Time to gear up for the 2014 college football season! Whether it is an office pool or to show you are the smartest person in the room, I have decided to open up the season by giving you some squads to look out for to help you out. Like every year, there will be shocking upsets and overtime thrillers that will change the landscape weekly. Here are MY teams that may do just that.
BYU. Why a Surprise? Could go undefeated in 2014. BYU had one of the toughest schedules last year; but also a revamped offensive scheme and did not lose a game by more than ten points in the regular season. This year the schedule gets a bit softer with only the Coogs going to Texas and Boise but Houston coming to Utah. BYU averaged over 260 yards per game rushing, and had its highest coring average since 2009. Both the QB and RB each gained well over a 1,000 yards and both come back along with their entire O-line. BYU vs. Houston on September 11th is a game to watch.
Houston. Why a Surprise? Potential American Athletic Conference winner this year. If you mixed last years team defense with the offense Kevin Sumlin and Case Keenum and David Kolb had in the past, you might have had another prestigious Houston squad challenging for a title. They were a whopping +25 in turnover differential in 2013. Houston still looks to spread it out, and she have a more powerful offense this year (lowest offensive output since 2006) with their entire 2-deep on offense coming back. Toughest game seems to be at BYU who they lost to last year by a point in a shootout. They lost 4 games in last years regular season all by one possession. It is logical that Houston can beat every team it faces.
Indiana – Why a Surprise? Will make a bowl game for the 10th time in Indiana's 121st season. The Hoosiers had one of the tougher schedules playing a total of 6 teams that was ranked at one part of time in the season. They had one of the most balanced offenses in the nation (18th in passing, 30th and rushing) and they return both QBs, RB, and entire o-line from a team that averaged the most points in IU history. If they can somehow find a defense (9 starters back) (from a terrible unit), they will make the BIG 10 East a more competitive division than it already is. Only three super tough road games, at Missouri, at Michigan, and at Ohio St. I fully expect the winner of their games with Bowling Green and Mizzou to have 60 points.
Marshall. Why a Surprise? Could go undefeated. Not too many tough games on the Thundering Herd's schedule. Toughest away game looks to be Old Dominion who just moved to the FBS division last year. Some of the most prolific players in the CUSA come back for Marshall that averaged in the top 25 in both Passing and Rushing Yards in the nation. Rakeem Cato is this years Colt Brennan (Heisman darkhorse who really has no chance to win the Heisman but should be in NY) and has a chance to break all of Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington's records at Marshall. Lost 4 games last year by a total of 30 pts all on the road including a 3OT game with Virginia Tech. If this was the 2013 BCS era they would have played the role of UCF no doubt.
Navy. Why a Surprise? Could end year in Top 10. Navy has a chance for their 3rd double digit win total in the last ten years and second since 2009. Speaking of 2009, that was the last time the Midshipman played Ohio State. They loss that game by four points in the same situation. This year they get the Buckeyes in Baltimore which is possibly the only game (other than Notre Dame) Navy could be unfavored in. Speaking of the Irish, after that long historic losing streak, Navy is now 2-3 the last 5 years against Notre Dame. That game is also in Maryland. Led by Keenan McReynolds, Navy has a lot of experience coming back. With OSU slow starts and ND faltering ends, Navy would be an interesting team in the new playoff system if they could knock off one of those two squads.
Texas Tech - Why a Surprise? Will battle Baylor and Oklahoma for the top spot in the Big 12. We all know the story, the Red Raiders started 7-0 before a competitive action packed, rain filled, game with Oklahoma led to the wheels falling off. However, in Kingsbury's first year, they accomplished a lot of what the coach wanted. They were well over 500 ypg on Offense including be 2nd in the nation in passing and first in the nation in total plays per game. The thing I actually liked about this team is that it played with a chip on its shoulder and was secretly competitive on defense through the first 7 games. It was just different than recent Tech teams had done in the past. If that carry over onto this year, (starters on each level of D come back), and they can do better than being 116th in penalties and 117th in turnover differential, they were a team no one wants to deal with. These numbers should go down if Davis Webb performs to half of all the hype he's getting preseason.
Washington State. Why a Surprise? Should battle for second place in the PAC-12 North Division. Wazzu did not really compete against their higher-ranked foes last year (except the road game game at Auburn and ranked game at USC). However, Connor Holliday is one of the many star QBs that return in the stacked position in the PAC12. He will have all his leading WRs back from a team that finished 4th in the nation in passing last year. Should be really fun to see what legendary coach Mike Leach does with that. Even though they draw Arizona St. and Stanford on the road, they get Oregon and Washington at home and should be a spoiler for the action that happens down the stretch.
Teams that did not quite make the list but I will probably still take credit for since I put them in the article:
Louisiana – One of the most oldest, experienced teams in the NCAA. Leading QB, RBs and WRs come back from a team that went 9-4 last year. This whole athletic department just has momentum from the name change. (See recent Basketball, Baseball and Softball seasons)
Maryland – Coming to the BIG 10 with a very experienced offense and a dual threat QB in C.J. Brown. People forget that before he was injured for the year at Florida State, they were the no. 16th team in the nation. No defense resembles FSU in the BIG 10.
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