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Post by EvilVodka on May 23, 2019 17:33:38 GMT
After scanning through the Athlon preview, I think I have a better idea of what to expect in 2019. I'll probably break it up into several posts because I'm typing on an Ipad and it is annoying
First up....SEC
no one wants to hear this, but the SEC is STACKED
Alabama is loaded yet again and is primed for another run. Besides returning Tua, they return the best WR corp in the nation along with key defensive players. The schedule is doable and they should make the Title game again
LSU and Auburn will be competive, and LSU in particular returns enough key people to make a serious run at the playoff
Texas A&M is rising, but they have too many tough games
Keep an eye on Florida...they may win the SEC East. They are definitely returning to form
Georgia has Fromm again and will be a tough team. They get Notre Dame at home early.
The SEC has the most contenders of any confererence. Can anyone dethrone Alabama? Could they possibly get two teams into the playoff? I think it could happen again. LSU and the Florida-Georgia loser can make it if they just have 1 loss
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Post by EvilVodka on May 23, 2019 17:58:56 GMT
Big 10 thoughts... I think it will be kind of a mediocre year overall for the Big 10 I think this is finally the year Harbaugh breaks through the door and wins the Big 10. It took Urban Meyer leaving to get it done, but Harbaugh is churning out good teams and they return a QB with some experience. Ohio State will be good, but they have too many question marks. They have the D to make a run at the Big 10 title though Keep an eye on Michigan State. Dantonio and co. disappeared for awhile after getting plastered by Alabama in the playoffs a few years ago, but they are loaded this year. They are a very strong darkhorse for the Big 10 title After those teams, there is a significant drop off without much to say. I think Indiana could rise up. It could be their year to take the West. The rest of the west looks awful. Nebraska? Pfft Here is an early upset alert: Cincinnati at Ohio State.  |
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Post by EvilVodka on May 23, 2019 18:17:19 GMT
ACC... also known as Clemson's bitch
Clemson should be on cruise control the whole year. An easy schedule will give time for Trevor Lawrence to develop and for new players on the Dline to emerge. They are too good to choke against Syracuse, Texas A&M, or FSU
Syracuse should be good again, but who is going to be the QB? They also have a light schedule, and could possibly make a NY6 bowl. Assuming they lose to Clemson, their season will come down to road games at FSU and Duke
FSU will likely get things rolling a little bit better with new QB, new OC, and probably without the pressure of breaking a 36 year bowl streak. The goal IMO is to try and get to 10 wins. Try and beat Miami and Florida, and start owning ACC teams again....don't worry about Clemson just yet.
Duke is a tricky team...they sound so small and so basketballish. They'll probably get pummelled by Alabama to start things off, but don't sleep on them. Good darkhorse candidate for the ACC championship
Keep an eye on...Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Hokies bring back a loaded team, senior QB, and loaded defense. Hokie high VPI
Miami? No idea...they have underperformed lately, and who is the QB? They picked a bad time to schedule Florida, and actually have a difficult schedule
The real question is who besides Clemson can try and compete at a higher level. Syracuse? Virginia Tech?
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Post by EvilVodka on May 23, 2019 18:43:03 GMT
PAC 12
Expect a changing of the guard. The media will say USC, but forget it.
Take a look at who Oregon, Arizona, Utah, and California bring back. Wow
Utah is my favorite, but it will be competitive. They bring back a loaded team that went 9-5 last year. I think they could have an edge that could lead them to a PAC 12 title
Oregon brings back a ton of people as well. That first game against Auburn is key. A win in that game would do wonders for national respect for the PAC 12
Arizona may finally break through...they have the team to do it. Don't sleep on that opener against Hawaii though
Cal might makes some waves, but they have some tough road games at Ole Miss, Washington, Oregon and Utah
UCLA? I don't know...they return key people, but that schedule...why believe in this team?
