College Football 2011: 10 Teams That Should Be Favored in Every Game They Play
As spring ball comes to a close, most football aficionados are beginning the task of predicting which team will win which conference, or who will win what rivalry game.
But are there teams that should win every game?
Most years, the regular season comes to an end with a handful of undefeated teams. Luckily, we have conference championship games and bowl games to thin out the undefeated herd.
Plus, there are surprises, upsets and injuries that sway the outcome of the season.
But before we have to deal with all of the unexpected events of 2011, here is our list of 10 teams that should be favored to win every game in which they play.
10. United States Naval Academy
1 of 10
Five years ago, to suggest that Navy could win every game on their schedule would be laughable.
After all, the Midshipmen play Notre Dame each and every year and had lost each year for nearly 50 consecutive years.
But Navy has won three of the last four over the Irish, and Bill the Goat should like the looks of Navy’s 2011 schedule.
The one possible exception to Navy’s run through 2011 comes on September 17, when they travel to face the South Carolina Gamecocks.
But South Carolina has some problems of their own, which we’ll discuss later.
Depending on how USC manages to sift through the Stephen Garcia matter, South Carolina will either be huge favorites, or Navy could conceivably sneak one by the unsuspecting Gamecocks.
Beyond SC, Navy only has Notre Dame, Air Force and Army as the games of note on their schedule.
Should the Midshipment edge past South Carolina, they’ll be huge favorites for the rest of 2011.
9. Brigham Young
2 of 10
There are some advantages to being an independent in football.
For starters, leaving the MWC means no Boise State.
BYU's most difficult game on their schedule probably will be an October 28 date with TCU at Cowboys Stadium.
Early season showdowns with Texas and Utah are potential stumbling points as well, but with years both those teams had in 2010, don't be surprised if BYU is a slight favorite in those games. Even if they're not favored, BYU will still be picked by many pundits to win.
After Utah in week three, BYU enters a yawner of a schedule.
9/23 vs. UCF
9/30 vs. Utah State
10/8 vs. San Jose State
A trip to Oregon State breaks up the boredom on October 15, but that's followed with a visit from FCS Idaho State.
After the TCU game, BYU finished with another snooze-fest which includes Idaho, New Mexico State, and Hawai'i.
Don't be surprised if BYU takes full advantage of this less-than-impressive schedule in 2011, and managed to end the year 9 wins or more.
8. Connecticut
3 of 10
UConn had a break-out season of sorts in 2010.
Even though the Huskies lost four of their first seven games, they still managed to capture the 2010 Big East title and represented the conference in the BCS by facing Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
For 2011, the Huskies have found their non-conference schedule lacking any marquee match ups.
One of the least-difficult non-conference schedules for any BCS-AQ conference team, Connecticut will face FCS Fordham, Vanderbilt, Iowa State, Buffalo and Western Michigan.
While UConn probably doesn’t top anyone’s list of BCS favorites in 2011, they are at or near the top of loads of Big East predicitions, and they should stack up well against the rest of the conference again in 2011.
What do you get when you take a favorite from a weak conference and sprinkle an even weaker non-conference schedule on top? A team that will be the favorite going into each game.
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7. Virginia Tech
4 of 10
Tech had a disastrous start to 2010. After a hard-fought loss to Boise State, the Hokies laid an egg in a 21-16 loss to FCS James Madison.
Then they proceeded to rattle off 11 straight wins en route to an ACC championship and Orange Bowl berth.
Don’t expect Va. Tech to struggle in the first two weeks of 2011.
The Hokies begin their season by welcoming in FCS Appalachian State, followed by a trip to East Carolina.
One note of importance about Tech’s 2011 slate is the absence of Florida State yet again. The ACC scheduling cycle has certainly provided Virginia Tech with the opportunity to be favored going into every game in 2011.
6. South Carolina
5 of 10
The Gamecocks managed to slay the Alabama giant in 2010.
Alabama won’t be able to return the favor in 2011, as the Crimson Tide do not appear on USC’s regular season schedule.
While South Carolina does have the outstanding question regarding senior quarterback Stephen Garcia, it’s likely he’ll return to South Carolina, at least in some capacity. And it’s not as if head coach Steve Spurrier doesn’t have any options to exercise if Garcia isn’t available for any length of time. But Garcia’s importance to SC’s offense can’t be overestimated.
