Time to talk to all of you about the best time of the year: Football season. No better time of the year then fall, getting your grills ready, cracking open a beer or a Loko, making dip, and just turning a game on every TV in your house. This is a time we can finally get away from the monotony of baseball and concentrate on America’s favorite sport. Now, with college football starting before NFL, this will be my brief prediction for the year with my preseason Heisman votes, Top 10, conference champs, and national title game. This season, like almost every other year, will be one to remember. There are so many story lines from Johnny Manziel to Tommy Rees to the Alabama Crimson Tide, Roll Tide. Now, this is only my predictions, and seeing is how it is my first year of doing this, criticize the hell out of me. Your input is the only thing that is going to help make me better. Also, a longer and more in-depth analysis and prediction is up on YouTube as “S ‘n’ P sports college preview” if you want to check it out. Also, follow us on facebook and our twitter handle @snpsports1. So, without further ado, here is my college football preview.
Heisman Hopefuls
Johnny Manziel, Sophomore, QB, Texas A&M
Tommy Rees, Senior, QB, Notre Dame
Teddy Bridgewater, Junior, QB, Louisville
Braxton Miller, Junior, QB, Ohio State
Jadeveon Clowney, Sophomore, DE, South Carolina
AJ McCarron, Senior, QB, Alabama
Marqise Lee, Junior, WR, USC
My pick for the winner is Tommy Rees. I feel if Notre Dame can claim a BCS berth and Tommy Rees is the main reason, the voters will buy into him and vote his way.
Top 10
1. Alabama
2. Notre Dame
3. Ohio State
4. Florida
5. Clemson
6. Stanford
7. TCU
8. South Carolina
9. Georgia
10. Louisville
Conference Champions
AAC: Louisville
Teddy Bridgewater is the main reason for this decision. The conference is probably the worst in college football where having a qb is everything. The additions of smu, temple, and ucf made it even easier for the Cardinals to win the conference. Their biggest test, at Rutgers, is the final game of the season.
ACC: Miami over Clemson
Miami, coming off self imposed bowl bans, brings a lot of young talent to Coral Gables. Their dual headed running game featuring Duke Johnson and Mike James will be the focal point of the offense. Clemson has Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins, which is one of the best duos this year. However, Boyd has been less than stellar in big time games; See last year against Florida State. If Logan Thomas can get out of his funk, look for Virginia Tech to make a run.
Big 10: Ohio State over Nebraska
Braxton Miller and Urban Meyer: enough said for a lack luster Big Ten. The Buckeyes went undefeated last year but were ineligible for a bowl bid. The sour taste and lack of competition should catapult them to the title game. Nebraska and Taylor Martinez should also have an easy road to the championship game if their defense can perform.
Big 12: TCU
The Horned Frogs are returning their starting qb Casey Pachall, something Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas State, West Virginia, and Baylor can’t say. That and an always strong defense should make TCU the clear favorite to win. Mack Brown is on the hot seat at Texas. He is 11-15 in conference play since the departure of Colt McCoy.
Pac 10: Stanford over UCLA
Stanford has finished in 1st in the north division for the past two years and look to do the same this year. Kevin Hogan had a completion percentage of 71 percent last year which makes it easier to move the ball. UCLA has a dual threat offense with Brett Hundley throwing for over 3700 yards and Jonathan Franklin rushing for over 1700.
SEC: Alabama over Florida
Alabama loses Eddie Lacey but returns AJ McCarron, TJ Yeldon, and coach Nick Saban. McCarron is a senior which means he has had three years to hone his skills and perfect them. Look for him to have a huge year behind center. The defense doesn’t seem to ever slow down, so I’m not worried there. Florida has a chance to overthrow the Tide if the defense performs as well as last year and if qb Jeff Driskel can improve. Texas A&M showed some skill last year mostly with the hype of “Johnny Football.” Whenever you have a qb, especially an undersized one, as your leading rusher, the season won’t turn out too well.
National Title Game
Notre Dame (12-0) over Alabama (12-1)
Notre Dame’s road to the title game goes through four spaced out games: week 2 at Michigan, week 5 against Oklahoma, week 7 against USC, and the final game at Stanford. The biggest threat, of course, is that final game in Palo Alto. If the Irish can bring an undefeated record into the finale, it could be the best game of the year. Alabama has an easy non-conference schedule featuring Chattanooga and Georgia State. They also play Virginia Tech, at Texas A&M, and LSU, plus the SEC championship game. I think the Tide slip early but still make it to the championship. Notre Dame comes out on top. Both defenses will be stout and it will come down to a grind of a game mixed with big plays. Tommy Rees can sling the ball. Having speed burners TJ Jones and George Atkinson III will give the Irish the big play edge. Also, after being embarrassed last year, the Irish have a chip on their shoulders.
Well, there is my College Football Preseason Preview. I would love to hear what you think and if you have any suggestions. Be on the lookout for more posts. Later will be my NFL predictions and in season analysis.
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