuries, the season went into a tailspin that ended with respected coach Dan McCarney’s resignation. Gene Chizik takes over as new warden this season.