2011 College Football Predictions: Possible Speed Bumps for Top 10 Teams

I think it's safe to say that any of the Associated Press' Top 10 teams could earn a national championship berth.

Most of these teams are loaded with veteran players, even some with likely Heisman candidates. Because many of them will face each other, and most probably won't live up to their hype, these rankings change rapidly as the weeks progress.

While any of them could have a shot at the BCS National Championship, most of them will probably end up screwing up somehow.

Here is a prediction for each of the top 10 teams and how week their season could go awry.

10. Nebraska

Nebraska's move to the Big Ten made their schedule significantly easier than their previous experience in the Big 12.

Now instead of facing a conference full of teams that could push for bowl games, the Cornhuskers will essentially have to compete with only two other contenders.

Unfortunately, those two other contenders are the two that could derail their season.

In week five, Nebraska will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, to face the No. 11 Badgers. If Nebraska is lucky enough to come out of that week with a win, they still have to face the No. 18 Ohio State Buckeyes the following week.

Though Ohio State has seen some controversy regarding their players and will be without some starters, they can always upset and screw things up for their opponents.

These two weeks will be tremendous challenges for Nebraska. Either one of these games could end up ending their contention for a national championship berth.

9. Oklahoma State

The Oklahoma State Cowboys rank at No. 9 in the top 25 polls. They boast the second-best passing attack in college football with top wideout Justin Blackmon, the 2010 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

The Cowboys also have a top quarterback in Brandon Weeden, who threw for 4,277 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2010. The combination of Blackmon and Weeden could be among the deadliest in all of college football.

OSU does face a decently tough schedule, though, including a good group of teams that could end up as contenders.

The two toughest weeks are week four against No. 8 Texas A&M and in early December against No. 1 Oklahoma.

I could honestly see OSU topping A&M, as the Aggies don't possess too many standouts that put them above some of the teams in their conference.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, this still leaves a monster to face at the end of their regular season. I think the Sooners will still be too much for their in-state rivals to handle.

If the Cowboys can hold on to their ranking all season, they will still lose their footing to Oklahoma, but at least they'd still contend for a bowl game at that point.

8. Texas A&M

To me, there is no team whose ranking is more baffling than Texas A&M. Neither their offense nor defense was spectacular in 2010, and they likely won't have a great showing in 2011.

The strength of their schedule will simply be too strenuous for them to handle. They face four ranked teams in Oklahoma State, Missouri, Arkansas, and No. 1 Oklahoma, not to mention match ups with Texas and Texas Tech, as well.

Any one of those six games could, and probably will, derail their season.

That is alright, though, because it seems that Texas A&M intends on leaving the Big 12 for the SEC anyways—and to Texas A&M, I say, good luck.

7. Stanford

I think the only reason Stanford even cracked the top 10 was because of quarterback Andrew Luck.

Luck already has a lot of attention in both the NCAA and the NFL for being the best quarterback available for the 2012 NFL Draft, after deciding to return for another season with the Cardinal.

Stanford faces a decently tough schedule and the loss of head coach John Harbaugh to the NFL's San Fransisco 49ers.

I think the huge target on Luck's back and the fact that he doesn't have a ton of talent around him make the Cardinal an easy candidate to lose their ranking in a hurry.

If you're going to make me pick a game where Stanford will certainly lose their perfect record, it would be against No. 3 Oregon on November 12; but honestly, there are plenty of teams that could upset Stanford before that week.

6. Florida State

Florida State's ranking comes purely from the strength of their defense—and even that isn't all that great.

The Seminoles lost their long-time starting quarterback, Christian Ponder, to graduation and the NFL, and are left with a young, unproven play-caller.

If that isn't enough to cut their season short, the Seminoles have two tough ranked teams on their schedule.

On September 17, the Seminoles face the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners, and their BCS chances will likely end right there. They will also have to face a hungry Florida Gators team that has something to prove against Florida State after the thumping the Seminoles gave them in 2010.

I don't see Florida State winning either of those two match ups, but with only two losses, they could still end up in a good bowl game.

5. Boise State

Boise State could be in a good position to make it to the BCS title game in 2012.

With a relatively weak Mountain West Conference, the Broncos' only real challenges come from match ups against Georgia and TCU.

Boise State's week one game at Georgia could prove to be one of college football's most exciting of the week. If the Broncos could go into an SEC stadium and come out with a win over Georgia, it could be a top early-season story.

This match up is a really unpredictable one, but could either make or break Boise State's season. Even if they are able to hold on, they still have to face a tough TCU team.

Either of those two games could end up screwing up Boise's hopes, but I think Boise probably has the best chance at the national championship game.

4. LSU

LSU's ranking should come with an asterisk. The fact that some of their starters, including quarterback Jordan Jefferson, face suspensions pose a serious problem for the Tigers.

Along with their personnel issues, LSU has one of the toughest schedules in all of college football. The Tigers face seven ranked teams, including the No. 3 Oregon Ducks in week one.

Given that the Tigers will be without some key players, I don't see them competing with the Ducks, and their season will essentially be over at that point.

I think that when the next set of rankings comes out, the Tigers will fall out of the top 25 all together.

3. Oregon

If I'm the Oregon Ducks, I'm not too concerned with the schedule I face in 2011.

Like I said on the previous slide, I don't think the LSU Tigers pose as much of a threat as their ranking would suggest, but it could honestly be a toss up.

The Ducks' only loss last season was in the national championship game, and I think they'll be hungry to get back there in 2012.

The Pac-12 just doesn't have any competitors that can stick it to the Ducks, but if I have to pick a speed bump for Oregon, it's week one against No. 4 LSU.

I know that I said this game is a lock for Oregon, but its the only week that even has the potential to give them trouble.

2. Alabama

Alabama has an advantage going into their 2011 campaign. They are the only SEC team in the top 10 that is actually meaningful at this point, and they have earned their spot in the top 10. LSU seems all but certain to come up short this year, and few other SEC teams have a real shot at proving themselves as a real contender in that conference.

After losing a lot of key players in their passing game from 2010, the Crimson Tide will rely on star running back Trent Richardson to produce for them on the ground.

Alabama's real strength is on defense. With a strong linebacker core, the Crimson Tide shouldn't have a problem shutting down a lot of their conference.

Where could it go wrong for Alabama? A handful of teams are ready to play the spoiler. Back-to-back games against Arkansas and Florida could cost Alabama their chance at the national championship. Later in their schedule, they have to face LSU, Mississippi State, and Auburn, all of whom are ready to ruin Alabama's title hopes.

In a conference with six consecutive national championships, Alabama is going to go through a hellish schedule, but they have all the weapons they need.

Another worry for Alabama could be a growing list of injuries. Richardson has already struggled with knee injuries, and now it looks like his backup could face some similar problems.

1. Oklahoma

Alright, you sat there and read for nine slides as I spilled off why Oklahoma will walk all over the rest of college football. Now it's time to hear how things could go wrong for the No. 1 Sooners.

Oklahoma has the probable preseason leader for the Heisman race in quarterback Landry Jones, and while the Sooners face four ranked teams, there still doesn't seem to be a clear-cut loss.

Florida State, Missouri, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State could all push to upset and spoil the Sooners road to the national championship, but the question is: which one?

The Sooners have the biggest target in the NCAA on their back and could very well get their legs taken out from under them—but at the same time, they could end up winning it all.

With the NCAA, everything is up in the air. Only time will tell.

Thanks for reading.

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