Because unlike some college football
analysts (Mark May) I will admit when I’m wrong and give praise to those who
deserve it.
So here we go. Let’s start with the lower conferences and
work our way up to the Power 5 Conferences.
Sun Belt
Suprise Teams- Georgia
Southern & Appalachian State- It's too bad since this is both of their
first years in Div I-A FBS from Div I FCS that they couldn't be eligible for
Bowl Games until next year because both of them defintely would have gone if
there weren't enough Bowl Teams. Appalachian St finished 7-5 but Georgia
Southern was (8-0) in Sun Belt play and finished 9-3 to win the Sun Belt
Outright.
Disappointing Team- Nobody really. This is the only conference I
didn't make full predictions so I'll give em the benefit of the doubt.
Mid American
Surprise Team- Western
Michigan - Head Coach P.J Fleck had a rough year in 2013 (1-11)
but the Broncos turned the corner the 2nd year to earn a trip to the Famous
Idaho Potato Bowl. They Finished 8-5.
Disappointing Team- Ball State- Lost
their leading QB last year and went from 10-3 to 5-7 this year.
Conference USA
Surprise Team- Louisiana Tech - Won the West Division and earned a berth
to the Heart of Dallas Bowl where they beat Illinois(who in my opinion was one
of the few teams I was embrassed by in the Big Ten during Bowl Season). HC Skip
Holtz turned it around for them in his 2nd year finishing 9-5.
(Honorable Mention UTEP went from 2-10 to 7-6)
Disappointing Team- UT-San Antonio- I
was high on the Roadrunners thinking they finished 7-5 last year &
returning almost everyone on each side of the ball they'll win the west but
struggled after upsetting Houston in the first game to finish 4-8 for the
year.
Another Disappointing Moment for Conference USA is the UAB
Blazers cutting their football program.
Mountain West
Suprise Team- Air Force- The Falcons
bounced back from a 2-10 record last year to finish 10-3 and beat Western
Michigan in the Idaho Potato Bowl.
Disappointing Team- UNLV- They were a surprise last year but
due to NCAA Violations and Probation fell to 2-11. The Head Coach resigned at
the end of the season.
The American
Surprise Team- Memphis- The win against a good Cincinnati
team jump started their year. They lost to Houston the following week but
didn't lose again winning their last 6 regular season games and Tied for First
in The American with Central Florida and Cincinnati. They won a thrilling
Double OT game against BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl and finished #25 in both the
AP & Coaches Poll.
Disappointing Team- SMU - The Offense and tough non
conference schedule didn't help for the Mustangs. They only scored a total of
12 points in the first 4 games of the year forcing June Jones to resign. The
only win of the season was against Connecticut to finish 1-11. This felt like
of the years after the infamous SMU Death Penalty.
ACC
Surprise Team- Georgia
Tech- Started off 5-0 and
went from there to finish regular season at 10-2 which included a win in
overtime against Georgia in one the best game of the year. Lost a close one in
the ACC Championship to Florida State but went on to beat Mississippi State in
the Orange Bowl to a #8 Ranking at 11-3.
Disappointing Team- Virginia Tech- Played their best game of the year
against Ohio State in the Horseshoe but it all went downhill after that with
injuries and a loss the following week to East Carolina. One of their losses was
to Wake Forest one of the worst teams in the ACC where they lost in OT 6-3
after the score at the end of Regulation was 0-0. OMG. Finished 7-6 by beating
Cincy in Miltary Bowl.
Big 12
Surprise Team TCU- I knew they would
be back in a Bowl Game this year but I didn't think it would turn out like this
for them. Beat Oklahoma to jumpstart their year. Only loss was a 58-61 loss at
Baylor but think about it Ohio State Fans if TCU won they would have been in
the playoff and not Ohio State. Led by QB Trevor Boykin they finished 12-1 with
a Peach Bowl win over Ole Miss and tied with Baylor for the Big 12 Title.
Though I think TCU has finally arrived in the BIG 12. TCU IS MY SURPRISE TEAM OF THE
YEAR.
Honorable Mention goes to West Virginia.
Heh they made a Bowl game.
Disappointing Teams- Oklahoma and Texas- The Traditional Powers in the Big
12 have fallen on some rough times. Though in Texas' defense it may take awhile
for HC Charlie Strong to get Texas Football back. But Oklahoma was favored by
many to win the Big 12. They lost to TCU, Baylor, Kansas State & Rival
Oklahoma State and lost the bowl game to finish 8-5.
