2013-2014 College Football Bowl Preview

There are some extremely interesting matchups this bowl season, the final one of the dreaded BCS era. For each game, I will give a couple brief thoughts, my predicted winner and confidence level (35 is most confident), as well as my interest level on a scale of 1-10. Clearly, some of the games hold more weight than others, but bowls are bowls. I would watch every one of them if possible. I love this time of year. Read up!

GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL – December 21, 11:00AM ESPN

Colorado State vs Washington State (-4)

Breakdown: Yes, the Cougars are bowl eligible for the first time in a decade, but they got one of the weakest matchups we could have asked for. We want Mike Leach in a bout with another riverboat gambler, but instead we get Colorado State, who lost their season opener to a terrible Colorado team. How many tickets to this game can possibly be sold in New Mexico?  This promises to be a high scoring affair, though, but only if CSU star tailback Kapri Bibbs is healthy.

Winner (Confidence): Colorado State (8)

Interest Level: 3/10

ROYAL PURPLE LAS VEGAS BOWL – December 21, 12:30PM ABC

USC (-6) vs Fresno State

Breakdown: This is a very cool matchup of Golden State teams. The Trojans have had a well documented coaching debacle throughout the season, ending with their interim coach quitting before the bowl game. How inspired will this team be? Will Marqise Lee use this favorable matchup as one final showcase for the NFL scouts? Fresno State scores in bunches, and their QB Derek Carr is right there with the elite NFL prospects as well. This game will have about a billion points scored, but I feel like the Fresno has a bit more motivation in this, missing the BCS due to one loss…in which they scored 52 points on the road.

Winner (Confidence): Fresno State (10)

Interest Level: 7.5/10

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL – December 21, 2:30PM ESPN

Buffalo (-1.5) vs San Diego State

Breakdown: Buffalo was had one of the most impressive turnarounds outside of Auburn in the nation. In 2011, they were an uncompetitive 3-9. Last year, 4-8. Now, they are 8-4 and nearly won their division. They get rewarded with…the Potato Bowl. San Diego State had a pretty good season, but it was really up-and-down. They get blown out by Eastern Illinois, beat Boise State, play close against awful New Mexico State and Hawaii. I suspect that the Aztecs, despite playing in familiar surroundings, will get blown off the blown off the ball by the Buffalo o-line and Branden Oliver will have a monster game.

Winner (Confidence): Buffalo (22)

Interest Level: 1.5/10

R&L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL – December 21, 6:00PM ESPN

Tulane (PK) vs Louisiana-Lafayette

Breakdown: I am intrigued by this game for really no other reason than we get to see in-state rivals playing in their home state. Ordinarily, when a team plays near home, the outcome of the bowl game is somewhat predetermined. Here, we get a very intriguing matchup where motivation will be the deciding factor. I think that Tulane (2-10 last year), who was clearly in the better conference, will want to show the nation that their hot start was not a fluke. It will be a nail-biter, but I got the Green Wave.

Winner (Confidence): Tulane (17)

Interest Level: 6/10

BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S BOWL – December 23, 11:00AM ESPN

Ohio vs East Carolina (-14)

Breakdown: Here, we have a couple non-AQ usual suspects battling it out in Florida. Ohio had a ton of returning talent, but they had a letdown year. East Carolina has a high-powered offense and an underrated defense that held Virginia Tech to just 15 points. I expect Shane Carden and Justin Hardy to hook up for a trio of touchdowns and roll all over that putrid Bobcat defense. If Beau Blankenship can get his act together and run the ball effectively for Ohio, however, this game could remain close.

Winner (Confidence): East Carolina (26)

Interest Level: 4/10

SHERATON HAWAII BOWL – December 24, 5:00PM ESPN

Oregon State (-3) vs Boise State

Breakdown: This game has no shortage of intrigue. We have the Beavers, who opened the year with a loss to FCS Eastern Washington, but then went on somewhat of a roll behind Biletnikoff winner Brandin Cooks and the arm of Sean Mannion. Boise State had an average year by their standards, mainly because their defense could not stop anyone. They also lost their coach, so how prepared will this team be without the best bowl game coach in the nation? They are very familiar with playing in Hawaii, but in bowl games, the stars show up. Cooks will go off like usual, but look for RBs Storm Woods and Terron Ward to put up the big numbers against that weak Boise front. This will be high scoring and close. I can’t wait to see this.

Winner (Confidence): Oregon State (14)

Interest Level: 9/10

LITTLE CAESARS BOWL – December 26, 3:00PM ESPN

Pittsburgh vs Bowling Green (-6)

Breakdown: This is a nice matchup. Bowling Green won the MAC in a shocking blowout win over Northern Illinois, but when they played BCS competition, they lost 63-30. This is not a great Pittsburgh team, but if I have learned anything watching bowl games, dominate defensive linemen take over bowls. Aaron Donald, the unbelievable DT for the Panthers, won the Outland, Bednarik, Nagurski, and Lombardi awards. He will take over this game and prevent that powerful Falcon offense from really getting going. BG also has 5^thbest scoring defense in the nation, so expect an ugly game in Detroit.

Winner (Confidence): Pittsburgh (21)

Interest Level: 7/10

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL – December 26, 6:30PM ESPN

Utah State vs Northern Illinois (-1.5)

Breakdown: Here, we have a classic matchup of strength vs strength. Northern Illinois has one of the most amazing offenses in the nation, and Utah State has one of the stingiest defenses out there. The Huskies are coming off an ugly loss in the MAC Championship Game, and Utah State nearly took down Fresno State for the MWC title. If Chuckie Keeton were healthy for Utah State, then this would be no contest. Since his injury, the Aggies have looked human, but like last year, in which they dominated their bowl game, they are just a better overall team than their opponent. This is bound to be a close game, but Utah State is playing closer to home, and Lynch already got his Heisman invite. I got the Aggies in a highly entertaining game that may well be the best of all the non-BCS games.

Winner (Confidence): Utah State (19)

Interest Level: 9/10

MILITARY BOWL – December 27, 11:30AM ESPN

Marshall (-3) vs Maryland

Breakdown: Marshall is probably the better team in this game, but Maryland is playing basically at home. The Terrapins started the season looking like a contender, but then fell off after that 63-0 loss to Florida State. Marshall finished winning 5 of their last 6, and they do have Rakeem Kato, one of the coolest QBs in the country. This is a decent matchup, but I feel like the team playing at home is going to be the deciding factor. The Marshall passing game will get slowed down a bit by the weather as well. Expect a low scoring affair.

