College Football 2011 Predictions: Which Games Will Produce Biggest Blowouts?
The 2011 college football season is going to feature some of the best talent in recent memory. Around 10 different teams all have legitimate shots at winning the BCS National Championship.
The power conferences treat us to a spicy game or three each and every weekend.
That doesn’t mean every game is going to be close. Each week, there is a juicy match on paper that ends up being a blowout.
Let’s take a look at 15 exciting games this season that won't live up to expectations.
15. N.C. State at Florida State
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The Seminoles are back to being one of the elite teams in the country and the favorites to win the ACC.
Russell Wilson has been a solid QB since his freshman season at NC State. He may be under six feet tall, but he gets the most out of his talents. It's his surrounding cast that is the issue.
But when you consider the No. 1 rated recruiting class is coming to Tallahassee and veteran QB E.J. Manuel will be under center, this game will end up being a route.
The depth of the Seminoles is going to destroy the ACC this season.
FSU 31-13
14. Ohio St.at Michigan
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Terrelle Pryor’s last game against Michigan should end up much like the first three times he has played them.
Going 4-0 against the Wolverines would put Pryor in the rare air, and you better believe he wants nothing more than to get that last win. Pryor constantly tweets about his disdain for the team up north.
The team will already be re-adjusted to the “Tattoo Five” after their five game suspension, and Michigan will likely be wrapping up yet another disappointing season under first-year head coach Brady Hoke.
The Buckeyes have outscored the Wolverines 100-to-24 in the past three seasons.
OSU 27-10
13. Oregon at Stanford
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Andrew Luck may be the best QB in the country, but he lost a good portion of his O-Line and also lost Jim Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers.
Oregon will essentially be returning the same team that was a field goal at the buzzer away from winning the 2011 National Championship.
Luck may be able to put up 28 points against a mediocre Ducks defense, but the best offense in the nation will torture a Cardinals team that has lost over 20 players to graduation.
LaMichael James may be the most explosive player in the nation in 2011.
Oregon 45-27
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12. Boise State Vs. Georgia
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Once again, Boise State will be one of the top teams in the nation. QB Kellen Moore is a front-runner for the Heisman trophy.
He had 35 TD passes to only six INTs, and you can expect an even better performance his senior season.
The Bulldogs had a disappointing season in QB Aaron Murray’s freshman season. Without the best receiver in the country in A.J. Green, the Georgia offense is going to have its share of bumps and bruises this season.
The much more experienced Broncos will spank Georgia.
Boise St. 40-21
11. Oklahoma at Oklahoma St.
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This is going to be a good ‘ole fashioned Big 12 track meet. The Sooners are the favorites to win the title with Landry Jones in charge of the offense. But Brandon Weeden is no slouch either.
The difference is in the defense. The Sooners are retuning most of their starters on defense and should be able to contain stud Cowboys receiver Justin Blackmon.
After scoring 88 combined points in 2010, only the Sooners will be the only team cracking the 40-point mark this season.
Oklahoma 44-27
10. UCLA at Houston
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The Bruins will be traveling to Houston to tackle the Cougars in the early part of the season.
Houston had big expectations heading into 2010. They were quickly destroyed when stud QB Casey Keenum was injured at the very beginning of the season. The team went on to have an uninspired 5-7 record.
This year, Keenum is back but needs to shake-off the rust. This is the first game of the season, and Keenum will have to adjust to not losing his two top receivers from a year ago and most of his O-Line.
Don’t forget that UCLA went into Texas last season and came away with a “W”.
Houston may end up being a solid team…but not right off the bat.
UCLA 33-13
9. UCLA at Arizona
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Don't get me wrong. I don’t think the Bruins are going to be that good.
UCLA is historically awful at Arizona, and this year, they get to face the best Wildcat team in years.
The Bruins squeaked by ‘Zona at home 29-to-21 in 2010, but that was without stud QB Nick Foles.
With the Wildcats focused on getting to a BCS Bowl game, I expect them to crush the Bruins.
Arizona 26-10
8. Florida at LSU
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LSU is going to be the favorite in the SEC in 2011, and they are going to get a chance to spank a team that always gives them fits. Last year, the Tigers pulled off the victory at Gainesville and are going to be vastly improved this season.
The Gators are undergoing a coaching transition and will not have a typical Florida year.
A top ranked LSU team playing at home will push this spread to double digits.
LSU 30-17
7. Arkansas at Alabama
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Arkansas had a great 2010, finishing with 10 wins and a BCS Bowl game. But they lost QB Ryan Mallett, as well as their tight end and the majority of their O-Line.
Tyler Wilson is the new guy for the Razorbacks, and you can expect ‘Bama coach Nick Saban to unleash plenty of blitz packages that will confuse and pressure the inexperience Wilson.
Going to ‘Bama in you first year as a starting QB usually has an ugly outcome.
Alabama 38-15
6. Clemson at South Carolina
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The Gamecocks have beaten Clemson in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 40 years.
The talent level between the two schools is getting wider, and the 2011 Gamecocks will be their best team in the Steve Spurrier era.
Clemson finished 6-7 last season and are expected to only be a game or two better next season after losing stud DE De’Quan Bowers.
This one has blowout written all over it.
SC 28-10
5. Texas Tech at Texas
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Tech hasn’t been the same since the Mike Leach scandal after being one of the better teams in the conference for the last half decade.
The Longhorns may be coming off a rare down season, but head coach Mack Brown is a recruiting genius, and his team will be back to normal in 2011.
There is little doubt that the Longhorns will crush Tech in front of the home crowd.
Texas 38-17
4. Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
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Another team with a new coach, the Panthers had a rough offseason in finding a replacement for Dave Wannstedt.
Former Miami (OH) coach Mike Woodson was the new coach for about 10 days before he got hit with a domestic assault charge.
Now, it’s Todd Graham that has to right the ship.
On the other side, Brian Kelly had a great end of the season in his inaugural 8-5 campaign in South Bend.
Widely considered as one of the best college coaches in the nation, Kelly is going to have a loaded and dangerous squad in 2011.
Notre Dame 30-14
3. TCU at Baylor
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The Horned Frogs had a dream season in 2010, culminating in a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin. But now, QB Andy Dalton is gone, and they have to regroup after losing a bevy of starters on both sides of the ball.
Baylor QB Robert Griffin is a potential Heisman candidate in 2011, and he will be aided by stud wide out Kendall Wright.
Baylor was a frisky bowl team in 2010; now they are a dangerous contender in 2011.
Baylor 31-17
2.Alabama at Auburn
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The Iron Bowl is going to be very one-sided this season.
That’s what happens when you lose your entire O-Line, Heisman winning QB and potential overall No. 1 pick at DT.
The Tigers were built for last season and will have to suffer through a down year. Pretty sure ‘Bama doesn’t feel sorry for their heated rival.
Alabama 35-14
1. Nebraska at Wisconsin
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The Cornhuskers are the new guys at the Big 10 party, and their first game in the new conference is a road tilt at Wisconsin.
The defending Big 10 champs are returning one of the best rushing attacks in the nation. The defense is always in the conversation for stingiest in the conference.
Sophomore QB Taylor Martinez seemed to get rattled in big moments in his freshman season with the Cornhuskers. If his team gets down early in the inaugural conference game for Nebraska, watch out.
Expect a solid beating by Wisconsin in their rude welcoming of Nebraska to the Big 10.
Wisconsin 27-10
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