South Carolina’s key games in 2011 include September 10 at Georgia and October 1 at home against a depleted Auburn.
South Carolina’s SEC-East division title in 2010 will give them a little extra credibility in some games they would ordinarily be written off. Combine that with no LSU or Alabama on their schedule, and you have a recipe for a team favored every week.
5. Ohio State*
6 of 10
Yes, there's an asterisk.
Everyone is fully aware that Ohio State will begin the season a bit shorthanded.
Not only will do-it-all quarterback Terrelle Pryor be forced to sit out the first five games of 2011, head coach Jim Tressel won’t be on the sidelines, either.
While that doesn’t mean much for a few of Ohio State’s early games, it could mean trouble for games against Miami and Michigan State.
For those games, essentially the Buckeyes have five starters returning on their offensive unit.
The defense doesn’t provide tons of extra hope, as they only have five returning starters, and that’s for the entire season.
Still, Ohio State is Ohio State, and they’ll have the talent to remain in close games with Miami and Michigan State. And don’t be surprised if the Buckeyes are actually favored.
But with the absence of four offensive starters for the first five weeks, the games will be a lot closer than they should be.
4. Boise State
7 of 10
Top lesson from 2010: putting the fate of the game, and your season, solely in the hands—on on the foot—of one player is never a good idea.
Let’s not pretend that kicking in last year’s circumstances is easy, especially given the venue, the altitude, and the temperature in Reno in November.
But missing two chip shots at the end of the game…
Kickers.
While it’s not wise to put your season in the hands of one player, there is one player on the 2011 Boise State roster that will try to carry the entire team on his shoulders: Kellen Moore.
This Heisman hopeful enters the 2011 season as one of the top players, if not the top player, returning for 2011.
Boise State also moves to the MWC for 2011, and the most important facet of that change is the regular season match up with TCU.
While the defending Rose Bowl champions will unquestionably be a tough squad in 2011, their talent drain will temper expectations. Boise State will be heavy favorites to tear through the Mountain West and return to their BCS-busting ways.
3. Oregon
8 of 10
Last year was easily the best season in Oregon Ducks football history.
The Ducks were very close to a national championship in 2010, but as everyone’s grandfather says, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
And preseason expectations.
Oregon will begin 2011 as a consensus Top Five team. They’re the favorites for the new-look Pac-12 and should be eager to complete some unfinished business from 2010.
Oregon does have some huge games on their schedule, most notably a week one meeting with LSU and a November 12 showdown with the Stanford Cardinal.
Oregon also has some impressive talent returning, especially 2010’s FBS leading rusher, LaMichael James.
Based partly on Oregon’s line up and partly on last year’s results, Oregon should be favored to ein each game on their 2011 schedule.
2. Alabama
9 of 10
The Crimson Tide came off a 2010 season that was, by Alabama standards, lacking.
It was not only lacking a highly-expected BCS title run, but it was also lacking an SEC title run. Or an Iron Bowl victory. Or a victory over LSU.
No matter how you look at it, 2010 was disappointing for Tide faithful.
But the eternally optimistic Crimson Tide nation is looking towards 2011 with renewed hope, and with good reason.
Alabama has an intact offensive line returning from 2010. Additionally, Alabama’s linebackers and secondary are all back from last year.
Translation: Good luck scoring on this powerful SEC defense.
While the Tide do lose some skill position talent, it’s doubtful Nick Saban’s cupboard was very bare.
While Alabama may not be scoring 50 points per game, with the Tide defense, they won’t have to.
Alabama should be able to muscle their way back to Atlanta in 2011.
1. Oklahoma
10 of 10
The Sooners are already topping most preseason lists.
With the sheer volume of talent that Oklahoma will field in the fall, it’s little wonder as to why they’re so highly favored.
That’s not to say that OU doesn’t have some tough games on the 2011 docket.
After a warm-up against Tulsa, the Sooners jump right into the thick of the action with a week three game at Florida State following an early bye week. The Seminoles are also highly touted coming into 2011—just not as highly touted as Oklahoma.
Week four gets off to a bang, with OU taking on Big 12 opponent Missouri.
OU finishes the season against Oklahoma State, as usual. Although Oklahoma State has a stellar offense that is returning practically intact from 2010, OU will still be favored should they get through to that point in the season unscathed. Still, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State could be the game in the Big 12 in 2011.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
