As always, the SEC has a lot of competition at the top of
each respective division. Defending BCS
and SEC Champs, Alabama have to be the favorite to win the West again. An early season trip to College Station and a
November, 9 visit from LSU are really the only two major obstacles for the ‘Tide. ‘Bama has a lot of talent coming back on both
sides of the ball and should be quick to reload where it’s needed. LSU and Texas A&M are both very interesting
in the West and I think the success of each depends on their quarterback
positions. For A&M, there is a
plethora of questions surrounding Heisman winner, Johnny Manziel. Whether he plays at all and if he does, how
he handles the pressure he’ll surly be under will be a major story line
throughout the season. As for LSU, expect
them to reload on defense, despite all the losses from last year’s squad. The question for them will be whether or not
Zach Mettenberger can improve from a very unimpressive 2012. The rest of the West will be a battle for
spots 4 through 7. There’s a lot of hype
surrounding Ole Miss but this is still a program in transition. Don’t be surprised to see either Auburn or
Arkansas come on late and turn some heads.
While the West clearly goes through Tuscaloosa, the West is
much less settled. South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida all have a legit shoot at winning the division. I like South Carolina and Georgia a little
better than Florida, mostly because of quarterback play. Jeff Driskel will have to improve significantly
for the Gator to win. Vanderbilt could
be team to keep an eye on as they seem to improve each season under James
Franklin. Missouri should be better in
year two in the SEC, while Kentucky and Tennessee are both in major program
overhauls. At the end of the season, I
think Gamecocks win the West and meet Alabama in SEC Championship.
As for player of the year?
Jadaveon Clowney is an easy pick for POY honors but I expect big things
from Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron and I think he’ll emerge from the shadow
cast by Clowney and Manziel.
West: Alabama
East: South Carolina
Winner: Alabama
Co-POY: Jadaveon Clowney, Defensive
End, South Carolina
AJ McCarron, Quarterback, Alabama
SEC Predictions
|
West
|
West
|
|
Alabama
LSU
Texas A&M
Ole Miss
Auburn
Arkansas
Mississippi State
|
South Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Vanderbilt
Missouri
Kentucky
Tennessee
|
Pac-12
At first glance, the Pac-12 looks like a two team race. Take a little deeper look, however and you’ll
see a very deep, wide-open conference.
Stanford and Oregon are the favorites and rightly so but don’t be
surprised if there are a few, well, surprises.
The Pac-12 North is one of the most competitive divisions in college
football and will be hotly contested this year.
I keep flipping back and forth between Stanford and Oregon to win the
North and finally settled on the Ducks.
I think they’ll pick up where they left off last year, despite the
change at head coach. Stanford will certainly
make it interesting and if it weren’t for a brutal schedule, I like the Huskies
as a sleeper. Oregon State will be solid
and look for them to be 7-0 headed into late October but, like the Huskies, the
Beavers schedule gets pretty messy late.
The South is a little tricky and it’s hard not to ‘well, if’. Well, if UCLA can avoid a drop-off in the
running game and a sophomore slump from their quarterback. Well, if Arizona State can finally live up to
the speculation and potential. Well, if
USC can replace the production of Matt Barkley and Robert Woods… and not tank
like they did a year ago. Feel free to
add in your own, well, if. At the end of
the day, UCLA seems like a safe pick but don’t be surprised to see ASU, USC or
Arizona slid into that spot.
Marcus Mariota is my pick for Pac-12 player of the year but
it’s going to be hotly contested. The
award will likely go to whichever team wins the conference- Mariota, Kevin
Hogan or Brett Hundley. Two names to
keep in mind are Washington’s Keith Price and ASU’s Taylor Kelly. Kelly was the conference’s most efficient
passer in 2012 and could be ready to really breakout this year. Price was one of the best passers in the
nation in 2011 and I anticipate him to bounce back from a rough 2012 and be
even better than his 2011 self. Price
could be in for a really big year.
North: Oregon
South: UCLA
Winner: Oregon
POY: Marcus Mariota, Quarterback,
Oregon
Pac-12 Predictions
|
North
|
South
|
|
Oregon
Stanford
Washington
Oregon State
Washington State
California
|
UCLA
Arizona State
USC
Arizona
Utah
Colorado
|
Big 12
The Big 12 is about as wide open as any conference in the
country this season. I think there are as many as six teams that can win this
conference including TCU, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas, Baylor and Kansas
State. I am going to have to pick the Horned Frogs to win their first Big 12
crown. The Frogs have the best defense in the conference and if quarterback
Casey Pachall can return from his year off and pick up where he left off this
should be the best team. The problem for the Frogs is a very tough schedule
with an opening date against LSU in Arlington, Texas, as well as road trips to
Norman and Stillwater in the cards. I like the way Gary Patterson prepares his
team and I think the Frogs will go at least 2-1 in three of their toughest
games.
