Beano Cook

  (3:04 PM)

Good afternoon and welcome to the latest off-season college football chat. I am happy to be here since the end of the world did not happen after all. I don't know whether that is good or bad...just kidding. At the end of this chat I will give my early-season prediction for the national championship.

sweatervested1 (gulf shores,al)

Beano, who wins the SEC this year?

Beano Cook

  (3:07 PM)

I am going to surprise a few people and go with Georgia. I think the Bulldogs will win the division and the West is so tough to pick...Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Arkansas are all good teams. You could have problems when you play Mississippi on the road. So I am going with Georgia. I think people who live in that area will understand. Tennessee is still rebuilding and we don't know what will happen with Florida. South Carolina will be right in the mix with Lattimore.

Jonathon Spunar (Livonia, MI)

I've been telling people all spring about how Michigan is a sleeper for the Big Ten title, but do they really have a chance against Nebraska, Ohio State and other big teams? Also, how will Denard Robinson adjust to Brady Hoke's new style of offense?

Beano Cook

  (3:09 PM)

It is hard to say how Robinson will adjust to Hoke's offense. As for the first part of the question, Michigan has been miscoached the last three years. Hoke is not taking over at Indiana, he is taking over at Michigan! I think the Wolverines will have a good season but it may take time for Hoke. They also have to play Notre Dame, which is always a tough game.

Beavis (Dayton)

which new coach will have the most success in 2011?

Beano Cook

  (3:12 PM)

Stanford's new coach David Shawv is an assistant moving up who gets Andrew Luck at quarterback. Then again you don't know how assistant coaches will do when they have the added responsibility. I know Will Muschamp at Florida will have some pressure on him. We will see how he fares.

Joe (Macomb Township, MI)

Give me a team that you feel is overrated and underrated heading into the 2011 campaign?

Beano Cook

  (3:14 PM)

There have not been any ratings yet, but SI had an article on spring football said Florida and Texas could have problems, which means 7-8 wins instead of 9-10! They could be overrated going in. Underrated, I would have to go with Michigan. I know they have athletes and they need a coach who knows what to do with them.

Justin (Iowa)

Do you think that Baylor will take that next step and end up in the 8-10 win tier of teams or was last year more of an outlier than an upward trend?

Beano Cook

  (3:18 PM)

For Baylor to win 9-10 games would be incredible. maybe 8. I cannot believe that the TCU game is on a Friday night. I cannot believe TCU-Baylor is on Friday night and I am becoming a member of the minority that feels high school games should dominate Friday nights. Another silly idea is West Virginia considering selling beer at home games...at night games, and fans are in the parking lot all day long, it is crazy. Then you cannot go out to the parking lot at halftime, which I would hope would be the case. I think that the late Don Canham at Michigan said he would never play a home night game, saying it would be a lot to ask the fans to go home after a game at 11 pm. Michigan is playing at night vs. Notre Dame and if it rains, there will be a parking problem. At least the game is in September. The USC-ND game is a night game at South Bend; when the Irish stabbed the BCS in the back, it said it was because games would be at home at 130. They used to be different but no longer, as it is all about money.

Blair (Chicago)

Overrated? How about Michigan State? They had three close wins against vastly inferior teams that made the difference between 11-1 and 8-4, got hammered in Iowa City and were nothing btu fodder for Alabama. Factor in key departures and I think they are ripe for a reversion back to average.

Beano Cook

  (3:20 PM)

That is a good observation. They won all of those close games and that may not happen this year. The Spartans may be overrated but maybe magazines and prognosticators will have them lower. Nebraska is the team to beat in that division in the Big Ten plus. We will also have to see what happens at Ohio State in the other division.

Beano Cook

  (3:21 PM)

Let me add this about Notre Dame, the game vs. Pittsburgh on September 24th will not be a night game as the Pirates play at home. The game will probably be at noon.

Oscar (Los Angeles)

Beano! Good to have you back. Care to share your thought's on the Tressel/OSU controversy?

Beano Cook

  (3:23 PM)

I have did that on the podcast but I will say it again...Tressel will not be the coach in 2012 but I am going with Urban Meyer. Ivan Maisel said I am wrong, that Urban will not coach in 2012. We both feel he will coach at some point. I hope that he doesn't go to the NFL and deal with those egomaniacs. I include the owners with the players on that statement.

Mark (Atlanta)

Is Mark Richt in trouble if Georgia struggles this season?

Beano Cook

  (3:24 PM)

I think he is. He is one of thecoaces on the hot seat.

Dan (New York)

Do you think I should trademark the Big 14 and Big 16? Someone is going to want those soon right??

Beano Cook

  (3:26 PM)

I do not think they will go to that level. I believe expansion is over for the next few years. The Big Ten should stay at 12 as they have a great set-up right now with Nebraska coming in.

Beano Cook

  (3:27 PM)

Penn State wanted Rutgers but they got Nebraska instead.

Cheesehead Sports Nut (Chicago, IL)

Did you give an interview for "Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN"? What are your thoughts/expectations?

Beano Cook

  (3:28 PM)

I have not read the book yet. They did talk to me for a half-hour. I do not know if I am quoted at all but that is OK with me. I think the book will sell. ESPN is something that everyone knows what it is.

Brad (Sandwich, IL)

BeanoThe Vest will be coaching OSU in 2012 and beyond. Please retire, your opinions are horrible.