Winner (Confidence): Maryland (5)

Interest Level: 5/10

TEXAS BOWL – December 27, 3:00PM ESPN

Syracuse vs Minnesota (-4.5)

Breakdown: Syracuse has a history of screwing up people’s seasons, but this Minnesota team is special. They are not the most talented team, but their defense is dominant. Their offense gets it done, especially since David Cobb’s emergence as their go-to tailback. The game being played in Texas is random, so there is no impact of weather or potential home crowd. The Gophers are the better team, and they will win this game.

Winner (Confidence): Minnesota (25)

Interest Level: 4.5/10

FIGHT HUNGER BOWL – December 27, 6:30PM ESPN

Washington (-3) vs BYU

Breakdown: These teams have played each other quite a bit over the years, but this matchup is different. Coach Sarkisian left for USC, so he doesn’t get to coach against his alma mater. This BYU team has a power running game, and they have hung with teams and been a much better Independent than I expected. Washington has more talent and are being coached by legendary Husky Marques Tuiasosopo for the game. Expect that offense to get going quick, and watch Bishop Sankey have one more huge game before jumping to the NFL. Watch out for Cougars QB Taysom Hill, who could very well shred the stout Husky D. This will be a fantastic game to watch in San Francisco, with the two schools being basically the same distance from the game. It is the perfect neutral site.

Winner (Confidence): Washington (4)

Interest Level: 8/10

NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL – December 28, 9:00AM ESPN

Rutgers vs Notre Dame (-15.5)

Breakdown: I am going against my rule of always picking the home state team. Rutgers is simply not a good team, and this Notre Dame squad has beaten a few of the best teams in the country. There is also a huge contingent of Irish fans in New York, so Rutgers will likely not outdraw ND in ticket sales. The Irish defense will destroy that streaky Rutgers offense and win this game comfortably.

Winner (Confidence): Notre Dame (29)

Interest Level: 4/10

BELK BOWL – December 28, 12:20PM ESPN

Cincinnati vs North Carolina (-3)

Breakdown: I have no idea what to expect from these teams. Cincinnati nearly won the AAC after losing their starting QB and losing to South Florida, one of the worst teams in the nation. North Carolina started 1-5 and finished 5-1. UNC lost their season finale to Duke, while Cincinnati lost their chance at the conference title in the last week. UNC probably has more upside, but I really have no idea what this game will look like. It is a coin flip if there ever was one.

Winner (Confidence): Cincinnati (1)

Interest Level: 3.5/10

RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL – December 28, 3:45PM ESPN

Miami vs Louisville (-3)

Breakdown: This is another case where I had to go against my home state rule. Louisville has appeared bored since they lost to UCF, but they haven’t lost since. Miami has appeared pedestrian at best since getting obliterated by Florida State. The Cardinal are simply a better team, and if Teddy Bridgewater wants to go pro, he can have a big game against this defense. I expect him to.

Winner (Confidence): Louisville (12)

Interest Level: 7/10

BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL – December 28, 7:15PM ESPN

Michigan vs Kansas State (-3.5)

Breakdown: This is a great matchup for such a lower-level bowl game. The teams appear to be mirrors of each other. The Wildcats had a commendable season after their Heisman finalist Colin Klein graduated. Michigan looked terrific early on, but then they stumbled and hit rock bottom midseason. They are coming in with some confidence after their effort against Ohio State. They are certainly more explosive than K-State. There will be no defense played in this game, but Michigan has more weapons.

Winner (Confidence): Michigan (16)

Interest Level: 7.5/10

BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL – December 30, 8:45AM ESPN

Middle Tennessee State vs Navy (-6)

Breakdown: This is just one of those games where there are very few pulls. The quarterbacks are dynamic, especially Keenan Reynolds, who set the single season QB rushing TD record. Navy just never really has great bowl games. Logan Kilgore is a fine player as well, but his senior year has been as great as we would have expected going in. Unless Reynolds goes off, this is bound to be the most forgettable bowl game of the season.

Winner (Confidence): Middle Tennessee State (7)

Interest Level: 2/10

FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL – December 30, 12:15PM ESPN

Mississippi (-3) vs Georgia Tech

Breakdown: Here, we get a cool matchup of unique offenses. Ole Miss has had a Jekyll and Hyde-type of season, but last year’s bowl game showed that they can be tough to prepare for. Georgia Tech ended the year on somewhat of a roll when Vad Lee and David Sims really started playing well. The Yellow Jackets have a better defense, so the option team will probably have more success on the ground than the straight spread team. That is only a guess, though. This is a really interesting game.

Winner (Confidence): Georgia Tech (3)

Interest Level: 7.5/10

VALERO ALAMO BOWL – December 30, 3:45PM ESPN

Texas vs Oregon (-14)

Breakdown: Here, we have two teams that do not want to be where they are at. Oregon was not pleased with the Rose Bowl…so how does the Alamo Bowl taste? DAT sucks, bro. Texas was an in-state rivalry game away from the Fiesta Bowl, but here they sit in an ugly game that they have little chance of really competing in. The only thing going for them is that they are playing in Texas. With Mack Brown on his way out, the team may be uninspired. They could get a bit of “win one for the Gipper” as a sendoff to their National Title winning coach, but I doubt it. This one could get ugly very quick, since Texas has one of the worst run defenses in the nation.

Winner (Confidence): Oregon (27)

Interest Level: 6/10

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY BOWL – December 30, 7:15PM ESPN

Texas Tech vs Arizona State (-14)

Breakdown: This is a very strange game that I cannot get a read on. I figured that the Sun Devils would beat Stanford at home for the Pac-12 title, but they got steamrolled. ASU has looked amazing at times this year, but with Marion Grice banged up, the team is more one-dimensional. Texas Tech started off hot this year before basically imploding. The team seems like it could come up with some exotic offensive game plan with all that time to prepare. I am not confident in this one. There will definitely be a bunch of points down there in San Diego.

