It’s never too early to look ahead to what 2008 holds for college sports. Think of it like the Distant Early Warning system; those blips on the radar could be weather balloons. Or it could be Red Dawn. These 10 picks are your heads-up for the New Year.

Basketball: New Mexico and Drake. These two teams, from the two best conferences outside the six recognized majors, are a combined 22-3 SU and 18-2 ATS. New Mexico is No. 21 on the efficiency charts; Drake is No. 22. And both clubs were passed over during the preseason predictions.

Football: Florida Atlantic (Rusty Smith), USC (Mark Sanchez), Clemson (Cullen Harper) and Cincinnati (Dustin Grutza) all have quarterbacks who are on the verge of making the big leap in 2008.

Baseball: Arizona State, Michigan, Baylor and Miami. College baseball betting is virgin ground for many bettors; these four top-shelf programs are all on the rise and could dominate a quiet marketplace.