Well,
College Football is once again upon us. Fall of course is one of my favorite
times of the year. I know Summer will be winding down and kids have to go back
to school and after the month of September we may have some cooler days here in
the State of Ohio but nothing beats watching a College Football game after a
long week of work, taking a break from weekend chores, have something to do
with the family after maybe the kids weekends sporting events or activities,
getting together with some buddies for a viewing party for the big game or just
going to your local bar or tavern with friends and people you know and watching
the games. Nothing to me beats watching College Football on a Saturday
afternoon/evening after a morning run or coaching at a cross country meet.
Now, I like the NFL but I just enjoy watching
College Football much more and does almost single every member of my family and
relatives. It brings us all together. Especially since many of us Cheer for
(THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES of Course) but we have some who cheer for Army,
Georgia, Arkansas, South Carolina, and maybe a Mid-American Conference
team(MAC). We all despise that Team up North (_ichigan), Notre Dame, West
Virginia, the Florida Teams and pretty much Alabama.
Many of you know I love to make my annual
College Football Predictions. I think I missed my calling of being a College
Football Analyst. Every year I buy 2 magazines, Phil Steele’s College Football
Preview and Athlon Sports College Football since both of those magazines are the
Top 2 most accurate at predicting the season. I skim through both of them and
make my own choices on whom will have great seasons and those who will stink.
LOL. Any way it will be hard to breakdown every single team I don’t have time
for it unless I’m really want to become an online analyst. Though, I’ll only
breakdown and preview one team which is of course is The Ohio State Buckeyes
and I’ll briefly tell you what to look out for in each conference and list the
records of what records I think they’ll be this year along with Bowl
Projections and who will be in the College Football Playoff.
First up, THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES.
At the beginning of 2016 last year we knew the Buckeyes had some talent to win
the Big 10 but could they go to the College Football Playoff. Well they did but
a loss to Penn State prevented the Buckeyes an outright division title and
winning the Big 10 but a couple of big wins against top 10 ranked teams
Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and of course Michigan put them at # 3 for the
year and earned them a trip to the Fiesta Bowl for the College Football
Playoff. Though lack of a big passing game in a last few games of the regular
season had shown weakness as they got shut out 0-31 against Clemson who Clemson
would go on to win the National Championship as Ohio State finished 11-2 on the
year. Even with the early entry of a few players to the NFL Draft the Buckeyes
are once again Favorites to Win the Big Ten & go to the College Football
Playoff for a chance at the National Championship.
On Offense, 8 Starters will return
which include QB J.T Barrett who needs at least 1,200 more passing yards to
become the Buckeyes all-time passing leader as he continues to put his name in
the Heisman Race and has worked in the off season to improve his passing game.
RB Mike Weber returns after a 1,096 yard season. K.J Hill & Demario McCall
hope to become the RB/WR role that Curtis Samuel was last year. WRs Parris
Campbell, Terry McLaurin, Binjimen Victor, and TE Marcus Baugh hope to improve as
receivers in the passing game for Barrett. On the O-Line Center Billy Price is
an All-American Candidate who leads the group of returners in Tackles Jamarco
Jones, Isiah Prince, and Guard Michael Jordan (not the Basketball Player lol).
On the Defensive Side, 7 Starters return. The Defensive Line looks
like it will be the Best in the Country with DE Tyquan Lewis (last years Big 10
Defensive Lineman of the year), DE Sam Hubbard, DT Dre’Mont Jones, DT Michael
Hill, all returning starters. This includes backups in DE Nick Bosa (brother of
OSU great Joey Bosa), DE Jalyn Holmes, DT Tracy Sprinkle, and DT Robert Lauders
as the Buckeyes D Line will plan on rotating guys in and out.
The Linebacking Corp lost Raekwon McMillan to the Draft but Jerome Baker and Chris Worley return.
Dante Booker is back from injury and hopes to make an impact.
The
Defensive Backfield lost Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, and Gaelon Conley to
the Draft also. But, there is talent behind them as S Damon Webb is the
returning starter and he will be joined by CB Denzel Ward, S Jordan Fuller, and
Alabama/JC transfer Kendall Sheffield and others to reload in the Defensive
Backfield.
As for
Special Teams Junior Kicker Sean Nuernberger is back from injuries with some
experience as Tyler Durbin (the kicker not the Fight Club movie character) is gone as Durbin wasn’t quite accurate
last year. Freshman Blake Haubell will get a chance. For the punting duties Big
10 Punter of the Year Cameron Johnston leaves but FR Drue Chrisman will get his
chance as he was redshirted last year.
