College Football: Predicting The Winner Of Every BCS and Mid-Major Conference
College football is still a ways away, but that doesn't mean we can't start making some predictions.
Will Oklahoma repeat as champions of the Big 12, or will Oklahoma State's insane offense overcome them?
Can Nebraska make a statement in the Big 10, or will Wisconsin and Ohio State hold them off?
Here is the answer to those questions and more.
ACC- Florida State
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Florida State is a program on the rise under new coach Jimbo Fisher.
Running back Chris Thompson averaged 6.3 yards a carry in 2010 and will return for his junior year in 2011.
With the exception of a 30-point loss to Oklahoma FSU was competitive in every game including an impressive bowl game victory over South Carolina.
The Seminoles have a very easy regular season ACC schedule so their main difficulty will likely be having to defeat Virginia Tech in the ACC title game.
Both FSU and Virginia Tech lose their quarterbacks, but FSU seems better prepared to move on than Tech.
Big East- West Virginia
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If West Virginia had beaten UCONN last season they would have played Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
Instead they lost by a field goal then lost a tie-breaker for the Big East conference. Next year that won't be a problem. UCONN lost coach Randy Edsall to Maryland and Pittsburgh also lost their coach, two actually after their first hire was arrested on domestic violence charges.
West Virginia loses one of college football's most dynamic players in Noel Devine, but Tavon Austin seems more than ready to fill his shoes after averaging over 10 yards a carry in 2010.
Quarterback Geno Smith returns for his junior year after a solid 2010 and West Virginia could be a top 15 team in 2011 if they have another top 5 defense.
Big:10- Ohio State
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In 2011 the Big 10 is almost impossible to predict.
Will Nebraska be able to come out on top after having to play Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan in their first year?
Or will Wisconsin overcome the loss of Scott Tolzien and produce another crazy offense?
Well my prediction is that Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes will win it. Pryor, and teammates Daniel Herron, Devier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas, will only miss one conference game. That game is a winnable one against Michigan State at home.
Their season will come down to games against Nebraska (in Lincoln) and Wisconsin (at home). If they win one of those they should run the table in the Big 10 otherwise and go into the conference championship game with a full head of steam in Pryor's senior campaign.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Big 12- Oklahoma
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Oklahoma is probably the easiest of all picks to make.
In 2010 they won the Big 12, and they really only lose two key players in DeMarco Murray and Jeremy Beal.
By returning Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles and Travis Lewis the Sooners will have the nucleus of their 2010 coming back for 2011.
This team won't just win the Big 12, they will be national championship contenders.
Conference USA- UCF
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If you haven't heard of Jeff Godrey, get prepared to.
As a true freshmen he led the UCF Knights to an appearance in the top 25. In 2010 he threw for 13 touchdowns while rushing for 11.
This team wasn't all about Godfrey though. In UCF's bowl game he had zero touchdowns, two interceptions and threw for just 117 yards, but UCF still beat Georgia.
UCF is a program on the rise, and their star is about to get a little too bright for C-USA.
Mid American- Northern Illinois
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Miami Ohio edged Northern Illinois in 2010, but that won't happen in 2011.
Quarterback Chandler Harnish returns for his senior year after throwing 21 touchdowns to just five interceptions last season. The Huskies do lose senior running back Chad Spann who had 22 touchdowns in 2010, but this dynamic offense will overcome his loss.
The Huskies should have won it last season, and they will get redemption this coming year.
Mountain West- Boise State
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The Mountain West has pretty much announced it is giving the conference to Boise State in 2011.
In a welcoming move, the MWC appears likely to take a home game away from TCU and move the game to Boise State's home field in 2011. Is that even allowed?
The message is clear, TCU is not getting any breaks in 2011, much in the same way Nebraska didn't in their final season in the Big 12.
With BYU and Utah gone, TCU getting screwed and Kellen Moore returning there is no way Boise State doesn't win this conference.
Pacific 12- Oregon
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You would have to be a fool not to take Oregon.
Yeah, Andrew Luck returns to Stanford, but Jim Harbaugh doesn't.
Oregon returns Darron Thomas, LaMichael James and head coach Chip Kelly. This is a team that went to the national championship this year, and they might again in 2011.
South Eastern Conference- LSU
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Alabama loses Greg McElroy and Heisman winner Mark Ingram.
Auburn loses Heisman winner Cam Newton and defensive standout Nick Fairley.
Arkansas loses Ryan Mallet.
Georgia loses A.J. Green.
John Brantley's head is all messed up at the University of Florida, and they lost Urban Meyer.
Call me insane, but I think this conference comes down to LSU and South Carolina.
South Carolina returns the majority of their team from 2010 that went to the SEC title, and Steve Spurrier is a good, although inconsistent, coach.
LSU is always good for a great defense, and maybe Jordan Jefferson will finally figure out how to score in his senior season. I've learned not to bet against Les Miles, and with all the rookie quarterbacks to go around, I expect LSU to have a field day even without Patrick Peterson.
Sun Belt- FIU
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FIU finished 2010 by winning five of their last six. Their only loss in that span came by a single point.
Combine that with a rough start to the year that saw them lose to Rutgers and Texas A & M by a touchdown or less and this team was better than most people thought.
2010 saw FIU appear in their first bowl game ever, and win it by two points against a decent Toledo team.
FIU returns several starters in 2011 and will look to prove something under coach Mario Cristobal.
Western Athletic Conference- Hawaii
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Is the WAC even a mid-major anymore?
Boise State is leaving in 2011 and Hawaii, Fresno State and Nevada are leaving in 2012.
In their final season Hawai will be led by Bryant Moniz who threw 39 touchdowns in 2010 to help make Hawaii the nation's sixth best offense.
Nevada was good in 2010, but they lose their quarterback and running back to graduation, and won't be able to hang in 2011.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
