With no threat of a lockout or work stoppage, we’ve been looking forward to the college football season like no other. The Sports Collision writers got together and broke down every automatic BCS qualifying conference to determine conference champions, Heisman candidates and of course the BCS National Champion.
So let’s get started.
Who will win the SEC?
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ALABAMA
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ALABAMA
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ALABAMA
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SOUTH CAROLINA
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| I’m solidly rooting for South Carolina here. They have the talent to win the west, but Alabama brings too much ol’school, smash mouth football. Saban is a mastermind on defense and will put 8 players from this team in the pros. |
Nick Saban is at it again with a loaded team down in Tuscaloosa. Auburn is down, Florida is starting over with new coaches, and Georgia is not ready. LSU and South Carolina pose the biggest threat to the Tide but Spurrier’s Gamecocks have an inconsistent QB. Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffre are solid for South Carolina but it will not be enough as they will lose to Alabama in the SEC Title game. |
Even with the loss of Greg McElroy, the Crimson Tide are an extremely complete team. They have depth at almost every position, and are scary at running back. |
Call me crazy, but I think it’s the old ball coach’s year to win the SEC. He’s had enough time to build that program. |
Who will win the Big 10?
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NEBRASKA
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NEBRASKA
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MICHIGAN
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WISCONSIN
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| In the first year that Nebraska would actually be able to compete with the likes of the University of Texas and Oklahoma they leave for the Big 10. This team has talent all over. If they can get past the Iowa Hawkeyes, Nebraska will be golden, likely playing Wisconsin in the inaugural B1G Championship Game. |
The Huskers Blackshirt defense is back behind Bo Pelini and their QB Taylor Martinez is back for his sophomore season. If Martinez can become even a decent passer, the Nebraska can escape the Big Ten with maybe only 2 losses on the season. |
Yes, the Wolverines do have a new head coach in Brady Hoke. However, Hoke has shown he is much smarter with personnel, especially running backs and quarterbacks. QB Denard Robinson has arguably the best receiving group in the conference and is still an extremely dangerous rusher himself. |
Too much lingering mess going on at Ohio St. to compete for the crown. Michigan St. will provide the most competition to Badger Country, but ultimately they will choke when it counts. |
Who will win the Big XII?
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OKLAHOMA
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OKLAHOMA
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OKLAHOMA
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OKLAHOMA STATE
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| OU has the most complete team in the conference and possibly the country. A&M poses a huge threat, but Bob Stoops doesn’t lose home games and thats where the OU/A&M game is played this year. A&M may only have one loss on their record at the end of the season, but that loss will be to Oklahoma. |
This was the toughest pick for me because I a not sure if OU will live up to the hype. Ryan Broyles and Landry Jones will put up BIG numbers. But the loss of Travis Lewis at LB is bigger than some people think. Texas A&M will give the Sooners hell in the South and the winner of that game will win the conference. |
Not even close. With Nebraska departed and Texas trying to rediscover itself, the Sooners only competition is Oklahoma State and the Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies offer the best chance to knock off OU, but the Sooners are perhaps the most complete team in the entire nation. |
They made some great strides last year and had two tough losses to Huskers and their instate rival, OU. I think this is the team that no one is talking about that will probably surprise people. |
Who will win the Pac-10?
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OREGON
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OREGON
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OREGON
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STANFORD
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| Oregon is essentially the same team that lost in the national title game last year. As long as they can focus and not get caught up in the potential NCAA sanctions coming their way they’ll be good. Andrew Luck is the best player in the nation, but it is tough to recruit at a school with such high academic standards. USC would win the south division, but due to sanctions looks like UCLA will finally get some respectability back. |
The Ducks are loaded on offense and let’s face it….that is all you really need in the Pac-12. Defenses are not very stingy out west so the Ducks will outscore almost everyone they play. Their early season test with LSU will be HUGE, but the conference schedule doesnt get tough except for Stanford. The Cardinal are a big road block in the way, but I think Andrew Luck will come up just short. |
The USC Trojans will win the conference. Oh wait, they can’t. While the Stanford Cardinal return the best quarterback in the country, thEdeparture of Jim Harbaugh will hurt more than they think. Oregon is coming off a BCS title loss and will be some hungry Ducks. |
Andrew Luck is back without his 2010 coach. He’s a good enough player to will the Cardinal to the crown. |
Who will win the Big East?
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SOUTH FLORIDA
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WEST VIRGINIA
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WEST VIRGINIA
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PITTSBURGH
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| This is the year for a surprise to come out of the East. South Florida will beat Notre Dame and begin a run at the Big East title. West Virginia is by far the toughest competition here, but the Bulls get them at home this season. So long as South Florida wins that game they’ll win the Big East. |
The Mountaineers have a new coach and young talent, but the rest of the Big East is simply lacking. Pittsburgh is the only other team that might mess things up for WVU so as usual, the Backyard Brawl will be huge and decision making. |
The Big East features schools with talented offenses, and it will come down to the game between Pittsburgh and West Virginia. The Mountaineers play that game at home. West Virginia takes the conference. |
Safe bet in a weak conference. UConn’s 2010 surprising campaign won’t be duplicated in 2011 |
Who will win the ACC?
