With spring practice in the books, it's time to start making your 2010 college football predictions. I give mine below with the teams I predict will finish in the Top-10, along with a few teams just outside of it as well as my national champion.
Top-10 Teams for 2010-11 Season:
1.) Alabama - I smell a repeat with the pieces Nick Saban has in place. It took this excellent college football coach only three years to bring a title back to Crimson Tide country, and he is primed to win another this year. That's because all of his playmakers are back on offense, from QB Greg McElroy to the RB tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, all the way to WR's Julio Jones and Marquis Maze. This offense should be even more explosive than it was a year ago. Only two starters return from the No. 2 defense in the nation last season, but Saban has gotten the recruits that should have this unit near the top of the defensive rankings again in 2010. The Tide host Florida in Tuscaloosa, their biggest competition to come out of the SEC. They could slip up once along the way, but even a 1-loss Alabama team will be making a return trip to the national championship this season, and they'll win it all again.
2.) Ohio State - I'm convinced that this is Terrelle Pryor's breakout year. He finished strong last season, earning the MVP in their Rose Bowl win over Oregon after accounting for 338 yards of offense. The Buckeyes have won 5 straight Big Ten titles, and have earned a trip to a BCS bowl seven of the past eight seasons. Tressel is 36-4 in the Big Ten over the past five years and the Scarlet and Grey will be standing atop this conference again come season's end.
3.) Boise State - 20 starters return, led by QB Kellen Moore who owns a 26-1 record as a starter. The Broncos went 14-0 last season and playing in the WAC makes another unbeaten campaign a likely scenario. If they can beat Virginia Tech in Landover, Maryland in their season opener, the sky is the limit for this team. It would be hard to keep another unbeaten Broncos team out of a national title shot.
4.) Nebraska - Playing in the weak Big 12 North, the Huskers will make a return trip to the Big 12 Championship game, and they'll win it this time around after falling just seconds short of knocking off Texas last year. Nebraska welcomes back 18 starters from last year's squad, and once again they'll be led by a defense that ranked No. 1 in points allowed last season at 10.4 PPG. The Huskers get Texas at home on October 16th, a game where I see them having their revenge.
5.) TCU - The Horned Frogs bring back nine starters from an offense that averaged 38.3 PPG last year. QB Andy Dalton leads the way, and TCU is primed for a return trip to the BCS with the playmakers he has at his disposal. Not to mention, the Frogs had the No. 1 defense in the country in terms of yards allowed, surrendering just 239.7 YPG. Their non-conference schedule includes Baylor at home and Oregon State in Arlington, Texas. These two games will likely decide their fate as they have an excellent chance to run the table in a down MWC.
6.) Virginia Tech - Offense will actually be a strength this season for the Hokies, behind QB Tyrod Taylor and the RB duo of Ryan Williams and Darren Evans. Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale are two big targets for Taylor, who can create on his own similar to what Michael Vick brought to this team back in his hay day. National title hopes are on the line in their opener with Boise State.
7.) Iowa - The Hawkeyes continue knocking on Ohio State's doorstep this season. They took the Buckeyes to overtime at the Shoe with the Big Ten title on the line, only to fall in overtime. But that game represented the second contest that Ricky Stanzi missed due to injury, and the Hawkeyes lost both games he was out, also falling to Northwestern. Iowa started last year 9-0 and with their biggest conference games against Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State all being played in Iowa City, I like their chances to give the Buckeyes a run for their money again this year. Another BCS appearance is a likely possibility with Stanzi back and all four starting defensive linemen returning, including big-time NFL prospect Adrian Clayborn.
8.) Florida - The Gators will almost certainly take a step back this season with the loss of Tim Tebow and several key pieces along the defensive front. Still, Urban Meyer has the recruits in place who can step in and have the Gators not suffer too big of a drop-off. QB John Brantley has a big arm and Florida could be an even better passing team this year, but you cannot replace the intangibles that Tebow brought to the table. Once again, Alabama stands in Florida's way from winning an SEC title.
9.) Texas - Like Florida, the Longhorns will have to replace their all-everything QB in Colt McCoy. Garrett Gilbert has the credentials coming out of high school, but this is another level and he struggled replacing McCoy in the title game against Alabama. With a full year to prepare to be the next big thing in Texas, Gilbert should be as ready as he can be. But you cannot replace the most successful QB in college football history, and that's the task that lies ahead for him. Texas is the only Big 12 South contender heading into this season with no starting experience at QB, so a defense that features an excellent secondary will have to carry this team.
10.) Oklahoma - Despite winning just eight games a year ago, the Sooners were not far off from being one of the top teams in the country. They lost four of five games by a combined 12 points, and only a long list of injuries kept them from being a national title contender. Bradford, Gresham and McCoy are gone, and they will not be easy to replace, but young players got valuable experience last season when forced into action and that should pay off this year. QB Landry Jones has the keys to the offense and he has WR Ryan Broyles and RB DeMarco Murray to make plays for him. That's if the offensive line holds up, which doesn't look too promising at this point. The Sooners should be there in the end, as they've finished inside the Top-11 in all but two seasons since 2000.
Next 5 Teams - Wisconsin, USC, Pittsburgh, Arkansas, Miami
If you want to beat the college football lines this season, then be sure to check out NCAA football picks to guide you to monster profits in 2010.
College Football
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