15. Texas: Mack Brown is clearly one of college football’s best representatives, on and off the field. He is 150-43 at the Longhorn helm and when he speaks, he seems to be able to find something good to say about everyone. The last three years Mack has gone 5-7 in 2010, 8-5 in 2011, & 9-4 last year, while headed in the right direction, this record simply will not work at Texas. As you may recall, 2009 was their championship run, 13-1, falling to Alabama, 37-21 in the BCS’ “Big Dog”! Coach Brown’s seat is getting hot, he needs to have his team play up the hype they come in with as recruits. Mack looked embattled the last time I saw him with the media, this team needs to step up now. UT’s Schedule is challenging heading to the Cotton Bowl & Oklahoma, but not overwhelming. The Horns take on BYU in Provo & Kansas State @ home. Speaking of the Sooners, Mack needs to bring his defense to Dallas this year, as Texas gave up 55 (3rd most in 107 games with Oklahoma) in 2011 & 63 last year (2nd most points allowed)
14. Notre Dame: Brain Kelly is heading into his 4th season @ ND (26-11) and did have the “breakout’ season his highly successful counterparts, Ara Parseghian & Lou Holtz experienced in their third year. That said, they won national championships, Kelly battled for one … well sort of … played … ok .. they were at the game!! Wait a minute, I’m starting to sound like everybody else, …. look it, I have been watching college football since the 1950’s and that offensive Bama Line was the best I have ever seen. The Irish schedule is good and good early, middle & late … at Michigan, play Michigan State & Oklahoma @ home in back to back games … all in September. Face two very good PAC 12 teams in October, Arizona State in Cowboy Stadium (the Irish are 11-1 in neutral sites since 2000) & SC at home, and end their season vs BYU in South Bend & Stanford in Stanford Stadium! Nothing new here, the Michigan Game, in Ann Arbor is key, if the Irish come out of Semtember unbeaten, they will be ranked in the top 8 & on their way to BCS land!
13. Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy has had a great run Ok State, 67-35 overall and 5-2 in Bowl games. They return 15 starters, 8 on offense, including two of the best wide receivers in the Big 12, Tracy Moore & Josh Stewart. The schedule is interesting, play Mississippiu State from the Mighty SEC in their season opener in Houston and travel to Morgantown, to take on West Virginia on September 28. OSU plays @ Texas, but get K-State, TCU & Oklahoma all at home. Gundy’s team can make some noise, if it gets out of the season’s first month unscathed (MSU at a neutral site & @ the Mountaineers in WV)
12. LSU: I have LSU going 8-4 this season, maybe to much Jameson!! I do think they will be better on offense, Zach Mettenburger, their QB showed signs of being quite capable last season and their running backs (Hill, Hillary & Blue) are all powerful & fast. Their defense (4 starters back) is a concern. I know they have the ability to reload on that side of the ball and as they have done so in the past. The real concern is their schedule, @ Bama, Ole Miss & Georgia, host Florida & Texas A&M & open with a very good TCU in Cowboy Stadium. To much to ask from a young defense ! / ? … All that said, Les Miles is 85-21 @ LSU and does not agree with any of this 8-4 stuff! This is one team I will be watching with a great deal of interest!
11. Florida State: Jimbo (not Jumbo as I like to write) Fisher is entering his 4th season and has a won/loss record of 31-10 overall and 3-0 in bowls @ FSU. That said, they have lost 4 games the past three years to teams that they were double diget favorites to beat. If they are going to make a run at the top 5 or better (a position they were in for 14 straight years… but not once since 2000) they really need to keep thier focus in these types of games. Two teams on their schedule have the rosters to beat the Seminoles (were talking on paper …. anything can & does happen in the real world), Clemson & Florida. If Fisher is able to keep these guys focused in their 10 other games … all FSU has to do is go 2-0 in the deep water …. to be playing for all the marbles in 2013!
Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Subscribe