2011 College Football Predictions

The 2011 College Football season is now upon us and once again I have a round of predictions to post. Here are some of my predictions for the 2011 season.

ACC Atlantic Division Champion:Florida State 9-3 (6-2)
ACC Coastal Division Champion:Virginia Tech 12-0 (8-0)

Florida State has a tough road but will have a very talented team. I see them getting by Oklahoma but that Clemson game a week later is a slippery slope. I see them dropping one to Clemson but about a month later, they have to play 2 games in 5 days at home against N.C. State on October 29th and Boston College in Chestnut Hill 5 days later on a Thursday night. I feel they'll drop to B.C. and lose again to Florida on Thanksgiving weekend, before the ACC Title Game.

As for Va. Tech, they have a really easy schedule. The only challenges I see on it are the first two weeks with Appalachian State and East Carolina at Greensville. In the case of both games its breaking in a new offense that could be the issue. I think, however, that Va. Tech gets by both and cruises through the regular season unbeaten. However, I'd also look out for that mid-November Thursday night game against Georgia Tech in Atlanta that has a trap game written all over it. In my opinion though, Va. Tech goes unbeaten in the regular season but loses to a much-seasoned Florida State squad in the ACC Title Game.

ACC Champion:Florida State 10-3 (7-2)

Big XII:

I expect a 2008-esqe season with the Big XII involving a three-horse race between Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M with Baylor on the outside looking in. The Sooners may have a tough start with Tulsa but I believe they get by in that game. As mentioned earlier, they will fall to Florida State at Tallahassee. I see them getting by Missouri and Ball State but may hit trouble when they play Texas in the Red River Rivalry. The next two weeks are easy with Kansas on the road, and Texas Tech at home, but I wouldn't put the Kansas game exactly past them as it is coming off the Red River Rivalry.

I see K-State being a tough one as well in Little Manhattan. I believe the Sooners will beat A&M but Baylor is going to be a tough one in Waco. I believe they enter Bedlam 10-1 but fall to Oklahoma State in that game. As for the Cowboys, I see them getting by the first two weeks easily with Arizona being a non-threat with their lackluster defense and Louisiana-Lafeyette being an easy win. I do see them, however struggling with Tulsa and falling to Texas A&M in College Station.

In October the Cowboys have a pretty rough stretch where they play @Texas, @Missouri, and Baylor. I see them getting out of that with some bumps and bruises, however and running the table the rest of the way. Will it win them the Big XII Championship, however? Texas A&M has a great squad returning with Tannehill leading the way at Quarterback. The Aggies have a tough start against an upstart SMU squad that's riding a new kind of Pony Express.

They get a break with Idaho the next week but have to play Oklahoma State at home and Arkansas in Arlington. I believe this is the year A&M beats Arky and so they start out 4-0. Texas Tech may give them issues at Lubbock but I think they'll get by. A&M will enter November 8-0 but I believe falls to Oklahoma in Norman. The rest of the way I believe the Aggies should be fine and finish 11-1. The toughest part about this is who gets the bid?

Just like in 2008, theres a three way tie for first place. The rules for the Big XII state whoever is first in the BCS standings out of Big XII teams would get the bid. I think in that case, it would go to Texas A&M, who I believe will get in because of the "within 1 rank" rule.

Big XII Champions: Oklahoma State 11-1 (8-1), Texas A&M 11-1 (8-1), and Oklahoma 10-2 (8-1). Texas A&M gets BCS bid.

Big East:
I have West Virginia winning it this year. Pittsburgh and USF are other contenders in my opinion, but WVU regains the Big East title. The Mountaineers start it off against Marshall, which should be a win (sorry Murphy). After that they get Norfolk State before they play a difficult two weeks against Maryland and LSU. I think WVU falls to both squads to go 2-2 entering October.

October should be a rather easy month and the Mountaineers go 6-2. The final month of the year I see them going 3-1 with their sole loss being to USF in Tampa. That is enough, however to win the Big East.

Big East Champion: West Virginia 9-3 (6-1)

Big Ten Legends: Iowa 11-1 (7-1)

Big Ten Leaders: Wisconsin 11-1 (7-1)

The Hawkeyes have what can be said to be a very easy schedule. They start off with Tennessee Tech, @Iowa State, Pitt, and Louisiana-Monroe. They open Big Ten play on October 8th with Penn State in Happy Valley but that comes off a bye week against a non-existent PSU offense. Northwestern at home should be a challenge but I believe they'll get by and enter November 8-0.

To start November, they play both Michigan teams at home, which should be wins, before going to Purdue at West Lafeyette. That said, Iowa will enter the final game 11-0 before falling to Nebraska in Lincoln giving a spark to a rivalry that needed one. As for the Huskers, for clarification purposes, I have Nebraska losing two games to Wisconsin at Camp Randall and Michigan in Ann Arbor, before they upset Iowa. It won't be enough, however to win the Big Ten Legends division.

