This should wake up the homers in here. Here is how I see the Divisional and Conference races as of 5/31/14.
ACC Atlantic: Florida State is a no brainer. They host Clemson and Notre Dame, and travel to Louisville (the replacement for Maryland) and Miami. Many predict an undefeated season for Florida State, but that will be rather difficult for them.
ACC Coastal: I am going to go with Miami. Though they have a tough schedule (Games at Louisville, Nebraska, and Va. Tech), they do get Florida State at home. Golden loses his starting QB, but a lot of players return, including RB Duke Johnson. It is time for Golden to produce after three average years.
ACC Champion: Florida State wins th rematch.
Big 10 East: Tough to choose between Ohio State and Michigan State here. Ohio State loses several offensive starters but get QB Miller back. Michigan State takes a hit on defense. Even though Ohio State plays at Michigan State, I still lean Ohio State, especially after the CC loss to MSU last season.
Big 10 West: Wisconsin gets the nod here. They take a hit on the DL, but the offense comes back pretty much intact. They also host Nebraska. The Huskers take a major hit on offense, but Pelini may find a way to win his usual 9 games, which he has done every season that he has been there. Don't forget Northwestern, who hosts both of the above mentioned teams. The Cats are always full of surprises.
Big 10 Champion: Ohio State.
Big 12 Champion: No CC game here, so I will go with Oklahoma. The Sooners return 14 starters including QB Bell, who led the way against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last season. The schedule is certainly doable, hosting Baylor and Okie State. The Big 12 looks to be a bit down this season, giving OU a better chance of running the table than any other team in the nation.
Pac 12 North: Basically this is do or die for Oregon. Mariota returns for his final season behind a solid O-line. The defense returns 6 starters. The schedule has "Final Four" written all over it, hosting Michigan State, Stanford, and Washington. A trip to UCLA is the only tough away game. If they can beat Stanford, they should be home free.
Pac 12 South: UCLA has to be the favorite here. They return QB Hundley and 14 other starters on a talented team. The schedule is tough, going to Texas, Arizona State, and Washington, hosting Oregon, and getting USC and Stanford at home back to back to end the season. This division could be the toughest in College Football
Pac 12 Champion: Oregon wins the rematch against UCLA.
SEC East: South Carolina should finally break thru here. They return a solid offense and the defense will be good, despite the loss of #1 pick Clowney. The Gamecocks host Georgia and Missouri this season, and get Texas A&M and at Auburn as crossover games. The "Ol' Ball Coach" will be in the thick of it again in the SEC East.
SEC West: LSU has a lot to prove this season. They must replace their entire backfield and starting WR corps, but the O-line comes bak basically intact. The defense returns 6 and looks very good. The schedule sees games at Auburn and Florida back to back, but the Tigers do host Alabama. With the Tide losing so many players on defense, and QB McCarron, LSU is our pick to win the SEC West.
SEC Champ: LSU, in a squeaker over South Carolina.
ACC Atlantic: Florida State is a no brainer. They host Clemson and Notre Dame, and travel to Louisville (the replacement for Maryland) and Miami. Many predict an undefeated season for Florida State, but that will be rather difficult for them.
ACC Coastal: I am going to go with Miami. Though they have a tough schedule (Games at Louisville, Nebraska, and Va. Tech), they do get Florida State at home. Golden loses his starting QB, but a lot of players return, including RB Duke Johnson. It is time for Golden to produce after three average years.
ACC Champion: Florida State wins th rematch.
Big 10 East: Tough to choose between Ohio State and Michigan State here. Ohio State loses several offensive starters but get QB Miller back. Michigan State takes a hit on defense. Even though Ohio State plays at Michigan State, I still lean Ohio State, especially after the CC loss to MSU last season.
Big 10 West: Wisconsin gets the nod here. They take a hit on the DL, but the offense comes back pretty much intact. They also host Nebraska. The Huskers take a major hit on offense, but Pelini may find a way to win his usual 9 games, which he has done every season that he has been there. Don't forget Northwestern, who hosts both of the above mentioned teams. The Cats are always full of surprises.
Big 10 Champion: Ohio State.
Big 12 Champion: No CC game here, so I will go with Oklahoma. The Sooners return 14 starters including QB Bell, who led the way against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last season. The schedule is certainly doable, hosting Baylor and Okie State. The Big 12 looks to be a bit down this season, giving OU a better chance of running the table than any other team in the nation.
Pac 12 North: Basically this is do or die for Oregon. Mariota returns for his final season behind a solid O-line. The defense returns 6 starters. The schedule has "Final Four" written all over it, hosting Michigan State, Stanford, and Washington. A trip to UCLA is the only tough away game. If they can beat Stanford, they should be home free.
Pac 12 South: UCLA has to be the favorite here. They return QB Hundley and 14 other starters on a talented team. The schedule is tough, going to Texas, Arizona State, and Washington, hosting Oregon, and getting USC and Stanford at home back to back to end the season. This division could be the toughest in College Football
Pac 12 Champion: Oregon wins the rematch against UCLA.
SEC East: South Carolina should finally break thru here. They return a solid offense and the defense will be good, despite the loss of #1 pick Clowney. The Gamecocks host Georgia and Missouri this season, and get Texas A&M and at Auburn as crossover games. The "Ol' Ball Coach" will be in the thick of it again in the SEC East.
SEC West: LSU has a lot to prove this season. They must replace their entire backfield and starting WR corps, but the O-line comes bak basically intact. The defense returns 6 and looks very good. The schedule sees games at Auburn and Florida back to back, but the Tigers do host Alabama. With the Tide losing so many players on defense, and QB McCarron, LSU is our pick to win the SEC West.
SEC Champ: LSU, in a squeaker over South Carolina.
