College football predictions 2010 (Automatic BCS qualifiers)
Now that the ACC and SEC have been predicted, we move on to an overview of the rest of the NCAA Division I-A (FBS).
Big East
It will again be an interesting year in the Big East (and could be one of the last years for the Big East barring expansion). Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida are bringing in new coaches while West Virginia and Pittsburgh will be lead by stellar runningbacks.
Really, the only team that doesn't look as if it will be the least bit competitive is Syracuse (wait for basketball season Orangemen). I still have a lot of questions for Louisville, UConn, Cincy, South Florida and West Virginia.
Rutgers will be an interesting team to watch with QB Tom Savage and WR Mohammed Sanu. They will be a tough D, but I'm not sure if they have the best D in the Big East.
The top team in my opinion, is Pittsburgh. They have an All-American caliber RB in Dion Lewis, a decent passing game, and a hard-nosed defense. Questions are at QB, but Lewis can compensate for that.
Prediction: Pittsburgh
Big Ten
In short, this is still Ohio State's conference to lose. The experiment with Rich Rod at Michigan hasn't worked out, and this is a gut-check year for the Wolverines.
Schools such as Indiana, Minnesota, Perdue and Michigan State I don't see competing with the Buckeyes.
It looks like Penn State, Wisconsin and Iowa will be the Bucks main line of competition, though it will be interesting to see if Northwestern can build off its 5-3, 8-5 record last year.
I wish there was more to write, but the Big 10 has been painted Scarlet the last few years, and I don't see the trend changing. The most interesting story in the Big 10 will be how QB Terrelle Pryor progresses and if he fills out his Heisman caliber hype.
Prediction: Ohio State
Big 12
The Big 12. The only conference that can lay claim to being an equal conference with the SEC.
Start in the North. This has become the forgotten division in college football, with the South having powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma, and the rising of Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.
But the North looks to have some decent teams, but we can rule out Iowas State and Colorado in this discussion.
Kansas is bringing in new coach Turner Gil, so I expect this to be another rough year for the Jayhawks, and I expect Kansas State to also have a rough year...again.
This will be a two team division with Nebraska and Missouri. The Tigers will have the offense, while Nebraska will bring the defense. So that game October 30 could decide the division winner.
The South on the other hand is seeing a change of the guard. No more Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy. Open the door for..Robert Griffin?
Yep, Baylor's Robert Griffin. If he can stay healthy, Baylor could have a decent year.
But they won't win the division. They simply don't have the horses to hang with Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
We already have a taste of what Texas will do this year from the National Title game, but keep an eye out for Texas Tech, which is now coached by Tommy Tuberville. They are still going to run the all-out passing game of Mike Leach, but now will mix some Tuberville style defense with it.
Even with all that, I think Texas lost too much on offense, and it has opened the door for Oklahoma.
For the Big 12 title game, give me Oklahoma over Missouri.
Prediction: Oklahoma
Mountain West
Even though they aren't technically an automatic BCS school, I think the MWC's top teams could compete in the big conferences week in and week out.
BYU I don't think has the athletes, but they will be a physical, disciplined football team.
TCU lost Jerry Hughes, as well as most of their defense. Not helping is that they also lost most of their starting offense. The Frogs will be a young team this year, and it will take a year or two before TCU is having national relevance.
Utah is returning a bringing tough defense, and they will need it to bring along a freshman QB led offense. Still, the Utes have the athletes to help out the young QB Jordan Wynn.
Don't be surprised if Air Force spoils one of these teams seasons.
Prediction: Utah
Pac-10
This conference will be a dogfight. Four teams--Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford and Southern Cal--can say they have a shot to win this conference.
The Ducks should be the favorite, and will have the most explosive offense. Nate Costa takes over at QB for the suspended Jeremiah Masoli. They should have a strong running game, and a rough defense.
Oregon State brings in RS freshman Ryan Katz at QB, but he is surrounded by athletes, notably the Rodgers brothers (James and Jaquizz). The defense should be servicable.
Stanford will be led by who I believe is the best QB in the conference...Andrew Luck. Though they must replace Toby Gehardt, most of the starting rotation on defense and offense return.
Southern Cal is under Lane Kiffin now, and he looks to bring a more intense, physical mentality to the Trojans. They will have the most heralded players, and true freshmen Dillion Baxter (RB) and Kyle Prater (WR) will look to lead the Trojans on a trip back to the top of the Pac 10 with QB Matt Barkley.
From a prediction, I could see this conference going to either USC or Oregon. Keep an eye out for Washington to make some noise this year, and heavily influence the turnout of this conference. Also, the Civil War between the Ducks and Beavers will go a long way in deciding who wins this conference.
Prediction: Southern California
For the National Championship, I believe Alabama is going to play an undefeated Ohio State.