The Badgers have a manageable schedule with UNLV, Oregon State, an odd Neutral site game against Northern Illinois, and South Dakota to start before they face and beat Nebraska at home. They'll be 6-0 until they face and, in my opinion fall to Michigan State again in East Lansing. I believe they'll turn around and handle Ohio State a week later in Columbus and run the table the rest of the way. I think they could struggle against Illinois, however late in the season. In the Big Ten title game, I see Wisconsin defeating Iowa and advancing to the BCS.

Big Ten Champions: Wisconsin 12-1 (8-1)

Pac-12 North: Oregon 10-2 (8-1)

Pac-12 South: Arizona State 9-3 (7-2)

The Ducks return a strong squad amidst controversy from last season. But they don't get off to a good start. I have them falling to LSU in the opener in Arlington. After that they have a slight challenge against an adjusting Nevada team and an easy one against Missouri...State. I can see them possibly struggling against Arizona, if the Wildcats defense isn't fatigued from Stanford and Oklahoma State.

October is rather easy with the only real challenges (Cal and Arizona State) being at home. Entering November at 7-1 I see Oregon dropping one to Stanford, although I wouldn't count out Washington the week before in Seattle either. Oregon finishes off the season with USC and Oregon State which will both be wins, in my opinion. Arizona State, meanwhile has a really great shot of winning a weak Pac-12 South. They return 19 starters and have a favorable schedule.

There first big challenge will be next Friday night against Missouri, but that game will be at Sun Devil Stadium. They'll win that but fall a week later to Illinois in Champagne. They play at home the next two weeks and should take wins against USC and Oregon State to go 4-1 entering a rough stretch on the road against Utah and Oregon. I see them losing both to fall to 4-3. The rest of the way, however I see the Sun Devils running the table against a schedule consisting of Colorado, UCLA, Wazzu, Arizona, and Cal (with the latter two at home).

With that set, I see Oregon winning the rematch and taking the first ever Pac-12 Championship.

Pac-12 Champion: Oregon 11-2 (9-1)

SEC East: South Carolina 9-3 (5-3)

SEC West: Mississippi State 11-1 (7-1)

The Gamecocks won't have an easy start. They have a neutral site game in Charlotte against a prolific East Carolina offense and a road challenge against Georgia. I think they get by both, however. Navy will be a real challenge at home due to the option. If Carolina cannot figure out that Navy option attack, it can be a long day for the Gamecocks.

The next 3 games should be relatively easy at home against a rebuilding Vandy, Auburn, and Kentucky, placing them at 6-0 as they prepare for Mississippi State. I see the Gamecocks falling to Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Arkansas on a 3 game road trip that follows, before bouncing back to beat Florida, The Citadel, and Clemson to end the season. With a prolific attack and a good enough defense, the Gamecocks will win the SEC East. Mississippi State will end up being the product of a very tough SEC West. The Bulldogs will get by Memphis and should get by Auburn on the road against a rebuilding Tigers team.

After Auburn though is a very tough LSU team on a Thursday night. I think the Bulldogs will get by LSU and come into Georgia at 4-0. Georgia could give them issues but I see them getting by the Dawgs. UAB should be a breeze and I believe they'll get by Carolina at home. The Bulldogs should be 10-0 after beating Bama at home on November 12th but will fall to Arkansas on the road before closing out the SEC with a win over Ole Miss.

The Razorbacks being the only loss for MSU will have three losses of it's own against Alabama, A&M, and LSU giving the Bulldogs the division. I believe in the case of Bama that the Tide will lose to Florida coming off the Arkansas game as well. It's a shock but I see MSU vs South Carolina in the SEC Title Game. As for the result...I have the Gamecocks winning the rematch due to that returning experience coming back.

SEC Champions: South Carolina 10-3 (6-3)

BCS Busters: Boise State 12-0 and Houston 13-0

The Broncos have a tough start to the year with Georgia at the Joey Dome. After that it's a pretty easy slate of Toledo, Tulsa, Nevada, Fresno, Colorado State, but Air Force could give them trouble. UNLV should be a breeze but they have TCU on November 12th on the Blue Turf. I don't see SDSU posing much of a threat this year, nor will Wyoming and/or New Mexico. Boise will finish 12-0.

As for the Cougars, Case Keenum coming back will give them a huge lift. The schedule is rather easy with out of conference games against UCLA, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, and Georgia State. Their biggest challenges come in late-November with SMU at home and Tulsa in the final game of the year. From there I see the Cougars winning the Conference USA championship and finishing 13-0.