I expect the Washington teams to take a step back
The overall question is if the PAC 12 can send a team to the playoff, or will they beat each other up. So much rides on a Ducks win over Auburn. Can the Ducks or the Utes become a strong enough team to ride through a conference that doesn't have a lot of bottomfeeders or "Auto-wins"
P.S. Who the freak puts together schedules for UCLA? Why schedule such a difficult OOC? Their OOC record last year? 0-3
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Post by EvilVodka on May 23, 2019 19:04:54 GMT
Big XII Geez, what to say? I think Oklahoma wins again. Despite a perceived weak D, they return a lot of those players. They've gotta be better somehow. I think Jalen Hurts will emerge as a leader, and OU dominates a weak Big XII I like Texas, but they lost way too much on D. Some people are talking National Title appearance? No way. The game vs. LSU will say a lot of what to expect from the 2019 version of the Longhorns, but what they return doesn't compare to a lot of other more robust rosters. Can they beat Oklahoma? Can they beat OU twice? No TCU, Oklahoma State, West Virginia? Nothing about these teams impresses me. West Virginia has tricky OOC games vs. Mizzou and NC State Besides Texas and Oklahoma, who catches my eye? Try Iowa State...I like how they've been rising, and they have good QB play. You could say they are Purdy good, har har Overall, this conference looks very similar to last year, minus the stodgy Texas D and West Virginia's offense. Does OU have guns to return to the playoffs? Even if they do, I don't think they match up well with Alabama or Clemson Key game: Texas vs. LSU Similar to Auburn vs. Oregon, this is a national showcase game and will determine the strength of the conference perception |
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Post by EvilVodka on May 23, 2019 19:17:34 GMT
....and the rest....
Notre Dame? They'll be good, but the schedule will trip them up. They got lucky last year as FSU and USC sucked, but they won't escape road trips to Athens GA and Ann Arbor. They also draw good ACC teams
Cincinnati...they went 11-2 last year. This is a top 25 team with enough ammo to knock off UCLA and/or Ohio State. They sound small, but the AAC has some teams that can play
South Florida returns a lot of seniors. UCF might take a step back, but South Florida will step up. It would not surprise me if they open up 2-0 against Wisconsin and Georgia Tech.
Hawaii might actually compete in the Mountain West. Cole Macdonald can lead the Rainbow Warriors to glory
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Post by EvilVodka on May 23, 2019 19:42:22 GMT
Playoff prediction:
Alabama and Clemson are easy picks
I can definitely see another SEC team getting in...the SEC is that good this year. I really think LSU, Georgia, or maybe even Florida might be able to go through with 1-loss and get in as the 4th seed. If LSU gets the offense rolling, I think they'll best Texas, and they get Florida and Auburn at home
I also like Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, Utah and Oklahoma. Of these teams, I think Oklahoma has the easiest schedule. They punch their ticket behind Jalen Hurts
I will go with:
#1 Clemson vs. #4 LSU
#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Alabama
Why is Alabama #3? I just have an unexplainable gut feeling they will lose a game (not LSU), but it won't matter, they win the SEC
Anyways, Clemson beats LSU ( closer than the experts think! )
Alabama beats Oklahoma
And we get Alabama-Clemson V
Winner? I think Alabama comes out with a refined gameplan and runs the ball more. They win Saban a 6th title at Alabama in a close thriller over Clemson
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Post by Hero on May 23, 2019 22:25:37 GMT
Playoff prediction: Alabama and Clemson are easy picks I can definitely see another SEC team getting in...the SEC is that good this year. I really think LSU, Georgia, or maybe even Florida might be able to go through with 1-loss and get in as the 4th seed. If LSU gets the offense rolling, I think they'll best Texas, and they get Florida and Auburn at home I also like Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, Utah and Oklahoma. Of these teams, I think Oklahoma has the easiest schedule. They punch their ticket behind Jalen Hurts I will go with: #1 Clemson vs. #4 LSU #2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Alabama Why is Alabama #3? I just have an unexplainable gut feeling they will lose a game (not LSU), but it won't matter, they win the SEC Anyways, Clemson beats LSU ( closer than the experts think! ) Alabama beats Oklahoma And we get Alabama-Clemson V Winner? I think Alabama comes out with a refined gameplan and runs the ball more. They win Saban a 6th title at Alabama in a close thriller over Clemson I like the way you think.  |
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Post by EvilVodka on Jun 1, 2019 20:52:44 GMT
Just one reponse? Cmon guys, the season will be here soon!
