College Football Predictions: Predicting the Winner of Every Conference
The first few weeks of the college football season are often painful for fans. Not because teams like Texas, LSU, Ohio State and Oregon are enduring defeats, but because all of these teams play boring cupcake schedules to open their seasons.
Those days are long gone.
October and November generally mark the meat of the conference schedules for teams all across America. It's tough to make conference predictions when San Jose State and Kent State dot the schedules of big time programs.
After a few weeks of spirited conference play, it's time for predictions. Who will the conference champions be? Click ahead and find out!
ACC Champion: Florida State Seminoles
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The Jimbo Fisher era is off to a phenomenal start.
Christian Ponder leads the new-look Seminoles, who happen to feature one of the most balanced and explosive rushing attacks in the country. They have three running backs, Chris Thompson, Jermaine Thomas and Ty Jones, averaging over six YPC. Combined, this three-headed monster has accounted for 1194 yards on just 173 carries to go along with 12 touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, all Florida State has done is rack up the most sacks in major college football with 30. They've also allowed the second fewest rushing yards in the ACC.
Jimbo Fisher is no doubt looking to establish his own legacy at Florida State, and fast. All that being said, it seems easy to assume that Florida State will be representing their conference in the 2011 FedEx Orange Bowl.
Big 12: Missouri Tigers
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The Missouri Tigers are riding high after a big win at home against the former No. 1 team in the land, the Oklahoma Sooners. It's likely that the Tigers will see the Sooners again in the Big 12 Championship Game, and it seems Blaine Gabbert and the boys have already figured out how to beat Bob Stoop's crew.
Gabbert has been a model of efficiency this season, completing 67.3 percent of his passes. His favorite target thus far has been sophomore receiver T.J. Moe, who is on pace to crack the 1,000 yard receiving mark this season.
Their rushing attack also features a pair of five YPC rushers in Henry Josey and De'Vion Moore.
This week's game at No. 14 Nebraska will be a test, but I expect the Tigers to roll through Lincoln and the rest of their schedule on their way to a conference title.
Big East: Pittsburgh Panthers
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This season, the Big East has seemed like a conference that nobody wants to win. Each team has suffered some pretty bad losses, but someone has to take the crown.
It's tough to envision a situation in which a team other than Pittsburgh wins it all.
While Dion Lewis has only recently begun to show the form that engendered so much hype and confidence in 2009, his poor play at the beginning of the season opened the door for Ray Graham to take the reins at the halfback position.
They've gotten efficient play out of Tino Sunseri at the quarterback position, and that combined with the great coaching abilities of Dave Wannstedt should be enough for the Panthers to win the league.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Big Ten: Wisconsin Badgers
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They may already have one defeat on their resume, putting them behind Michigan State in the current standings, but I expect Wisconsin to run the table the rest of the way and take the Big Ten title.
John Clay is probably the most physical and intimidating running back in the country. He embodies Big Ten football and is complimented perfectly by James White, a freshman speedster who's a great change of pace from the bruising Clay.
Bret Bielema has the Badgers playing at an extremely high level, and the fans in Madison are some of the most raucous in the nation. They'll finish off their schedule with four straight wins and an 11-1 record, while I expect the Michigan State Spartans to lose a couple down the stretch.
The Spartans haven't won big against a quality opponent this year, and they always have trouble at Penn State. Look for the Badgers to come from behind and snatch a Rose Bowl bid away from Sparty.
Conference USA: East Carolina Pirates
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This weekend the East Carolina Pirates travel to Orlando to take on the UCF Knights in a battle featuring the class of the C-USA East division. In a weak conference, it seems the winner of this matchup will be the odds-on favorite to win the league.
I'm taking the Pirates and their high-powered aerial offense. Quarterback Dominique Davis paces the 11th-ranked passing offense in the country, an offense that has put up nearly 37 PPG.
First year head coach Ruffin McNeill is no stranger to high octane offenseshe served as an assistant to Mike Leach at Texas Tech and was charged with leading the squad after Mike Leach was terminated prior to the Alamo Bowl.
UCF shouldn't scare ECU, and they just happen to be the only real obstacle that stands between the Pirates and a conference championship.