Winner (Confidence): Arizona State (9)

Interest Level: 8/10

ADVOCARE V100 BOWL – December 31, 9:30AM ESPN

Boston College vs Arizona (-7.5)

Breakdown: In this game, we have an awesome matchup of the two best running backs in the nation. Ka’Deem Carey is electric for the Wildcats and dominated the Pac-12 for the second consecutive year. Andre Williams, obviously, had one of the elite seasons for a running back in college football history. He is the only weapon that BC has on offense, and he still rolled up over 2000 yards, most of which were in the second half of the year. Big time players show up in big games. Look for Williams to put a stamp on his historic season and lead the Eagles to victory behind a 200+ yard game.

Winner (Confidence): Boston College (13)

Interest Level: 8.5/10

HYUNDAI SUN BOWL – December 31, 11:00AM CBS

Virginia Tech vs UCLA (-7)

Breakdown: UCLA is a troubling team. When they are at their peak, they might be the best team in the country. They have been up-and-down, though. This is a favorable matchup. The Bruins might not be able to really open it up against a pretty strong Hokies defense, but they should be able to shut down Logan Thomas and company without too much trouble. Watch this game to see a whole lot of Myles Jack, one of the most versatile and exciting players in college football. He will be a Heisman frontrunner heading into next season.

Winner (Confidence): UCLA (32)

Interest Level: 7/10

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL – December 31, 1:00PM ESPN

Mississippi State (-7) vs Rice

Breakdown: Rice is coming into the game hot after taking apart a really good Marshall team for the C-USA title. Mississippi State really has not recorded a quality win. Their best win may have been the ugly Egg Bowl victory over Ole Miss. The only reason Bulldogs are favored is because they are in the SEC. Rice is a better team. They showed they can play with the big boys when they put 31 on Texas A&M to start the year.

Winner (Confidence): Rice (20)

Interest Level: 6/10

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL – December 31, 5:00PM ESPN

Duke vs Texas A&M (-12)

Breakdown: Here, we have a mismatch. We saw what Duke is really like when they play outside of the soft ACC. They are an intriguing team just because they won 10 games and that never happens. The Aggies are not coming in felling good, necessarily, after getting dismantled by Missouri. This is, in all likelihood, Johnny Manziel’s last college game. He will leave his mark. This should get out of hand pretty quick, but it will probably be entertaining.

Winner (Confidence): Texas A&M (33)

Interest Level: 5/10

TAXSLAYER.COM GATOR BOWL – JANUARY 1, 9:00AM ESPN2

Nebraska vs Georgia (-9)

Breakdown: It is always unfortunate when we get a rematch of the previous year’s bowl season. Last year, Nebraska and Georgia came in healthy, and we got a shootout. This year, both teams’ quarterbacks are out for the year and are a shell of their former selves. Georgia has more talent and is deeper, so they should not have too many problems beating the Huskers and whoever they start at QB. Ameer Abdullah will have a day for the Big Red, but it will not be nearly enough to keep up with the Bulldogs.

Winner (Confidence): Georgia (30)

Interest Level: 5/10

HEART OF DALLAS BOWL – JANUARY 1, 9:00AM ESPNU

UNLV vs North Texas (-6.5)

Breakdown: This is the biggest mismatch of the bowl season. UNLV played in a weak Mountain West and got destroyed by every good team on their schedule. They finished the season on a good note, but they are going to Texas to play a feisty team from Texas. The Mean Green have a top 10 defense and a very balanced offense. They should be able to force UNLV into passing situations, which is not good news for the Rebels. North Texas scores on defense consistently. This is an absolute no-brainer. NOTE: I always seem to miss my top confidence game, but I can’t get this one wrong...right?

Winner (Confidence): North Texas (35)

Interest Level: 4/10

CAPITAL ONE BOWL – JANUARY 1, 10:00AM ABC

Wisconsin (PK) vs South Carolina

Breakdown: I really like this matchup. I can already picture how this game is going to go. Wisconsin will outplay South Carolina in almost every way, but South Carolina will somehow have more points at the end of the game. Sound familiar? It should, if you have seen any Cocks game during the Connor Shaw era. The running game for the Badgers is seemingly unstoppable when they commit to it (which didn’t happen in their embarrassing season-ending loss to Penn State). South Carolina has a good running game of its own, led by 1000 yard rusher Mike Davis. This will likely be a very entertaining game, one of the best on New Year’s Day.

Winner (Confidence): South Carolina (28)

Interest Level: 9/10

OUTBACK BOWL – JANUARY 1, 10:00AM ESPN

Iowa vs LSU (-7.5)

Breakdown: This game has my attention for some reason. LSU was a really interesting team for most of the season. Heading into their bowl without senior QB Zach Mettenberger is troubling, but it levels the playing field with ground-and-pound Iowa. The Hawkeyes have had a solid season and a nice turnaround from last year. LSU has NFL players all over its offense, but its defense is rebuilding. If Iowa can control the clock, which it does better than almost any other team, it has a tremendous chance of winning. I just seem too much firepower for the Bayou Bengals.

Winner (Confidence): LSU (18)

Interest Level: 8/10

ROSE BOWL GAME – JANUARY 1, 2:00PM ESPN

Michigan State vs Stanford (-4.5)

Breakdown: This is the best game of the season. We have two teams that are committed to being NFL-style teams. They have stout defenses, especially the nation’s best one in Michigan State. Stanford has had a couple cases where they were not able to really control the line of scrimmage, which is what Sparty does game in and game out. I like their chances of winning, but it is so hard to predict a Cardinal loss. I really do not want to pick a side here. I just want to enjoy what will likely be the roughest and most beautiful display of pure football this season.

Winner (Confidence): Michigan State (2)

Interest Level: 10/10

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL – JANUARY 1, 5:30PM ESPN

UCF vs Baylor (-17)

Breakdown: I like this game in theory. UCF has had itself an incredible debut BCS conference season. That is without question. They also had some very close calls with some awful teams. Baylor, with the exception of a couple games late in the year, could do whatever they wanted on offense. The Bears should be able to score 60 on UCF, who doesn’t have much on the defensive side. They do have an offense of their own, but it will not be enough against a solid Baylor D. I want to watch these offenses, but this game should not be closer than 4 touchdowns.

Winner (Confidence): Baylor (31)

Interest Level: 8/10

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL – JANUARY 2, 5:30PM ESPN

Oklahoma vs Alabama (-15)

Breakdown: This is one of those games that seem so obvious that I almost picked the other way. These types of games always destroy confidence pickers. Oklahoma has almost nothing on offense. They road one player to a Bedlam victory, a game they had no business winning or even competing in. Alabama is still probably the best team in the country, but how much do they want to play in the Sugar Bowl? They have lost to Utah in a BCS game in the past in which they just didn’t show up. The Crimson Tide are superior in every way, and I just cannot seeing one of college football’s greatest champions AJ McCarron going out with a loss.