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Post by Hero on Jun 2, 2019 21:00:16 GMT
LSU and Bama to the playoffs is hard to picture.
How does the SECW go to get two in?
I get Bama is in as you have them winning the conference.
LSU and Coach O had a great year last year, IMHO.
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Post by doc on Jun 3, 2019 1:42:31 GMT
Big 10 thoughts... I think it will be kind of a mediocre year overall for the Big 10 I think this is finally the year Harbaugh breaks through the door and wins the Big 10. It took Urban Meyer leaving to get it done, but Harbaugh is churning out good teams and they return a QB with some experience. Ohio State will be good, but they have too many question marks. They have the D to make a run at the Big 10 title though Keep an eye on Michigan State. Dantonio and co. disappeared for awhile after getting plastered by Alabama in the playoffs a few years ago, but they are loaded this year. They are a very strong darkhorse for the Big 10 title After those teams, there is a significant drop off without much to say. I think Indiana could rise up. It could be their year to take the West. The rest of the west looks awful. Nebraska? Pfft Here is an early upset alert: Cincinnati at Ohio State. Just curious, in your opinion what are Ohio State’s question marks? I know what I think the only weakness is but since you think the defense could be strong I’m curious what your weaknesses are. |
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Post by tigercpa on Jun 3, 2019 20:59:56 GMT
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Post by EvilVodka on Jun 5, 2019 12:52:11 GMT
LSU and Bama to the playoffs is hard to picture. How does the SECW go to get two in? I get Bama is in as you have them winning the conference. LSU and Coach O had a great year last year, IMHO. LSU has a lot of key pieces return, and they get the Gators, Tigers, and Aggies all in Baton Rouge. If their only loss is to Alabama, and they get help with at least two P5 having two losses or more, they could be hanging out there at the end. The committee has already shown they'll put two SEC teams in. The SEC is already loaded going into the season I think Auburn will be good, but they really need the QB position to develop. The Aggies are getting better, but have a hectic schedule Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Miss St? Meh....Arkansas has been awful lately, and Ole Miss sunk back down after Freeze |
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Post by EvilVodka on Jun 5, 2019 12:55:34 GMT
Big 10 thoughts... I think it will be kind of a mediocre year overall for the Big 10 I think this is finally the year Harbaugh breaks through the door and wins the Big 10. It took Urban Meyer leaving to get it done, but Harbaugh is churning out good teams and they return a QB with some experience. Ohio State will be good, but they have too many question marks. They have the D to make a run at the Big 10 title though Keep an eye on Michigan State. Dantonio and co. disappeared for awhile after getting plastered by Alabama in the playoffs a few years ago, but they are loaded this year. They are a very strong darkhorse for the Big 10 title After those teams, there is a significant drop off without much to say. I think Indiana could rise up. It could be their year to take the West. The rest of the west looks awful. Nebraska? Pfft Here is an early upset alert: Cincinnati at Ohio State. Just curious, in your opinion what are Ohio State’s question marks? I know what I think the only weakness is but since you think the defense could be strong I’m curious what your weaknesses are. New coach, new QB by question marks, I mean unknowns, not necessarily weaknesses Ohio State could pull it together and win the Big 10, they always have the talent to I really don't know what to expect from them this year |
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Post by EvilVodka on Jun 5, 2019 12:59:39 GMT
Taggart did the smart thing and brought in an offensive coordinator. Francois gone might help things as well As for the defense, we haven't a stellar knockout defense since Mickey Andrews left. FSU defenses used to be aggressive...I don't know what Taggart's plan is but hopefully they get back to that mentality IMO if FSU can right the ship on offense, maybe get to 9 or 10 wins, maybe the D will come along |
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