The 2012 Stock Report for Every College Football Team

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The following teams are in the order of my power rankings article where I rank the 120 FBS teams in the country for next season. The simple stock report is like anything: buy, sell or hold.

There are many teams that have caught fire towards the end of the 2011 season, and they should be excited for next season. Unfortunately, there will be teams that are struggling and will rely on a ton of youngsters in order to avoid a tough season.

With that, here is your stock report for every single team in college football moving forward to the 2012 season.

Note: There are technically 124 teams, but it is hard to put stock (UMASS, Southern Alabama, Texas San-Antonio and Texas State) since this will be their first seasons 

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Florida Atlantic Owls

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Stock: Sell

Carl Pelini could turn this team around in a few years, but FAU will struggle mightily to win more than a few games in 2012.

Idaho Vandals

Kevin Terrell/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

Robb Akey is on the hot seat, and his Vandals will attempt to avoid embarrassment next season.

UNLV Rebels

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

I would have held on to my stock with UNLV last season because I had faith in Bobby Hauck, but after a 2-10 season things do not look too good.

Tulane Green Wave

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Stock: Sell

Conference USA is a respectable conference, and Tulane has been in the basement for years. Nothing will change next season.

Akron Zips

Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

Yikes, the MAC had several high-octane offenses, but the Zips were 118th in scoring offense. Unless a miracle occurs, I do not expect Akron to come close to appearing in a bowl game.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

The Sun Belt is another conference that is slowly improving and becoming relevant. However, this is not one of those teams since it cannot score (96th in scoring offense).

New Mexico State Aggies

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

If you even had stock for New Mexico State and DeWayne Walker, I feel sad for you. The Aggies had been inching closer, and then they put together abysmal seasons like we have recently seen.

Buffalo Bulls

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Stock: Sell

Since Turner Gill left, the Bulls have gone just 3-13 in the MAC. That is not something you want to buy unless you foresee a major improvement.

ULM Warhawks

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Stock: Sell

Not only were the Warhawks demolished by TCU, Iowa and Florida State, but it set them way back. The 78th-rated offense will only get worse after losing several starters.

UAB Blazers

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

The 108th-ranked scoring offense had some major issues putting up points, and UAB was obliterated several times. Not much will change next season.

Central Michigan Chippewas

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

Central Michigan is 92nd in scoring offense, and it has a brutal non-conference schedule (Iowa, Michigan State).

New Mexico Lobos

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Stock: Sell

Bob Davie can lead this team to Mountain West relevancy in a few years, but not right now. Let the struggles continue for at least one more year will likely be the saying in Albuquerque.

Kansas Jayhawks

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Stock: Sell

Hopefully you caught a trend here, because coaches cannot take over a program that is in a terrible state of mind and expect a bowl bid—even if that means the addition of Dayne Crist, who has been disappointing thus far in his career.

Memphis Tigers

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

The Memphis Tigers enter year one of the Justin Fuente era, and nothing unexpected will occur in season one. The talent level has been severely down, and it does not help losing your only legit NFL prospect as a junior in Dontari Poe.

Troy Trojans

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Stock: Sell

I would say to hold on to the stock, but Troy is coming off an awful season. Losing by 54 points to end the season is nothing that makes you jump around screaming for improvement.

Kent State Golden Flashes

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Stock: Sell

Roosevelt Nix returning is the only real good news because the team is losing most of its 5-7 squad.

Miami (OH) RedHawks

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

Don’t even think about buying some stock when you understand who is next on the docket: Boise State, Ohio State, Missouri and Cincinnati. Those teams could give even the MAC favorites a beatdown or at least a run for their money.

UTEP Miners

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Stock: Sell

The defense loses more than a few starters, which is not good since it was only 85th in scoring defense. The offense was mediocre as well, which is not a good sign for Mike Price (likely could be gone sooner than later).

North Texas Mean Green

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Stock: Sell

They finished the season on a good note, but LSU and Kansas State could beat up this squad in 2012.