Winner (Confidence): Alabama (34)

Interest Level: 5/10

AT&T COTTON BOWL – JANUARY 3, 4:30PM FOX

Oklahoma State vs Missouri (-1)

Breakdown: I love this matchup of old Big 12 schools. Missouri got shredded in the SEC Championship game by a creative offense, and that is exactly what Oklahoma State sports. The Pokes have had their troubles with consistency all year. They have more talent than Missouri, but that really doesn’t matter in most bowls. This game is going to be an offensive shootout. I trust Mike Gundy more than Gary Pinkel, plus Missouri’s letdown of missing out on the BCS Championship Game is greater than OK State’s letdown of missing playing UCF in the Fiesta.

Winner (Confidence): Oklahoma State (24)

Interest Level: 8.5/10

DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL – JANUARY 3, 5:30PM ESPN

Clemson vs Ohio State (-3)

Breakdown: This is a game that features two teams that cannot feel too good coming in. Everyone had Clemson finally winning another Palmetto Bowl, but they got taken apart again. Ohio State has been exposed defensively each of their last two games. Urban Meyer is typically a fantastic postseason coach, though. Tajh Boyd dominated last season in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against LSU. Both teams should be well prepared and hungry…at least I hope so. I want this to be a great game.

Winner (Confidence): Ohio State (11)

Interest Level: 9/10

BBVA COMPASS BOWL – JANUARY 4, 10:00AM ESPN

Houston vs Vanderbilt (-3)

Breakdown: I do not really know what to say about this game. Houston looked decent until they played the best 3 teams in the AAC, which they lost to in consecutive weeks. Their best game was probably their close loss to either BYU or Louisville. They did stun Rice early in the year. They are capable of playing a good game, especially defensively. Vanderbilt had high hopes, and even though they won 8 games, they were not great. They did not really have any quality wins, unless you count the depleted Georgia team. The Commodores will win because they have some real talent on offense and a great coach, but I do not really need to see this game. It is bound to be pretty bad.

Winner (Confidence): Vanderbilt (23)

Interest Level: 1/10

GODADDY BOWL – JANUARY 5, 6:00PM ESPN

Arkansas State vs Ball State (-9)

Breakdown: Games like this one are hard to predict. Ball State should be the clear favorite after taking their conference, but this game is the day before the championship game. Arkansas State lost another coach to a better job, which usually plays in the favor of the team with the vacated coaching spot. I think this will be a close game, but Ball State has too much firepower offensively. The QB-RB-WR combo of Keith Wenning, Jahwan Edwards, and Willie Snead is one of the best in the nation. I expect them to probably win, but I just cannot fully trust the MAC.

Winner (Confidence): Ball State (6)

Interest Level: 4.5/10

VIZIO BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – JANUARY 6, 5:30PM ESPN

Auburn vs Florida State (-8.5)

Breakdown: Finally we arrive at the one everyone wants to see. We get to see one of the most dominant regular season teams in recent memory against a team of destiny if there ever was one. Auburn’s running game seems impossible to stop, but only if you watched the SEC Championship Game. They had to be far more balanced against Georgia the game before, a game that I still cannot believe they escaped from. The team simply has no defense either. Florida State has yet to really be tested. That is not to say they haven’t played anyone, but they just haven’t played in a close game. So, if this one is looking like a nail-biter, I am not really confident in freshman Heisman winner Jameis Winston to be able to score when he needs a score. I do trust that NFL defense, however. I expect a pretty good game with a big stop or turnover late forced by the ‘Noles. FSU takes the title 30-23.

Winner (Confidence): Florida State (15)

Interest Level: 10/10

Thoughts? Predictions? Your confidence picks? Hit me up in the comments!

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Complete 2013 College Football Preview

Football season is almost here! I care more about college football than any other sport, so even though “almost here” means that the first slate of games is in like six weeks, the Conference Media Days and fall practices are starting. I am not jumping the gun too much, after all, I predict the next year’s Oscars in March. Without further ado, check out the complete, extensive, and probably unintentionally biased college football preview!

Conference Rankings and Breakdown

After sifting through these rankings, not only will you know where your team will finish in 2013 within its conference, but you will also know where your BCS (I cannot wait until next year when that no longer exists) conference stands as a whole. This is not an exact science, obviously, since teams are coming in and out of conferences seemingly daily, and there was a stretch last year when West Virginia looked as if it would roll over the Big 12 before getting taken to the woodshed by Texas Tech and losing 6 of its last 8. We have no real basis for predicting how some of these teams will do (I am looking at you Big East American Athletic Conference!). It should be fun, though. Check it out.

American Athletic Conference (#6)

10. Memphis Tigers (HC: Justin Fuente, 2^nd season)

9. Temple Owls (HC: Matt Rhule, 1^st season)

8. Southern Methodist Mustangs (HC: June Jones, 6^th season)

7. South Florida Bulls (HC: Willie Taggert, 1^st season)

6. Connecticut Huskies (HC: Paul Pasqualoni, 3^rd season)

5. Central Florida Knights (HC: George O’Leary, 10^th season)

4. Houston Cougars (HC: Anthony Levine, 2^nd season)

3. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (HC: Kyle Flood, 2^nd season)

2. Louisville Cardinals (HC: Charlie Strong, 4^th season)

1. Cincinnati Bearcats (HC: Tommy Tuberville, 1^st season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

Defensive Player of the Year: Jamal Merrell, LB, Rutgers

Coach of the Year: Tommy Tuberville, Cincinnati

Automatic BCS Bid: Cincinnati

This conference is going to be interesting. The top three teams are very well defined at this point. It is going to probably be another split at the top, even though Rutgers lost nearly half of its starting lineup to the NFL. Cincinnati is going to get an immediate boost from new head coach Tommy Tuberville who turned Texas Tech into a formidable team in the Big 12 quickly. He is inheriting a lot of talent too. Louisville has the best coach and QB and, with some luck, could potentially run the table. The AAC has great offenses all over the place, but the few with solid defenses will rise to the top.