Notre Dame will finish 10-2

The Irish schedule is pretty favorable but their are some challenges. USF will be determined to come into South Bend and pull out the upset. Michigan in Ann Arbor will be a loss because I see the Wolverines crowd and players coming in more motivated. The Irish have a tough match against Michigan State but should get by. After that it's road games against Pitt and Purdue, which I believe they'll win both (although that Pitt game could be a trap).

October features a home stretch of Air Force, USC, and Navy. 3 difficult games to prepare for. I think its very possible that the Irish lose one of these but I don't believe they will. In November they go on an ACC tour with Wake, Maryland, and Boston College. I see them coming out with a 3-0 record to be 10-1 entering the Stanford game in Palo Alto, where they will lose to the Cardinal in a close one.

BCS Rankings:

1.Wisconsin 12-1
2.Boise State 12-0
3.Oklahoma State 11-1
4.Texas A&M 11-1
5.Houston 13-0
6.Virginia Tech 12-1
7.Oregon 11-2
8.Stanford 10-2
9.Florida State 10-3
10.Oklahoma 10-2
11.Alabama 10-2
12.LSU 10-2

BCS Bowl Games:

BCS National Title Game: Boise State over Wisconsin

With Wiscy at 1 and Boise at 2, I see both facing off for the National Championship. Behind a tough defense and good QB play from Kellen Moore, the Broncos win the BCS National Title, becoming the first mid-major in 27 years to do so.

Rose Bowl:Oregon over Oklahoma State

With the loss of the Wisconsin Badgers, the Rose Bowl will get the 1st pick. I see them taking Oklahoma State because of their high BCS ranking and Big XII's history with the Rose Bowl. Chip Kelly and Company earn their first BCS Bowl win over a talented Okie State team in a shootout.

Fiesta Bowl:Stanford over Texas A&M

The Fiesta Bowl gets the first pick of the bowls after the Rose makes their selection. They pick an at-large Stanford squad, who behind Andrew Luck defeats Texas A&M.

Sugar Bowl: Houston over South Carolina

The Cougars after surviving a daunting C-USA schedule plays South Carolina in the Sugar Bowl and defeats the Gamecocks in a close offensive battle.

Orange Bowl:Florida State over West Virginia

The Orange Bowl takes WVU with the last pick. The Noles and the Mountaineers battle it out but FSU's defense overwhelms Geno Davis and company as the Seminoles prevail.

Heisman Trophy Winner: Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M

Behind great QB play and a 11-1 season, Tannehill wins the Heisman for the Aggies.

Misc Predictions:

Michigan will beat Ohio State:

I'm calling it right here, right now. Brady Hoke's going to have this team playing well and I wouldn't be surprised if they could sneak up on a lot of teams in the Big Ten. With Ohio State facing issues left and right, and a home game in Ann Arbor, Michigan will beat Ohio State in 2011.

Penn State will finish 4-8:

The Nittany Lion offense, in my opinion isn't what it used to be and it'll show this year in the Big Ten. Aside from Bama, they have an easy OOC slate, which should give them 3 wins. In conference, I see them only gaining one win against Purdue at home. Indiana has a real shot of beating them in Hoosierville, Iowa's defense will play up and their offense should get them by in Happy Valley.

5 straight games against @Northwestern, Illinois, Nebraska, @Ohio State, and @Wisconsin could spell doom for the Nittany Lions. Each team has a prolific offense and a defense that can shut down PSU.

The Mountain West will earn an autobid:

With Boise State running the table again and the Mountain West placing in all the right categories, I see the Mountain West being granted a BCS bid at the end of this season.

Florida will bounce back:

The Gators struggled mightily last year but with Charlie Weis' offensive attack and Will Muschamp's defense, I see the Gators winning 9 games and contending for the SEC East. A possible darkhorse in the SEC.

Unlikely Teams to Watch:
Baylor
Illinois
Northwestern

With that said, here is the first y25. A quick note, the previous National Champion begins the year Number 1 each season.

1.Auburn (SEC)
2.Oklahoma (Big XII)
3.Alabama (SEC)
4.Oregon (Pac-12)
5.LSU (SEC)
6.Florida State (ACC)
7.Boise State (Mountain West)
8.Stanford (Pac-12)
9.Texas A&M (Big XII)
10.Oklahoma State (Big XII)
11.Wisconsin (Big Ten)
12.Nebraska (Big Ten)
13.South Carolina (SEC)
14.Virginia Tech (ACC)
15.Arkansas (SEC)
16.TCU (Mountain West)
17.Notre Dame
18.Ohio State (Big Ten)
19.Michigan State (Big Ten)
20.Mississippi State (SEC)
21.Georgia (SEC)
22.Missouri (Big XII)
23.Florida (SEC)
24.Texas (Big XII)
25.West Virginia (Big East)

Well that is all for now. Enjoy this season.