Colorado State Rams

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Stock: Sell

Jim McElwain cannot possibly put this team into a deeper hole than it found itself in this past season. Still, that does not mean it will be a factor in the Mountain West.

Indiana Hoosiers

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

If Kevin Wilson had landed Gunner Kiel, then maybe I would suggest holding on to some stock, but even if the Hoosiers start out 3-0, they will likely still fall well short of a bowl bid. Can they win a Big Ten game? If they do, then maybe their stock will not plummet as much most expect.

Kentucky Wildcats

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Stock: Sell

The SEC is better than ever with Missouri and Texas A&M, and the Wildcats are looking like the clear-cut worst team in the gauntlet known as the SEC.

Oregon State Beavers

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Stock: Sell

Mike Riley is on the hot seat and could be coaching his final season in Corvallis. Unless the Beavers can upset Wisconsin in September, the Pac-12 won’t be different in comparison to the last two seasons.

Ole Miss Rebels

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Stock: Sell

Houston Nutt is gone, and the SEC is far from disappearing. Mississippi State, Auburn, Vanderbilt, LSU, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Georgia will all be tough outs, and there is a decent chance the Rebels lose every single SEC game.

San Jose State Spartans

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Stock: Sell

Twelve starters will be gone from a 5-7 squad, and San Jose State will see some more struggles in the WAC next season.

Rice Owls

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Stock: Sell

There is a decent chance Rice plays in just its third bowl game since 1961, but I would not bank on a winning season since it would likely be left out at 6-6.

Fresno State Bulldogs

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Stock: Sell

Pat Hill is gone, and the Bulldogs are not going to improve much in one season even with Derek Carr and Robbie Rouse back.

Duke Blue Devils

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

David Cutcliffe should personally tell you to sell the stock because the Blue Devils are at the bottom of the ACC.

Boston College Eagles

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Stock: Sell

Frank Spaziani will likely be fired if he cannot find a way to get a bowl game. Have you looked at BC's schedule?

ECU Pirates

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Stock: Sell

ECU once again will have a brutal non-conference slate, and that should be what holds it back from playing in a bowl game.

Eastern Michigan Eagles

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Stock: Sell

Ron English cannot will this team to win, can he? Purdue and Michigan State are on the slate, which should both be losses for a middle-of-the-road MAC squad.

FIU Golden Panthers

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

Did you watch FIU's offense set college football back 100 years in the Beef 'O' Brady’s Bowl? If T.Y. Hilton was still an underclassman, then maybe I would buy some stock, but the rest of the offense had an easier time putting it in reverse than actually moving the ball.

Hawaii Warriors

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Stock: Sell

Point-shaving rumors are never good press, and neither is losing your star quarterback and head coach. USC may pummel the Warriors so bad that they may not be able to get up from the knockout punch in time for their new conference slate.

Ball State Cardinals

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Stock: Sell

Pete Lembo has been impressive thus far in the MAC, but I am not looking for a ton of improvement yet.

UConn Huskies

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Stock: Sell

The Big East has West Virginia and Louisville as the easy favorites, but the rest of the conference is going through a few phases. Connecticut is one of those teams.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

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Stock: Hold

Hey, time to finally not sell!

I would certainly hold the stock because this Gophers team has an outside chance of playing in a bowl game with a few winnable home games in conference, and it has 99 expected players back from last season.

Bowling Green Falcons

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Stock: Hold

No need to celebrate, but Bowling Green should be bowling in 2012 with a ton of starters back from a decent 2011 squad.

Syracuse Orange

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Stock: Sell

Sell while you can, because this Orange squad was more inconsistent than the New York Jets and Giants in 2011.

Western Michigan Broncos

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Stock: Hold

Alex Carder is back, but Jordan White is gone. White led the country in receptions and receiving yards on top of averages per game for both of those stats.

Navy Midshipmen

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Stock: Sell

Navy could go to a bowl game, but it has nearly a completely different backfield.

Arizona Wildcats

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Stock: Hold

In time, these Cats could be flexing their muscle in the Pac-12. This a talented conference, though that did not prove to be the case this past season with a few awful teams (Colorado, Arizona, Washington State).