MAC: Temple Owls
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The Temple Owls don't put up gaudy numbers and are near the middle of the pack in almost every statistical category, in terms of FBS leaders.
That should still be enough for Al Golden and Co. to take home the MAC crown this season.
Their rushing attack is one of the only things that stands out about them, as they have two dynamic rushers in Bernard Pierce and Matt Brown. Pierce was one of the most electric backs in the country last season, compiling 16 rushing touchdowns to go along with 1361 yards.
The only losses Temple has had to endure this season included a hard fought game in Happy Valley against Golden's Alma mater, Penn State, and a game two weeks later at Northern Illinois.
Northern Illinois would likely be their opponent in the MAC Championship Game, but Al Golden, one of the best football minds in the country, won't allow the Owls to lose to the Huskies again.
MWC: Utah Utes
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The Utah Utes are undefeated and looking to crash the BCS party. More importantly, they're looking to crash TCU's party.
It seems TCU gets all the credit in the Mountain West, but it's important to note that Utah is the only team to beat TCU twice in the past four seasons. Utah always plays them tough, and I expect them to win again this year.
The Utes have the No. 3 ranked scoring offense in the country, led by quarterback Jordan Wynn. Combine that with the No. 3 scoring defense in the country and you've got one of the most well rounded teams in the nation.
They've blown out nearly everyone they've faced, and while I expect the TCU game to be close, look for Utah to win and cement themselves as the class of the Mountain West.
Pac-10: Oregon Ducks
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At this point in the season, it's impossible to bet against the Oregon Ducks. They have massacred every team that has been foolish enough to get in their way, and I don't expect anything different this weekend at the USC Trojans.
LaMichael James is pacing a rushing attack that puts up 308.4 YPG, good for third in the country. They have the best scoring offense in the country at 55.1 PPG, and their defense is nearly as good.
What can be said about the Ducks that hasn't already been said? Chip Kelly has his spread offense working to perfection and his team is on track to play in Glendale come January 10, 2011.
Something tells me Matt Barkley is going to regret the tweet that compared his team to Cain Velasquez and the Ducks to the defeated Brock Lesnar.
SEC: Auburn Tigers
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The SEC, a conference that places a team in the National Championship game nearly every year, will be represented by the Auburn Tigers this year in Glendale.
Gene Chizik's team, led by Heisman favorite Cam Newton, seem unstoppable.
Newton is putting up numbers that would make Tim Tebow blush, and at 6'6", 250, he might just be the most agile and speedy man of his size ever to play the quarterback position.
His run last week against LSU was simply breathtakingthe acceleration he showed to get away from LSU CB Patrick Peterson, one of the fastest players in the game in his own right, left many a jaw on the floor.
Their big test will come on November 26 at Alabama, and I expect Auburn to leave Tuscaloosa with a victory. Their SEC East opponent in the Conference Championship game will be nothing more than a sacrificial lamb for the Tigers, who will, on the legs of Newton, run all the way to the BCS Championship Game.
Sun Belt: Troy
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The Sun Belt Conference this season is one of the weakest conferences I've ever seen. This league has little talent to speak of and, as a result, Troy will win the conference as the only team above .500.
That being said, they do have a strong passing attack with Corey Robinson leading an offense that piles up 304.2 yards through the air on a weekly basis.
Look for the Troy Trojans to represent the Sun Belt in the New Orleans Bowl this December.
WAC: Boise State Broncos
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The Boise State Broncos have rolled in every victory this year since their close call to open the season vs. the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Kellen Moore is leading an offense that blows every opponent out of the water. His individual statistics make him worthy of Heisman consideration. All he's done is complete 69.8 percent of his passes and toss 18 touchdowns against only two interceptions.
While it's a foregone conclusion that they'll win the WAC, they're not as certain to be guaranteed a spot in the BCS Championship Game. If Auburn and Oregon end the season undefeated, how could the Broncos possibly leapfrog either of them in the standings?
That's another story for another day so for now, just accept the Broncos as your 2011 WAC Champions.
As the season moves further along and undefeated teams begin to fall, the entire BCS picture should begin to take shape.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
