Since no one has come out with any... I will preface this by saying I'm mostly shooting from the hip. I'm not as in touch as I've been in the past.
So anyway, here's a double six-pack of predictions:
The (Labatt) Blue Race:
1. Georgetown - assuming Kaborsi makes his debut. Lukezic will be improved over his earlier race. He's had time to get some strength after the long track season. Fleet looked good early, making 3 solid guys upfront. I can't believe I just said Fleet looked good.
2. Iona - Smyth didn't look spectacular early, no word on Kiplagat, making me leery.
3. Colorado - No word on Nelson makes me leery as well. Deek hasn't be impressive, Hadracker (sp?) is doing fine. Is John Severy an 8th year now?
4. Butler - hard to argue after Griak and ND Invites
5. Air Force - very solid team
6. Cal Poly - they're good, but this isn't sunny California, it's cold, windy (forecasted over 20 mph) Indiana
The White Race presented by Schlitz (I don't know a white beer, so at least the Schlitz can is mostly white):
1. Stanford - Hall may be hurt, but adding Mendle, Heath to the guys that lined up at ND Invite will be too much
2. Notre Dame - actually beat Stanford at the ND Invite if you score it as a dual.. meaning they need to improve at the 5 spot.
3. BYU - If Nate Robison gets to form, they're very good. I'll take Rohat for the win as well
4. Michigan - unless Willis runs, then they pass BYU
5. NC State - if Vegas took lines for XC, one of my Vegas betting rules would be never bet on NC State outside of an ACC contest
6. Florida State - and this year, the ACC may be contested. You could argue for Villanova here, but I'm not convinced Curtis and Pelerin are ready to lead a team.
By the way, have you ever had Schlitz? It tastes like uncooked bread dough. After you've been drinking it for a while, and you start to think it doesn't taste that bad, that's when you know you're Schlitzed.