Rich Rodriguez can get his guys, but it may take a few seasons. I understand I should be selling, but hold on to that stock because they will return to relevancy in the very near future.

Air Force Falcons

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Stock: Sell

Tim Jefferson and Asher Clark have carried the Falcons for the past few seasons, and without them Air Force may drop a notch or two. Plus, Boise State is in the Mountain West for one more season, and contrary to belief, it will not be much worse.

San Diego State Aztecs

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

Ronnie Hillman will likely come back for his redshirt junior season, but losing Ryan Lindley may really set this team back down to mediocrity.

UCF Knights

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Stock: Sell

The Knights should be going bowling, but I do not like the way this team is headed into 2012. George O’Leary may not be around for much longer, and that is never a good thing for recruiting.

Maryland Terrapins

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

Randy Edsall has his signal-caller back in Danny O’Brien, but what are the expectations? Maryland is coming off a brutal 2-10 season, but it should win four games in its sleep. Edsall is hearing some whispers about how long he can last, but Maryland should be able to bounce back.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Eric Francis/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

The Hilltoppers should only improve, though Bobby Rainey will be a tough one to replace. Is anybody aware who the head coach is? Willie Taggart went from 2-10 to 7-5 and has some momentum despite getting left out of the postseason.

Utah State Aggies

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Stock: Sell

Robert Turbin, Michael Williams and Kerwynn Williams were one fine trio of stars. Only Williams will be left, though, which should prevent this team from achieving what it could have this past season.

The Aggies were so unfortunate in close ballgames, but they may not be talented enough to even hang with those sorts of teams in 2012.

Army Black Knights

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Stock: Buy

Yes, our first buy will be the Black Knights because their backfield returns intact. Trent Steelman is a great option quarterback, and his backfield mate Raymond Maples should have a sensational 2012 season.

Marshall Thundering Herd

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Stock: Buy

Aaron Dobson returns, and hopefully he can have another acrobatic catch. This team has a solid defense and can spread it out offensively. Though Marshall's conference is improving, I look for another bowl bid next season.

Wyoming Cowboys

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

Brett Smith is a solid signal-caller, but the Cowboys did not look like a bowl team against Temple—they were obliterated. Though they should only improve, I am not convinced they will contend in the Mountain West.

Northern Illinois Huskies

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Stock: Sell

Whenever you have your best player graduate and you are coming off a conference championship, things do not work out as much the following season. Without Chandler Harnish, one cannot expect this offense to go bonkers again.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

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Stock: Sell

Wake Forest is coming off a bowl season and actually will have the likes of Tanner Price and Chris Givens returning. However, the ACC should finally become one of the top conferences in the country with three potential Top 10 teams (FSU, VT, Clemson). It should be noted that VT is not on the schedule, but there are a handful of games that could get ugly.

Colorado Buffaloes

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Stock: Hold

Colorado made nice improvement towards the end of the season after getting demolished early on. I was a bit shocked by the Buffaloes' victory over Utah, but they will come close to playing in a bowl game in 2012.

Nevada Wolf Pack

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Stock: Buy

Nevada should be a lock to win eight-plus games and return to a bowl game in its first year in the Mountain West.

Purdue Boilermakers

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Stock: Hold

Danny Hope has this team fighting, but the Big Ten is only improving. I think Purdue is good for another six or seven wins, but nothing more.

Washington State Cougars

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Stock: Hold

The Cougars bring in Mike Leach and have an All-American returning in Marquess Wilson. The schedule does not feature USC, which certainly helps.

South Florida Bulls

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

Do not fall for this team again, even if it beats the Packers in the season opener. B.J. Daniels could dazzle us, but he always seems to throw an awful interception or be nicked up. The Big East is Louisville’s and West Virginia’s to lose as of now.

SMU Mustangs

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Stock: Hold

June Jones has this team playing well, but I need to see how it stacks up in its bowl game against Pittsburgh before I make a bold statement.

