Beano Cook

  (3:06 PM)

Good afternoon and welcome. I am looking forward for the season to start. More baseball for now...yawn.

Terrance (Noles Fan)

Will JImbo Fisher have FSU in the top five this season?

Beano Cook

  (3:08 PM)

I think going into the season, Florida State will be in the top five. Some people believe they can win the national title but there are difficult road games in the conference. They get Florida in Tallahassee and they have had the Gators' number in recent years.

Terry (Birmingham)

How much will Bama miss Trent Richardson?

Beano Cook

  (3:10 PM)

They will always miss players but they find a way to replace them. Right now Nick Saban has to worry about one thing -- Michigan in the opener. He has to go to Arkansas and the SEC is the toughest conference out there. Bama will always have quality talent because Saban can recruit and coach. They had depth last year at RB.

Harrison (New York)

Who ends up with more wins Oregon or Stanford?

Beano Cook

  (3:11 PM)

At this stage, I would predict Oregon. Stanford-Oregon is a key game out west. That will probably decide the division and I think Oregon will probably beat Stanford. Because of the tough academics, it will be difficult to be a consistent winner in Palo Alto.

Tim (Seattle)

Should baseball change the height of the mounds? With so many no-hitters, some argue for it. Could this just be pitchers catching up with hitters after being hurt by steroids, talent being spread thin, and hitter friendly ballparks? Thanks

Beano Cook

  (3:13 PM)

wrong chat. If you want my opinion, they should eliminate the mound. They should start the season in May, playoffs start in July and have the World Series in August. Then college football and the NFL take over.

Harrison (New York)

Rutgers' chances to win the Big East?

Beano Cook

  (3:14 PM)

It is possible.

Andy (Norman)

Who was the best Oklahoma coach? Wilkinson or Switzer?

Beano Cook

  (3:15 PM)

Wilkinson established the program...Switzer carried it on. Wilkinson was Oklahoma's Rockne.

va [via mobile]

How tenn vols do this year

Beano Cook

  (3:16 PM)

Derek Dooley will be on the hot seat this season. I would say he needs at least seven wins. He gets Vanderbilt and Kentucky. There are always expectations with the fans of Rocky Top.

Alex (Boston)

When will we see Boston College back in the college football spotlight?

Beano Cook

  (3:17 PM)

Don't hold your breath.

Nick (Penn State)

Do you think Bill O'Brien will get a pass in his first season given all ofthe controversy in not so Happy Valley

Beano Cook

  (3:19 PM)

Number one, the non-conference schedule is easy. Penn State plays Indiana and Northwestern at home, so they should have six games right away. If he wins two others, he will be OK. If he only wins one and ends up with seven in the regular season, there may be some criticism. Even if he wins six, this is his first season so he should get some time. The QB situation is critical.

mark (okemos mi.)

thoughts on michigan state this year.

Beano Cook

  (3:21 PM)

Mark D'Antonio is a very good coach but they have a new QB replacing Kirk Cousins. Right now they are an early field goal favorite against Notre Dame. Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska should battle for the division title. It should be an interesting year in East Lansing. If I had to make a prediction, I would lean to Michigan.

Chioke Hassan (Baltimore,Md)

Dear BenoCould you see NCAA Refs ever going on strike?

Beano Cook

  (3:22 PM)

You don't have them in football, they are assigned by the conferences and not by the NCAA. Could they ever go together and strike? Maybe.

Fred (LA)

Do you think Colorado is on a downhill slide since they do not have a rival in the PAC-12 like in the Big-12?

Beano Cook

  (3:25 PM)

I just think they have trouble because the state has more good skiers than football players. That is the problem. I do not feel Colorado or Utah will win consistently in the Big 12. They will have the occasional good season in the Pac-12.

David (Chattanooga,TN)

Is this a critical year for Brian Kelly at Notre Dame?

Beano Cook

  (3:28 PM)

I think next year is the critical year. This year, the schedule is very tough. At USC, at Oklahoma. They should lose both of them. Michigan, Michigan State, Miami...not easy. That is why I think next year will be the critical one. I feel they must make a big bowl in the next two years. I will not call in BCS since they are changing the name when they get their act together.

Chris Fiegler (Latham,NY)

Who do you think will be the Best College Football team in 2012?

Beano Cook

  (3:30 PM)

Right now, I have USC and Arkansas for the national title. Ivan Maisel, my podcast buddy, has Oregon and LSU. If you are looking for a sleeper, Oklahoma is 8-1 odds and they have no conference championship game. Beat Texas and you have a good shot.

Mark (Los Angeles)

Did you like the hire of Jim Mora Jr. at UCLA and how do you think he will do this season?

Beano Cook

  (3:33 PM)

Ask me in November. UCLA puzzles me the way that Illnois does. Both of those schools should win more games than they do. It is hard to figure out. The Bruins often have good talent but lose a game or two that they should not. They would have played for a national championship but Miami had that game moved after the Hurricane. Miami got better with Edgerrin James and Cade McNown could not get it done. If he had won a national title, Bob Toledo would still be there.

