Looking Back at my Five College Football Surprise Team Predictions

We are nearly halfway through with the college football season. Wow, it goes so fast! Let's see how well some of my preseason predictions were.

I'd like to see more people own to up to their predictions. I am here to do it.

In May, I named five teams that I said could surprise on my blog and here on Bleacher Report.

There is still time for these teams to change their season good or bad, here are the early returns.

We'll have an accuracy rating of Hit or Miss.

Clemson Tigers

Most people were on the fence about new head Dabo Swinney when the season started. Was he too inexperienced? I felt Swinney was a strong motivator and recruiter, and if he could get the offense going, Clemson could be one of the better teams in the ACC.

So far, it's not going that way. I expected a loss to Georgia Tech, and maybe TCU, but the Maryland loss has really sent this season in the wrong direction. There's still time to turn it around, but Swinney's offense is struggling—to say the least. Kyle Parker is not progressing as quickly as hoped at quarterback, and the there aren't many plays being made by anyone on offense not named C.J Spiller or Jacoby Ford.

Accuracy Rating: Miss

Auburn Tigers

Like Swinney, many folks were on the fence about new Tigers coach Gene Chizik. All Chizik has done is get the Tigers off to a 5-0 start, with a 2-0 start in the SEC.

As times, the offense last year was as bad as the offense this year is good. Chris Todd has a quarterback rating of 160.8 with 12 touchdown passes and only one interception. Running Back Ben Tate has 540 yards rushing, and the offense is averaging 41 points a game. With Arkansas and Kentucky next, Auburn could be 7-0 before a date with LSU.

Accuracy Rating - Hit

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Irish aren't blowing people away, but they are winning and that's what counts. They are sitting at 4-1 after five games. The offense is currently 10th in the nation.

Quarterback Jimmy Clauson seems to finally be coming into his own. He's completing 67 percent of his passes and has over 1500 yards passing. Golden Tate is one of the country's better receivers. He already has 602 yards on the year.

There are still landmines on the schedule, with USC and a surprising Boston College team in the next two weeks, but other than that the schedule is manageable. I'm calling this one a hit for now.

Accuracy Rating - Hit

Michigan Wolverines

I said the winner of the Notre Dame\Michigan game would win eight-plus games, and I'm sticking to it. Michigan is the only team to beat the Irish so far, and comes in at 4-1.

Rich Rodriguez has found his quarterback of the future with Tate Forcier. Only a freshman, Forcier has been solid and is only going to get better.

Questions remain about a defense that ranks 91st in the nation, but after the 3-9 disaster last season, the Wolverines are on their way to more than doubling that win total.

Accuracy Rating - Hit

California Golden Bears

OK, I missed this one badly. I really thought Jeff Tedford's bunch was going to take the next step up to BCS contender, but like clockwork the Bears didn't reach their lofty expectations.

The Bears have been outscored 72-6 in their last two games, both losses to Oregon and USC. A backfield with Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen is only ranked 41st in the country. What's gone wrong?

The passing game has not been good. Kevin Riley has a passer rating in the 70s for his last two games. He has not thrown a touchdown in either game. He's completed just 17 of his last 71 passes. The chance of making it to the Rose Bowl is now virtually gone. Tedford will have to rally the troops before the season becomes a total loss.

Accuracy Rating - Miss