PAC 12 Preview

Hi everyone. I’m back and no I have not taken the entire summer off, I was at a very long camp at Culver Academy in Culver, Indiana. I am now back in business and this blog is going to be a preview of the Pac 12 conference. I will be previewing each of the other power conferences in other blogs so stay tuned.

Dark Horse: USC

Nelson+Agholor+UCLA+v+USC+wLHwkuf9n4mlUSC is my dark horse pick to win the Pac 12. They have a great new coach. Cody Kessler is finally their stable quarterback, and their defense is nasty. The only hole they need to fill is the explosive play maker but I think Nelson Agholor is the perfect fit. The Trojans are a very dangerous team that has the potential to spoil their rivals UCLA’s season and punch their ticket to maybe a playoff birth.

131129.RJK_.OEM_.FBC_.OregonState.0673-980x653Defensive Player of the Year: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu,CB,Oregon

Ekpre-Olomu is one of the best cornerbacks in the nation and it seems like he is poised to have a career year. Ekpre-Olomu has the ability to shut down even the elite wide receivers in the country with ease. His most impressive attribute is his eyes. Olomu sees everything on the field, which leads to him picking off many passes. This is one of the reasons Ekpre-Olomu is a projected top 5 pick in this upcoming NFL draft.

Offensive Player of the Year: Marcus Mariota,QB,OregonMarcus+Mariota+Arizona+v+Oregon+jEYd3UlXRqWl

It is a no brainer that the reigning offensive player of the year is my preseason pick to win the award once again. Also what made this decision that much easier is that he is everybody’s preseason Heisman Trophy winner and that he is projected to be the number one overall pick in the next NFL draft. Mariota had a very tough decision to make at the end of last year, to enter the NFL draft and probably be the first quarterback taken off the board or come back to the University and have a chance to win a National TItle and many other prestigious individual awards. Having made the decision to come back to the Ducks made the sun actually shine in Oregon.

Conference Championship: UCLA vs OregonUnknown-7

It just seems like these two West coast power houses are destined to meet up in the championship. North vs South, Mariota vs Hundely what better story could be written.

Conference Champions: Oregon

images-4It just feels like this is the make or break season for the Fighting Ducks. They have all of the perfect pieces in place. Coach Mark Helfrich has just been given keys to a sports car but now he has to drive them. This season is Playoffs or bust for the Ducks, no it’s more like National Championship or bust, that’s how much pressure will be lying on their shoulders. It’s a good thing they have the best player in the country, who also thrives under pressure with their high powered prolific offense and their shutdown defense. Anything short of a championship would be a disappointment. They have to live up to it, but there’s something in the water that telling me this is finally the year Oregon gets it done. Fast, Hard, FINISH!

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My BCS Standings

There were some big shake ups in week 11 that will affect the BCS standings.  When the official standings come out, there will be a lot of controversy, but for now I am going to tell you what I think should be the BCS standings.

1.) Alabama: 

The Tide made a huge statement last Saturday night by rocking the Bayou Bengals.  LSU Unknowntied the game in the third quarter, but after a surprising fake punt, Bama scored 21 unanswered points.  The Tigers failed to score a single point after that, and Alabama rolled 39-17.  This was the kind of game that voters needed to see from the Tide.  They have not had a statement win yet, until the LSU game.  The key to Alabama’s success is star QB AJ McCarron.  McCarron isn’t the flashiest player.  He doesn’t run around and make huge plays, all AJ does is win championships.  McCarron has been amazing every game, but running back TJ Yeldon was the true reason the Tide rolled the Tigers.  The Alabama run game has been the weak part of this team, but if last Saturday was the first time you tuned in, you would never guess that. Yeldon carried the ball for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns.  In the second half Saban changed the game plan and ran the ball down the Tigers throat.  I have been doubting this Bama team all year, but now that they have a solid run game and I have finally jumped on the Tuscaloosa bandwagon.  This team is legit.

2.) Florida State: 

In my opinion, Florida State is the most complete team in college football.  First off, they imageshave arguably the best player in the nation, Jameis Winston.  Winston is remarkable, he plays like he is a five year senior but he is only a freshman.  Scary right? They have one of the best receiving cores, which makes Winston look even better then he really is.  Junior WR, Rashad Greene, has been sensational, leading the team in receiving yards with 820 YDS on the season and he also leads the team with 8 receiving TDs.  Last week, what impressed me the most was the Noles defense.  Against Wake Forest, they forced 6 interceptions and 7 total turnovers.  Wake Forest also only threw 7 complete passes.  Yes they had only one more completed pass then they had interceptions.  This defense is stifling and they also take the weight off the Winston’s shoulders.  Jimbo Fisher has done a great job making this team believe they can win.  WATCH OUT BAMA!

3.) Oregon: 

The Ducks suffered their first loss of the season Thursday night in Palo Alto against Unknown-1Stanford.  You might think I am crazy for keeping the Ducks in the top three just after a loss, but Oregon didn’t play Oregon football.  I give Stanford a lot of credit, but Oregon just had a bad game until 3 minuets left in the 4th quarter.  The Ducks played horrid and still only lost 20-26 to a very good Stanford team.  The Ducks have the best player in all of the land and the greatest offense.  Mariota and his Ducks need a whole lot to happen to make the National Championship but there is still a chance.  This team is way better then how they played against the Cardinals.  Trust me, this Oregon team is still very talented.

4.) Baylor: 

A couple years ago if you said the Baylor Bears are one of the best teams in the country, someone would check you into a mental institution to see if you were insane.  The Bears images-1are what many people are calling the Oregon of the South.  The fancy uniforms, the offense, and the that they just flat out win ball games.  The Bears had a statement win, last thursday vs Oklahoma.  The Baylor Bears are for real.

