Sunday, August 27, 2017

2017 D-Money's College Football Predictions




       


     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!!!!!!!!!!!!