College Football Predictions: Potential Stumbling Blocks for Preseason Top 10
The teams listed in the preseason top 10 will not make losing a habit, and it will take a very strong effort to knock off one of these highly touted squads.
Each of these teams has matchups against elite opponents. Fans realize that a loss is a distinct possibility for their school in these types of contests.
Most of the time though, it is not the heavyweights that doom these top 10 teams, rather it is a less heralded team that outplays the highly ranked power on that particular day.
These games are known as stumbling blocks. Each team has games such as these spread throughout their schedule. Here are 10 stumbling block contests that could cost these highly touted programs their shot at perfection.
-The list of top 10 teams was gathered from about.coms 2011 preseason top 25.
Wisconsin: November 5th vs. Purdue
1 of 10
Wisconsin will rely on the rushing combination of James White and Montee Ball next season. Ball and White become the centerpieces of the offense after the departure of quarterback Scott Tolzien and tight end Lance Kendricks.
Despite the losses on offense, Wisconsin figures to remain at the top of the Big 10 standings.
Purdue meanwhile finished just 4-8 last season, and dropped their final six games of the season. There is reason to think that the Boilermakers will be much improved next season though.
The team returns 16 starters, including nine on the defensive side of the ball. Quarterback Rob Henry had over 1,500 yards last season as a freshman, and barring an impressive spring by backup Robert Marve, he should return under center next season.
Winning in Madison is never an easy task, but this veteran Boilermaker team has the talent both on offense and defense to test the Badgers.
Purdue is picked to finish near the bottom of the Big 10, but Wisconsin would be foolish to overlook the Boilermakers.
Texas A&M: September 4th vs. SMU
2 of 10
Head Coach June Jones has the SMU program on the rise. The Mustangs went to a bowl game last season. The team has the potential to be even better this coming season. SMU returns 18 starters from last year’s bowl team.
Quarterback Kyle Padron is back after putting up gaudy numbers last season in Jones’s run and shoot offense.
He will be without the services of wide receiver Aldrick Robinson (NFL), but Cole Beasley is back after accumulating 1,000-plus receiving yards last season.
The Mustangs will field a veteran defense next season, but will face a strenuous early test, stopping the Aggie rushing duo of Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael.
Playing in front of the 12th man at College Station will be a whole new experience for this Mustangs team, despite the number of upperclassmen they have. SMU must avoid getting the “deer in the headlights” look in the first quarter as the raucous crowd will most certainly roar.
SMU has the talent to play Texas A&M right down to the wire in this opening weekend affair, but the Mustangs must stay composed and avoid early mistakes.
South Carolina: September 10th @ Georgia
3 of 10
Georgia had a less than ideal season in 2010. The Bulldogs were never a factor in the SEC, and culminated the season with a loss to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl.
Nevertheless, a Georgia upset of highly touted South Carolina would not be a shock at all.
Quarterback Aaron Murray returns after throwing 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a freshman last season.
Wide receiver A.J. Green is gone, but there is still an ample amount of talent at the surrounding skill positions. Wide receiver Tavarres King, tight end Orson Charles and heralded recruit running back Isaiah Crowell will all be major contributors for Georgia.
Murray’s passing prowess will challenge a South Carolina secondary that looked suspect at times last season.
The key will be Georgia’s ability to win the battle at the line of scrimmage against the Gamecock offensive line, and get up field movement against running back Marcus Lattimore.
South Carolina has received the lion’s share of the preseason publicity, but Georgia will serve as an immediate challenge for this Gamecock squad.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Oklahoma State: September 17th @ Tulsa
4 of 10
Oklahoma State had one of the highest scoring offense’s in the country last season, averaging 44.2 points per game, but Tulsa’s offense was not too far behind, putting up 41.4 points per contest.
Tulsa is similar to Oklahoma State in that the Golden Hurricane rely on a spectacular quarterback to move their offense. Former Texas Longhorn G.J. Kinne is a senior for Tulsa and put up 3,650 passing yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Kinne’s passing prowess will be a stern early season test for the Cowboys secondary.
Tulsa returns eight starters on defense, and will have a veteran secondary. Stopping the pass-catching combination of quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon will not be easy, but Tulsa does have adequate personnel on defense.
By this point in the season, Tulsa will have already played a game at Oklahoma.
The Golden Hurricane will not be intimidated by the highly touted Cowboy squad. This home game will be a momentous matchup for the Conference USA program, and the home crowd should be rocking.
Boise State: October 22nd vs. Air Force
5 of 10
Air Force runs a wishbone offense under Head Coach Troy Calhoun that is difficult for opposing defenses to slow.
The rush-oriented attack is not run by most other college programs, and teams do not spend an ample amount of time defending against it.
The Falcons wishbone attack should be especially potent next season with the return of senior quarterback Tim Jefferson as well as senior running back Asher Clark. The pair rushed for 1,825 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.
