8/26/2012 2:08 PM
Well in just a few days the 2012 season kicks off...........first game of note is the SEC's USC vs Vandy, followed by Boise State vs MSU, Alabama vs Michigan and on Labor Day GaTech vs VaTech. Well here goes the countdown, my opinion so take them for what their worth...........there will be some bias so take my picks with a grain of salt and whatever esle you might want to scream at your computer. Hopefully no one in Lawrence will so offended to delete post
# 25 thru #16............the bottom end choices are by far the toughest to gage
#25 Notre Dame.......the Irish may have the best linebacker in the country in Mante Te'o.........261 tackles the past two seasons........but again a tough schedule as usual for ND.............and what's the deal with the new helmet............worse than the turtle helmet that Maryland wears..............half gold, half blue with a leprechaun on side........I hope they didn't pay for the design
#24 Boise State.........should win the Mountain West again with no struggle.............73-6 over the past 6 seasons but take a huge step backwards in the quarterback position with Joe Southwick (who?)....Bronco fans dont need to concern themselves this year from being left out of the BCS chat...........it aint happening
#23 Kansas State loaded on offense and Collin Klein had a monster year at QB last year...........he better duplicate it becasuse KSU cannot play defense.........in fact for a school that produces as many Rhodes scholars as any BCS team............they cant even spell defense
#22 Florida...........should be better than 7-6 this year..........or Muschamp will have lots of splaining to do as Ricky Ricardo used to say...........loaded on defense with 10 returners..........see good defense vs good offense gets you ranked one spot higher..............they say they will play two quarterbacks.....thats a no no.... ask LSU.
#21 Stanford is out of luck this year............Andrew for sure.............Josh Nunes is no Andrew Luck .....good running attach again with Stephan Taylor leading the way.
#20 Nebraska........Martinez worked hard in the off season............person trainer and a stent at the Manning Passing Camp this summer............the vertical game should be better.......but for the Huskers to play for the Big Ten title they need all the breaks to go their way................and to keep a leash on Bo on the sidelines and I like the guy
#19 Oklahoma State...........good again but not 12-1........like Boise no talk of being left out of the BCS this season........winning the Big 12 had better be their main goal...........starting over at quarterback....Weeden will be missed............going from a 28 yo to a 20 yo running the show
#18 Clemson.......loaded on offense with Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins perhaps one of the 3-4 or best wideouts in the nation............a differnce maker.............where they need difference makers is on the other side of the ball..............remember the 70 points they gave up in their bowl game..........call them Mr Pitiful.
#17 Wisconsin........great running back in Monte Ball if they can keep him on the field and out of trouble and another new transfer quarterback that has graduated from somewhere else in Danny O'Brien of Maryland I think.....whats the deal? Do they have a recruiter that just looks for fifth year eligible quarterbacks......should win the Leaders division again and have a shot at the Rose Bowl again.
#16 TCU...........back where they belong..........in the old SWC basically minus Texas A&M...........20-10 vs BCS teams the last 4 years...........but the schedule will get a little tougher this year but the Horned Frogs will be competitive again
# 15 thru # 6 coming on Monday.............you guys in Florida could have kept Issac all to yourselves but it looks like its heading our way
Isaac is coming so will make this short and sweet......uhhhhh Gus sorry no Vols coming today or tomorrow.
#15 Texas......Longhorn fans getting a little restless in Austin........13-12 the last 2 years.....great running attach and will see how much else....great recruting year going but no help for 2012
#14VaTech.......great quarterback in Logan Thomas.reminds one of Cam Newton, big strong can run and throw...could not beat the Big Blue in the Sugar Bowl but one of the the 3 best teams in the ACC which is not saying a whole lot. Special teams as always to be great again
#13WVU.......Errs stepping up in competiton big time.......first time to play a season long tough schedule....no more Big East patsy stuff.........Geno Smith is a great one at QB....they have a chance to compete for the Big 12 crown if they can hanlde all the long distance travleing, the new stadiums and crowds.think they will fly over 4100 miles this season
#12 Michgian State......for two years in a row I like the Spartans and definitely not a Big 10 fan.....but they have the best defense in the conference (which wins titles) and two players in William Gholston and Johnny Admas that could start at Alabama or LSU........thats saying something........Darquueze Dennard woould look good in purple and gold as well
#11 Ohio State..the coaching holy grail Urban Meyer is back in his home territory......should make a difference but not going anywhere this post season.......tatoogate.......should be much better than 6-7 and loading up for next years class of recruits.
#10 Arkansas now that Bobby is long gone the Hawgs are gettng ready with John Smith. We will see the the Hawgs can bounce back from adversity like LSU did last season losing 6 starters for 4 games. Best QB in the conference, one of the 3 best running backs and a great tight end.....hurting at wideouts with injuries and suspensions.........still do not understand defense wins in the SEC......cannot play pac 12 shootout football and win a title here
#9 Michigan....big expectations in the Big House.....can they live up to them......they will gage their talent right out the box with Alabama.......Dennard Robinson is a great qb but he fades late in the season like the green grass in Michigan come November, December.........