Atlantic Coast Conference (#5)

ATLANTIC

7. Duke Blue Devils (HC: David Cutcliffe, 6^th season)

6. Virginia Cavaliers (HC: Mike London, 4^th season)

5. Pittsburgh Panthers (HC: Paul Chryst, 2^nd season)

4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (HC: Paul Johnson, 6^th season)

3. Virginia Tech Hokies (HC: Frank Beamer, 27^th season)

2. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (HC: Al Golden, 3^rd season)

1. North Carolina Tar Heels (HC: Larry Fedora, 2^nd season)

COASTAL

7. Boston College Eagles (HC: Steve Addazio, 1^st season)

6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (HC: Jim Grobe, 13^th season)

5. North Carolina State Wolfpack (Dave Doeren, 1^st season)

4. Maryland Terrapins (HC: Randy Edsall, 3^rd season)

3. Florida State Seminoles (HC: Jimbo Fisher, 4^th season)

2. Syracuse Orange (HC: Scott Shafer, 1^st season)

1. Clemson Tigers (Dabo Swinney, 6^th season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson

Defensive Player of the Year: Lamarcus Joyner, S, Florida State

Coach of the Year: Larry Fedora, North Carolina

Conference Championship Game: Clemson over North Carolina

This conference seems to be all but over already. Clemson is the prohibitive favorite with the majority of the key components of its squad returning from last year’s bowl victory over LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl (maybe the best matchup the bowl has ever had). They are going to put up crazy offensive numbers once again led by Heisman contender Tajh Boyd. They would be a dark horse candidate for the BCS title game if they didn’t have Georgia and in-state rival South Carolina in the non-conference. Florida State is going to have a bit of a disappointing season finishing third in the Coastal division without 4-time bowl winner E.J. Manuel and with newcomer Syracuse bumping them down a spot. The other side is going to come down to who can avoid bad losses to the Dukes and Boston Colleges of the world. Miami is poised for a good year, as is returning VT quarterback Logan Thomas, but I feel like North Carolina takes the Atlantic Division fresh off of its bowl ban. They continue to get top level talent, and Fedora can really build a program. That will be an entertaining title game for sure.

Big Ten Conference (#4)

LEGENDS

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers (HC: Jerry Kill, 3^rd season)

5. Iowa Hawkeyes (HC: Kirk Ferentz: 15^th season)

4. Northwestern Wildcats (HC: Pat Fitzgerald, 8^th season)

3. Michigan State Spartans (HC: Mark Dantonio, 7^th season)

2. Michigan Wolverines (HC: Brady Hoke, 3^rd season)

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers (HC: Bo Pelini, 6^th season)

LEADERS

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (HC: Bill O’Brien, 2^nd season)

5. Illinois Fighting Illini (HC: Tim Beckman, 2^nd season)

4. Indiana Hoosiers (HC: Kevin R. Wilson, 3^rd season)

3. Purdue Boilermakers (HC: Darrell Hazell, 1^st season)

2. Wisconsin Badgers (HC: Gary Andersen, 1^st season)

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (HC: Urban Meyer, 2^nd season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State

Defensive Player of the Year: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

Coach of the Year: Urban Meyer, Ohio State

Conference Championship Game: Ohio State over Nebraska

This conference is an interesting case. We have last year’s ineligible team that made undefeated look easy and returns a host of its starters, including Heisman frontrunner Braxton Miller. Nebraska is coming off a whipping at the hands of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game after going undefeated in the Legends Division. Wisconsin had a Rose Bowl berth, but they lost their coach before the game. Michigan is poised to have a rebound year of sorts when they will not have to be handcuffed by the electric play and limited passing game of Denard Robinson. Devin Gardner looked better than Robinson in glimpses last season. Michigan State is one of those that everyone feels will drop down each year, but they just linger around and take the top teams down to the wire. Penn State is going to have a huge falloff, though. It is years 2-4 of their sanctions that will really be hard on the Nittany Lions. The lack of scholarships and hope for any of the recruits to play in a bowl game is lost. It will be tough sledding for reigning national coach of the year Bill O’Brien. Oh, and watch out for Northwestern. That team can play. They have Kain Colter and Venric Mark coming back, which may be enough to contend in a tough Legends Division.

Southeastern Conference (#3)

EAST

7. Missouri Tigers (HC: Gary Pinkel, 13^th season)

6. Vanderbilt Commodores (HC: James Franklin, 3^rd season)

5. Kentucky Wildcats (HC: Mark Stoops, 1^st season)

4. Florida Gators (HC: Will Muschamp, 3^rd season)

3. South Carolina Gamecocks (Steve Spurrier, 9^th season)

2. Tennessee Volunteers (HC: Butch Jones, 1^st season)

1. Georgia Bulldogs (HC: Mark Richt, 13^th season)

WEST

7. Mississippi State Bulldogs (HC: Dan Mullen, 5^th season)

6. Auburn Tigers (HC: Gus Malzahn, 1^st season)

5. Arkansas Razorbacks (HC: Bret Bielema, 1^st season)

4. Texas A&M Aggies (Kevin Sumlin, 2^nd season)

3. Louisiana State Tigers (HC: Les Miles, 9^th season)

2. Mississippi Rebels (HC: Hugh Freeze, 2^nd season)

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (HC: Nick Saban, 7^th season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia

Defensive Player of the Year: C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama

Coach of the Year: Butch Jones, Tennessee

Conference Championship Game: Alabama over Georgia

Everyone will cry that ranking the SEC 3^rd is ridiculous, but they are just so weak at the bottom that they cannot stand up with the two deepest conferences. In the East, we have the defending division champion Georgia with its 4-year starting QB coming back, as well as its game-breaking young running backs. They should not have too much of an issue getting back to the Conference Title Game, but Tennessee, with new head coach Butch Jones, may be the only conference loss for the Bulldogs. They get Georgia at home, but they have three tough road games, which will make it difficult for them to actually take the division. Look for a huge bounce back from the Volunteers. Florida lost way too many starters to compete this year, and South Carolina is going to be in that usual 9-10 win range and miss out on the big time bowls. On the West side, we have Alabama. That is really all there is. I cannot see them losing to the Aggies again, even though the game is in front of the 12^th Man in College Station. A&M lost a bunch of starters, and they will fall back the middle of the conference. Bielema will get the Razorbacks back, but it will take a while after the mess they have been put through the last couple seasons. LSU is always going to be around, but they just do not have the offense. Ole Miss is on the rise and will greatly improve on the 7 wins from a year ago. Once conference play gets going, their spread attack will be in full force and they will be a tough out. None of that really matters, though. The Tide will roll, maybe go undefeated this year, and almost certainly return to the National Championship Game.