Arkansas State Red Wolves

Note: No pictures available...Arkansas State will meet NIU in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
Mark A. Cunningham/Getty Images

Stock: Buy

Ryan Aplin is back, and he alone will give us something to watch for in 2012. The Sun Belt is loaded with offensive playmakers, and this squad can score 40 a weekend.

Tennessee Volunteers

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Stock: Sell

I am not buying this squad because it has zero luck, and Derek Dooley may need a bunch if he expects to keep his job. The Vols were once a dynamic defensive squad, but they have been missing those next-level stars.

Plus they just lost their defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox and will be scrambling for wins once again in 2012 with games coming up against NC State, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Missouri.

Northwestern Wildcats

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Stock: Hold

Pat Fitzgerald is trying to get the program's first bowl win since 1949! Kain Colter has skills, but the Big Ten is slowly starting to figure out these Cats, so hopefully their new recruiting class is a big hit.

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

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Stock: Buy

Javone Lawson and Blaine Gautier will be studs next season in the Sun Belt, and the Ragin' Cajuns will challenge for double-digit victories. 

UCLA Bruins

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Stock: Hold

Holding is the key word when a new coaching staff comes in for year one. Jim L. Mora has some solid pieces returning, and I like the future—just not immediately.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

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Stock: Sell

I really thought Tommy Tuberville was going to help this team after its shocking upset over Oklahoma, but it then fell apart. Seth Doege is a legit thrower, but Texas Tech lacks the defense to hang with the big boys.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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Stock: Hold

Greg Schiano has the majority of his studs back, but this is yet another one of those inconsistent squads.

Vanderbilt Commodores

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Stock: Buy

I am interested in what many think of Vandy because it has arguably the easiest schedule of 2012. I look for another bowl game and a winning season.

Temple Owls

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Stock: Hold

Will Bernard Pierce enter the NFL draft for sure? Most say yes, but he may only be a third-round pick, and even if he does go, I am not going all in on these Owls. They will become one of the contenders in the MAC, but they will likely fall short.

Illinois Fighting Illini

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Stock: Hold

Nathan Scheelhaase returns under newly hired Tim Beckman, but the defense will likely lose Whitney Mercilus to the NFL draft. If he returns, these Illini could be decent in the Big Ten, but I am not ready to drink the orange Kool-Aid just yet.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

I love Larry Fedora and his future in Chapel Hill, but he may struggle for the first season or so. The schedule does not do UNC any favors early on, and the defense loses all of its superstars.

Iowa State Cyclones

Brett Deering/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

I am a believer in Paul Rhoads and the Cyclones, but the expectations are going to be raised a tad. I am not sure they can become an eight- or nine-win squad right now, but they should contend for a bowl game again.

Texas A&M Aggies

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Stock: Sell

Have you seen their schedule? Dear lord, did the SEC do zero favors to Texas A&M. LSU, Florida, Arkansas, Auburn and Alabama could all be beatdowns waiting to happen.

Utah Utes

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Stock: Sell

Kyle Whittingham has done a marvelous job at Utah, but the Pac-12 got the best of it in year one. Towards the end of the season, instead of making an improvement, it looked as if the team got significantly worse.

Tulsa Golden Hurricane

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Stock: Hold

The offense is too balanced and tough to stop to completely jump off the bandwagon. Plus, Conference USA has not had its way the past few seasons, and Bill Blankenship has been impressive.

Cal Golden Bears

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Stock: Sell

Jeff Tedford had his shot against the Longhorns in the Holiday Bowl, but questionable play calls and awful execution should have you worried against an improving conference. Plus, they must go to Columbus in September, which should beat up the Bears.

Houston Cougars

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

This offense will be losing all of its playmakers, including Case Keenum, and even the defense loses a few stars. I jumped off the bandwagon before the Conference USA championship game since I figured the BCS madness would continue.

Pitt Panthers

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Stock: Hold

Todd Graham left on an awful note, and we shall see how the Panthers show up in their bowl game. Still, the majority of the offensive stars return, and I have always liked the way the defense has played with consistent pressure up front.

