Fall camps are under way and the regular season will be here soon so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time and author is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#6 West Virginia Mountaineers 11-1 SU; 9-2 ATS

Fargos Take The Mountaineers were picked to finish in the middle of the pack last season in the Big East but surprised many by losing just once and winning in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. Expectations are now at an all-time high and West Virginia has the talent, experience and depth to make a serious run at the National Championship. The offense is highlighted by sophomore sensations Pat White at quarterback and Steve Slaton at tailback, neither of whom were even starters at the beginning of last season. The defense was overshadowed by the potent rushing attack and it should not have been. The Mountaineers finished 15th in total defense and 13th in scoring defense and while some holes need to be plugged, the unit should once again be a huge force. West Virginia had just eight returning starters last year so with 13 coming back this year, who knows what can happen. The only hurdle standing out at this point is a trip to Louisville in what could be one of the top games of the season.

Returning Starters on Offense 8 White and Slaton formed one of the best rushing combos in the country as they combined for 2,080 yards on the ground for the 4th most potent running game in the nation. The passing game was pretty much non-existent but who cares? The Mountaineers were 115th in passing offense but that should improve as White has a year under his belt in the offense and he has four talented receivers to get the ball to. Every player who caught a pass from White is back so the continuity will be a big asset. The offensive line was the unsung hero and with three starters coming back including All-American candidate Dan Mozes at center, they wont miss a beat. The only glaring weakness is that the sophomores outnumber the seniors but it obviously didnt matter last season when they were freshmen. Barring injuries, we can expect to see the Mountaineers near the top of the rankings in rushing offense yet again.

Returning Starters on Defense 5 The defense was stout last season but not many people seemed to notice. West Virginia allowed fewer than 20 points in nine of its 12 games, the only exceptions being against Virginia Tech, a three-overtime game against Louisville and Georgia where the defense became lax after a 28-0 lead. The 3-3-5 defense took the biggest hit at secondary as four starters need to be replaced but three juniors are plugging three of those spots while redshirt freshman Quinton Andrews is expected to be a star at free safety. The front six brings back four players led by Weakside linebacker Boo McLee and tackle Keilen Dykes, both preseason All-Big East candidates. Nose tackle Craig Wilson will keep the rushing defense stout while Jay Henry will have a big year at middle linebacker. 10 of the starting 11 are either juniors or seniors so experience will play a big role in the repeated success of the stop unit.

Schedule The Mountaineers can run the table in the weak Big East, similar to the situation Louisville has. The non-conference schedule features five games with three at home and two on the road. The home games are all going to be wins against Marshall, Buffalo and Maryland. The next two are on the road against East Carolina and Mississippi St. and will be more challenging but should be no problem. The Big East schedule starts out with games against Syracuse and Connecticut before the huge showdown with the Cardinals. Three of the final four games are at home with a trip to Pittsburgh being the lone road contest. The final two games are against South Florida and Rutgers and while they are pegged as wins, they certainly cannot be overlooked. Only three teams that went to bowl games last season are on the schedule.

You can bet on Its too bad that the game against the Cardinals comes as early as it does because it will easily be the top game in the Big East and one of the best in the country this season. The Mountaineers flew under the radar last season and now in the completely opposite situation, West Virginia will have a bullseye on its back. A win over the Mountaineers will make the season for most of its opposition. Flying under that radar produced a 9-2 record against the number but dont expect a repeat of that. The Mountaineers will be giving lots of points this season especially on their home field. They are just 4-9 ATS as a home favorite over the last three seasons and also 4-9 ATS against non-conference foes over that same span. West Virginia is giving over three touchdowns to Marshall in its opener and will be giving even more to Buffalo the following week. However, the Mountaineers won its final three regular season games by 32, 38 and 32 so they do know how to cover the big numbers.