Wednesday, August 24, 2011

2011 DBTH Top 25 Countdown to Kickoff: #23 and #22

Today we will continue the Don't Buy The Hype 2011 College Football Countdown, showcasing teams #23 and #22 in the polls.


Here's what you've missed so far:
#25 Arizona State
#24 BYU


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



#23 CLEMSON TIGERS

2011 Season Forecast
9/3 Troy
9/10 Wofford
9/17 Auburn
9/24 Florida St.
10/1 @ Virginia Tech
10/8 Boston College
10/15 @ Maryland
10/22 North Carolina
10/29 @ Georgia Tech
11/12 Wake Forest
11/19 @ NC State
11/26 @ South Carolina

My Take:  2011 has the making for a huge bounce back for Clemson.  Coming off their first losing season in over a decade, the Tigers have a lot to prove.  They have a chance to step into the national title race with a three game stretch against Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech.  A win over the Seminoles will give them the inside track to the ACC Championship Game.  To achieve the level of success they want, the Tigers must avoid their notorious slip-ups.  Games at Georgia Tech and NC State late in the season could be landmines.  When Clemson hired Dabo Swinney full-time, they didn't have 6-7 seasons in mind.  The Tigers have the talent in place to be a Top 15 team, without question.  If they underachieve again this season, Swinney's seat may get a bit hotter next offseason.

Final Prediction: 8-4

#22 SOUTHERN MISS EAGLES

2011 Season Forecast
9/3 Louisiana Tech
9/10 @ Marshall
9/17 SE Louisiana
9/24 @ Virginia
10/1 Rice
10/8 @ Navy
10/22 SMU
10/29 @ UTEP
11/5 @ East Carolina
11/12 UCF
11/19 @ UAB
11/26 Memphis

My Take:  Each year, there is usually one Conference USA team that flirts with an undefeated season, and fights there way into the Top 25.  Many people think the Houston, behind 6th year QB Case Keenum will be that team, and they could be.  However, I think Southern Miss will be that team.  If they can win road games at East Carolina and Virginia, and undefeated season could be in the works.  The Eagles do return a lot of experience and will be a surprise to many of the national pundits.

Final Prediction:  10-2

Stay tuned tomorrow for #21 and #20!

2 comments:

  1. Clemson will win 8 games a the most. I could see Clemson at 6-6 when it is all said and done. UNC and Auburn sure wins come on! Clemson has big questions in two areas QB and Coaching. Those areas are kind of important, I think.

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  2. I feel like most of Clemson's games should be listed as swing games...they are just historically iffy. Auburn is a sure win though...they lost alot of talent and are probably worse off then most people think.

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