Ohio Bobcats

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Stock: Buy

Tyler Tettleton is a winner, and his Bobcats will only get better. Frank Solich always stays calm, cool and collected throughout ballgames.

Their MAC chances look amazing next season, and their defense should be one of the main reasons why.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

Larry Fedora is gone, and so is Austin Davis on top of a bevy of playmakers. The team led the country in non-offensive touchdowns, and most of that is credited to an defense that was balanced and relentless. Without Davis, Southern Miss may drop a tad.

Virginia Cavaliers

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Stock: Hold

Mike London had a great year in 2011, but will Virginia be able to keep it up in the improving ACC? It won so many close games, and we should still expect the Wahoos to win some of them—just not all of them.

Baylor Bears

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Stock: Sell

If RGIII decides to come back, then I will gladly eat crow and/or change my opinion. Still, it is not likely, and the Bears will not have the same magic. Look for at least four or five losses and a season that lacks electricity.

Miami (FL) Hurricanes

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Stock: Hold

I think the Canes will be good for a seven- or eight win-season, but the schedule does no favors with Notre Dame and Kansas State in the non-conference slate.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

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Stock: Hold

I would normally sell these Bulldogs, but Dan Mullen has a ton of momentum, and they should be good enough to keep winning seven or eight games every season. The only problem is that some may want nine every year.

Arizona State Sun Devils

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Stock: Hold

Todd Graham has been an offensive genius wherever he goes (though not so much at Pitt), and Brock Osweiler's return should help. I do not expect Arizona State to challenge USC, but I do see a winning season. Time will tell if Graham can get the recruits to become Pac-12 contenders in the South division with the Trojans.

Missouri Tigers

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Stock: Sell

This may be a bit shocking with the way the Tigers played in the bowl game, but I do not think they can hang with the likes of Georgia right out of the gates. The SEC is as good as it gets, and I will be shocked if they can put together an eight- or nine-win season (including bowl game).

Cincinnati Bearcats

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Stock: Sell

The Bearcats are a solid defensive squad, but at the end of the day they will not finish past third in the Big East.

Washington Huskies

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Stock: Hold

If Chris Polk enters the NFL draft, then certainly the offense will not be able to live up to its once high expectations. The Huskies have been lowered after their pitiful defensive performance in the Alamo Bowl, which they certainly will never forget.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

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Stock: Buy

Give me these 2011 WAC champions, because there is a decent chance they would become next year’s Houston Cougars if it were not for road tilts against Illinois and Virginia. At the very worst, they will crack the Top 25 at an 11-2 (counting a bowl) type of record.

Toledo Rockets

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Stock: Buy

These are my projected MAC champs, so of course I am buying, but can the secondary cover some people? They were atrocious against Air Force, and I would hope they can get by Arizona and/or Wyoming in the non-conference slate.

Stanford Cardinal

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Stock: Sell

Andrew Luck is gone, and so will be two of the best linemen in the nation. The defense may actually improve, but a new quarterback means Stanford's swagger could fall off a tad. Still, it won’t be embarrassing, though anything more than a 7-5 or 8-4 season would be dreaming.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

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Stock: Sell

The loss of Justin Blackmon will truly tell us how talented this offense is. Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith should help, but the Big 12 still has a few teams above Oklahoma State (OU, Texas, Kansas State).

Penn State Nittany Lions

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

Maybe if Matt McGloin could avoid the temptations of fighting with his own teammates, I wouldn't be so hesitant.

Most would sell like nobody’s business, but the schedule is favorable, and I doubt the offense will get any worse. In fact, I am banking on a solid improvement since some “experts” are predicting a minimum of four losses next season. The bowl game will really tell us what to expect next season.

Iowa Hawkeyes

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Stock: Buy

Give me Marcus Coker and James Vandenberg, and you may have yourselves the Big Ten dark horse to challenge for a conference championship. The defense loses a few studs in the secondary, but the depth up front will only help improve this squad in 2012.

