Comparing Each NFL Team to Its College Football Counterpart

We all know that some teams have ridiculous fanbases, whether they are NFL or NCAA.  Just about every region of the country has one of each, and it is interesting to look at which league has the bigger following.

Some NFL teams are so far away from football colleges that it's hard to pinpoint exactly which teams go together, and others are so close they have multiple college counterparts.

New Orleans Saints: LSU

Both Louisiana teams have a great following. LSU won the SEC Championship and is heading down to the home of the Saints on January 9 to take on SEC rival Alabama.

The Saints are leading their conference and have already clinched a spot in the playoffs.

Atlanta Falcons: Georgia Bulldogs

Similar to LSU and New Orleans, the University of Georgia always plays a game in the Georgia Dome, home to the Atlanta Falcons. This year, they lost to LSU in the SEC Championship, but will still head down to Tampa January 2 to face Michigan State in the Outback Bowl.

The Falcons are second in the NFC South after having a little rocky start to the season.  They should finish strong and could make the playoffs. 

Carolina Panthers: North Carolina Tar Heels, Clemson Tigers, South Carolina

The Carolina Panthers are one of the youngest teams in the league, and while they have sold out 92 straight games, are still working on a solid fanbase. The team is situated right by the border of North and South Carolina, so it really represents both states, which is why there are three college teams to relate it to.

Clemson and South Carolina were both among the top 25 this past season, and all three teams are headed to bowl games.

The Panthers have had a rebuilding year with new coach Ron Rivera and Cam Newton heading up the offense. They certainly improved from last season, but still have a ways to go before they make another run at the Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: University of South Florida

The Bucs started off the year decent and have fallen into a recent slump, possibly due to Josh Freeman being out or that they have the youngest coach in the league. 

USF hasn't been fairing too well, either. Last year, they beat Clemson in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, NC, and this year, they ended their season ranked seventh in the Big East. It seems like the Bucs are the better off of this pair.

Green Bay Packers: University of Wisconsin

The undefeated Packers are obviously going to be the best of the two, but the Badgers did pretty well this season too, finishing first in the Big Ten. 

Aaron Rodgers has a great team, both offense and defense that have helped him plow through everyone this season, and new addition Russell Wilson in Wisconsin has done the same.

The Packers are sure to head back to the Super Bowl, and the Badgers take on Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Detroit Lions: Michigan Wolverines

The Lions have made an incredible name for themselves, really just coming out of the woodwork this season. They have always been this mediocre team, and with Matthew Stafford and Ndamukong Suh, they have really shone. Granted, they have lately been getting tons of penalties, which have cost them, but the team should be able to make a playoff run.

The Wolverines came out second in the Big Ten after beating Ohio State and will take on Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl January 3.

Chicago Bears: Notre Dame

The Chicago Bears have had a rocky season due to some injuries, but the team is still 7-6 and has a fairly easy remaining schedule. 

Notre Dame also had a kind of rocky season, not the typical powerhouse it is usually known for. However they finished 8-4 and will be playing Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Minnesota Vikings: Minnesota Golden Gophers

With the Vikings being the second-worst team in the NFL, its pretty easy for the Golden Gophers to be the better of the two teams. 

Christian Ponder has done all he can for the Vikings, but all around, the season is a wash, while the Golden Gophers came out sixth in the Big Ten and won't even be going to a bowl.

Giants, Jets, Bills: Syracuse

Hands down, of all teams in the New York area, the Giants are the best. They are leading the NFC East and have recently come up with some huge wins. The Jets have been improving, as have the Bills, but no one can touch the Giants in this state.

Dallas Cowboys: TCU

The Cowboys had a tough loss to the New York Giants Sunday night, but Tony Romo has certainly been redeeming himself this season. 

The Horned Frogs, who finished first in their division, play in the Poinsettia Bowl against Louisiana Tech on December 21. It's really a matter of if the Cowboys make it to the playoffs or not before we can determine which one is better off.

Philadelphia Eagles: Penn State

The Eagles were doing pretty well at the beginning of the season before Vick got injured and Vince Young came in, and now, they are in third place in the NFC East.

However, really, no matter how bad you play, you're in better shape than Penn State amidst the scandal that has rocked campus.

Washington Redskins: Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is definitely having a better season than the Redskins. Both teams have a great following, based on tradition, but the Redskins have had an off season, while the Hokies came in second in the ACC.

San Francisco 49ers: Stanford

This is a tough call because both teams have been phenomenal this year. Andrew Luck has led Stanford  to a great season and is predicted to be the No. 1 draft pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. Alex Smith has been doing the same and lighting it up in San Francisco.

Arizona Cardinals: Arizona Wilcats and Arizona State Sun Devils

The Cardinals have been making a comeback this season after starting off poorly. They even came back to beat division leader 49ers on Sunday, continuing their three-game winning streak.

The Wildcats had a poor season, only winning four games, while Arizona State will be taking on Boise State in the Maaco Bowl. This matchup goes to the Sun Devils.

Seattle Seahawks: Oregon Ducks

Not much need for a comparison here. The Seahawks have not been playing as well as they did in the earlier 2000s, while the Oregon Ducks have taken off, especially with their new branding.

St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs: Mizzou

All around, these three teams aren't the greatest on the playing field, but they do have a great following. St. Louis and Kansas City have no chance at the playoffs, but Mizzou will be facing North Carolina in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl.

Houston Texans: Texas A&M

A&M is typically a tough team to beat, but they finished sixth in their division this season, while the Texans are usually close to last and are now first. It's taken three quarterbacks in Houston, but they have clinched a berth in the playoffs.

Tennessee Titans: Tennessee Vols

The Titans may not have as great of a following as the Vols, but they are playing much better.  Chris Johnson has been quite an asset for the team, and they should be able to win the rest of their games this season to continue.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Florida Gators

We all know that Jacksonville was not the right spot for an NFL team; they can hardly get butts in the seats. The Florida Gators will always take the cake on this comparison.

Indianapolis Colts: Purdue

Purdue takes this one. They ranked third in the Big East this season and are headed to a bowl game, while the Colts are plugging along with their "Suck for Luck" campaign and a daring 0-13 for the season.

Baltimore Ravens: Maryland Terrapins

New uniforms didn't translate to much success for the Terps, but the Ravens have been keeping up the pace in the AFC. Baltimore's record is 10-3, the same as three other teams in the division. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Pittsburgh Panthers

The Steel Curtain is plowing through the competition, even though they are tied with the Ravens in their conference. The Panthers have been playing well also, and will be attending a bowl game later this month. However, the Steelers will always have a stronger following.

Bengals and Browns: Ohio State

Ohio State is has such a bigger following in this era than the Browns or the Bengals. Even though there was scandal that shocked Buckeye nation last season, the Browns and Bengals can't compare when they are in the last two spots of the AFC North.

New England Patriots: Boston College

Another easy one here. The Patriots are as loved as they are hated, but no one can deny the greatness that is Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker.

Miami Dolphin: Miami Hurricanes

Matt Moore and Reggie Bush are bringing some life back to South Beach, but the U has so much more support, even though they came in fourth place of the ACC Coastal Division.

Denver Broncos: Brigham Young

Tim Tebow... 'nuff said.

Oakland Raiders: USC

Matt Barkley has done a great job for Southern Cal, and it will a fun to see whether he decides to stay or head to the big leagues. Carson Palmer has done a little good in Oakland, but there still isn't much of a fanbase, particularly compared to the Trojans.

San Diego Chargers: UCLA

Philip Rivers is working making a comeback from his awful performance earlier this season, and while he isn't doing a fantastic job, the Chargers are more loved than the Bruins when it comes down to it.