Beano Cook

  (3:29 PM)

A lot of people agree with your observation. We will see.

Beano Cook

  (3:30 PM)

For the record, I do hope I am wrong about Tressel. The fact that they are 9-1 vs. Michigan certainly helps him.

Terry (Boston)

Which Heisman result in recent years really disappointed you?

Beano Cook

  (3:32 PM)

I am not going to say any player disappointed me. I did not vote for the winner every year. I did vote for the winner last year but I was not disappointed two years ago when Mark Ingram won it even though I voted for Tim Tebow.

Alex (LA)

How will Washington do now that Jake Locker is in the NFL?

Beano Cook

  (3:33 PM)

Washington has a good coach in Steve Sarkisian but the new Pac-12 should have a banner year with great fan interest. I think it is great that both the Pac-12 and Big Ten have championship games. The Big Ten made a great move playing the title game in Indianapolis as that is a super place to play it.

Bill (NYC)

Congress has to get involved in college football to take away voters like you who have voted teams above other teams that they have lost to. The Beano Cooks and the Ivan Maisels of the world should not have the power to decide a national champion. You guys don't even know that the winner of games that are played head to head is the better team!

Beano Cook

  (3:36 PM)

I do not vote any more and have not voted for a number of years. Talk to Chris Fowler and I believe he still votes. By the way, wait until after the French Open as he is busy right now. By the way, if a team is 6-0 and loses to a team that is 0-6, are you going to put the team that then is 1-6 ahead of the team that is 6-1? Grow up. You follow what a team does for the whole season and not just one game.

Jackson (Georgia )

What is your opinion of alabama's chances of winning the national championship

Beano Cook

  (3:37 PM)

Alabama has a very good chance but it has to go to Auburn. It plays Arkansas and LSU at home. With Nick Saban as coach, they have a shot every year.

Student265 (Anchorage )

For the last two seasons I have doubted Oregon because of the players they had to replace, like the departure of L. Blount and J. Masoli. Once again I am thinking that Oregon is going to take a huge step back because of who they had to replace. Am I wrong?

Beano Cook

  (3:39 PM)

I thought the same way last year. I did not think Oregon would play for the national title last year. Chip Kelly is a great coach so the Ducks can compete despite losing a lot of talent. I will not make the same mistake again and will consider Oregon as a contender out west.

Blair (Chicago)

I think Congress has more pressing issues with which they should be concerned.

Beano Cook

  (3:41 PM)

I agree. The BCS is not one of the top priorities. The only things members of congress are concerned with are getting re-elected. It is unbelievable that the election is not until November of 2012 yet that is all the Sundat talk shows go off about. Congress is totally inept.

Geo (Texas)

Any chance you'll write a book about your years as college football guru?

Beano Cook

  (3:42 PM)

I am trying to write a book but there is no interest. I actually have five chapters done. I should not be so negative and I am still looking for a publisher.

Mustafa (Cleveland)

Beano,Love your work and chats with Colin Cowherd...do you agree that college football should move some games to Sundays to fill the NFL void?

Beano Cook

  (3:45 PM)

Colin is not the first oen to come up witht hat one. During the last labor issue that came up. I think the Pac-10 may consider moving a game to Sunday if this drags on. If Northwestern had a home game, if the big East could do it they should...I do not know if ESPN is working on this. I do not know but they are pretty smart in Bristol. The college football people are pretty sharp and the players in the NFL need to know one thing -- we can get along without them. We got along with a World Series for one season, and the NHL, but I do not want to miss games, but I would rather see them out and not teachers, lawyers, police, etc.

Hiovenni (Boise Idaho)

Do you see the idea of more money in for students being implemented or do you believe it will die as a good idea but bad for business?

Beano Cook

  (3:49 PM)

Jim Delany of the Big Ten recently discussed total cost. Players could get mney for travel, clothes and pizza. I don't think that will happen. If they give this to the athletes, and I am the mom or dad sending Johnny to that school, I would eb upset. Perhaps Delany wants only a few major conferences in college football. If he wants it like the nFL then pay the players. Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com senior writer, thinks it could happen...I don't. I am not a Delany fans but I give him credit for getting Nebraska. He should get a raise for that. Now the Big Ten is the second best conference in America but they will not catch the SEC.

Chris (EA's Dungeon)

Who's the college db you've ever seen? Woodson?

Beano Cook

  (3:51 PM)

You mean the best DB? Deion Sanders would be right up there. Charles Woodson won the Heisman and would be considered too. I would pick Sanders over Woodson. Do not tell me I am anti-Michigan as I love the helmet.

Mike (Hartford, CT)

How do you think the University of Massachusetts (UMASS) will do in their jump up to d1-fbs?

Beano Cook

  (3:52 PM)

They will put money into it. Recruiting will be the big question and how much interest will there be for the fans. I think there is the potential for them to do well.

Cornelius (Cusseta AL)

Hey Beano. Who you think will be auburn's starting quarterback this upcoming season?

Beano Cook

  (3:53 PM)

Auburn is pretty smart and I think Russell Wilson from NC Satte could be a pretty good choice if he ends up there.

Beano Cook

  (3:55 PM)

We have never had a rematch in the BCS, but Maisel thinks Florida State and Oklahoma will play two times, once in September in Tallahassee and a second time for the national title. I think Oklahoma will play Georgia but this is subject to change on the last week in Auguat. I will see you in June for the next chat.