BYU Cougars

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Stock: Buy

Jake Heaps is gone, but Riley Nelson was much more consistent in September when the two took turns. Nelson will have a solid target in Cody Hoffman returning, and Bronco Mendenhall has really turned some heads on the defensive side of the ball.

The Cougars are more physical and athletic than they have been in years. Look for another nine-plus-win season.

Louisville Cardinals

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Stock: Buy

This is my team to win the Big East, and I think Teddy Bridgewater will be one of the better stories in the country next season. He could go bananas next year in the Big East, and we know that Charlie Strong will have his defense packing an even harder punch.

NC State Wolfpack

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Stock: Buy

The Wolfpack get the Tennessee Volunteers in the Georgia Dome, and a win would springboard them with huge momentum for the ACC. They could be a Cinderella story that gives Clemson and Florida State all they can handle.

Florida Gators

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

I am not sure how I can buy some stock if the Gators go at best 9-4 counting their bowl game. They need to decide who their guy is at quarterback, and the losses of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps both hurt.

The defense should be very good again, but the schedule will test them. South Carolina and LSU both come to the “Swamp,” and the Gators better find a way to win one of those games, or else it will be another disappointing season.

Auburn Tigers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

Michael Dyer is coming back, but how much will the offense improve next season?

Also, can the defense step it up a few notches, because we know LSU, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina should all be BCS contenders, though we will likely see just two teams in the BCS. I need to see if Auburn comes out flat in its bowl game and watch the development of its quarterbacks (particularly Kiehl Frazier).

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

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Stock: Buy

Tevin Washington remains, and the schedule is looking good for an under-the-radar nine-win season.

Wisconsin Badgers

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Stock: Sell

Now that Montee Ball has decided to stay, it is time to buy them as division winners once again. They may fall short of reaching the Rose Bowl next season, but I seriously doubt they fail to record a nine or ten win year. Wisconsin expects 10 starters back on defense, which should keep it in the title hunt and a crack at returning to Pasadena for a third consecutive season.

Michigan State Spartans

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Stock: Buy

The schedule is arguably the toughest in the Big Ten, and there is a chance the Spartans lose three or four games with the losses of Kirk Cousins, Joel Foreman and B.J. Cunningham.

Things could be too tough for Sparty to reach say Pasadena, but the defense returns eight starters and I expect this squad to be among the best three or four teams in the conference once again.

West Virginia Mountaineers

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Stock: Buy

Even if they do not win the Big East, I would like to think that the Mountaineers will only improve as a team in 2012. Geno Smith just needs to avoid getting hurt early on (Florida State) and he will have a good shot at getting back to a BCS bowl.

Kansas State Wildcats

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Stock: Sell

I will gladly eat crow if the Wildcats shock us again and win double-digit games in the regular season, but I am not buying.

Collin Klein will have the majority of his players back, but the target will be on the Wildcats in 2012. Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa State can all get the best of them with the majority of their studs coming back as well. Plus, K-State stayed fairly healthy, and I know that may not occur again.

Texas Longhorns

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Stock: Buy

I am jumping on the bandwagon because Texas has speed everywhere, and the coaches have really kicked it into high gear. David Ash looks like the guy over Case McCoy, though they may still split time. Still, the Longhorns defense looks ferocious up front with so many youngsters coming back.

Boise State Broncos

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Stock: Buy

It is hard to say whether you are jumping off the bandwagon completely, but I am staying on. Even without the greatest winner in the history of the sport, Chris Petersen is the true winner, and he is not going anywhere.

If the Smurfs can get past Sparty in the opener, then we may have to look at this team as a serious contender for another BCS bid.

TCU Horned Frogs

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Stock: Buy

Casey Pachall has a shot to win the Big 12 because of how much speed and talent will be on the field. This was expected to be a rebuilding season, but TCU exceeded expectations, as it nearly ended up in the BCS.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

This is a big hunch since USC and Oklahoma will likely both be in the Top Five when the Irish face off against them on the road.

