College Football Predictions: Top 10 Stingiest Defenses Heading into 2011
It’s a common theory, but one that always seems to ring true: Defense wins championships. There’s a reason we chant defense in crunch moments.
Defense in general is not given enough credit, but it’s the winning way. Each season we see defenders underappreciated as we gawk at the great offenses of college football.
Today, we’re going to take a gaze into our crystal ball and look at the future of college football. Stand aside, offense; defense is where it’s at right now. These will be the top 10 stingiest defenses in college football next year.
10. Boston College Eagles
1 of 10
In 2010, Boston College gave up just less than 20 points per game. That’s a quality number right there, but I’m more interested in the fact they only allowed 310 yards per game to boot. To me, that’s very impressive considering they didn’t give up more than 20 points in any of their last five games.
I expect their stout defense to carry over to 2011 despite the loss of potential second- or third-round NFL draft pick Mark Herzlich. Herzlich was an inspirational leader, but he will not be forgotten as his teammates maintain his honor in 2011.
9. Florida State Seminoles
2 of 10
Florida State returns nearly all of its starters on defense, meaning its experience will be among the nation’s best.
The defense gave up a respectable 19.8 points per game. They also gave up 349.1 yards per game, which will certainly improve given their continuity and host of talented players, including defensive end Brandon Jenkins.
Florida State will once again stand atop the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2011.
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
3 of 10
Nebraska lost Ndamukong Suh after the 2009 season, yet you wouldn’t have noticed much in 2010. That’s saying a lot considering Suh is already the best defensive tackle in the NFL and is completely turning around the Detroit Lions franchise.
Nebraska gave up 17.2 points and less than 305 yards per game in 2010.
The unit will now lose one of the best cornerbacks in the nation in Prince Amukamara, yet they’ll find a way to smooth things over quickly in 2011.
Nebraska joins the Big Ten in 2011. Opposing offenses won’t be happy trying to compete against star defensive players Jared Crick and Alfonzo Dennard.
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7. Syracuse Orange
4 of 10
Syracuse is one of the most underrated defensive units in the nation. It has been completely overlooked because of the team’s lack of success in recent years. Still, this is a defense to look out for.
In 2010, they gave up 18.1 points and less than 300 yards per game. For a team lacking great offensive talent to keep them off the field, these are fantastic statistics.
Although the team is losing two fine linebackers in Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue, most of the unit is returning to wreak more havoc on the rest of the Big East. The unit was a younger bunch in 2010, and with more experience they’ll be even better equipped mentally and physically in 2011.
6. West Virginia Mountaineers
5 of 10
I think the loss of safety Robert Sands will be huge, but it helps take the pain away when you can boast a defensive force like Bruce Irvin, who had 14 sacks. His total was just shy of potential Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers, who may just be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
The Mountaineers amazingly gave up just 12.8 points, second best in the nation, and 251.3 yards per game, third best in the nation. This unit is only getting stronger and better with the continued emergence of cornerback Keith Tandy.
5. Virginia Tech Hokies
6 of 10
The Hokies are one of the few teams returning nearly every starter on defense. This will prove invaluable for a defense that really buckled down and held its own. The defense will improve much quicker now that they are comfortable with one another.
The key player for this defense is All-American cornerback Jayron Hosley. Isn’t it amazing how much better a defense can play when you have a shutdown corner on one side of the field? Ah, life is just easier!
4. Boise State Broncos
7 of 10
Boise State may be moving from the Western Athletic Conference to the Mountain West Conference, but I don’t expect much of a drop-off in production in 2011. The Broncos will face better competition in TCU, but they’ll be just fine.
The Broncos are one of the most overlooked teams in the nation because they played in the WAC, and that’s just not right. They could only play who is on their schedule. Let’s just take a look at what they did: 13.6 points and 259.3 points per game.
First off, that’s remarkable. Second, the defense returns nearly every starter. That means this experienced unit knows each other and their assignments better than almost every other unit in the nation.
Boise State will prove once again it is a legitimate team in the nation, with more than just Kellen Moore’s offense, but defense as well.
3. TCU Horned Frogs
8 of 10
TCU is one of the most underrated defensive teams in the nation because it plays in the Mountain West Conference. Still, there’s no debating what it does on the field.
The Horned Frogs give up an obscene 11.4 points and 215.4 yards per game. I mean, is that even serious? That’s like an experienced Madden gamer playing on rookie level!
Watch out for the supreme linebacking combination of All-Mountain West teamers Tank Carder and Tanner Brock. Nobody wants to mess with these two beasts.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
9 of 10
Nick Saban has his hands full replacing potential No. 1 NFL draft pick Marcell Dareus. He was an absolute beast of a defensive tackle and a versatile one at that. Dareus’ power, agility and intensity will be sorely missed, but Alabama has the pieces to make up for his loss.
The unit gave up just 14.1 points per game despite a disappointing overall season for their standard. They also gave up less than 300 yards per game.
They’ll replace Dareus with Josh Chapman, a 6’1”, 310-pound behemoth.
The most impressive player on this unit, in my eyes, is linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who could be a first-round draft pick in 2012.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
10 of 10
The Buckeyes consistently have a great defense year in, year out. Ohio constantly churns out elite talent.
As a unit in 2010, they gave up just 13.3 points and 250.3 yards per game. Of their 18 interceptions, they returned three for touchdowns.
Head coach Jim Tressel is one of the best defensive schemers in the game. I don’t think the loss of Cameron Heyward will be too severe. Tressel will have his squad continue its dominance, and he’ll have to with four starters on the offensive side of the ball suspended for the first five games of the season, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
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