PAC-12
Surprise Teams- Arizona
& Utah - The PAC 12 South in my opinion was the best Division in
College Football not the SEC West Division. Although Arizona got blown out in
the rematch with Oregon in the PAC 12 Championship and lost to Boise State in
the Fiesta Bowl they still got to 10 wins. Rich Rod has got em on the right
track to contending for the PAC 12. Utah was able to pull off some impressive
wins against USC & UCLA and finished 9-4 with a Las Vegas Bowl win.
Disappointing Teams- Oregon State & Washington
State - HC Rick Riley has done well at Oregon State but lately they
have been barely getting into bowl games. This year they missed out going 5-7.
Now Riley is the Head Coach at Nebraska. But Gary Anderson from Wisconsin will
come over to get them back on track.
I thought Washington State could have a
chance going back bowling under 3rd year coach Mike Leach but lost the first
home game against Rutgers and finished 3-9 for the year.
SEC
Surprise Teams- Arkansas
& Mississippi State- The
Razorbacks started the season 3-1 then lost the last 3 games to be at 3-4 which
included close game against Texas A&M, Mississippi State, & eventual
SEC Champ Alabama but when they were at 4-5 and needing to win 2 out the last 3
to be bowl eligible. In a surprisng turn they shut out both LSU and Ole Miss
but lost a close one to SEC East Champ Missouri to finish 6-6 but they won the
Advocare Bowl against Texas to go 7-6. Bret Bielma turned it around in year 2
and looks to continue.
Mississppi State was a big surprise to me. At 3-0 they won 3
straight games against 3 ranked teams. At #8 LSU, Home against #6 Texas A&M
and #2 Auburn and were the #1 Ranked team for 5 straight weeks until a close
loss to Alabama. The loss to Alabama was sadly one of 3 out of 4 last games of
the season they lost to finish 10-3 but better than last years 7-6. Dak
Prescott was their leader at Quarterback. GOTTA HAVE MORE COWBELL!!! (That's
one of their traditions)
Disappointing Team- South Carolina- Though
they won their Bowl Game, 7-6 is a far cry from what they have been used to for
the last 3 years finishing 11-2 those years. Loss from last years QB Conner
Shaw and DE Javeon Clowney. RB Mike Davis was limited due to injury this
year.
BIG TEN
Surprise Team- Rutgers -
I honestly thought Rutgers was going to struggle their first year in the
Big 10. But they started out 5-1 including a win against Michigan (looking back
it isn't surprising but I'll get to that here HAHA) But strugled mid season losing
4 out of the last 5 which included Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin
but won against Maryland to go to the Quick Lane Bowl and beat North Carolina
to finish 8-5. Way to help the Big 10. Can they keep the momentum going and
still complete in the Big 10 only time will tell.
Disappointing Team- Michigan- Yeah I'll taking some satisfaction
in saying Michigan is the Most
Disappointing Team of the Year. Shut
out by Notre Dame, Loss the Brown Jug to Minnesota, Lost to Michigan State
again, and of course lost to Ohio State for the 12th time in 14 years. Finished
5-7 and cost Brady Hoke's job. Jim Harbargh arrives to try to bring back the
program. I just want Michigan to be good again so we can beat a good team again
and bring back the rivarly.
Well there you have it. Proof I should be
a College Football Analyst. Though, I'm afraid if I were ESPN would put Rece
Davis at College Gameday Crew and I would take his spot in the studio and be
next to Mark May and Lou Holtz all day long. O boy LOL.
Though I was very pumped to see Ohio State
end up being the National Champions of College Football in the first year of
the College Football Playoff!!! This has got to be one of Urban Meyer's best
Coaching Jobs EVER!!! This is true especially after replacing 4 starting
Offensive Lineman, 2 first round draft picks, replacing your leading rusher,
and replacing not one but 2 Quarterbacks during the season.
Braxton Miller reinjurying his
shoulder and JT Barrett coming in. After losing to Virginia Tech, I like the
rest of the Country counted them out. SHAME ON ME AS A BUCKEYE FAN. But Barrett
and the team regrouped and won all the rest of their games. Though Barrett
couldn't take them all the way when he broke his ankle in the Michigan Game but
Cardale Jones came off the bench and help lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten
Championship, A Sugar Bowl Win over Alabama, and a National Championship over
Oregon. They beat teams with 2 Heisman Trophy Candidates and a Heisman Winner
in a row. A Memorable Season. Hard for me to compare it to 2002 both seasons
were special in a different way.
Could they repeat. Maybe. But, its a great
feeling when your team is the Champion. That's my Two Cents & leave you
with this!!! GO BUCKEYES O-H
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