The
Buckeyes open the Schedule with a Thursday Aug 31 Night game against Indiana
and come home to face Oklahoma( Big 12 defending Champ) they have Penn State (
Big 10 Defending Champ) at home this year. The Finale of the season of course
will be at the TEAM Up North.
Here’s a rundown of predictions for the college football
season with every conference.
Bowl Eligible - *
Southeastern
Conference
East
Division Conf
Overall
*Georgia 7-1 11-2
*Florida 6-2
8-4
*Tennessee 4-4
8-4
*South
Carolina 4-4 6-6
*Kentucky 3-5 7-5
*Vanderbilt 3-5 6-6
Missouri 1-7 5-7
West
Division Conf
Overall
*Alabama
7-1 12-1
*Auburn
6-2 9-3
*LSU
5-3 9-3
*Texas
A&M
3-5 7-5
*Arkansas
3-5 7-5
*Mississippi
St 3-5 7-5
Ole
Miss 0-8 4-8
SEC Championship: Alabama over
Georgia
Big Ten Conference
East
Division Conf
Overall
*Ohio
State 8-1 12-1
*Penn
State 7-2 10-2
*Michigan 6-3
9-3
*Michigan
St. 4-5
6-6
*Indiana 4-5
7-5
*Maryland 4-5
6-6
Rutgers 1-8
3-9
West
Division Conf
Overall
*Wisconsin 8-1 11-2
*Northwestern 6-3 9-3
*Nebraska
6-3 8-4
*Iowa
4-5 7-5
*Minnesota 4-5 6-6
Purdue
2-7 3-9
Illinois
0-9 1-11
Big 10
Championship: Ohio
State over Wisconsin
Atlantic Coast
Conference
Atlantic
Division
Conf Overall
*Florida
State 8-0 12-1
*Clemson 6-2 10-2
*Louisville 5-3 9-3
*NC
State 4-4 7-5
*Boston
College 3-5 6-6
Syracuse 2-6 5-7
Wake
Forest 2-6 5-7
Coastal
Division
Conf Overall
*Virginia
Tech 6-2 10-3
*Miami
(Fla) 5-3 9-3
*Pittsburgh 5-3 7-5
*Georgia
Tech 4-4 7-5
*North
Carolina 4-4 7-5
Duke 1-7 3-9
Virginia 1-7 3-9
ACC Championship: Florida State over
Virginia Tech
Pacific 12
Conference
North
Division
Conf Overall
*Washington 8-1 11-2
*Stanford 6-3 9-3
*Oregon 5-4 8-4
*Washington
State 5-4 8-4
Oregon
State 3-6 5-7
California 1-8 2-10
South
Division
Conf Overall
*USC 8-1 12-1
*UCLA 6-3 8-4
*Colorado 5-4 8-4
*Utah 4-5 7-5
Arizona
State 2-7 5-7
Arizona 1-8 3-9
PAC 12 Championship:
USC
over Washington
BIG 12
Conference Conf Overall
*Oklahoma 8-1 11-2
*Oklahoma
State 7-2 10-3
*TCU 6-3 8-4
*Texas 6-3 8-4
*Kansas
State 5-4 8-4
*West
Virginia 5-4 7-5
*Baylor 3-6 6-6
Texas
Tech 3-6 5-7
Iowa
State 2-7 4-8
Kansas 0-9 2-10
BIG 12 Champion: Oklahoma over
Oklahoma State
American Athletic
Conference
East
Division Conf Overall
*South
Florida 7-1 12-1
*Central
Florida 5-3 7-5
*Temple
4-4 6-6
*Cincinnati 3-5 6-6
East
Carolina 2-6 3-9
Connecticut 1-7 2-10
West
Division Conf
Overall
*Houston
6-2 9-4
*Memphis
5-3 8-4
*Tulsa
5-3 7-5
*Navy
5-3 7-5
*SMU
3-5 6-6
Tulane
2-6 4-8
American Champion:
South
Florida over Houston
Independents Overall
*BYU 9-4
*Notre
Dame 8-4
*Army 8-4
Massachusetts 2-10
Mountain West Conference
Mountain
Division Conf Overall
*Colorado
State 7-1 10-3
*Boise
State 6-2 8-4
*Wyoming 5-3 7-5
*New
Mexico 4-4 6-6
*Air
Force 4-4 6-6
Utah
State 3-5 4-8
West
Division Conf Overall
*San
Diego State 6-2 8-5
*Hawaii 5-3 7-5
Nevada 3-5 4-8
UNLV 2-6 3-9
Fresno
State 2-6 3-9
San
Jose State 1-7 2-11
Mountain West
Championship: Colorado
State over San Diego State
Mid-American
Conference
East
Division Conf Overall
*Ohio 6-2 8-5
*Miami
(OH) 6-2 8-4
Akron 4-4 5-7
Bowling
Green 3-5 4-8
Buffalo 2-6 3-9