#8 Florida State......one of the the 3 best in the ACC.......Jimbo Fisher has done a good job, now time to win. 9-4 will not cut it much longer........they think they are contenders for the BCS but more likely pretenders > The school of Lee Corso and Burt Reynolds what more do I need to say?
#7Georgia.........if the Dawgs could actually put the players they sign on the field they could win an SEC title...sign, and suspend um is Mark Richts philosophy. loaded on both sides of the ball. But remember the 10 nothing lead in the SEC title game.....held us to no first downs......they forgot in the Georgia Dome you have to play BOTH havles of the game..........42-0 the second half without a quarterback at LSU. What helps UGa the most is their schedule........softest schedule for two years running in the SEC......only teams they play are USC and UF.......no Tigers, no Tide, no Hawgs............wussies
#6South Carolina........anohter loaded on both sides of the ball.....maybe the two best players in the league on one team in Latimore ( if recovred from his knee injury) and j. Clowney at DE.........an animal. The old ball coach finally has a qb he can count on he thinks so they could be good......got to come to LSUin October though.
The best of the rest in the am........go away Isacc!
#5 Oklahoma............loaded for bear again........... good receivers and a great QB in Landry Jones...defense always fast and hungry.............Mike Stoops reunited with his brother Bob and happy to get out of the desert...............not a good run in Tucson...........no OSU to worry about this year, I see them beating everyone but WVU giving them a good run for the Big 12 title..............but I always put more stock in the Sooners than they deliver............I may be wrong again this year
#4 Oregon.....the quack attack is still rolling.............reloaded but still dangereous..........averaging 43 points a game.........dangerous De'Anthony Thomas plays were ever they need him....RB WR ticket taker......their weak spot besides the 4 new ugly uniforms is at QB with Marcos Mariota..........a real worry spot and if Chip Kelly is over his phobia of losing to the SEC...............season decided when they meet the Trojans..........TWICE!
#3 Alabama chasing their third BCS title in 4 years.............Its possible but a very tough schedule to play. But the Tigers got to the title game winning on the road in Dallas, Morgantown,Tuscaloosa and Atlanta.....it can be done. Their O line is awesome, one of the 2 or 3 best in the country. Great QB that runs the offense and wins games and does NOT loose games.........AJ McCarron understands the talent around him. Strong running attack with a Louisiana guy that got away in Lacy carrying the load IF he can stay healthy. But lots of losses on the defensive side of the ball.............they will be in the hunt for a trip to Miami.
#2 LSU............losing the Honey Badger hurt but can be overcome. He was not a great cover corner but the BEST nickle back in the country.............he can find and strip the football. But he's gone.........loaded at running back with not 4 but 5 this year..............Jeremy Hill at 250 and able to run is a load to go with Hillard at 240 or so and 3 speed backs....................and finally and finally after 4 years a quarterback that can actually throw the football...........transfer Zach Mettenberger is the MAN...........no need to look over his shoulder......the best passer since at least Matt Flynn and maybe Tommy Hodson..........good receivers but the heart of the team is on defense............a front four to match up with anyone that plays college football........unbelieviable speed at the end.............great safties and a great corner in T. Simon. For the first time in years we have linebackers that can run sideline to sideline..........tremendous speed and most or freshman sophmores...............and we have Carolina and Bama at home
And drum roll please........................
#1 USC..............loaded and ready able to play in the post season............two big games....Oregon twice but Utah is a sleeper to me............the Utes could do if the Trojans are not paying attention...........great running in 1000 yard guy Curtis McNeal and then they went and recruited Silas Reed and 1400 yd guy from Penn State.......this is like White and Bush all over again.............two GREAT recievers in Lee and Woods both over at 1000 yards last season............and the fuel that makes the Trojans run.............Matt Barkley passing up at worst a top 5 pick in the NFL draft to come back and win a BCS title........I commend him...........I think USC has the easiest trip to Miami...........winning the Pac 12 is easier than winning the SEC and maybe even the Big 12.............I expect them to be in the big dance.
Footnotes...........best weekend of the season Nov 3...........the BCS semi finals...LSU vs BAMA and USC vs Oregon.............4 of this years Top 5 were there last year..............the exception is USC ranked 25 last preseason.......only 3 teams in last years Top 10 actually moved up in the last poll.............OSU from 9 to 3, LSU from 4 to 2 and Bama from 2 to 1...............biggest crash and burners from last year Oklahoma #1 to # 16 and FSU (no surprise) from #6 to #24...............somethings never change.............enjoy the season and I truly hope all your teams do well exceptt when playing the The Tigers, Let the good times roll.