College Football 2011: 25 Bold Predictions for the Top 25 Programs
Don't you just love BOLD predictions that come a good five months before games even begin?
Depending on your definition of bold, some of these may seem small potatoes.
One of the issues is finding a legitimate preseason Top 25, so let's use the CollegeFootballNews.com rankings.
Now it's time to predict.
25. Virginia Tech
1 of 25
What we know: Coach Frank Beamer has one huge hole to fill with the graduation of quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The defending ACC champs have a favorable home schedule and it's easy to see how this team should remain in the rankings all season.
Bold prediction: They may be home contests, but the Hokies will lose to Clemson (Oct. 1) and North Carolina (Nov. 17) in Blacksburg, costing them a shot at the ACC crown.
24. Georgia
2 of 25
What we know: Georgia coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat and needs a big season. Aaron Murray is a year older at quarterback and that should help a great deal, but that doesn't solve the problem of not having A.J. Green around any longer to catch passes.
Bold prediction: The Bulldogs open the season with an upset over Boise State, but the momentum is tempered with a loss to South Carolina the following week. What ultimately secures Richt's job in Athens is a big win over Florida and a 10-win season.
23. West Virginia
3 of 25
What we know: Bill Stewart is coaching his final season and Dana Holgorsen hopes to invigorate an offense that was stagnant under former offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen. Geno Smith is back at quarterback, so that helps.
WVU's defense was ranked among the best in the nation last year, but a lot of that talent has left.
Bold prediction: Everybody points to the home date with LSU as the biggest game of the season. Of course a win there would send ripples across the college football landscape.
However, the biggest game of the season is actually the finale at South Florida on Dec. 1. WVU loses the Big East championship because of a loss in Tampa.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
22. Missouri
4 of 25
What we know: Missouri will be without potential first-round draft pick Blaine Gabbert at quarterback. Still, the Tigers are loaded with talent and confidence.
Bold prediction: The Tigers won't win the Big 12 or reach a BCS Bowl Game, but don't be shocked when they finish the season ranked in the Top 10.
21. Michigan State
5 of 25
What we know: Michigan State won 11 games last season, but the Spartans' two losses (37-6 at Iowa and 49-7 to Alabama in the Capital One Bowl) did more damage to its reputation.
Coach Mark Dantonio has made it the mission of the 2011 team to reach the Rose Bowl.
Bold prediction: Rose Bowl? Not this season. The Spartans will be fortunate to get back to the Capital One Bowl. It's easy to see losses at Notre Dame, at Nebraska and at Iowa.
20. Mississippi State
6 of 25
What we know: Dan Mullen is one of the hottest coaches in the nation, and he's stuck in Starkville, Miss.
OK, maybe he really likes it there. He's there this year and that means the Bulldogs will have one of the more prolific offenses in the SEC (did you see that Gator Bowl performance against Michigan?).
Bold prediction: Expectations are so high; is it possible Mississippi State has a season like the 2009 Ole Miss group? Not that 9-4 and a Cotton Bowl victory is bad, but folks are wanting a shot at an SEC title.
This team is likely to finish the regular season 8-4.
19. Auburn
7 of 25
What we know: There's a lot of smoke surrounding the recruiting of Cam Newton, but last year's Heisman Trophy winner was the catalyst to Auburn's special 2010.
Don't overlook the loss of defensive tackle Nick Fairley, as he created all kinds of havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Still, Gene Chizik has recruited a boatload of talent, so Auburn will line it up and play this fall.
Bold prediction: The Tigers won't repeat as BCS champs. Heck, Auburn won't even repeat as SEC champs. But the Tigers will be good enough to beat anyone on their schedule in 2011.
18. Texas
8 of 25
What we know: Mack Brown has brought in some new coaches and he hopes that will fix what ailed his talented group of Longhorns who fell from the BCS Championship game to a 5-7 record in 2010.
The talent is there, but it's hard to see how Texas will go from mediocre to the Top 25.
Bold prediction: Texas is a preseason Top 25 team because of reputation, but the Longhorns will drop out of the rankings after losses to UCLA (Sept. 17), Oklahoma (Oct. 8) and Oklahoma State (Oct. 15).
17. Florida State
9 of 25
What we know: The first year with Jimbo Fisher in charge was a success and expectations are going to be even higher in 2011.
E.J. Manuel will take over for Christian Ponder at quarterback and there will be plenty of talent on the field. The Seminoles will find out early if they're for real when they take on Oklahoma in Tallahassee.
Bold prediction: The Seminoles will win their first ACC crown since 2005, and Manuel will be a Heisman finalist—one year after the CP7 hype for Ponder.
16. Notre Dame
10 of 25
What we know: Notre Dame hasn't been relevant in college football for more than a decade, but that's about to change in Brian Kelly's second season. The Irish closed strong last year, and if they had beaten Navy and Tulsa Notre Dame would have had a 10-win season.
Bold prediction: The Irish will finish in the top five, play in a BCS Bowl game and may be a loss to Standford in the season finale away from being undefeated.
15. Wisconsin
11 of 25
What we know: The Badgers lost a bunch of experienced and talented players from last year's Big Ten championship team. The most notable losses are Scott Tolzien, John Clay, J.J. Watt and Gabe Carimi.
Jon Budmayr is likely the man at quarterback, and he has one solid receiver in Nick Toon.
Bold prediction: Wisconsin will edge out Ohio State and win the Leaders Division and go on to win the first Big Ten championship game.
