It's that time of the year again. We all sit down on our couches kick our feet up and wonder what is coming. We all prepare to have our ultimate question who is going to win the National Title answered. Before we have a champion there are a lot of underlying questions this season has to offer. Who's rated to high, to low? Who's our breakout Athlete? These our strictly my opinion in just a few questions before we get the games going Thursday. If you don't agree I understand because we all know that whoever your favorite team is, is the best.
1. Come week 10 will we still be talking about USC?
Every year we turn on our TV and we all listen and talk about how USC is back and better than ever. People are picking them to be in their final four and to win the Pac 12. Well I can’t get on that bandwagon. I just don't see it. Go ahead call me blind, its just not there in my eyes. You can call me crazy saying no team has ever returned 20 starters in the history of college football, but the idea that bringing back average players makes them great is something I've always argued against. You are talking about 20 starters that lost to an average Boston College team, to Arizona State team at home, and a team that went 9-4 and didn't even play eventually national runner up Oregon. I’m sorry USC fans, do you have the talent to be great? Yes, but I don't believe you can put it together for the whole season, especially with trips to Oregon and Notre Dame.
2. Will Ohio State repeat?
Ohio State has the most talent on a college football team I've seen in the most recent history. They have athletes at every position and are poised to be in the conversation for best team in college football history. There is one problem that always makes former Davids now Goliath's fall and it is complacency. When Ohio State finally finished celebrating their championship. When their beautiful, never before been awarded to someone else CFB Playoff trophy was tucked away in its case, there was one question on everyones mind. How do you battle complacency? The summer came with fame for the Buckeyes. A trip to the ESPYS where they were up for team of the year, TV shows such as Scarlet and Gray Days and E:60 would come and look at their camp and have cameras in everyones faces. Then, there is Cardale Jones who over night made himself the face of the college football world.
He has been outward about his love for Rhonda Rousey and has not been much like other players on Twitter. He fired back at a fan who told him “to stick with football and stay off Twitter.” He has been the most outspoken player on the team. Anytime there is a camera around, you can bet Cardale Jones will be near it. That leads to the idea that if they want to win, Ohio State and Cardale Jones need to put last year behind them and get ready for a new season. It seems Urban Meyer has taken many strides to do so. But back to the main question: Can Ohio State repeat? Yes, it is very viable they could repeat. Urban Meyer has dealt with a team after winning a championship at Florida, although he did lose in the SEC championship. But with schedule the Buckeyes play I don't see any teams getting in their way up until Michigan State. With the MSU game being at home, I see a win for Ohio State. I think if this team slides past the rejuvenated Michigan team, takes on a good Wisconsin team in BIG 10 championship game and advances to another playoff,I believe they will hoist that trophy again as long they stay healthy.
3. Who is the most overrated team?
I know I will get ridiculed for this one but I think it has to be the big bad boys from Tuscaloosa. Alabama used to be top tier of the college football world. Just two years ago they won their second national title in two years (third in four years). They were by all accounts and every definition of the word, a Dynasty. But something felt off towards the end of the last year. It did not seem like the Alabama team we had become accustomed to watching. Even towards the end of the regular season, they were on upset alert more than Nick Saban could have hoped for. A trip to Arkansas, which resulted in a late interception thrown by Arkansas cost them the game, or a close game with Mizzou in the SEC championship game leading up to the fourth quarter.
It just didn’t seem like the old Alabama “King of the World.” Then came a game in New Orleans, Louisiana (practically a home game for the Tide). Coming in as heavy favorites and number one in the playoffs, they lost to Ohio State. Offseason rumors of players looking ahead, different excuses by Nick Saben which can all be boiled down to one thing: Alabama is not the top dog of college football anymore. This season they return with three starters on offense, including a QB battle with two unproven quarterbacks. They lost their Heisman contender in Amir Cooper and have zero returning receivers. Nick Saban can recruit the socks off of anyone but to put a whole new group of guys in an offense where we haven't seen them play a down and say they are claiming to be No. 3, it's absurd. Put any other team name on their roster and I just don't see how they are ahead of a Michigan State, a team that continues to prove itself and still receives no respect. I see seven tough games for Alabama this season, and it would not surprise me to see them lose four of them starting this upcoming week against Wisconsin.