In the game, the Buckeyes will again be dominated by a superior SEC school, as Alabama walks to a second straight national title.
Big East
It will again be an interesting year in the Big East (and could be one of the last years for the Big East barring expansion). Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida are bringing in new coaches while West Virginia and Pittsburgh will be lead by stellar runningbacks.
Really, the only team that doesn't look as if it will be the least bit competitive is Syracuse (wait for basketball season Orangemen). I still have a lot of questions for Louisville, UConn, Cincy, South Florida and West Virginia.
Rutgers will be an interesting team to watch with QB Tom Savage and WR Mohammed Sanu. They will be a tough D, but I'm not sure if they have the best D in the Big East.
The top team in my opinion, is Pittsburgh. They have an All-American caliber RB in Dion Lewis, a decent passing game, and a hard-nosed defense. Questions are at QB, but Lewis can compensate for that.
Prediction: Pittsburgh
Big Ten
In short, this is still Ohio State's conference to lose. The experiment with Rich Rod at Michigan hasn't worked out, and this is a gut-check year for the Wolverines.
Schools such as Indiana, Minnesota, Perdue and Michigan State I don't see competing with the Buckeyes.
It looks like Penn State, Wisconsin and Iowa will be the Bucks main line of competition, though it will be interesting to see if Northwestern can build off its 5-3, 8-5 record last year.
I wish there was more to write, but the Big 10 has been painted Scarlet the last few years, and I don't see the trend changing. The most interesting story in the Big 10 will be how QB Terrelle Pryor progresses and if he fills out his Heisman caliber hype.
Prediction: Ohio State
Big 12
The Big 12. The only conference that can lay claim to being an equal conference with the SEC.
Start in the North. This has become the forgotten division in college football, with the South having powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma, and the rising of Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.
But the North looks to have some decent teams, but we can rule out Iowas State and Colorado in this discussion.
Kansas is bringing in new coach Turner Gil, so I expect this to be another rough year for the Jayhawks, and I expect Kansas State to also have a rough year...again.
This will be a two team division with Nebraska and Missouri. The Tigers will have the offense, while Nebraska will bring the defense. So that game October 30 could decide the division winner.
The South on the other hand is seeing a change of the guard. No more Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy. Open the door for..Robert Griffin?
Yep, Baylor's Robert Griffin. If he can stay healthy, Baylor could have a decent year.
But they won't win the division. They simply don't have the horses to hang with Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
We already have a taste of what Texas will do this year from the National Title game, but keep an eye out for Texas Tech, which is now coached by Tommy Tuberville. They are still going to run the all-out passing game of Mike Leach, but now will mix some Tuberville style defense with it.
Even with all that, I think Texas lost too much on offense, and it has opened the door for Oklahoma.
For the Big 12 title game, give me Oklahoma over Missouri.
Prediction: Oklahoma
Mountain West
Even though they aren't technically an automatic BCS school, I think the MWC's top teams could compete in the big conferences week in and week out.
BYU I don't think has the athletes, but they will be a physical, disciplined football team.
TCU lost Jerry Hughes, as well as most of their defense. Not helping is that they also lost most of their starting offense. The Frogs will be a young team this year, and it will take a year or two before TCU is having national relevance.
Utah is returning a bringing tough defense, and they will need it to bring along a freshman QB led offense. Still, the Utes have the athletes to help out the young QB Jordan Wynn.
Don't be surprised if Air Force spoils one of these teams seasons.
Prediction: Utah
Pac-10
This conference will be a dogfight. Four teams--Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford and Southern Cal--can say they have a shot to win this conference.
The Ducks should be the favorite, and will have the most explosive offense. Nate Costa takes over at QB for the suspended Jeremiah Masoli. They should have a strong running game, and a rough defense.
Oregon State brings in RS freshman Ryan Katz at QB, but he is surrounded by athletes, notably the Rodgers brothers (James and Jaquizz). The defense should be servicable.
Stanford will be led by who I believe is the best QB in the conference...Andrew Luck. Though they must replace Toby Gehardt, most of the starting rotation on defense and offense return.
Southern Cal is under Lane Kiffin now, and he looks to bring a more intense, physical mentality to the Trojans. They will have the most heralded players, and true freshmen Dillion Baxter (RB) and Kyle Prater (WR) will look to lead the Trojans on a trip back to the top of the Pac 10 with QB Matt Barkley.
From a prediction, I could see this conference going to either USC or Oregon. Keep an eye out for Washington to make some noise this year, and heavily influence the turnout of this conference. Also, the Civil War between the Ducks and Beavers will go a long way in deciding who wins this conference.
Prediction: Southern California
For the National Championship, I believe Alabama is going to play an undefeated Ohio State.
In the game, the Buckeyes will again be dominated by a superior SEC school, as Alabama walks to a second straight national title.
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