College Football 2011 Top 25 Predictions: Never Too "Sooner" To Place Bets
With spring practices coming around the bend, more and more college football fans are falling back into their obsession just as soon as they got their minds focused on something else.
As one of those people, I feel like it can never be too early to pick who's going to take the prize in the coming season.
Things might look a lot different in 2011. Alabama and LSU appear to be more favorable picks than the national champion Auburn Tigers, and the Pac-10, as well as the rest of the west, might be gaining some momentum.
Could the SEC finally be dethroned?
Read this only slightly premature top 25 list and find out who's going to threaten the Southeastern Conference for the title next season.
No. 25: Tulsa Golden Hurricane
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Conference USA doesn't usually get a lot of national love, but when they do it's usually because of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
The Hurricane should be reloading one of the most potent offenses in college football. Their passing and running game placed in the top twenty, statistically, in 2010.
Wide receiver Damaris Johnson should be a household name, and would be if he was in a bigger school. He's a record holding kick off returner to boot.
Also, quarterback G.J. Kinne is just as impressive, throwing for 3,650 yards and rushing for a team leading 561 yards as a junior.
The defense is questionable, but there is no doubt this team will easily get on track to at least equal it's 10-3 campaign from last year.
No. 24: Mississippi State Bulldogs
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Dan Mullen has the rest of the SEC, as well as the nation, taking the Mississippi State Bulldogs seriously.
The 2010 Bulldogs destroyed Michigan to finish an impressive 9-4 season in the toughest division in college football.
With a core of key returners, including quarterback Chris Relf and tailback Vick Ballard, the offense should continue to heat up. That's good news considering offense has been non existent in Starkville for so long.
Even if this team isn't an SEC West champion come next December, they will still be a potential giant killer and, at least, a fun team to watch.
No. 23: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Notre Dame has made improvements, finishing 8-5 last year and should do even better next season under Brian Kelly.
Are we tired of Notre Dame getting put in the top 25 every year, just to fall out? Yes.
But, this team just seems improved. They will have Michael Floyd, as well as their other receivers, and Dayne Crist should improve to be the top quarterback we all expect him to be.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 22: Arizona State Sun Devils
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This might be a surprise pick, but the Arizona State Sun Devils are returning with a stacked offense. The team was as balanced as they come, rushing for 139.3 yards per game while passing for 286.4 yards per game in 2010.
The offense returns with every starter, and only one starter on the offense will be an underclassmen.
Steven Threet and Cameron Marshall will be a nice one-two punch at quarterback and running back, and there may not be a bigger defensive player to watch in the Pac-10 next season than linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
Give the Sun Devils a chance. They could be a very good team next year.
No. 21: Texas Longhorns
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Considering the big time television contract, it's time Texas turns things around and makes for good viewing.
While the Longhorns failed to even qualify for a bowl last year at 5-7, most are convinced Mack Brown will have the team heading right back on track in 2011.
Garrett Gilbert never really appeared to be the heir apparent to Colt McCoy, which didn't surprise most pundits who were puzzled with the hype surrounding Gilbert heading into 2010.
But, that doesn't mean Gilbert won't be good next year. He's definitely showing to be a pretty good duel threat. Malcolm Williams returns as an all conference receiver as well.
The defense might be an area of concern, however.
No. 20: Auburn Tigers
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Auburn is losing Cam Newton, which means they might fall back into the pool of mediocrity they were in before he arrived.
Rarely do you see a national champion this far back in the rankings for the next fall, but Auburn simply is losing too much.
Newton's shoes will have to be filled with inexperience, or a freshman quarterback, and a hand full of key defensive players from the SEC champion team are gone as well.
This team will be talented, but it will be raw, and it might struggle to win in a strong SEC west that boasts Alabama and LSU.
Michael Dyer might have different feelings about my sentiments, however. We will see how much of an impact player he can be next year.
No.19: Virginia Tech Hokies
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The Hokies lose Tyrod Taylor, which is hard to swallow.
Enter sophomore quarterback Logan Thomas. If Thomas can keep the offense going, though it will obviously be different, than this team could succeed as much as it did in 2010.
Jarrett Boykin, Danny Coale, and tailback David Wilson are all offensive weapons who stand out in the ACC.
And, Virginia Tech will be very experienced on defense. Don't expect the Hokies to drop "easy" games this time around.
If they avoid that, they should be a BCS contender once again.
They definitely should be a contender in the ACC.
No. 18: Missouri Tigers
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Missouri is in a similar boat as the Hokies.
They return just about everyone they need except their star quarterback.
