2014
Big 12 & Pac 12 Predictions
My 2014 D-Money College Football Predictions rolls
on. I promise you that the Big 12 & Pac 12 won’t be as long as the Big 10
but still entertaining. First I look into the
BIG
12
1.) Oklahoma Sooners (8-1 B12 11-1 Overall)
The Sooners have a great nucleus
returning from the team that upset Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last year. Led on
offense by Sophomore QB Trevor Knight & on Defense by LB Eric Striker (JR),
& DB Zach Sanchez(SOPH). The schedule is pretty favorable with last year’s
champ Baylor coming to Norman but somehow Oklahoma loses a game they shouldn’t
but should they go undefeated they’ll be guaranteed to be in the 4 team
Playoff.
T
2nd.) Baylor Bears (7-2 B12
10-2 Overall)
Coach Art Briles has done a wonderful
job at Baylor and continues the momentum as the Bears open a new stadium this
year. They’ll be led on Offense by Senior QB Bryce Petty who puts up really
good numbers. WR Antwan Goodley(SR) will be one of his main targets. Defense
was a weak spot but they hope to improve in order to repeat as champs. LB Bryce
Hager(SR) is the returning tackler. Teams in the Big 12 are now gunning for the
Bears but they’ll be up there in the BI2 race.
T
2nd. ) Texas Longhorns (7-2 B12
9-3 Overall)
The Charlie Strong Era begins in Texas. QB David Ash(SR) returns to lead
the offense so does running back Malcolm Brown(SR). The Longhorns defense
should be one of best in the B12. They will be led by DL Cedric Reed(SR) &
DB Quandre Diggs(SR). Non Conference has them hosting BYU & at UCLA. They
could be competitive if the offense can get going.
4.) Kansas State Wildcats (6-3
B12 8-4 Overall)
Last year, K-State had
to rebuild from 2012 B12 championship team. But they were able to win 6 out of
their last 7 games including the bowl game to finish 8-5. They have a good
group coming back for HC Bill Snyder. They’ll be lead on offense by QB Daniel
Sams(JR), WR Tyler Lockett(SR), and I kid you not they have on their team who
is an offense tackle that is projected to be All Big 12 & his name is Cody
Whitehair(JR).
I wonder if we are distantly related somehow, that
would be cool!!!
Anyway back to the blog. On defense DB Dante
Barnett(SOPH) returns he was the MVP of the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Looking at
their schedule they it’s pretty good but they are away at Oklahoma & Baylor
but they host Auburn in Non Conference.
T5.)
TCU Horned Frogs (5-4 B12
8-4 Overall)
TCU has hopes of returning to a bowl game after a
4-8 season with a few close losses in 2013. Led by Trevone Boykin at QB but he
could be challenged by Texas A&M transfer Matt Joeckel. On defense
returning is DT Chucky Hunter and DB Kevin White. Probably the biggest game of
the year for them is hosting Oklahoma. If they upset them that could be big for
their season.
T5).
Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-4 B12 7-5
Overall)
A couple key players left from last year’s team but
HC Mike Gundy hopes a few new faces can step in and keep the Cowboys possibly
in the B12 race. Clint Chelf is gone but J.W Walsh who played a little last
year hopes to establish himself at QB. He will have HB/WR Tyreek Hill to help
him out. On defense Justin Gilbert is gone but LB/S Josh Furman returns and DB
Kevin Peterson hopes to lead the backfield in place of Gilbert. Oklahoma State
plays Florida State in the Opening game in Dallas, Texas.
7.)
Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-5 B12 7-5 Overall)
The Red Raiders started out 7-0 last year until
losing their last 5 games before winning the Bowl Game. QB Davis Webb returns
as does WR Jakeem Grant. LB Kenny Williams is the key returnee on Defense.
Texas Tech needs their D to step up if they don’t want a repeat of what
happened at last half of the season.
8.) West Virginia Mountaineers (2-7
B12 3-9 Overall)
Why in the Hell is West Virginia doing in the Big
12? Because of downfall of the old Big East Football they didn’t get asked by
the SEC(HAHA in their dreams), the Big 10, or even the ACC which the ACC makes
sense to me since they could renew their rivalries with Pitt, Syracuse, &
Virginia Tech. But they are in the Big 12 and now the Football program is becoming
a joke from winning Big East titles and going to BCS Games to now barley . Now
they are in a Top 5 conference but are struggling to get into bowl games. But
enough of my rant here’s how their team looks.
Turnovers and improvement on Defense is what needed
to be addressed if West Virginia want to get their coach off the hot seat.
Junior Andrew Buie & Dreamius Smith are the leading returning rushers. On
defense Kyle Rose will move from DE to Nose Tackle but appears to be the leader
on Defense. Non Conference schedule won’t be easy since WVU goes to Alabama
& Maryland.
9.)