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FLORIDA STATE
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FLORIDA STATE
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FLORIDA STATE
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FLORIDA STATE
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| FSU and a guy named Cam Newton killed my national title predictions last year, so I wouldn’t pick against either of them this year (if Cam hadn’t taken a pay cut to go Pro). Miami takes a huge step backwards amidst the allegations of NCAA violations. |
As much as it pains me to say this, Florida State is BACK. Jimbo Fisher has a nasty defense again and a VERY athletic QB in E.J. Manuel. The Noles will have a HUGE early season game against Oklahoma, but the ACC should be slim pickings. Virginia Tech will give them a fight in the ACC Title game, but the Noles will prevail. |
Would it be “too soon” to say the U? Although the Tar Heels seem to be improving every year, it has to be the Florida State Seminoles. With a top recruiting class, it appears the ‘Noles are looking to make national headlines again. |
I picked them last year and they came pretty close under then first year head coach Jimbo Fisher. I think he propels them to the crown of the ACC. |
Which non-automatic BCS qualifying team should we watch out for?
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BOISE ST.
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BOISE ST.
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BOISE ST.
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TCU
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| Boise St and TCU, I flipped a coin and it landed with Broncos up. TCU needs to make a statement as they head into the Big East next season it’ll be nice to see Boise St and TCU play a conference game together. Without Andy Dalton the Frogs are going to put more pressure on that defense. If Boise gets past Georgia, look out. |
WOW. This team is LOADED. Can they finally get over the hump and make the national title game? Can Kellen Moore deliver AGAIN? The Broncos will have some tough matchups in the Mountain West this year, but I see a perfect season on their horizon. |
The annual BCS-busting, blue-turfing, gun- slinging Broncos look to finally get over the hump and make a title game. An early test at Georgia will show whether or not they are the real deal. |
They have been consistently good several seasons. With Boise State in the same conference, it should make that conference a bit more interesting. |
Who is your early pick for Heisman winner?
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NICK FOLES
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KELLEN MOORE
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ANDREW LUCK
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ANDREW LUCK
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| To be clear, I don’t think he’ll win because I think the supporting cast won’t hold up their end of the deal. The Arizona gunslinger has an outside shot at propelling his team to the Pac-12 title game. This kids NFL stock rises this season and he’ll be the 2nd QB drafted behind Andrew Luck. |
He is the real deal and will put up HUGE numbers this season. Andrew Luck is the sexy pick so far, but Moore will outshoot Luck and take home the pose. Luck will get his revenge in April at the NFL Draft. |
He has everything working for him. The media loves him. The country loves him. Down to earth kid with an incredible arm. Don’t count out Trent Richardson of Alabama, though, as he will turn heads with his stats. |
He was in the running last year and should win it all this year. |
Who wins the BCS National Title?
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OKLAHOMA OVER BOISE ST.
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ALABAMA OVER BOISE ST.
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OKLAHOMA OVER ALAMABA
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STANFORD OVER S. CAROLINA
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| This is the year that all the people rooting for the underdog finally see Boise St in the national title game. In a rematch of the 2007 Fiest Bowl, Oklahoma finally gets their revenge and knocks off Boise St in the title game. This will be the last time we see a non-aq team in the title game. |
Bama rolls to the title. The speed and power of the Tide defense will confuse and batter Kellen Moore. Alabama 31 Boise State 13. |
The Sooners and the Crimson Tide are national powerhouses that both believe this is their year. Bob Stoops may have never had a team this deep and talented, and although Alabama features a bigger, more physical style of play, the Sooners are ready to rumble. The Oklahoma Sooners are the national champs. |
Stanford wins 28-24 capping Andrew Luck’s Heisman winning season. |
Which school is the next to receive sanctions for major violations from the NCAA?
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ALABAMA
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LSU
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THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA
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FLORIDA
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| Let’s not pretend that every school out there deserves sanctions. Everyone is breaking the rules. Nick Saban has been out in the public eye beating the drum to look like a clean program. It looks to me like he’s been trying a little TOO hard. But in reality, it could be any of the schools we mentioned here. They’re all cheating. |
LSU will be hit with sanctions due to the recent events with Jordan Jefferson. Willie Lyles is already a problem, but the recent criminal problems will cause more investigations. The Tigers might be in some trouble in the near future. |
Everyone is now aware of everything going down in Miami U, and UCF is now getting investigated. Who is next? Florida State? USF? Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University? |
Haha…Be easy to say Miami. Lets stay in the Sunshine state and say the University of Florida. Urban gets out in time and Muschamp takes the fall. Smart, Urban, Smart. |
What do you think?
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