Blaine Gabbert was a stat machine last year with Missouri, and the Tigers have no idea what to expect from incoming sophomore James Franklin.
Keeping the wide open, quick pass offense going shouldn't be hard.
And just like Virginia Tech, this team returns tons of experience on defense. They should compete for the Big XII title next fall.
No. 17: Georgia Bulldogs
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Mark Richt might have cooled down his hot seat with the "Dream Team," but he better expect his juniors and seniors to perform at higher levels if anything is going to go right in 2011.
Aaron Murray returns as arguably the best quarterback in the conference and should keep Georgia in any game. The key to success in 2011 for Richt and company will be ball control, which is something they have not been good at in recent years under Mike Bobo's quick strike offense.
Running back Isaiah Crowell might have the toting ability to enter as a freshman to turn Georgia into an SEC East champion.
Just maybe.
No. 16: Arkansas Razorbacks
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And yet, here's another team losing a star quarterback.
Arkansas loses Ryan Mallett, but Tyler Wilson proved to be a viable option last year in a break out game versus Auburn.
Plus, he will have the best receivers in the country to throw to, with Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Cobi Hamilton, and Jarius Wright all returning.
It's not even fair. The Razorbacks will have the most potent offense in the conference; it's just a question of how good the defense can possibly be.
No. 15: Michigan State Spartans
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The Spartans looked like a top three team at points in 2010.
They got spanked by Alabama in January, but there's little reason to think this team won't be back for more next year.
Kirk Cousins returns for his senior season, and should lead an efficient offense. B.J. Cunningham is a big time receiver who's going to make impact plays down field, and the running game should do well with a rising star in Edwin Baker.
Defensively, losing Greg Jones hurts, but the Spartans have enough experience back there to get the job done.
No. 14: Florida Gators
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Florida brings in two big names, but there's a lot of mystery surrounding how new head coach Will Muschamp and new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will gel in Gainesville.
Quarterback John Brantley went from prodigy to bust in a matter of months, throwing just nine touchdowns in 2010.
Florida struggled mightily last year to find an offensive identity. They still don't have one, and will have to transition into a new offense in 2011.
When talking about Florida, you know the defense will be good.
But there are tons of questions about the offense. The talent is there, and then some, but the functionality of the players in the system has been faulty. If things are ironed out in time for September, this team could easily get back to its BCS ways.
No. 13: Texas Christian Horned Frogs
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TCU is coming fresh off a Rose Bowl, but will lose their leader in Andy Dalton.
Never fear.
As long as Gary Patterson is the head coach at Texas Christian, the Horned Frogs will be contenders, no matter what conference they are playing in.
The defense is what makes this team such an easy top fifteen pick. Offensively, however, losing players like Dalton and receiver Jeremy Kerley will cause a few growing pains.
TCU may not be a Rose Bowl caliber team again next year, but they certainly will contend for a conference championship with ease.
It's time to take the MWC one more time, before the Frogs move onto the BCS qualifying Big East.
No. 12: Texas A&M Aggies
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The Aggies were kind of a surprise team last year, and might even be a surprise pick here.
They had a nice showing, for at least the first half, against LSU in the Cotton Bowl.
Ryan Tannehill might be a better option than Jerrod Johnson, who's gone, at quarterback.
Jeff Fuller and Cyrus Gray give the Aggies all conference type weapons, and the defense returns tons of experience.
Watch out for a young offensive line, however.
No. 11: Oklahoma State Cowboys
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The Oklahoma State Cowboys are just another team that's bringing the Big XII to prominence.
Justin Blackmon enters the year as hands down the best receiver in the nation.
Quarterback Brandon Weeden was outstanding last season, and should be even better as a senior. You are looking at a potent offense that returns one of the most experienced offensive lines in the nation.
The defense will lose key players, but look no further than defensive back Markelle Martin for leadership.
The Cowboys were 16 total points away from being undefeated last year.
If that's not reason for voting them here, I'm not sure what is.
Heck, I might have ranked them higher if I had the guts. The Cowboys are serious BCS contenders, for a change.
No. 10: Wisconsin Badgers
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Wisconsin lost just two games in 2010.
One was a 10 point loss to Michigan State. The other was a two point loss to TCU.
This team is definitely BCS worthy, and should be back in the race for the Big Ten title again in 2011.
James White is the fan favorite at tailback, replacing one of the Wisconsin greats in John Clay.
Scott Tolzein will also be absent, and honestly the Badgers have holes to fill at key offensive positions. But, they have a core of good players who should pick up the slack and lead them to a double digit win season.