Big 12 Conference (#2)

10. Kansas Jayhawks (HC: Charlie Weis, 2^nd season)

9. West Virginia Mountaineers (HC: Dana Holgorsen, 3^rd season)

8. Iowa State Cyclones (HC: Paul Rhodes, 5^th season)

7. Kansas State Wildcats (Bill Snyder, 22^nd total season)

6. Baylor Bears (HC: Art Briles, 6^th season)

5. Texas Christian Horned Frogs (HC: Gary Patterson, 13^th season)

4. Oklahoma Sooners (HC: Bob Stoops, 15^th season)

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Kliff Kingsbury, 1^st season)

2. Texas Longhorns (HC: Mack Brown, 16^th season)

1. Oklahoma State Cowboys (HC: Mike Gundy, 9^th season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor

Defensive Player of the Year: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas

Coach of the Year: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

Automatic BCS Bid: Oklahoma State

The Big 12 is the deepest conference in college football right now. Everyone except the pathetic Jayhawks is viable and bowl ready. There are legitimately 6 or 7 teams that could take the conference this year. Texas has a host of returning starters, and we have to think that the defense will be improved from last year. Texas Tech is going to continue putting up big numbers offensively with Kingsbury as head coach, adding to their sneaky good defense. Kansas State may take a step back without Colin Klein, but Snyder can coach them up better than anyone. TCU can make a run in their second year in the conference. Oklahoma is going to look totally different with Blake Bell as the full time QB. Baylor is going to be an offensive juggernaut, but I just cannot take them totally seriously until they field a competitive defense. The team that has been up there a lot recently that will wind up with the conference title is Oklahoma State. They have the important starters back, minus Joseph Randle. They are poised and well coached. Their schedule looks pretty manageable, with the only tough road games in Austin and Lubbock. No team is going to finish with less than two losses this year. The conference is way too competitive.

Pacific-12 Conference (#1)

NORTH

6. California-Berkeley Golden Bears (HC: Sonny Dykes, 1^st season)

5. Washington State Cougars (Mike Leach, 2^nd season)

4. Oregon State Beavers (HC: Mike Riley, 13^th total season)

3. Washington Huskies (HC: Steve Sarkisian, 5^th season)

2. Stanford Cardinal (HC: David Shaw, 3^rd season)

1. Oregon Ducks (HC: Mark Helfrich, 1^st season)

SOUTH

6. Colorado Buffaloes (HC: Mike MacIntyre, 1^st season)

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (HC: Todd Graham, 2^nd season)

4. Arizona Wildcats (HC: Rich Rodriguez, 2^nd season)

3. Utah Utes (HC: Kyle Whittingham, 9^th season)

2. Southern California Trojans (HC: Lane Kiffin, 4^th season)

1. California-Los Angeles Bruins (HC: Jim Mora, 2^nd season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA

Coach of the Year: Mark Helfrich, Oregon

Conference Championship Game: Oregon over UCLA

The best conference in the land is going to be a battle. I cannot see any of the teams going unbeaten in conference this year. The North is, of course, the best division in all of college football. Stanford and Oregon are arguable two of the five best teams in the nation. Oregon State is in that Michigan State mold, where everyone underestimates every single year. Washington has a senior quarterback and could make some noise with a 9 or so win season. Washington State proved last year that they can be a tough team to contend with at home. Leach’s offense promises to be much more consistent this year. California has a new coach and a lot of talent. Other than maybe the top two, the other four could finish in any order. I feel like the Ducks will wind up with the North title, with their only loss coming against UCLA at home. The South is probably going to come down to the Los Angeles schools. UCLA has a chunk of its division champion team back, most importantly Brett Hundley. USC should certainly have a better season than last year without the curse of the preseason #1 ranking. Utah is slowly climbing up the ranks as it gains more Pac-12 ready talent. The other three teams are all still breaking in new head coaches. MacIntyre is a great hire for Colorado. He turned San Jose State into a 10 win team, just two years removed from a 1-12 laughing stock. He will get Colorado back to the middle in the next couple years. The South champ is going to be UCLA, but I cannot see them beating Oregon twice in the same year. Ducks get the Rose Bowl berth.

Top 5 BCS Busters

5. Tulsa Golden Hurricane – The 11 win team from a year ago has their returning starting QB Cody Green.  Their Conference USA schedule is manageable. This is a team that definitely needs to run the table to get in the BCS, however.

                Toughest games: at Oklahoma, vs Iowa State, at Louisiana Tech

4. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – They blew everyone away last year with their high powered offense and skill position talent. While their quarterback and receiver are gone, they still have standout running back Kenneth Dixon and a very doable road to the BCS.

                Toughest games: at NC State, at Kansas, vs Tulsa

3. Boise State Broncos – They are always going to be in the running. Last year was an off year for them, when they only won 11 games. This year, their schedule shapes up nicely. Senior QB Joe Southwick seemed to really be running the offense well at the end of the year.

                Toughest games: at Washington, at Utah State, vs Nevada, at BYU, at San Diego State

2. Northern Illinois Huskies – The BCS team from last year is set to make another run this year. They will not start off the year under anyone’s radar, however. The MAC may not be as great as it was last year, either. They need to be undefeated this year, and seeing how Jordan Lynch played last year, that isn’t out of the question. Losing their head coach may hurt them a bit, though.

                Toughest games: at Iowa, at Purdue, at Kent State

1. Arkansas State Red Wolves – They may have lost standout dual threat QB Ryan Aplin and head coach Gus Malzahn, but this team was as complete as any last year. They basically dominated the Sun Belt. I expect more of the same this year.

                Toughest games: at Auburn, at Missouri, at Louisiana-Monroe

Top 5 Defenses

5. Michigan State Spartans – They lost William Gholston to the NFL, but they still return a few key starters, including elite cornerback Darqueze Dennard. They are always well coached and huge up front. Expect their defense to keep them in a bunch of games again this year, as its offense will not be up to par just yet.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish – This defense will hold most offenses to low numbers again, despite losing all everything linebacker Manti Te’o. They still have probably the most elite defensive line in the country, with Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt leading the way.