Mark (Idaho)

I enjoyed you conversation last week about the biggest college upsets. Where do you think the Harvard v. Yale tie fits in? I saw the documentary film (a terrific movie by the way), and it was clear Harvard was a much weaker team yet they pulled off a shocker.

Beano Cook

  (3:35 PM)

Harvard was only a seven-point underdog and people forget the Crimson was also 8-0. It was one of the most exciting games played over the last 40 years. Brian Dowling was the QB. 29-29. But there were 16 points in a row late.

Todd (California)

Why does USC keep Nortre Dame on the schedule? It is not like they are recruiting South Bend or any other Indiana locations. Why not pick up a team from the SEC each year for the recruiting as well as competition?

Beano Cook

  (3:37 PM)

Why not? They started playing in 1927. They have played almost every year except for during the war, It is the best intersectional rivalry in college football. Rivalries in pro football come and go, in college most of them stay as long as teams don't abandon ship and jump from their conferences. Oakland vs. Pittsburgh used to be a great rivalry, same for Browns-Giants. Bears vs. Packers still is.

Don (Berkeley, CA)

Beano, I know you catch a lot of flack over Ron Powlus, but where does Michigan rival's Drew Henson rank on disappointment meter?

Beano Cook

  (3:39 PM)

Powlus did not do as well as I predicted but he ad four pretty good years, and when I made the prediction I did not know about his collarbone. The zip off the ball went off.

Maxx (Oklahoma)

Thank you for your honesty and always acknowleding Oklahoma as a true blue blood historic team. Many media members now days like to pretend they never existed . Thanks

Beano Cook

  (3:40 PM)

You are welcome.

John (Baton Rouge)

How can you justify Arkansas in the Nat'l Championship. They lost to LSU and Alabama by a combined 70 pts last year and Arkie lost major players off its sub par defense. Just curious why you think they are the team to beat in the SEC.

Beano Cook

  (3:42 PM)

I said West Virginia in 1988 and they said the same thing. The Mountaineers, under Don Nehlen played Notre Dame out in Arizona for the national title and people said the same thing. Arkansas gets Alabama and LSU at home this year and I like Wilson at QB.

Mark (Tennessee)

What did you think of Lindsey Nelson as a college football broadcaster? I miss the days of Notre Dame football highlights

Beano Cook

  (3:44 PM)

I thought he was one of the best. It seems to me that southerners makes the best football announcers.

Marcus (Ames)

I was at the Iowa State-OKlahoma State game last season. Lookinbg back, was that the game with the most dramatic twist on the BCS last season?

Beano Cook

  (3:45 PM)

You could pick that game, absolutely. If Oklahoma State had won that, they probably would have played lSU for the national title. That is a good observation.

Travis (Philadelphia)

Hi Beano...It seems over the past 15 years there has been one team that has dominated over the rest of college football (like a dynasty in the NFL).... Miami of the late 90's/Early 2000's..... USC of the Pete Carroll era.... to now with 'Bama... who do you see as the next "dynasty team" emerging in the next couple of years?

Beano Cook

  (3:47 PM)

I really do not know. The usual suspects will be around. Alabama, as long as Nick Saban is the coachm should be a dominant team and I believe he will be there for at least five more years there.

Don (Chicago)

What kind of season can we expect in South Bend this year?

Beano Cook

  (3:48 PM)

The over/under is 8 1/2 wins as of now and that is a tough pick. Kelly has to win at least eight games in my opinion. With Oklahoma, USC, Miami, Michigan and Michigan State, they have to win at least two of those.

Kyle (Carmel, IN)

The inaugural B1G Championship game in Indy was a success. Any chance Indy gets its own bowl anytime soon?

Beano Cook

  (3:50 PM)

I think Indy will be in the running to get the national championship gake when and if cities are allowed to bid. The BCS will go away and cities will have a chance like the Super Bowl. That should be very exciting.

Brandon (Las Vegas)

10 wins for Ohio State. Over/Under?

Beano Cook

  (3:53 PM)

I do not think the Buckeyes will win 10 this season. Urban Meyer could surprise me and it could happen, but in my opinion right now, I would say no.

Tony (Richmond, CA)

If Marcus Dupree stayed healthy, in shape, and remained at Oklahoma. Would he have won the multiple Heismans you predicted for Powlus? And at least gone down as one of the greatest running backs in CFB history.

Beano Cook

  (3:54 PM)

I was not making those predictions then.

Matt (Indianapolis)

During the best years of the Joe Tiller era it seemed like Purdue had the potential to take the leap into consistent Top 25 territory. Now it seems like they are destined to be stuck in a rut where 7 wins is a great year. What can happen to bring back hope? (Pun intended)

Beano Cook

  (3:56 PM)

It is tough to win at Purdue...They same in a tough division and they wil not beat Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska on a consistent basis. You ahve to root for an occasional big year.

pk (boston)

BC - spurrier is feeling good about the cocks -what is your prediction?

Beano Cook

  (3:57 PM)

South Carolina, under Spurrier, is a threat. The big game in the division will be against Georgia and it is a little later this year.Thanks for joining us. The next summer chat will be July 25th at 3 pm ET...see you then.