2011 DBTH Top 25 Countdown to Kickoff: #21 and #20

Today we will continue the Don't Buy The Hype 2011 College Football Countdown, showcasing teams #21 and #20 in the polls.


Here's what you've missed so far:
#25 Arizona State
#24 BYU
#23 Clemson
#22 Southern Miss


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

#21 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

2011 Season Forecast

9/2 Youngstown St.

9/10 Florida Atlantic

9/17 @ Notre Dame

9/24 Central Michigan

10/1 @ Ohio St.

10/15 Michigan

10/22 Wisconsin

10/29 @ Nebraska

11/5 Minnesota

11/12 @ Iowa

11/19 Indiana

11/26 Northwestern

My Take:  Michigan State has a very good team this year, but a daunting road schedule that will keep them out of Big 10(12) title picture, most likely.  If the Spartans do make it to the championship game, they will have certainly earned the right to be there.  Road games at Notre Dame, Ohio State, Nebraska and Iowa will test their meddle and they need to win one of those conference road games to have a chance to make it to Indianapolis.  The best chance at stealing one of those will be at Ohio State, since their key players will still be serving their suspensions.  They have generally played poorly at Iowa and seem to always find a way to beat Notre Dame, though I don't see that happening this year.  


Final Prediction:  8-4

#20 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

2011 Season Forecast

9/3 UL-Lafayette

9/10 Arizona

9/17 @Tulsa

 9/24 @ Texas A&M

10/8 Kansas

10/15 @ Texas

10/22 @ Missouri

10/29 Baylor

11/5 Kansas St.

11/12 @ Texas Tech

11/18 @ Iowa St.

12/3 Oklahoma

My Take:  Mike Gundy, with help from T. Boone Pickens' check book, has turned Oklahoma State into a hot commodity in the college football landscape.  They are highly rated in the preseason year-after-year, mainly due to the flashy firepower of their uptempo spread offense. They return 9 starters on offense and have the best receiver in the country, Justin Blackmon.  While they will be the sexy pick to unseat favorite Oklahoma in the Big 12(10), a tough road schedule will make that a dream instead of a reality.  A September date at Texas A&M will be a huge challenge, but the Cowboys' season rests on a two week road trip to Texas and Missouri.  If they can beat Texas in Austin for a second straight year, and finish off Missouri in Columbia, the Pokes could set up a showdown in the Bedlam Game for a shot at the Big 12(10) Title, and possibly an undefeated season.  I don't see that happening, though, as the road schedule is just too tough this year.

Final Prediction:  9-3

Stay tuned as we continue the countdown to #1!