10 for '10: Bold and Bland College Football Predictions

As the official start of the 2010 season is less than three weeks away, I thought I would go ahead and give some predictions.  A few of these are pretty conservative, and a couple are quite bold, if I do say so myself.

1. Boise State will beat Virginia Tech in the opener, 29-24

The Broncos will go on to win all but one game, being upset by either Idaho or Nevada on the road.  Boise misses out on going to the big dance, but plays in another BCS bowl game. 

2. Alabama won't repeat as National Champions

Before you go ahead and FedEx the Tide their next victory, think about this:  Only USC came close to winning two BCS titles in a row, playing in the game in '04 and '05.  That team is considered one of the most talented ever put on a field, had two Heisman winners, and lost by only three points in one of the greatest games in college football history. 

Nick Saban is considered a coaching guru now, but wasn't everyone also singing the same praises about Pete Carroll?  Add that to the fact that 'Bama plays six teams who come off a bye-week the week before. Alabama goes 12-2, losing once in the regular season and again in a close upset in the SEC Championship.  The team then rallies and goes on to win the Sugar Bowl soundly.

3. The winner of the Big Ten won't be undefeated

And those may not even be conference losses.  Ohio State hosts Miami, and Iowa has to play Arizona at home, where the Wildcats averaged 488 yards per game at home last season and return eight starters on offense.  Wisconsin's non-conference lineup is pretty light, but they have to play Ohio State and Iowa in back-to-back weeks, no easy task.  And, let's not forget that besides traveling to both Ohio State and Iowa, Penn State has to play Alabama on the road.

 4. TCU will play in the National Championship

After beating Oregon State 24-14 in the opener, the Horned Frogs make another run at an undefeated season.  They have close games against SMU, in which Andy Dalton has a spectacular senior performance, and Utah, on national television.  A close win over the Utes has people wondering whether or not TCU should even be in the conversation, but the BCS can take no favorites as Dalton and Co. take charge of the No. 2 spot in the rankings. 

 5. At least three times in the SEC, a record will be set for most points scored in a game. 

This could be the most offensive year the SEC has seen in a while.  Average number of starters returning on defense in the SEC West?  Five.  Average on offense? Try seven.  Not to mention the nine starters returning on a Georgia team that has two vets coming back on D, and a Florida team stacked with talent, four O-lineman coming back, and a Gatorade Player of the Year at QB.

 6. The next Heisman winner will be a quarterback

Why?  There are too many QB candidates on potentially great teams out there for it not to be: Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State, Andy Dalton of TCU, and Greg McElroy, who has most of his offensive personnel back and will be starting the season with a year's experience under his belt. 

The only viable non-QB contender out there is probably Mark Ingram, and besides the fact that it's very difficult to repeat, running back is one of the more injury-prone positions in football.  Should Ingram sit out for even one or two games, his candidacy would definitely be in peril.  In addition, Heisman voters tend to love quarterbacks, so this wouldn't really buck any trends.

 7. The winner of the Big 12 will not be Nebraska 

The Huskers will have a successful year, but lose to South opponent Texas A&M.   The late-season loss to the Aggies will come as quite a shock to Nebraska fans hoping for an assured BCS bowl, as the Huskers lose in a barnburner 38-25.  They make it to the Big 12 Championship game, but lose by 12 points to their South opponent, ending the season on somewhat of a low note. 

 8. Auburn will finish the regular season 11-1

Auburn gets almost all of their toughest games at home this season.  Not to mention the Tigers are one of the only SEC West teams that don't have to play Florida.  I'm predicting that they will lose the last game to an Alabama team coming into that contest as a slight underdog.  But I wouldn't be surprised if the Tigers can win that one, too.  They have a week more than the Tide to prepare for that game.   

 9. Oklahoma will be 11-1 in the regular season, and might possibly compete for the National Championship

There are a decent number of big-time programs that have reason to play like they've got something to prove, but none have the amount of returning talent, amount of experience, and coaching continuity that Oklahoma enjoys.  Expect the Sooners to turn it up a notch in 2010.  Score Prediction for Sept. 11: Oklahoma over Florida State, 37-23.

 10.  John Brantley will throw for at least 3,400 yards this season

With a solid offensive line around him and talent aplenty, Brantley will have both the time and the targets.  Meyer's offense will look more pass-oriented in 2010, and there's no reason to believe Brantley won't excel as he takes over for Tim Tebow.