4. Who is the most underrated team in College Football?
I think it's a team no one has really been talking about but they deserve some respect. The Arkansas Razorbacks are going to be a force in the SEC West this year. Last season Arkansas played eight teams in the top 25, as well as playing 6 in the top 10. Their largest loss after week one was by 7 points to the number one team in the country, Mississippi State.
They lost to Alabama by 1 point and beat number eight, Ole Miss, by 30. They won a total of seven games the previous two years and never won an SEC game under Bret Bielema. This team returns with 16 starters, including one of the most underrated running backs in the nation, Jonanthan Williams. Although they have many road games this year at Alabama and LSU, they definitely have a chance to make some noise in the SEC West. The only concern is how they will handle the pressure of being thrown in the spotlight and sitting in the top 25 for the first time in a long time. They may not be in the playoff hunt, but do not be surprised if this tough Arkansas defense and high powered offense takes a lot of teams off the radar.
5. And the Heisman goes to…?
We are a long way from declaring who our college football MVP is, but based off of last season and thoughts for this season, a few players who could make a splash and run for New York right now are Trevone Boykin and J.T. Barrett (oh did i forget to mention I think he will be the QB for Ohio State). These two have to be the two leading quarterbacks for the award going into the season. Boykin had an amazing year last year with his high powered offense, ability to scramble and putting the ball anywhere he wanted it. He lead a great offense of TCU nearly to a playoff birth and a dominating bowl win. Then there is J.T. Barrett, a solid quarterback who we all remember leading the buckeyes from the turmoil of Virginia Tech to a win over MSU and gave them a chance at a playoff birth.
His arm and his versatility makes him look like a young Troy Smith and Robert Griffin III. He will have weapons on both sides of him with Braxton Miller and Ezekiel Elliott out of the back catching balls and WR Michael Thomas making amazing catches. Then there is the HB back which I believe is between Ezekiel Elliott and Nick Chubb. Really Nick Chubb stepped in and did an amazing job last year, which lead people to believe he would be right back up there again. His team is ranked in the top 10 again and he is the leader of his entire team, just as he was a year ago. He has amazing speed, and his O line opens up huge holes for him. “Zeke” was only a household name to Buckeye fans, until the BIG 10 championship where he bursted on the scene to help Cardale Jones and the Buckeyes win a national title. He is explosive and can make sharp cuts, but the concern for me is if he and J.T. can both be contenders. “Zeke” received more touches to take the load off of Cardale in the playoffs, but in a high powered quick up pace Urban Meyer offense I hope the real star of the show doesn't get overshadowed by a QB battle and a new HB star, Braxton Miller.
Pick Em’ Final Four Style
In my final four I have Ohio State, Clemson, TCU and Auburn.
National Champ: the Ohio State Buckeyes
Pick Em’ Week 1:
This week I have a close game between Minnesota and TCU, with TCU barley pulling it out as I think Minnesota is a better team overall than people give them credit for.
I have a close game between Northwestern and Stanford with Northwestern pulling the upset at home.
A good game with Louisville at Auburn. If it was at Louisville, I would pick the Cardinals, but I think the strength of Auburn’s Defense is too strong and the offense can score big. Beating an SEC West team on the road is a challenge, but I think Auburn will pull of the win.
Arizona St. at Texas A&M is more of a toss up game. We are still learning a lot about A&M and I like Arizona St. as a sleeper this season. Sun Devils pull off this win.
The big game of the week is Wisconsin vs. Alabama at a neutral field. Im taking the upset I said earlier, I just don't see Alabama's strength and I think Wisconsin is better than a lot of people are expecting them to be.
Finally Ohio State vs. VT. I have Ohio State big. There's just too much anger from last year and too much talent.
LET'S GET THIS SEASON GOING.