14. Arkansas
12 of 25
What we know: Arkansas will have a new quarterback this fall, but he'll have one of the most talented receiving corps in the nation. The accomplished group includes Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Cobi Hamilton.
The Razorbacks may actually be better than last year's team that reached the Sugar Bowl.
Bold prediction: The Razorbacks will be the biggest disappointment in the SEC in 2011 and finish with just seven regular-season victories. A loss to Texas A&M will sting.
13. Nebraska
13 of 25
What we know: The Cornhuskers are playing their first season in the Big Ten, but there are many who think Nebraska could win a league championship this year. It appears Taylor Martinez is going to hold on and be Bo Pelini's quarterback in 2011.
Bold prediction: In its first year in the Big Ten, Nebraska will win the Legends Division but fall to Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.
12. Boise State
14 of 25
What we know: Kellen Moore, who is 38-2, is back at quarterback for one final season. However, this year he'll be without two of his favorite targets (Titus Young and Austin Pettis).
Boise's schedule is upgraded a bit by switching to the Mountain West Conference.
Bold prediction: Boise State will play its way out of BCS contention with an opening loss to Georgia, and will add a second loss in the MWC.
11. TCU
15 of 25
What we know: The Horned Frogs have earned some respect over the past few seasons, but TCU still lost quarterback Andy Dalton. Gary Patterson always puts together one of the best defenses, and that group will be led by Tank Carder.
Bold prediction: TCU's magic run isn't over, but it won't continue in 2011 as the Horned Frogs lose at Boise State and are relegated to a bowl game that doesn't really matter.
10. Florida
16 of 25
What we know: The Will Muschamp era begins in Gainesville and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis just may figure out a way to make John Brantley a good quarterback.
The Gators are loaded with talent, but they'll have to avoid the mistakes of 2010.
Bold prediction: Muschamp is going to lead Florida back to the top of the SEC, but it won't be this year. In fact, the Gators will finish third in the SEC East.
9. Texas A&M
17 of 25
What we know: While the Aggies were one of the hottest teams the second half of the 2010 season, Texas A&M still finished with a rough loss to LSU in the Cotton Bowl. Mike Sherman's team has plenty of experience, which should make the Big 12 interesting this season.
Bold prediction: The Aggies will give Oklahoma a serious run for the Big 12 South title, but it's not going to happen. Texas A&M winds up in the Cotton Bowl again.
8. Stanford
18 of 25
What we know: It's all about Andrew Luck now.
The Cardinal may have lost their leader in former coach Jim Harbaugh, but Luck is a special talent and Stanford is fortunate he chose to come back for another season.
Bold prediction: Stanford plays physical; that will help it win the inaugural Pac-12 championship.
7. Oklahoma State
19 of 25
What we know: The Cowboys may have lost the architect (Dana Holgorsen) to its explosive offense, but Oklahoma State still has quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon.
Bold prediction: Oklahoma State seems ready to knock off the Sooners for the top spot, but the Cowboys will actually finish third in the Big 12 South race.
6. South Carolina
20 of 25
What we know: After winning the first SEC East crown in school history, expectations are going to be sky-high for the Gamecocks.
The defense should be strong, but just a notch below SEC superiority. If quarterback Stephen Garcia can play smart, the offense should be outstanding when you consider the talents of running back Marcus Lattimore and receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Bold prediction: The Gamecocks seem ready to win their first SEC championship, but a thumping in the title game is more likely.
5. Ohio State
21 of 25
What we know: The Buckeyes will be without Terrelle Pryor and his fellow Tat 5 cohorts for the first five games of the season. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel won't be around for those games either, as he serves a self-imposed suspension.
Bold prediction: All of the distractions will finally take a toll on one of the nation's most consistent winners, and Ohio State will miss out on a BCS Bowl Game for the first time since the 2004 team thrashed Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.
4. LSU
22 of 25
What we know: The Tigers are still looking for an answer at quarterback, and must improve on offense.
Even without cornerback Patrick Peterson, though, LSU's defense could be the best in the SEC.
Bold prediction: Despite one of the toughest schedules in the country, Les Miles leads the Tigers to an undefeated season and a spot in the BCS championship game. The big win comes at Tuscaloosa in November.
3. Alabama
23 of 25
What we know: The defense will be one of the nation's best and tailback Trent Richardson will provide a bit of stability on offense. There are a number of question marks on offense, but Nick Saban and his staff will have the talent to fill the holes.
Bold prediction: If you read the slide, before you realize the Tide won't be playing for an SEC championship. However, Saban's team still gets a BCS nod.
2. Oregon
24 of 25
What we know: Oregon's defense needs a major overhaul, but the Ducks still have shutdown corner Cliff Harris, who is also one of the best return men in the nation.
Oregon's offense will continue to score points at a record clip in 2011.
Bold prediction: The Ducks will not return to the championship game, and Chip Kelly's team won't win the Pac-12. Oregon is great at Autzen Stadium, but having to play Stanford on the road this season will be the difference.
1. Oklahoma
25 of 25
What we know: The Sooners are one of the more experienced teams in the nation, and Bob Stoops is going to expect a lot from quarterback Landry Jones, who put together a Heisman-like season last year that went overlooked by many.
Jones will likely do it again, as his favorite target Ryan Broyles is back.
Bold prediction: Stoops doesn't choke and the Sooners live up to the hype. May not seem like too bold of a prediction considering OU is ranked No. 1, but picking the Sooners to reach the title game and finally give Stoops his second title is truly bold.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
