2011 DBTH Top 25 Countdown to Kickoff: #17 and #16

Today we will continue the Don't Buy The Hype 2011 College Football Countdown, showcasing teams #17 and #16 in the polls.


Here's what you've missed so far:
#25 Arizona State
#24 BYU
#23 Clemson
#22 Southern Miss
#21 Michigan State
#20 Oklahoma State
#19 Ohio State
#18 Arkansas





I will be predicting the games from each teams' schedule, using this key:
Sure Win  Swing Game Win  Swing Game Loss  Sure Loss

#17 USC TROJANS

2011 Season Forecast

9/3 Minnesota

9/10 Utah

9/17 Syracuse

9/24 @ Arizona St.

10/1 Arizona

10/13 @ California

10/22 @ Notre Dame

10/29 Stanford

11/4 @ Colorado

11/12 Washington

11/19 @Oregon

11/26 UCLA

My Take:  Lane Kiffin has managed to stockpile some talented young players, despite scholarship reductions and a two-year bowl ban.  USC could go 12-0 this season and would still be watching the Pac-12 title game on television.  The Trojans have a pretty light home schedule (Stanford is the best game) but there are some tough road contests to navigate.  Back-to-back road games at Cal and Notre Dame will determine just how good the Trojans will be.  If they can win both of those games, a possibility, then they could show up at the Autzen Zoo with a 10-0 record.  USC may be overlooked by pollsters this season due to their postseason irrelevance.  At much as it pains me to say it, Lane Kiffin is picking up Pete Carroll's pieces quite well.  

Final Prediction:  9-3 

#16 STANFORD CARDINAL

2011 Season Forecast

9/3 San Jose St.

9/10 @ Duke

9/17 @ Arizona

10/1 UCLA

10/8 Colorado

10/15 @ Washington St.

10/22 Washington

10/29 @ USC
11/5 @ Oregon St.

11/12 Oregon

11/19 California

11/26 Notre Dame

My Take:  While Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck might be the best player in the nation, the Cardinal lost a lot when head coach  Jim Harbaugh bolted to the 49ers.  They have an unproven head coach and return only 12 starters.  They will begin the season ranked in the Top 10 and will take advantage of a light early season schedule to be in the national title race at mid-season.  Andrew Luck will most likely be the Heisman front-runner, but a three game stretch beginning with a game at USC will determine their fate.  My prediction for nine wins could even be a little bit on the high side; a 7-5 season would not be surprising to me at all. 

Final Prediction:  9-3

Come back tomorrow for #15 and #14!