College Football Predictions 2011: Breaking Down the Top 10 Teams

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With the 2010 college football season in the books, there are a lot of questions about the upcoming 2011 season. One of these questions deals with the top 10 teams for next season.

Everyone wants to know who the top 10 teams are and who the favorite is to win it all. It may be a little too early to tell, but here are predictions on the top 10 teams for next year.

10. Ohio State Buckeyes

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The Buckeyes may be without their star in QB Terrelle Pryor for the first five games, but if they can escape these five games without a loss, they will be in really good shape.

Their first four games are against Akron, Toledo, Miami (FL) and Colorado. Their toughest test in these five games will be the fifth one against Michigan St. at home. If they can get through these five games, then Pryor and four other players will be back from suspension.

The Buckeyes are looking good on the offensive side of the ball, returning almost 10 starters. However, they are losing several defensive stars in DE Cameron Heyward, LBs Ross Homan and Brian Rolle and CB Chimdi Chekwa.

9. Arkansas Razorbacks

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Although the Razorbacks will be without QB Ryan Mallett, QB Tyler Wilson will be taking over, and he looks like another NFL prospect.

Wilson will have plenty of receivers to throw to, with pretty much everyone returning except for TE D.J. Williams. Top receiver Greg Childs will be back from a knee injury after missing the last five games of the season.

The Razorbacks should have no problem on offense, and they will have a good defense behind them with only three starters not returning.

8. South Carolina Gamecocks

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The Gamecocks are coming off their first ever SEC East title, although they dropped their last two games of the season.

The offense is looking pretty good with tailback Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffery returning. South Carolina will also have a good quarterback with Stephen Garcia returning, although Steve Spurrier is letting Connor Shaw battle for the position.

The Gamecocks are losing some key defensive players and have some tough road games at Georgia and Arkansas. With this said, the Gamecocks still appear to be the best team in the SEC East.

Not to mention South Carolina just got the top recruit in Jadeveon Clowney.

7. Oklahoma State Cowboys

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Oklahoma State is coming off its first 11-win season in school history. They had a record-setting offense last year with points scored (575) and total offense (6,763).

QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon look to continue this high-powered offense next season.

6. Boise State Broncos

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The Broncos have had 12 or more wins in each of the last three seasons, and they will be a BCS contender once again next season.

Although Boise State will have to replace its key receivers, it is still bringing back QB Kellen Moore and RB Doug Martin. Moore will once again lead a high-powered offense.

Look for Boise State to make a BCS run next season.

5. LSU Tigers

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Les Miles did not go to Michigan for a reason. The Tigers have been the most consistent team in the SEC for the past 10 seasons with 102 victories.

The LSU Tigers are bringing back 10 starters on offense and eight starters on defense next year. QB Jordan Jefferson will be back; however, he will be challenged by Zach Mettenberger.

LSU has a chance to be really good next year.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

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Although Alabama is losing RB Mark Ingram, WR Julio Jones, DE Marcell Dareus and some other starters, they still had 22 first-time starters last season.

A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims will battle for the quarterback position over the offseason.

This is going to be a very young but talented Crimson Tide team, and it will surprise a lot of people next season.

3. Stanford Cardinal

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Yes, Stanford lost its coach, Jim Harbaugh, to the NFL, but it returns the key ingredient in QB Andrew Luck.

Stanford is also losing 11 starters combined on both sides of the ball, but with a good coach, it will be in contention for a BCS bowl and possibly more.

2. Oregon Ducks

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QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James will be back next season. With these two players, the Ducks will have the chance to outscore any team they face.

Although the Ducks are losing some players on offense and defense, head coach Chip Kelly has installed a winning mentality at Oregon.

The high-scoring offense is going to be back, and the Ducks will be in contention for the BCS national championship once again.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

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The Sooners may be the team to beat next season. Bob Stoops has the Sooners back on track after blasting the Connecticut Huskies in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl last season.

QB Landry Jones will be back, along with a bunch of experienced players on both sides of the ball. There are not many positions that need to be filled other than running back and some defensive positions. Other than that, the Oklahoma Sooners are packed with talent.

Going into the season, the Sooners will be ranked No. 1 and will have a target on their back every time they step foot on the field.