No. 9: South Carolina Gamecocks
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South Carolina was stomped in the SEC Championship game, however they return as the team in the SEC East with the most "swag." (I can't believe I just used that term)
The Gamecocks' offense will feature Marcus Lattimore, Alshon Jeffery, and D.L. Moore, making them a physically imposing team once again.
They have the personnel to be very good, but Stephen Garcia has to finally turn the corner and play like a championship quarterback.
The defense will have holes in it as well. It's hard for me, but I can't rank them lower.
Something about Lattimore's presence has me thinking the Gamecocks are going to surprise a lot of people next year.
No. 8: Ohio State Buckeyes
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Ohio State really doesn't deserve to be this high, mainly because they are going to be without key players for the start of the season.
But, I'll give them a top ten spot right now. Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron, Devier Posey, and company should be good enough to take the Buckeyes to the promise land next year.
The Buckeyes need to survive their first stretch of games without them, however.
An experienced defense, led by Jon Simon, should lead the charge.
No. 7: Boise State Broncos
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Kellen Moore will be without two great weapons in Titus Young and Austin Pettis, who both leave for the NFL Draft.
We will see just how good this offense, and quarterback Kellen Moore, really is.
Though, I've been convinced for a long time that Chris Peterson's Broncos are always the best coached team in the country.
And their defense is getting more and more legitimate.
The Broncos will take on a more physical identity in 2011, especially considering how good the defense should be with experience at every position returning. Byron Hout is a stud at linebacker.
We will know just how good the Broncos are right away as they open in Atlanta versus Georgia.
No. 6: Florida State Seminoles
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The E.J. Manuel era has officially begun in Tallahassee.
And, many think the 'Noles are finally going to be back.
Florida State topped an improved year, in its first under Jimbo Fisher, with a nice win versus South Carolina in the Chik-fil-A bowl.
E.J. Manuel posesses Cam Newton like qualities, with good running ability and a beautiful throw.
The Noles will no doubt be the team to beat in the ACC next season, especially considering how much recruiting momentum they are gaining.
The only thing that should stand in the way of a BCS berth for Florida State is themselves.
No. 5: Stanford Cardinal
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The Cardinal got a little bit of Luck at the end of the year.
Andrew Luck, that is. Luck will be returning for his senior season, arguably as the best quarterback in the country.
Stanford is now riding on the Oregon Ducks heels, if not riding right next to them, when it comes to the race for the class of the Pac-10 (with USC taking so many hits due to probation).
Jim Harbaugh's absence seems to be a red flag of sorts, but can we possibly convince ourselves this team won't be near as good simply because the head coach left?
No. 4: LSU Tigers
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Many think LSU is going to take the SEC next year.
That might be the case, considering they surprised even themselves by winning 11 games in 2010.
They will have an option with either Jordan Jefferson or former Georgia quarterback, Zach Mettenberger, to start under center.
Rueben Randle is the next big time receiver to play in the Bayou, and running back Spencer Ware could become an impact player.
They also will have the most experienced secondary in the SEC.
The only thing that's keeping this team from a BCS title game next year might be Les Miles' understanding of clock rules.
No. 3: Oregon Ducks
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Oregon will return the nucleus of their fast track offense that dominated the college football world in 2010.
Darron Thomas should continue to grow into a complete quarterback, and the running game with LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner will be lethal.
Oregon will have one of the deepest defenses in the Pac-10, and should be way more fierce on that side of the ball than people think.
Don't be surprised if the Ducks literally glide, comfortably, right back into the National Championship picture.
The green and yellow (or charcoal, carbon, silver, whatever) will be a forced to be reckoned with for years to come.
No. 2: Alabama Crimson Tide
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Alabama loses Heisman winner Mark Ingram, all-world receiver Julio Jones, and national championship winning quarterback Greg McElroy.
How can they possibly rebound?
Trent Richardson is the answer. The Tide shouldn't miss a beat with Richardson toting the rock, and A.J. McCarron should transition well into the same shoes filled by McElroy following the departure of John Parker Wilson.
Nick Saban has control of this program like nothing else. They will contend for the national title next year.
No. 1: Oklahoma Sooners
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Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles, and Travis Lewis all return to the Fiesta Bowl champion Oklahoma Sooners.
There's no reason to think this team is anything but national championship caliber.
The Sooners lost close games on the road to Missouri and Texas A&M last year, but experience should help them stay focused on the road.
Their schedule is extremely tough however, featuring games at Florida State and Oklahoma State.
If the Sooners survive those two games, they go undefeated in 2011 and head to the national championship.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
