re: All this Nick Marshall talk has me wondering...

Got no individual interest in this...UF didn't play AU last year or will this year...at least during regular season.

Mason was a big part of AUs offense and quite frankly Marshall is not adept at throwing. But Marshall is lightning quick and can stretch defenses or "spread" them out with his speed to the outside...very impressive speed.

AU will be in trouble if they face too many third and longs, as would most teams even with good passing attacks. I suspect their offense under Malzahn will be potent and I have them penciled in as winners of the west this year. The west is somewhat down, LSU, Bama are at least a year or two away from re establishing themselves at the top.

I firmly believe that the east will be stronger somewhat with UF & USC as front runners. Don't laugh about UF because you will see what things quite differently by October.

You don't have to possess a qb who is the mad bomber to win...in fact, just the opposite. Running the ball is all important and ditto stopping the run. AU will run well enough.