Iowa State Cyclones (1-8 B12 3-9
Overall)
Coach Paul Rhodes hopes to get Iowa State back to a
bowl game after a 3-9 season but it won’t be easy. They have good young
receivers and tight ends in E.J. Bibbs & Allen Lazard. Having Mark Mangino
as the new Offensive Coordinator could help. The key would be on how their
defense which is young would develop. If they go to Iowa and pull off an upset
that could jump start their season but a lot has to happen.
10.)
Kansas Jayhawks (0-9 Big 12
2-10 Overall)
It’s do or die for Charlie Weis as he has to have a
good season or have signs of improvement or else. QB Montell Cozart returns to
lead the offense as LB Ben Heeney is the key returning defensive player.
That’s the Big 12 as a whole. Now, here’s the
PAC-12!
PAC
12
North
Division
1.
Oregon
Ducks (8-1 P12 12-1 Overall)
HC Mark Helfrich hopes to get
Oregon back in the national title picture as 6 starters return on offense and 5
on Defense. Though both sides got huge boosts when QB Marcus Mariota decided to
return and so did DE Tony Washington. RB Bryon Marshall appears to be a
playmaker for Oregon as well. They host Michigan State non-conference but go to
South Division favorite UCLA. I don’t think they’ll be undefeated but I think
they’ll win the PAC 12 and be in the 4 team College Playoff.
2.
Stanford
Cardinal (7-2 P12 9-3
Overall )
The defending Pac 12 champions
could have a little bit of a drop off but they could still be in contention in
the North. QB Kevin Hogan returns WR Ty Montgomery is an All American Return
Specialist. But they have to replace most of their O Line and on defense they
lose some of the front seven which had great leadership. They’ll be good and go
to a good bowl game but the 4 year
streak of BCS games will end.
3.
Washington
Huskies (5-4 P12 9-4
Overall)
The Huskies lose Steve Sarkisian to
USC but get a new Head Coach in Chris Peterson from Boise State who led them to
BCS Wins and Championships. QB Cyler Miles leads the offense. Peterson will
keep Washington competitive.
T4.) Oregon State Beavers (3-6 P12
6-6 Overall)
HC
Mike Riley usually has Oregon State competitive. They almost upset Oregon last
year. 7 starters return on both sides including QB Sean Mannion & CB Steven
Nelson. C Isaac Seumalo is an All-American Lineman.
T
4. ) Washington State Cougars (3-6
P12 6-6 Overall)
QB Conner Holiday returns to lead HC Mike Leach’s
Cougars after their first bowl appearance in almost 9 seasons. They will score
on offense but the D needs to step up to better their record. DL Xavier Cooper
will be their key player.
6.
California Golden Bears (1-8 P12 2-10 Overall)
Year 2 of the Sonny Dykes era begins and it will
still not be an easy one. Passing game will still be good but the D needs to
get better in order to show fans the team is improving after 1-11 last year.
South
Division
1.) UCLA Bruins (8-1
P12 11-2 Overall)
The UCLA Bruins won the Sun Bowl
with a 10-3 record last year and with 8 returning starters on both sides
they’ll hope to win the PAC 12 and get into the College Football Playoff.
They’ll be led by QB Brett Hundley. Coach Jim Mora Jr recruited great talent
around him. The schedule is tough but they do get USC, Oregon, and Stanford all
at home.
2.) USC Trojans
(6-3 P12 9-3 Overall)
HC
Steve Sarkisian was an assistant at USC before coaching Washington. He returns
to try to bring USC back to National Contenders. QB Cody Kessler returns as
does WR Nelson Agholor on Offense. DE Leonard Williams returns to lead the
Defense as does Safety Leon McQuay III.
3.) Arizona State Sun Devils (6-3 P12
8-4 Overall)
HC
Todd Graham hopes to lead Arizona State back to the P12 Championship game. QB
Taylor Kelly and RB D.J Foster lead the offense. The only thing that will hurt
is the lack of experience on defense as only 2 starters return. The offense
with 8 back needs to pull the team so the D could come together if they are to
have another successful season.
4.) Arizona Wildcats (4-5 P12 7-5 Overall)
Rich
Rodriquez ( aka Dick Rod, Dickie LOL to all of you Michigan & W.Virginia
fans) has Arizona competing with his players. They aren’t settled at QB but
have some playmakers like Austin Hill and Davonte Neal to help the O and an
experienced O Line. The D is what will hurt them but another 8-5 season for
Dickie is most likely.
5.) Utah Utes (2-7 P12 4-8 Overall)
It
is going to be tough if Utah wants to go bowling for first time since 2011 but
QB Travis Wilson will lead 6 returning starters. 5 come back on defense but
linebacker will be strength. Utah goes to Michigan, UCLA, Stanford, and Arizona
State. They need to steal maybe 2 games to go bowling again.
6.) Colorado Buffalos (1-8 P12 4-8 Overall)
7
starters return for Colorado on offense which hopes to improve on scoring 25.4
points a game. DE Josh Tupou is the returning defensive leader as Colorado
hopes to escape the cellar of the South Division.
Well that’s the Big 12 and the Pac
12. Only 10 teams in Big 12 (Yeah I know crazy). The SEC/ACC is in next post.
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