3. South Carolina Gamecocks – They have Jadaveon Clowney, which basically justifies them being on this list. He is the freakiest edge rusher I have seen in a long time. Add in a few other key returning starters from one of the better defenses last year, and you have one of the stingier potential defensive squads for 2013.

2. Stanford Cardinal – The Cardinal lost a few of their main contributors from a year ago, but David Shaw has shown an ability to replace his stars with almost no transition period. Expect Shayne Skov and company to continue the new tradition of defensive dominance by Stanford.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide – They may have lost another crop of players to the NFL, but once again, they are going to be loaded defensively. Led by likely All-American LB C.J. Mosley, this group is going to be scary good again, being as tough to move the ball on as any defense in the last few years.

Top 5 Offenses

5. Baylor Bears– We saw how well first time starter Nick Florence could do after the team lost RGIII (that is almost 45 PPG, by the way). Now they have Bryce Petty as the signal caller, who has the potential to be every bit as good as Florence. Lache Seastrunk could be a Heisman contender. Tevin Reese stretches the field as well as any Big 12 receiver. Look for some scary numbers by this offense, especially because their defense cannot stop anybody.

4. Clemson Tigers– Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins are back. They have lit up the ACC the past two seasons, and this year will be no different. I understand that DeAndre Hopkins is in the NFL and was a major component to the potency of that passing game, but Watkins is the game-breaker. Roderick McDowell should fit in nicely as a replacement for Andre Ellington. They should destroy ACC defenses.

3. Georgia Bulldogs – This could wind up being the most balanced offense in all of college football. Aaron Murray is coming into his fourth year as QB. Todd Gurley is as electric and talented as any running back in the nation. Malcolm Mitchell heads a dynamic receiving core as well. They should be able to score at will this year. Their defense is also going to be suspect, so they will put up monster numbers.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide – I could have put them number one. A.J. McCarron is more than just a game manager now. He is going to be given the keys to the offense, and he has all of the tools to be a great pocket passer. T.J. Yeldon is the next in line of the Alabama running backs who will dominate and get drafted high. Kenny Bell and Amari Cooper may be the two best receivers in the SEC. They proved against Notre Dame that they can pound even the most talented of defenses.

1. Oregon Ducks– Once again, the Ducks are probably going to be the best offense. Chip Kelly groomed Mark Helfrich to make the transition seamless, and there is no indication that it won’t be just that. Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas is a great running tandem, but Mariota can definitely throw the ball too. He is their best QB I have seen. Josh Huff is a solid wide out, while Colt Lyerla is a versatile and unguardable weapon. They should roll over almost every team they play and put up video game numbers once again.

Top 5 Coach of the Year Contenders

5. Dabo Swinney, Clemson – He is a hot commodity in the coaching world right now. Everyone seems to really like the guy, and his team is fun to watch. If he can coach his talented team to a BCS game and potentially an undefeated season, then he will be recognized in one form or another.

4. Butch Jones, Tennessee – If Jones can take that mess of a Tennessee team out of the muck and into contention for a SEC Championship Game berth, which I expect he will, then he will be up there for this award. He has followed Brian Kelly each step so far and improved on what he left him, but this time it is a rebuilding job. He can turn it around in one year. A division title will almost guarantee a spot on the Coach of the Year shortlist.

3. Mark Helfrich, Oregon – If he can get his team out the Pac-12 without a loss, then he deserves to be commended. With the investigations and bad press that the team has had, as well as losing one of the greatest offensive minds in recent memory, Helfrich would deserve to be in the conversation if he can win big and basically outshine his predecessor.

2. Nick Saban, Alabama – He is the coach of the likely National Champions. Most of the time, however, this award goes to a coach that does something truly special with a team, not necessarily the coach of the best team. He will get his votes, though, especially if he can get out of the SEC without a loss.

1. Urban Meyer, Ohio State – Like Saban, most people expect his squad to be dominant. He already showed last year that the talent was already there and that it just needed the right coach. If they go undefeated again, it would be the first time since 1994-1995 Nebraska that a team has back-to-back unbeaten seasons. He would deserve the award just for that.

Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

5. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – People may question his level of competition against the putrid Big East, but that Sugar Bowl victory against the vaunted Florida defense proved that he is the real deal.

4. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU – After Ziggy Ansah got taken so high in the 2013 draft, it is clear that Van Noy will follow suit in 2014. He was actually the best defender on the team, always making big plays and putting up crazy numbers for an outside linebacker.

3. Marqise Lee, WR, USC – He may be a bit short for the prototypical NFL receiver, but he is ridiculously talented. When he has the ball, he is electric. When he doesn’t have the ball, he is making people look silly. His hands are as good as it gets. He will be an instant impact player at the next level.

2. Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan – He has been the talk of the Big Ten in terms of linemen for a couple years now. He is every bit as talented and athletic as Jake Long, the former #1 pick. He will almost certainly be the first left tackle taken in the draft.

1. Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – He is one of the craziest athletes in the nation. He is a pure pass rusher with sub 4.45 speed. Unless a team really wants a QB, then he will be the first pick in the draft for sure.

Top 10 Heisman Contenders

10. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – With how poorly he has handled his historic Heisman win a year ago, I cannot see him winning again. However, when Tim Tebow had his win as the first sophomore, he was invited back both subsequent seasons whether he deserved it or not. People still love him and he will continue to be in the spotlight from now until December.

9. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor – He has the talent and the offense around him to put up some stupid numbers in 2013. His team will need to be a threat in the Big 12 for this to be realistic, but his numbers should speak for themselves.

8. Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – He is going to need to build on what he did last year for him to really compete for an invitation to New York. Defensive players are getting more national Heisman attention recently, so he will be on everyone’s watchlist to start the year and maybe to end the year if he can have an Ndamukong Suh-level season of dominance and big plays.

7. T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama – Once Eddie Lacy left for the NFL, he was placed on everyone’s shortlist. He will be given the platform and carries to have just as impressive of a season as invitees Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram before him. Sharing the ball with Lacy was the best thing for him. Look for him to have a ridiculous season.

6. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia – He is going to continue to be scrutinized for not being clutch until he can beat Alabama or win a BCS bowl. If he can put together an undefeated regular season, then he will be a finalist for sure. He just needs to block out all of the negative attention and just conduct what should be an unstoppable offense.

5. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska – All three seasons of his career, he has garnered early Heisman attention for his big plays and monster numbers. He is finally the unquestioned starter and proved last year that he is the most clutch quarterback in the country. He can win the Heisman if they win the Big Ten. A battle of undefeated teams in the Big Ten Title game would be the best thing for him.

4. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – He has everything going for him right now. Last year, he was a top 10 level Heisman contender. This year, with all of the weapons he has coming back and a probable Orange Bowl run in front of him, he is a frontrunner. Let’s see how he can do with expectations.

3. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He seems to have a bit of Colin Kaepernick in him, except he plays at a big school. If he has an even better and more efficient sophomore campaign, then he will be an easy Heisman finalist, since his team is likely headed for another 11-12 win regular season.

2. A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama – At some point, the conductor of one of the most impressive runs in modern college football history has got to be recognized. He is efficient, poised, and clutch. Another unbeaten season will guarantee his candidacy.

1. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – The clear frontrunner this year has to be the most dynamic quarterback in the nation. In Urban Meyer’s offense, Miller thrived last year. If he can stay healthy, then his numbers will be sick and he will run away with this vote.

Preseason Top 25

Others receiving votes: Baylor, Miami, Mississippi, Rutgers, Syracuse, TCU, USC, Washington

25. Cincinnati– Head coach Tommy Tuberville will get them there. He is left a host of talent, and they will make a run at it in the AAC.

24. Northwestern– The Wildcats have key returning starters on offense, and they have showed recently that they really have a winning pedigree. We will have to see how the team does with some real expectations in the Legends Division.

23. Oklahoma – They are always in the running and wind up disappointing. I expect the offense to go through some growing pains early on, but it could really get rolling behind power running QB Blake Bell.

22. Florida State– The Seminoles are faced with another year of high expectations, which is not good for that squad. Every year is the same hype, and every year they wind up being a pretty good but not great team with elite talent.

21. Florida – The losses on the defensive side of the ball are going to force the offense to carry the team early on, which will be a great change of pace for the defensive-minded coaching staff.

20. Louisville– This may seem a bit low for the Cardinals, but other than Teddy Bridgewater, there just is not too much pull for Louisville. They will likely have a huge year again, though. The matchup with Cincinnati in December will likely decide who gets the BCS nod.

19. Texas A&M– Johnny Football has been a media hound recently, but maybe that is just ESPN looking for a story. The team had some huge losses to the draft, but Manziel should be able to shoulder the pressure to put together another nice season and pull a couple more upsets.

18. Wisconsin – There may be a slight transition period after losing their coach and Montee Ball, but they can reload and make another run toward a Rose Bowl berth.

17. Boise State– The team has a bunch of starters coming back, and we know at worst that they will be a well coached team that will win 10 games. I don’t foresee the early offensive struggles like last year.

16. Texas Tech– This team is a dark horse in the Big 12. The offense will be potent. If the defense is solid like last year, then watch out for the Kliff Kingsbury-coached squad.

15. LSU – The Tigers are looking at another elite defense and good running game. We will see if Zach Mettenberger has grown in the offseason.

14. Texas – They have some 20 returning starters, so they have to be great. They will likely still struggle on offense since none of their QBs are great, but they will be a veteran and well coached bunch. If they do not contend this year, that could be the end of Mack Brown in Austin.

13. Oregon State– There is no real reason for them to be up this high, but there isn’t a reason they shouldn’t be either. Storm Woods and company will make the offense viable. The defense is always stingy when they are not playing Oregon. They will be a “surprise” team again.

12. Michigan – Devin Gardner could be the guy who could take the team to the Promised Land, but not quite this year. He is the next Ryan Tannehill. The rest of the team stacks up well. They will be right there contending for a division title with…

11. Nebraska – The Cornhuskers need to win this year. Martinez may well hold every relevant record in school history, but without a conference title, all of that will not mean much. They have the returning talent to do just that.

10. UCLA – The early season matchup with Nebraska will be interesting. That will be a nice barometer to measure where the team will fall in 2013. They looked like the best team in the Pac-12 at times, but they also looked very stale at times. I expect Brett Hundley to make them more of the former this year.

9. South Carolina– The team is going to be all about defense. They have a nice group of skill position players ready to step up, but they aren’t exactly Marcus Lattimore and Ace Sanders. That defensive front will keep them around the top 10 all year.

8. Oklahoma State– The Cowboys are looking at having one of the elite offenses in the nation once again. The stable of QBs has settled down to just one, Clint Chelf. He has the talent to be the best QB in the conference.

7. Notre Dame – How will Everett Goldson respond during his sophomore campaign after getting hammered in the National Championship Game? Pretty well, I suspect. Brian Kelly has never really had a great team coming back since he always upgrades. You can’t get much higher than Notre Dame. Look for another title run this year.

6. Clemson – The offense of the Tigers is going to be scary. For them to finally compete legitimately for a BCS title, they need to improve on defense. Their offense will mask a lot of their deficiencies, however.

5. Georgia – Week 1: Georgia at Clemson. Be there. It is set up to be a classic offensive show and battle to see who is a legit top 5 team and who is going to come up short once again.

4. Oregon – The Ducks will not leave the top 10 all year, unless they drop to Tennessee in the non-conference. They are reloaded and set for another National Title run.

3. Stanford – The Cardinal are going to be incredible once again. With Kevin Hogan at QB, the team was on a different level. Losing their horse Stepfan Taylor is a blow, obviously, but they have reserves. Oregon at Stanford on 11/7…should be another unforgettable matchup with a BCS Title spot potentially on the line.

2. Ohio State – After seeing how they played last year with nothing to play for, I cannot think that this year they will be any weaker. If they slip up, it will be surprising, maybe even shocking. A battle of unbeatens against Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship would be a sight to see.

1. Alabama – Surprised? I didn’t think so. They are the favorite, and they should be. However, last time they were basically a unanimous #1 in 2010, they lost 3 games in the regular season. Can you see that happening again? Nah me neither.

BCS Predictions

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State over Cincinnati

Orange Bowl: Stanford over Clemson

Rose Bowl: Oregon over Nebraska

Sugar Bowl: Georgia over Texas

BCS Championship Game: Alabama over Ohio State

So, there you have it. What do you think? Your top 25? Other rankings? Any notable snubs or overlooks? Let me know in the comments!

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