However, a 9-3 Notre Dame team could end up in the BCS if the cards fall the right way, though 10-2 would be more ideal. I am not saying the Irish have a great chance at playing in the BCS because we can only hope they will decide who their quarterback is by next season.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Eric Francis/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

I need to see this squad line up and shut down the running game of South Carolina before I buy it for next year.

Nebraska has a few recruits that could impact its season (Jordan Westerkamp) since the passing game was so miserable at times. Still, Taylor Martinez needs more explosive stars, and Rex Burkhead is not enough.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Stock: Sell

I love Marcus Lattimore and the defense, but the schedule is too daunting for me to think South Carolina will end up in the Top 10. It could get to 10 wins after the postseason, but the SEC is too grueling, and it will not be as nice in 2012 to Steve Spurrier.

Ohio State Buckeyes

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Stock: Buy

Although Ohio State cannot play in a bowl game, we have to look at where this team could finish next year in the rankings and in the Big Ten. With eight home games, it should be a lock for nine wins.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Stock: Hold

Knile Davis is expected to be ready for the opener, but we need to make sure he has no setbacks in spring ball, and we can only hope that the Arkansas defense can stop the run better than it did this past season in elite games.

Alabama Crimson Tide

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Stock: Hold

We need to know which exact players leave early or come back for their senior seasons. If everybody and their mothers leave for the NFL, then an early loss to Michigan could knock this team backwards similar to 2010.

Virginia Tech Hokies

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Stock: Buy

This, of course, is assuming that David Wilson is back for his senior season. The Hokies have had a ton of backs leave early, and hopefully that trend does not continue for Frank Beamer.

Michigan Wolverines

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Stock: Buy

I am all over this Wolverines squad, as I have them penciled in for a trip to Pasadena against either the Trojans or Ducks. If the defense improves even the slightest, then we should bank on another double-digit-win season and another post-New Year’s bowl.

Clemson Tigers

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Stock: Buy

Can I just buy Sammy Watkins, because the kid is a flat-out nightmare to defend. His athleticism is beyond remarkable, and he is not the only explosive playmaker on this Clemson Tiger offense.

Florida State Seminoles

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Stock: Buy

I have been bitten in ugly places for several years in regards to the Seminoles, but their non-conference slate looks like cupcake city in comparison to the past two seasons. Without Oklahoma, I look for the 'Noles to stay healthy and finally challenge for that coveted BCS national championship trophy.

Oklahoma Sooners

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Stock: Buy

Permitting Landry Jones stays, I will buy the Sooners as BCS contenders representing the Big 12. Maybe that is not the boldest prediction, but they should be one of the top one-loss squads next season—that is, of course, if they even lose a game.

Georgia Bulldogs

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Stock: Buy

I tried to tell everybody that this team would catch fire in November and become a legitimate dark horse for the BCS national championship in 2012, but we do need to find out which defensive players will leave early. If both Jarvis Jones and Bacarri Rambo leave early, I would still bank on the ‘Dawgs returning to a BCS bowl.

Oregon Ducks

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Stock: Buy

Well, the Ducks have the potential to lose two games next season to the same team. Can they get by the USC Trojans if LaMichael James leaves?

Obviously, if he comes back, then I may have the audacity to change my mind again, but the Ducks should still be looking fine and dandy for an at-large bid in the BCS.

LSU Tigers

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Stock: Buy

I will drink whatever the Bayou Bengals defense is drinking since they have been flexing their muscles all season long.

The secondary reminds me of a few NFL squads that I have seen this season, and the offense will only improve if they get more consistent play out of their expected quarterback Zach Mettenberger.

Will they be able to run the gauntlet again, though? That is the biggest question.

USC Trojans

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Stock: Buy

Matt Barkley’s decision to return for his senior season put the Trojans back on the map for me, and it is because of the talent he has around him. Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and Curtis McNeal will be special to watch.

Plus, guys like Dion Bailey and T.J. McDonald makes you think this USC defense can come close to the Pete Carroll era.

Barkley said it best, though: "The 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to."

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