College Football Predictions: Oklahoma and the 10 Best Offenses in 2011

In recent years college football fans have had the privilege of watching some high octane offenses.  2011 should provide more of the same.

With so many talented offensive players back at school fans across the country are optimistic about the possibilities that lie ahead.

Here is a list of the top 10 offenses going into the 2011 college football season.

10. Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas ran a pass-happy offense with quarterback Ryan Mallet at the helm last season. This year the Razorbacks will likely feature a more run-oriented attack featuring Knile Davis.

Davis finished the 2010 season strong, running for more than 100 yards in six of Arkansas’ last seven games.

New starting quarterback Tyler Wilson will be keeping defenses honest with good play-action fakes, helping Davis get the space he needs to rack up big yards.

The Razorbacks also feature talented receivers that are skilled down field blockers in addition to being good pass catchers.

9. Houston Cougars

Although he may not be a household name Houston's Case Keenum is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Last season he went down in the third week of the season with a torn ACL against UCLA.

Luckily for Keenum he was granted a rare sixth season of eligibility and will look to make up for the lost 2010 season.  Assuming he stays healthy this season Keenum should own just about every passing record at Houston.

Without Keenum last season Houston still ranked in the top ten in the country in passing thanks to their spread attack.

8. USC Trojans

Year in and year out the USC Trojans have one of the top recruiting classes in the country.  Last season quarterback Matt Barkley started to show signs of why he was so highly touted coming out of high school, and with another offseason under his belt, the sky is the limit for the junior. 

To help him out, USC has arguably the best receiving corps in the nation, which is made up almost exclusively of 5-star recruits.  The Trojans are also very deep at running back and will likely feature four different guys each game. 

USC will likely spread the field with receivers and run more single back sets to feature their best athletes.

The only thing holding USC back is the defense, which is extremely young.  If the defense can come up with the stops it needs at critical points, the Trojans should win the Pac-12 South.

7. South Carolina Gamecocks

Last season South Carolina was able to win the SEC East for the first time under Steve Spurier and Stephen Garcia was a big reason why. Garcia is one of the best quarterbacks in South Carolina history ranking in the top five in most of the school’s all-time passing statistics.

Sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore will be back after a stellar freshman campaign to help Garcia keep the Gamecocks offense balanced.

Although Garcia has had his some issues off the field this offseason but he should be the starting quarterback for the Gamecocks to open the season. Gamecock fans are hoping that Garcia and Alshon Jeffery can put up the same type of numbers as they did a season ago and win the SEC Championship.

6. West Virginia Mountaineers

Morgantown has seen their fair share of drama this offseason and for the Mountaineers opening kickoff can’t come soon enough. Quarterback Geno Smith has a lot to do with the excitement and optimism.

Smith had a strong sophomore campaign in his first year as West Virginia’s starting quarterback. Last season Smith passed for more than 2700 yards to go along with 24 touchdowns. In 2011 expect both of those numbers to go up with new head coach Dana Holgorsen in town.

Holgorsen is widely considered one of the hottest coaches in college football because of his explosive spread offense. Smith has the ideal skill set to play quarterback in the spread offense and should put up spectacular numbers during his junior season.

5. Boise State Broncos

When thinking about Boise State's offense over the past few years one word comes to mind, and that word is consistency. Quarterback Kellen Moore has been the starting quarterback at Boise State for the past three seasons during which he has throw a total of 129 touchdown passes with just 19 interceptions.

In recent years it seems that Boise State is just always good and flirts with undefeated seasons; Moore is a big reason why. The Broncos’ field general leads by example and his teammates have followed in his footsteps.

In 2011 Moore with have to find new targets to throw to with the graduation of his top two receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young. But with his accuracy, Moore should have no problem gelling with his new receivers and keeping the offense rolling.

4. Oklahoma State

For much of the 2010 season Oklahoma State was in the hunt for a Big 12 Championship and the same should be true this season.  A lot of the praise should go to quarterback Brandon Weeden.

As a Junior last year Weeden had a break out year in the Cowboys’ spread system passing for 4,277 yards and 34 touchdowns.

In 2011 Weeden will have to play under a new offensive coordinator with Dana Holgorsen gone but receiver Justin Blackmon should help make the transition easier. Blackmon won the Biletnikoff Award last season as a sophomore and is poised for an outstanding junior campaign.

With Oklahoma State having to transition to a slightly different offense Weeden is the perfect guy to have at the reigns. Cowboy fans are hoping that the dynamic duo of Weeden and Blackmon can score their way to a BCS bowl game this season.

3. Hawaii Warriors

Last season the Hawaii football team finished the season ranked in the top five in most offensive categories.  With quarterback Bryant Moniz back in 2011 the Warriors should be able to put up similarly explosive numbers.

Although some of his favorite targets from last season are now in the NFL Moniz and his offense should be able to produce at a similar level.  This season Hawaii will be out to prove that the 2010 team was more than just running back Alex Green and wide receiver Greg Salas.

Head coach Greg McMackin runs an offense that lets the quarterback attempt as many passes as he'd like which usually leads to high scoring games.  Warriors fans will hope that Hawaii can become a more complete team this season and not just an offensive power.

2. Oklahoma Sooners

This season the Oklahoma Sooners are many people’s favorites to win the National Championship and their offense is a big reason why.  Quarterback Landry Jones is back for his junior season and is poised to put up big numbers for the second consecutive season.

During his first year as a full time starter last season Jones passed for a whopping 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns. Oklahoma fans are extremely optimistic about their chances in 2011 because Jones is one of nine returning offensive starters from a season ago.

One of those returning starters in receiver Ryan Broyles who is arguably one of the most complete receivers in the country.  The Sooners will have a tough road to make it to the National Championship but they should be able to out score most of their opponents in 2011.

1. Oregon Ducks

Ever since head coach Chip Kelly's arrival on campus, the Oregon Ducks have had one of the highest scoring offenses in the country.  Initially, that had a lot to do with his scheme but now it is the talented players executing the offense that garner the attention.

Running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas form one of the most talented and dangerous backfields in the county.  The Ducks are a team built around speed and they have plenty of it at the key positions in 2011.

Although the Ducks graduated key receivers and offensive linemen, Oregon should have little problem putting up even bigger numbers than in years past.