Kent
State 1-7 2-10
West
Division Conf Overall
*Toledo 7-1 11-2
*Western
Michigan 6-2 8-4
*Eastern
Michigan 5-3 6-6
Central
Michigan 4-4 5-7
Northern
Illinois 3-5 4-8
Ball
State 1-7 3-9
MAC Championship: Toledo over Ohio
Conference USA
East
Division Conf Overall
*Western
Kentucky 6-2 9-4
*Mid
Tennessee State 6-2 7-5
*Old
Dominion 5-3 7-5
*Marshall 5-3 6-6
Florida
Atlantic 4-4 6-6
Florida
Internatioal 4-4 5-7
Charlotte 1-7 3-9
West
Division Conf Overall
*Louisiana
Tech 6-2 9-4
*Southern
Miss 5-3 7-5
*UT
San Antonio 5-3 7-5
North
Texas 3-5 4-8
Rice 3-5 3-9
UTEP 3-5 3-9
UAB 0-8 1-11
Conference USA
Championship: Louisiana
Tech over Western Kentucky
Sun Belt
Conference Conf Overall
*Appalachian
State 7-1 9-3
*Arkansas
State 7-1 8-4
*Troy 6-2 8-4
*Louisiana-Lafayette
5-3 6-6
*South
Alabama 5-3 6-6
*Idaho 4-4 6-6
Georgia
Southern 4-4 5-7
New
Mexico State 3-5 4-8
UL-Monroe 3-5 3-9
Georgia
State 2-6 3-9
Coastal
Carolina 1-7 4-8
Texas
State 1-7 2-10
Bowl Games
Citrus Bowl: Virginia Tech vs.
LSU
Outback Bowl: Michigan vs. Tennessee
TaxSlayer Bowl: Notre Dame vs.
Louisville
Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State vs.
Stanford
Holiday Bowl: Northwestern vs.
UCLA
Belk Bowl: Miami (Fla) vs.
Florida
Camping World
Bowl: TCU
vs. Pittsburgh
Sun Bowl: NC State vs.
Colorado
Cactus Bowl: Texas vs. Utah
Foster Farms Bowl:
Oregon
vs. Iowa
Pinstripe Bowl: Nebraska vs.
Georgia Tech
Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs.
Baylor
Liberty Bowl: Kansas State vs. Arkansas
Las Vegas Bowl: Washington State
vs. Colorado State
Independence Bowl:
South
Carolina vs. North Carolina
Military Bowl: Boston College vs.
Navy
Frisco Bowl: Houston vs. Toledo
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. Memphis
Quick Lane Bowl: Michigan State vs
Vanderbilt
Armed Forces Bowl:
Indiana
vs. Army
Music City Bowl: Minnesota vs.
Mississippi State
Birmingham Bowl: Kentucky vs. Central
Florida
Boca Raton Bowl: Tulsa vs. Mid
Tennessse State
New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs.
Arkansas State
Dollar General
Bowl: Appalachian
State vs. Ohio
Famous Idaho
Potato Bowl: Western
Michigan vs. San Diego State
Heart of Dallas
Bowl: West
Virginia vs. Southern Miss
St. Petersburg
Bowl: Western
Kentucky vs. Temple
Bahamas Bowl: UT San Antonio vs.
SMU
Camellia Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Troy
Cure Bowl: Marshall vs. South
Alabama
Arizona Bowl: Wyoming vs. Old
Dominion
New Mexico Bowl: Boise State vs BYU
I
Had a lot of time on my hands. AND NOW FOR THE BIG BOWL GAMES
NEW YEARS SIX BOWL
PREDICTIONS
Cotton Bowl: Washington vs.
Georgia
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Penn
State
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs.
Wisconsin
Peach Bowl: Auburn vs South
Florida
Rose Bowl (College
Football Playoff): Ohio
State over Florida State
Sugar Bowl
(College Football Playoff): Alabama over USC
College Football
Playoff National Championship Game: OHIO STATE OVER ALABAMA
Well
let’s see how this season plays out. Happy Football Watching this coming
Thursday & GO BUCKEYES!!!!!!!!!!!!