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State also have a great chance at a
conference crown in the Big 12. If there is an easier road for any of these
teams it is Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have TCU, Oklahoma and Baylor at home.
That being said, there are still question marks at quarterback and on defense
for the Cowboys. Oklahoma also has a pretty manageable schedule but a trip to
Notre Dame and games at Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma State are going to be
tough to run through. OU also has question marks at the quarterback position
with junior Blake Bell losing the quarterback battle to redshirt freshman
Trevor Knight.
Some sleepers in the conference are both Baylor and Texas.
The Bears have the best player in the conference in running back Lache
Seastrunk and arguably the best offense. Texas needs a big year after a couple “non-Texas”
like years. The Horns are primed for a run, but like every other team in the
conference questions at quarterback could hold them up.
As for the Player of the Year I am going with Seastrunk. He
has predicted he will win the Heisman, I don’t see that at all but he should
put up some big numbers and have a great season.
Winner: TCU
POY: Lache Seastrunk, Running back,
Baylor
Big 12 Predictions
|
TCU
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma
Texas
Baylor
Kansas State
West Virginia
Texas Tech
Iowa State
Kansas
|
B1G
The Big 10 is another conference that should be a one-team
race with Ohio State as the best team in the conference. Don’t forget the
Buckeyes had some trouble with a few of the weaker teams in the conference last
season (Indiana and Purdue) and could have a few hiccups this season. I think
the Buckeyes should win the conference but there are some tough teams
throughout. Michigan is probably the second best team in the conference and if
quarterback Devin Gardner can have a great season the Wolverines could make a
run at the title. Another team to watch out for is Michigan State. Sparty has the best defense in the conference
but questions on offense should keep them from beating the Buckeyes in the
title game.
My sleepers in this conference are Northwestern and
Wisconsin. The Wildcats return 17 starts from a 10-win team last season that
includes arguably the best running back in the conference in Venric Mark. I
know Wisconsin has a new coach and loses Montee Ball but with a solid running
game and a very experienced defense the Badgers have a great chance to make
some noise.
The POY of this conference should be Ohio State quarterback
Braxton Miller for the second-consecutive year. He is the best running back
playing quarterback in the country and he should win the POY honor pretty
easily again this year. The Buckeyes schedule sets up really well for him to
start the season with some big numbers.
Leaders: Ohio State
Legends: Michigan State
Winner: Ohio State
POY: Braxton Miller, Quarterback, Ohio
State
B1G Predictions
|
Leaders
|
Legends
|
|
Ohio State
Wisconsin
*Penn State (Ineligible for postseason)
Indiana
Purdue
Illinois
|
Michigan State
Northwestern
Nebraska
Michigan
Iowa
Minnesota
|
ACC
The ACC is an intriguing conference this season. The Atlantic division is pretty clearly a
battle between Florida State and Clemson.
These two are hands down the most talented teams in their division and
expect the representative for the Atlantic division to be decided in their
October, 19 matchup at “Death Valley.”
Outside of FSU and Clemson, Maryland should be much improved from a year
ago if only from a health standpoint.
The Terps started 2012 playing well before injuries derailed their
season. You can pretty much flip a coin
for how the other four in the Atlantic will finish.
The Coastal is much less clear cut than the Atlantic, with
four legitimate teams capable of winning the division. I’ve got Miami winning the Coastal but I
certainly would be surprised to see North Carolina or Georgia Tech jump the ‘Canes. Virginia Tech will need a lot of help to
improve on last season’s mark. They
could surprise me but I’m not crazy about Logan Thomas, especially without a
running game. Pitt, Virginia and Duke
all have a lot of question marks and I don’t see any of them finishing above
.500.
The conference player of the year will likely go to the
conferences winning quarterback. I think
it’s a three way battle between Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, Miami’s Stephen Morris and
Maryland’s Stefan Diggs. FSU’s Jameis
Winston, UNC’s Bryn Renner and Clemson’s Sammy Watkins could all seek into the conversation
as well.
