It’s been far too long followers and of course I’m sorry for the gap between this post and my last, in January. But I have been working a new job in which I am constantly writing sports day-in and day-out. However football season is at the door and I can’t miss a chance to interject my opinions and views on the season into your brain.
Alabama is coming off a second straight BCS National Championship and the Crimson Tide’s third title in four years. The Southeastern Conference has been the top conference in the country, with the BCS Champion hailing from the SEC the last seven years.
This season has seen changes from coast to coast due to conference realignment and the ever-sought mega conference. The Big East Conference is gone and American Athletic Conference has been born in its absence.
All the movement throughout the league has shaken everything up, but I still think the power in college football remains in the same places. Let’s start by dissecting the new AAC.
AAC
Louisville is the front-runner in this conference and is my pick to finish on top and represent the AAC in a BCS Bowl game. Cincinnati is an intriguing team with new head coach Tommy Tuberville in charge. It will come down to quarterback and defensive play for the Bearcats. SMU is entering another season with June Jones and coming off a Hawaii Bowl beat down against Fresno State last year. The Mustangs will rely heavily on senior quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who needs to cut down on the interceptions. Teddy Bridgewater is a Heisman candidate and I think has the best shot to win in December. Bridgewater leads the Cardinals to the Orange Bowl again, but they lost once or twice along the way.
ACC
Miami and North Carolina are off probation and will make the Atlantic Coast Conference much better in the postseason. The Tar Heels open up their season with a BIG matchup against South Carolina. Miami plays Florida in a non-conference game on Sept. 7 and I see the Coastal Division coming down to the last two mentioned teams, North Carolina and Miami. Watch out for Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech however, I know this may seem like I’m being too broad, but these are teams loaded with talent but searching to find itself.
The Atlantic division will come down to two programs and a game on Oct. 19 will most likely decide who represents the ACC in the Orange Bowl in January. Florida State is replacing quarterback E.J. Manuel with true freshman Jameis Winston, who is rumored to be the next sensation. Clemson is led by Wildman Dabo Swinney (Roll Tide) and has quarterback Tajh Boyd under center for a final season with Sammy Watkins healthy. I see Clemson pulling it out this year and beating Miami in the championship game, looking to avenge an embarrassing loss in the Orange Bowl in 2011.
Big Ten
When you hear about the Big Ten, you hear two words, Ohio State. But to quote a smaller but feistier fixture on College Gameday, “Not so fast my friend!” Ohio State is indeed coming off an undefeated season, but this year the Buckeyes can’t lose if they wish to play in Pasadena come January. Braxton Miller and Urban Myer lead OSU, but don’t sleep on some other conference teams. Wisconsin is expected to stay with the ground and pound format under new head coach Gary Anderson with James White leading the way after the departure of Montee Ball (who is on my fantasy team this year). Nebraska returns quarterback Taylor Martinez and receiver Kenny Bell to a team that played in the Big Ten Championship last year. Michigan always looms when you’re talking about the Big Ten, as does Michigan State. Expect Ohio State to beat Nebraska and play in the Rose Bowl.
Big 12
Kansas State and Oklahoma split the title last year, but with the loss of Collin Klein and Arthur Brown, I’m not sure the Wildcats come back as strong in 2013. Oklahoma is replacing its quarterback, Landry Jones, and honestly it’s about time the Sooners got a new play-caller in charge. I was looking for it to be Blake Bell all offseason but they’ve announced it will be freshman Trevor Knight. Texas is once again loaded with talent, but can they utilize it and make the Longhorns relevant in college football again. Kliff Kingsbury left Texas A&M for a head coaching gig at his alma mater, Texas Tech. I think it was a great hire and will work out for the Red Raiders in the long run. Oklahoma State is the favorite among most of the media, but I think the bigger lock is Baylor. Art Briles leads the Bears into another season, but with Lache Seastrunk, who should be in New York in December, as the running force behind the dynamic offense. My pick for the conference is OU, but my heart keeps telling me to pick the Bears and trust the offense.
Pac-12
The high-flying Pac-12 is coming down to four teams this year, and I think only one is a safe pick in August. Stanford is the most well-rounded team in the west coast and with head coach David Shaw in charge, the Cardinal should be playing in the Rose Bowl. Quarterback Kevin Hogan is under center for Stanford and is a dark horse to win the Heisman in December. Oregon is looking to replace head coach Chip Kelly, but they didn’t lose all the speed or Marcus Mariota. The Ducks will be strong this season, but will they be strong enough? UCLA played in the Pac-12 Championship game last year and have quarterback Brett Hundley back this year and you can never count out USC, who may have the most talented team in football if they can get solid play out of a quarterback. Washington is a dark horse and poised for a breakout season with its dynamic offense. My pick is Stanford to win the wild west, which isn’t as wild as it once was.
SEC
Win, win, win…. That’s the motto of the SEC, well at least that’s what they do. Owning the last seven BCS National Champions, expect the national championship game to contain a team from the most powerful conference in college football. I am a huge Alabama fan at heart and will say that is my pick to come from this power conference, but do not be surprised if LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M, Florida or South Carolina wind up being the best team from the conference. Honestly I have a feeling that those could be the best five teams in college football this year, in any order. LSU returns starters Zach Mettenberger, Odell Beckham III and Jarvis Landry, but add Cam Cameron who may be able to make this offense efficient, which is something it has never been under Les Miles. Florida lost some key player on its defense from last year and running back Mike Gillislee, but expect Jeff Driskel to step up in a bigger role for the Gators. Aaron Murray returns for the Bulldogs after leading them to the SEC Championship game and falling one play short of a championship date with Notre Dame last year. The Ol’ Ball Coach is at South Carolina and has the biggest weapon in college football, Jadeveon Clowney. Expect to see Clowney in New York come December with a true chance to become college football’s first all-defensive player to win the Heisman. Johnny Manziel is in more trouble and speculation than any other player in the league this year, but he’s still playing for Texas A&M, so they are a top team. However the Aggies are tested early in their third game with the host an agitated Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide. Alabama is the best team in college football for one reason, Nick Saban. If you haven’t read the article by Warren St. John on GQ yet, scurry over there and check it out really quick (after you read and like this please). He does a wonderful job personifying the man and showing us that it’s his methods that have Alabama in the position they are now, which makes me believe that he is the greatest football coach of all time. A.J. McCarron cements his legacy with the Tide and becomes the most successful quarterback in school history. T.J. Yeldon carries the ball like a beast and makes fans forget about Eddie Lacy, Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram. Amari Cooper is the best receiver in the game and paired with Kenny Bell, Christion Jones, DeAndrew White, Robert Foster, Chris Black and Kevin Norwood the Tide boast their best receiving corps ever. Watch for some explosive offense and you know a Saban-coached team will play some D.
I don't want to commit to any set of championship teams, but it will be one of the aforementioned SEC teams and my guess, which is as good as any right now, is Stanford. It will be a great matchup either way, hopefully it's the right one.
Roll Tide and enjoy the season everybody, I’ll be keeping in touch much more often this year.
Also, here is the link to the Nick Saban feature by Warren St. John, http://www.gq.com/entertainment/sports/201309/coach-nick-saban-alabama-maniac?mbid=social_twitter_gqmagazine
Wing Man out!
Just the trials and tribulations that come with being a Wing Expert, who is becoming something better..
