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Friday, August 26, 2011

2011 College Football Preview

My predictions for the season include two polls.  The first poll is my Power Poll.  The Power Poll takes into account the odds for teams to make it to the end of the season undefeated along with their schedules (or the ease of that schedule) and the talent on those teams.  The other poll represents how I think the season will turn out, including which teams will be in BCS games and the National Championship Game.  I have also included my Conference Projections below the polls


Power Poll

End of the Year Top 40
1
Oklahoma
1
Wisconsin
ACC
2
Alabama
2
Florida State
Big East
3
Wisconsin
3
Arkansas
Big Ten
4
Boise State
4
Boise State
Big 12
5
Florida State
5
Stanford
Pac-12
6
Arkansas
6
Oklahoma
SEC
7
Stanford
7
Alabama
8
Oregon
8
Oregon
9
LSU
9
Oklahoma State
10
Oklahoma State
10
LSU
11
Texas A&M
11
Notre Dame
12
Notre Dame
12
Texas A&M
13
Nebraska
13
West Virginia
14
West Virginia
14
Florida
15
USC
15
Northwestern
16
Southern Miss
16
BYU
17
Florida
17
Nebraska
18
North Carolina
18
Houston
19
Virginia Tech
19
Southern Miss
20
Northwestern
20
USC
21
BYU
21
Michigan
22
Texas
22
Virginia Tech
23
Houston
23
Tulsa
24
Mississippi State
24
North Carolina
25
TCU
25
TCU
26
Michigan
26
Mississippi State
27
Tulsa
27
Texas
28
Penn State
28
Michigan State
29
Michigan State
29
Georgia
30
Georgia
30
NC State
31
Ohio State
31
Penn State
32
NC State
32
Ohio State
33
South Carolina
33
South Carolina
34
Miami (OH)
34
Miami (OH)
35
Miami (FL)
35
California
36
California
36
Missouri
37
Missouri
37
Clemson
38
Clemson
38
Tennessee
39
Tennessee
39
Auburn
40
Auburn
40
Miami (FL)



Projected Conference Winner


Projected BSC Birth

ACC

Big 12

Atlantic
1
Oklahoma
1
Florida State
2
Oklahoma State
2
NC State
3
Texas A&M
3
Clemson
4
Texas
4
Maryland
5
Missouri
5
Boston College
6
Texas Tech
6
Wake Forest
7
Baylor

Coastal
8
Kansas State
1
Virginia Tech
9
Kansas
2
North Carolina
10
Iowa State
3
Miami (FL)

Pac-12
4
Georgia Tech

North
5
Virginia
1
Stanford
6
Duke
2
Oregon

Big East
3
California
1
West Virginia
4
Washington
2
Pittsburgh
5
Washington State
3
South Florida
6
Oregon State
4
Louisville

South
5
Connecticut
1
USC
6
Rutgers
2
Arizona
7
Cincinnati
3
UCLA
8
Syracuse
4
Utah

Big Ten
5
Arizona State

Leaders
6
Colorado
1
Wisconsin

SEC
2
Penn State

West
3
Ohio State
1
Arkansas
4
Illinois
2
Alabama
5
Purdue
3
LSU
6
Indiana
4
Missisippi State

Legends
5
Auburn
1
Northwestern
6
Ole Miss
2
Nebraska

East
3
Michigan
1
Florida
4
Michigan State
2
South Carolina
5
Iowa
3
Tennessee
6
Minnesota
4
Georgia

Notre Dame
5
Kentucky

Boise State

6
Vanderbilt
BCS National Championship Game: Wisconsin vs. Florida State
BCS National Champion: Wisconsin





Top 6 Heisman Favorites
1) Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2) Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
3) E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State
4) Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
5) Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
6) LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

5 Other Contenders
1) Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
2) Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
3) Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
4) Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
5) Darron Thomas, QB, Oregon

Darkhorse Contenders
1) Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
2) Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern
3) Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

When I was originally putting together my rankings, I had Arkansas at number 2 and Florida State at number 3; but when Knile Davis was lost for the season, that had to change.  The reason I have Wisconsin ranked number 1 is the running game, the defense and most importantly: Russel Wilson.  I believe Florida State will beat Oklahoma early in the season and tear through a weak ACC (the same way Wisconsin will tear through a weaker Big Ten).  I think Arkansas will lose 1 game maybe 2, but not to Alabama (who I think will lose 3, maybe 4 games this season).  With Arkansas losing at least once and an undefeated Wisconsin and Florida State, this will represent the first BCS National Championship Game without a SEC team since the 2005 Rose Bowl.  Just remember while you watch the BCS National Championship Game between Wisconsin and Florida State, you saw it hear first.