Costal: Miami
Atlantic: Florida State
Winner: Florida State
POY: Tajh Boyd, Quarterback, Clemson
ACC Predictions
|
Coastal
|
Atlantic
|
|
Miami
Georgia Tech
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Pitt
Virginia
Duke
|
Florida State
Clemson
Maryland
NC State
Boston College
Wake Forest
Syracuse
|
America Athletic
Conference
This conference is a one horse race and Louisville should
run through this weak conference schedule with ease. No doubt the Cardinals
have the best player in the conference in quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and he
should run away with the Player of the Year honors. Louisville’s only remote
competition in this conference could be Rutgers, but it gets the Scarlet
Knights at home and should be able to handle them. The Cardinals should be
undefeated going into their final game at Cincinnati on Dec. 5. They should get
around the Bearcats and with some luck have a chance at a National Title appearance.
Winner: Louisville
POY: Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback,
Louisville
American Athletic Conference
|
Louisville
Rutgers
Cincinnati
Central Florida
Houston
UConn
SMU
South Florida
Memphis
Temple
|
Mountain West
The Mountain West could be a pretty wide open conference
this season. Boise State and Fresno State are the most talented teams but both
have a few question marks. Boise State has to replace some key defenders and
Fresno State has to replace some big time players on offense. Don’t be
surprised if you see some surprises in this conference this season as it looks
like it could be a lot more than a two-team race. Every team has its question
marks but I would say any team in the top three of each division has a chance
to win the title.
My sleepers for this conference are San Jose State, San
Diego State and Wyoming. I know, homer pick taking the Cowboys, but quarterback
Brett Smith is one of the best players in the conference and if the Pokes can
put up some numbers on offense they could run a few teams off the field. San
Jose State and San Diego State look like they have a chance to make a run. The
Spartans are coming off a 10-win season and the Aztecs are coming of a co-MW
Championship last season.
Derek Carr should be the Player of the Year for the
second-consecutive year, but there are five other quarterbacks in the
conference including BSU’s Joe Southwick, SJSU’s David Fales, Utah State’s
Chuckie Keeton, Nevada’s Cody Jajardo and UW’s Brett Smith that could all vie
for the POY honors.
Mountain: Boise State
West: Fresno State
Winner: Boise State
POY: Derek Carr, Quarterback, Fresno
State
Mountain West Predictions
|
Mountain
|
West
|
|
Boise State
Wyoming
Utah State
Air Force
Colorado State
New Mexico
|
Fresno State
San Jose State
San Diego State
Nevada
UNLV
Hawai’i
|
MAC
The ‘Week night’ conference should again be a very entertaining
conference to watch in 2013. The top of
the MAC is pretty solid led by Northern Illinois and their all-everything quarterback,
Jordan Lynch. Northern Illinois will be
the favorite to win the West and the conference but with Ball State and Toledo
in the mix, NIU is no gimmie. In the
East, there’s a three way battle between Bowling Green, Ohio and Kent State. Bowling Green returns 18 starters and had one
of the best defenses in the nation a year ago.
I see a changing of the guards and a MAC title for the Falcons.
East: Bowling Green
West: Northern Illinois
Winner: Bowling Green
POY: Jordan Lynch, Quarterback,
Northern Illinois
MAC Predictions
|
Conference USA
Few conferences were hit harder by realignment than
C-USA. Welcoming six new schools, this
conference will have a new look in 2013.
Leading the way for C-USA are Tulsa, Rice and East Carolina. Tulsa won the conference in 2012 and looks to
continue their success of the past few seasons.
They’ll have their work cut out for them with Rice in the West,
however. Rice finished last season with
five straight victories and return 19 starters from a year ago. In the East, East Carolina is my pick to win
the division but don’t sleep on Marshall.
The Herd could be a surprise team with Rakeem Cato leading the best
offense in C-USA.
East: East Carolina
West: Rice
Winner: East Carolina
POY: Rakeem Cato, Quarterback, Marshall
Conference USA Predictions
|
Sun Belt
The conference realignment bug has hit this conference
really hard but the teams left in this conference should all be competitive
with each other. The conference crown is going to come down to two teams,
Arkansas State and Louisiana-Monroe. I am going with Louisiana-Monroe because
of its strength at the quarterback position. Warhawks quarterback Kolton
Browning, my pick to share the POY award with Western Kentucky running back
Antonio Andrews, should lead them to the conference crown through a pretty good
schedule. LA-Monroe gets Western Kentucky and Arkansas State at home. If the
Warhawks don’t get too beat up in an opening matchup at Oklahoma they should be
able win the conference.
Winner: Louisiana-Monroe
CO-POY: Kolton Browning, Quarterback,
LA-Monroe
Antonio Andrews, Running Back,
Western Kentucky
Sun Belt Predictions
|
LA-Monroe
Arkansas State
Louisiana
Western Kentucky
Troy
Texas State
South Alabama
Georgia State
|
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