Monday, August 29, 2011

2011 DBTH Top 25 Countdown to Kickoff: #15, #14 and #13

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
#17 USC
#16 Stanford


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




#15 TEXAS LONGHORNS

2011 Season Forecast
9/3 Rice
9/10 BYU
9/17 @ UCLA
10/1 @Iowa St.
10/8 Oklahoma
10/15 Oklahoma St.
10/29 Kansas
11/5 Texas Tech
11/12 @ Missouri
11/19 Kansas St.
11/24 @ Texas A&M
12/3 @ Baylor

My Take:  Last year, Murphy's Law was in full effect for the Longhorns.  If it could go wrong, it did.  Give Mack Brown credit, as he evaluate his program and made some changes to correct the problems.  Last year's 5-7 record was the only season in Mack Brown's tenure in which the Horns didn't win at least ten games!  Expectations have been lowered for Texas, and that could help motivate them to return to national prominence.  The schedule is very manageable, and they should be favored in all their road games with the exception of Texas A&M.  As I stated in THIS ARTICLE back a few weeks ago, Texas is a lock to overachieve this year, and is wins over Oklahoma and A&M away from possibly playing for a national championship.

Final Prediction:  10-2


#14 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

2011 Season Forecast
9/3 East Carolina (Charlotte)
9/10 @ Georgia
9/17 Navy
9/24 Vanderbilt
10/1 Auburn
10/8 Kentucky
10/15 @ Mississippi St.
10/29 @ Tennessee
11/5 @ Arkansas
11/12 Florida
11/19 The Citadel
11/26 Clemson

My Take:  Last year, for the first time, South Carolina made it to Atlanta and played for the SEC Championship as winners of a watered-down SEC East. Because of this, they are being rated in the Top 10-12 in most preseason polls.  As good as the Gamecocks appeared at times (in the Swamp last year, for example) people are forgetting they LOST 5 GAMES!  South Carolina is notorious for winning big games and blowing winnable games.  They also have a ticking timebomb at quarterback, and that's never a good thing.  I rank Carolina at #14 because they will start higher in the polls, but this year is prime for a step back in Columbia.  I give them the nod over Tennessee because they will have a week off before, while UT is getting beaten on at Alabama, despite the fact they've only won once in Knoxville.  As is the case every year, the Georgia game is the key to the season.  Whoever wins that game always has a much better season than the loser.

Final Prediction:  9-3


#13 TCU HORNED FROGS

2011 Season Forecast
9/2 @ Baylor
9/10 @ Air Force
9/17 ULM
9/24 Portland St.
9/30 SMU
10/8 @ San Diego St.
10/22 New Mexico
10/28 BYU (Jerry World)
11/5 @ Wyoming
11/12 @ Boise St.
11/19 Colorado St.
12/3 UNLV

My Take:  TCU has a lot to replace, especially at quarterback.  Andy Dalton leaves as the all-time winningest QB in Mountain West history.  With only three returning starters, the offense will take a few games to gel.  I do think this will cost them in one of the first two games, most likely at Air Force.  Defensive Coordinator Dick Bumpas will have the defense rolling, but with a trip to Boise in November, TCU won't be going undefeated this year.


Final Prediction:  10-2


As you noticed, I released three teams today, and will be doing so in order to get all of the Top 25 released by this Saturday.  Stay tuned for #10-12 tomorrow!

1 comment:

  1. I want to make a few college predictions myself. I like Alabama to win the National Championship. I know this not really a very daring pick. While, I am on Alabama I believe Trent Richardson will win the Heisman. Andrew Luck will be in the mix, as well as UCS's Marcus Lattimore and Wisconsin's new QB Russell Wilson. Wilson looked awesome last night, they may have the best offense in the country!


    For the ACC I will go with Virginia Tech to win the conference. This might be FSU's year, but I will believe it when I see it. If FSU wins the ACC this year then I will say they are back! ACC defensive player of the year will be UNC's Quinton Coples. At 6-7 and 290 lbs. with his skills Coples may be named NCAA defensive player of the year. From everything I am hearing it seems Virginia Tech track star David Wilson may win ACC of offensive player of the year. UNC's Dwight Jones and BC's Montel Harris have a chance as well.

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