Boise State had their front seven decimated by departures, and might be particularly susceptible against the run next season. This contest will be played in Boise though, which bodes well for the Broncos.
Air Force barely lost to Oklahoma last season 27-24 in a game that was played in Norman. The Falcons have shown the ability to play with—and topple—the country’s elite programs.
Georgia and TCU stand out as Boise State’s toughest games on the schedule, but the Broncos would be wise not to overlook this dangerous Air Force team next season.
Stanford: September 17th @ Arizona
6 of 10
No offense in the PAC 12 will be able to match Stanford’s offensive firepower.
With that being said, Arizona has the capability to score points in bunches as well.
Arizona quarterback Nick Foles is no Andrew Luck, but Foles is still one of the top quarterbacks in the PAC 12. He has great arm strength, and has the ability to torch defenses on deep routes to wide receiver Juron Criner.
Arizona returns both their line backing corps and cornerbacks from last year’s squad. This early season matchup versus the Cardinal will be a very difficult test for Arizona’s new safeties though. Free safety Joseph Perkins and strong safety Anthony Wilcox were both seniors last season.
Stanford only returns six starters from last season’s Orange Bowl team, and Arizona will have the opportunity to put up points versus this new-look Cardinal defense.
The question will be how many times the Wildcats defense can get Luck and the Stanford offense off the field.
LSU: September 15th @ Mississippi State
7 of 10
LSU loses some key members of their defense next season, such as defensive tackle Drake Nevis, linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and cornerback Patrick Peterson.
Mississippi State will be able to exploit the departures of Nevis and Sheppard in this early season matchup.
Both quarterback Chris Relf and running back Vic Ballard are talented rushers in head coach Dan Mullen’s offense.
The Bulldogs should have an excellent crowd in this early season, Thursday night, primetime matchup.
Barring a loss to rebuilding Auburn, Mullen and the Bulldogs will be undefeated as they play before a raucous crowd in Starkville.
Mississippi State will have a veteran secondary unit to matchup with LSU wide receivers Rueben Randle and Russell Shepherd.
Dan Mullen has the Mississippi State program on the rise. An early season victory over LSU would be yet another big step for this surging Bulldog program.
Alabama: October 1st @ Florida
8 of 10
Either A.J. McCarron or Phillip Sims will start at quarterback next season for Alabama. Whoever is named the Crimson Tide’s starter will have the benefit of playing three out of the first four games in Tuscaloosa.
An October 1st matchup in the Swamp versus a revenge-minded Florida team will be an early test for this loaded Alabama team.
Florida struggled last season going 8-5, but the Gators still have great team speed on both sides of the ball.
Speedy running backs Mike Gillislee and Jeff Demps have the potential to give Alabama trouble, and can make big plays if they are allowed to get into the open field.
Quarterback John Brantley will have to give the Gators good play under center in this matchup versus an Alabama unit that might be the top defense in the country.
The one question in this game will be whether Florida can get any pressure on McCarron or Simms. Florida was not able to consistently rush the quarterback last season.
The fact that a road game at the Swamp is considered a stumble block for Alabama speaks volumes about how loaded the Crimson Tide are.
Either way, this early season road game will be a test for Head Coach Nick Saban and company.
Oklahoma: September 24th vs. Missouri
9 of 10
This game has the potential to get easily dismissed. Decorated Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert is obviously departed, and this game will be played on Oklahoma’s home turf in Norman.
Missouri returns 17 starters from the team that knocked off Oklahoma in Columbia last season. Nine starters return on offense in particular.
James Franklin steps in as starter at quarterback, but he will have a trio of talented wide receivers to throw to in tight end Michael Egnew and wide receivers T.J. Moe and Jerrell Jackson.
Oklahoma has an early season non-conference matchup versus Florida State the week before they play Missouri. The Tigers could be in prime position to catch the Sooners napping.
Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas are the three pivotal cruxes in Oklahoma’s Big 12 slate, but an early season matchup against this undervalued Tigers team will be tougher than some might think.
Oregon: October 22nd @ Colorado
10 of 10
If there is one area where Oregon will have to reload next season, it will be in the front seven of their defense.
The Ducks face heavy departures from this area of the defense next fall. Linebackers Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger will both be missed dearly.
Colorado will offer a stern test for Oregon’s new-look defense next season in the form of running back Rodney Stewart. Stewart is a talented back that rushed for 1,318 yards last season as a junior. He will be the biggest challenge that Oregon’s rushing defense faces up to this point in the season.
California proved last season that the way to hang with Oregon’s fast paced offense was to establish tempo and win the time of possession. If Stewart and the Buffaloes can establish tempo early, it will allow them to hang around in this contest.
Colorado returns seven starters on defense, and should be much improved after struggling to consistently make stops in 2010.
Colorado has the potential to enter the PAC 12 with a bang next season. A win over the powerful Ducks would be a statement victory for new coach Jon Embree.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