5.) Stanford

6.) Auburn

7.) Missouri

8.) Ohio State

9.) Clemson

10.) UCLA

11.) Texas A&M

12.) South Carolina

13.) Northern Illinois

14.) Oklahoma State

15.) Texas

16.) Michigan State

17.) UCF

18.) Fresno State

19.) Louisville 

20.) Wisconsin 

21.) LSU

22.) Arizona State

23.) Miami (FL)

24.) Oklahoma

25.) Georgia

 

 

 

 

Week 7 Predictions

25 Missouri vs 7 Georgia:

0ap2000000247915This game intrigues me a lot.  Georgia has lost both of their star running backs, all but one of their starting wide receivers, and to top it all their punter is hurt.  On the other side Missouri is the only undefeated team in the SEC besides Alabama.  Last year was the “welcome to the SEC” year for the Tigers who had a horrific year.  The leader of this Mizzou team is senior quarterback James Franklin.  The Tigers just broke the top 25 last week and this would be a win they need to show that they can be a contender in the big bad SEC.  I think that the Tigers will shock Uga and the Bulldogs between the hedges.  Prediction: Missouri 31 Georgia 30

texas-oklahoma-red-river-rivalry-gold-jerseys-550x38912 Oklahoma vs Texas:

The Red River Rivalry has always been a huge game, but the last three years Oklahoma has scored 70 points and destroyed the Longhorns.  This game is the future of Mac Brown.  These Longhorn seniors have never beaten OU and that is a terrible feeling.  One of the things the Sooners had last year that they do not have now is Landry Jones.  I believe that the Texas Longhorns will shock the world and save Mac Brown’s job.  “Don’t Mess With Texas”  Prediction: Oklahoma 20 Texas 28

17 Florida vs 10 LSU:lsu-nike-pro-combat-uniforms

The nasty Florida defense is going against one of the best offenses in the nation.  The Tigers have the best wide receiving core and they are going up against the very best corners in football.  This game is going to be a lot higher scoring then you think it would be.  The Tigers are in Death Valley and they will find holes in the Gators stingy defense. Prediction: Florida 23 LSU 28

130928.mca_.ODE_.fbc_.Cal_.132-980x6532 Oregon vs 16 Washington: 

For the past five years the Ducks have beaten their rivals by an average of 23 points.  This year though the Huskies are no flukes.  Last week they got robbed.  They should have beaten Stanford in the Farm.  Washington has the number 1 total defense in the country but they are facing the fastest and best offense in the history of college football.  Gameday is in Seattle and their brand new stadium is going to be rocking.  Washington is back and they are better then ever.  Keith Price is the game changer for them.  In his whole career at UW he has never defeated the ducks, but few teams have.  Price had a huge game in the Farm and he put his Huskies in a chance to upset the Cardinal but the refs stole that chance away from them.  This morning Duck’s explosive playmaker De’anthony Thomas was cleared to play after suffering an ankle injury 2 weeks ago vs Cal.  This is huge for the Ducks because it takes the load off their Heismen front runner quarterback Marcus Mariota.  I can finally say that I believe in the Huskies.  I know that Washington football is back.  This is their year and they are going to beat their rival, but not this rival.  I think that Oregon will roll Washington.  Prediction: Oregon 56 Washington 17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Preseason College Football Rankings 1-5

The days are counting down till college football arrives, although it is only summer I am already ecstatic. For the next couple days I will be counting down all of the top 25 preseason rankings starting at 1 and ending at 25.

1.  Alabama Crimson Tide: 

The Tide are the  definition of a power house, winning the National Championship three120902.14out of the last four years. Returning is star senior quarterback A.J McCarron, powerful running back T.J Yeldon, and on the defensive side of the field the heart and soul of their nasty, defense linebacker C.J Mosley. Having the best team and coach in college football, the Bama fans have been spoiled. This squad have been the leaders of the SEC’s reign of terror and they have a great chance of adding on to their legacy.

2. Oregon Ducks: 

The Ducks have recently lost their head coach Chip Kelly to the NFL, but that’s not 8347893418_f1c8fb99c8_ogoing to slow them down one bit. The last five years Oregon has really solidified themselves as a championship contender year after year. Their returning Heisman trophy favorite QB Marcus Mariota, deadly kick returner/running back De’Anthony Thomas also known as the Black Mamba, and hard hitting defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. The Ducks are the fastest and best dressed team in college football, but they are also a force to recon with.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes: 

The Buckeyes went a perfect 12-0 last season, but because of NCAA allegations theyNCAA Football: Michigan at Ohio State couldn’t go to a bowl game or the National Championship. This year they have standout quarterback Braxton Miller returning. He is one of the Heisman trophy favorites and he has become more of a leader on this team. Adding Coach Urban Meyer last year was a great decision. The Buckeyes are looking to have a great season if they keep Miller healthy. He took way too many hits last year, which lead to a number of injuries. If Braxton Miller gets hurt you can just throw their season down the drain.

4.  Texas A&M Aggies: 5095f8fdd4a1a.preview-300

 The Aggies had a total bounce back season after the terrible one they had before. The main reason for this turnaround is last year’s Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel. They have a stingy defense and we know on offense Manziel can just explode for a touchdown. They can run with Alabama and Georgia and now are a new power house that has been added to the SEC. If Texas A&M can keep Johnny Football out of trouble they will have a phenomenal year.

5.  Georgia Bulldogs: Buffalo+v+Georgia+1j4zX3oWr5tl

The Dawgs were one play away from the National Championship last year, but they just couldn’t finish. Key players returning this year are star quarterback Aaron Murray and running back Todd Gurley. They have a stellar defense and two of the best running backs in the game, Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. They are a monster in the SEC and it looks like they will be next year too.

Check back tomorrow for teams 6-11!