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Post by EvilVodka on Mar 19, 2021 1:50:01 GMT
Here's my Xtremely early picks for the playoffs and some thoughts as well. I'll get this in tonight before March Madness kicks off (geaux LSU and FSU; #EyesontheEast)
Your 2021 National Champs are.....Oklahoma
Oklahoma will beat Georgia in the National Championship game in Indianapolis
Oklahoma beats Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Georgia wins a rematch with Clemson in the Orange Bowl
Oklahoma, Georgia, and Clemson will be the best teams in 2021. Oklahoma looked really good at the end of 2020...you can tell they are building (Rattler early pick for Heisman?). Also, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but the defense in the Big XII has gotten WAY better lately...huge improvement. Meanwhile, the defensive superiority of the SEC has been waning lately...
Georgia has the schedule and the team to make a serious run. The major question is, can they get past Alabama?? Every Dawg has their day eventually
Clemson will be back, but I think they will be led by their defense. Losing TLaw hurts a lot
Alabama will still be the team to beat in the SEC, but damn do they lose a lot on offense, including their coordinator.
I really don't know how Ohio State will do...they'll have loads of talent, but where do they go without Fields?
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Other teams I see doing really well aka Teams on the Rise
Texas A&M -- I think the SEC is becoming jelly in the middle of the conference, and I think it's all due to coaching. I'm not impressed with hiring decisions at Auburn, Tennessee, or South Carolina. LSU is all over the place. Consequently I see Texas A&M surging in the conference. As Jimbo starts getting his teams to gel, I think the Aggies will rise dramatically.
Texas -- Texas really hasn't been that bad lately...they've failed to win the big games, against Oklahoma, LSU, and Iowa State. But those were really good teams, and UT was competitive in those games. I think with Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns will elevate their play and start appearing in the top 10 alot more
Iowa State -- Iowa State could be the Irish '20 of 2021. They return practically all their team. They are a really good, well coached team and they could find themselves in the mix. But what they don't have is the 5* elite talent...they don't have the superstars. Nevertheless, they'll be back in 2021, vying for a Big XII crown.
Indiana -- I think Penix has Indiana on the right path. Frankly, the Big 10 is ready for a new team to step up. Penn State and Michigan are illusions of good football...Indiana rising is not a surprise for a conference that has seemed mediocre outside Ohio State lately
Miami FL -- The Hurricanes keep flirting with actually being good again. Miami vs. Alabama is a great opener for the year. I'm not sure if they have enough to beat Bama, but I think they slowly, glacially, keep inching towards getting back to good football. They just need that season that clicks for them.
FSU -- I don't think we'll see FSU in the top 10 anytime soon, but I for sure think they've hit bottom....and I think that's a good thing. I think Norvell will push the Noles in a new direction, and they can purge the past and focus solely on getting better at football again. They did have a few inspiring moments last year amid the sordid turdfest of a season that a young team can hang their hats on. FSU vs. Notre Dame is the opening game, and it would not surprise me at all if the Noles pulled off an upset. The second half of their season has Clemson, Miami, and Florida, so dreams will be dashed fast, but it's a long way to climb back up.
UCLA -- what is going on in the PAC 12 these days??? Out of the dust and rubble of the failed PAC 12 2020 season, I think you will find Chip Kelly quietly revive the Bruins. Their losses last year to Oregon and USC were extremely close. Somebody has to emerge out of the PAC 12 dumpster fire. PS UCLA gets LSU in week 2 in the Rose Bowl!
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Post by ajbuckeye on Mar 19, 2021 3:26:26 GMT
As much as I hate to say it I would go with Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and probably Oklahoma. I would go with Ohio State and Bama with Bama winning it all. They recruit at such a high level and get the most out of their recruits. I do think that Ohio State is not far behind but not there yet.
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Post by Hero on Mar 19, 2021 10:29:05 GMT
I always look forward to Evil’s annual prediction of the demise of Alabama. I’m sure you will be correct...eventually.
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Post by EvilVodka on Mar 19, 2021 12:46:01 GMT
I always look forward to Evil’s annual prediction of the demise of Alabama. I’m sure you will be correct...eventually. lol
not really claiming their demise...they do go against the general rule of college football though, which is: if you lose a ton of players, you usually aren't as good the next year. Alabama breaks this rule every year because of all the talent. I couldn't see an Alabama offense better than the Tua offense, but Alabama definitely proved me wrong last year. Can they do it again? At this point I have no idea who their QB will be, and Steve Sarkisian is gone. Will O'Brien be as good?
You've gotta admit, there are plenty of unknowns with Alabama 2021. Maybe you've got some insight as to how they will be this year.
Ohio State is very similar too...I know Alabama and Ohio State will be good because of talent level, but where will they finish in 2021? Teams like Georgia and Oklahoma are much easier to predict. Look at their schedules + talent returning. Those teams are both set up for serious runs at a championship.
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Post by EvilVodka on Mar 19, 2021 12:47:16 GMT
As much as I hate to say it I would go with Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and probably Oklahoma. I would go with Ohio State and Bama with Bama winning it all. They recruit at such a high level and get the most out of their recruits. I do think that Ohio State is not far behind but not there yet. The last two years, teams with incredible offenses have won the championship...who has the best offense going into 2021? Something to think about
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Post by Hero on Mar 19, 2021 23:59:37 GMT
I always look forward to Evil’s annual prediction of the demise of Alabama. I’m sure you will be correct...eventually. lol
not really claiming their demise...they do go against the general rule of college football though, which is: if you lose a ton of players, you usually aren't as good the next year. Alabama breaks this rule every year because of all the talent. I couldn't see an Alabama offense better than the Tua offense, but Alabama definitely proved me wrong last year. Can they do it again? At this point I have no idea who their QB will be, and Steve Sarkisian is gone. Will O'Brien be as good?
You've gotta admit, there are plenty of unknowns with Alabama 2021. Maybe you've got some insight as to how they will be this year.
Ohio State is very similar too...I know Alabama and Ohio State will be good because of talent level, but where will they finish in 2021? Teams like Georgia and Oklahoma are much easier to predict. Look at their schedules + talent returning. Those teams are both set up for serious runs at a championship.
Your analysis is very true. Lots of changes and lots of unknowns. New faces on the OLine and most of the skill positions. The talking heads seem confident that A freshman named Brice Young who had a few snaps in mop up duty last year. I think they might see some competition from Paul Tyson who has been in the system a year longer. Coaching changes are the rule rather than the exception at Alabama so I am cautiously optimistic. Saban seems to have a knack for picking coaches.
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Post by bluehen on Mar 20, 2021 23:33:30 GMT
Bama for 2021 but it won't be quite as easy as 2020. BTW look at that murderous non conference schedule
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Post by tigercpa on Mar 31, 2021 16:47:43 GMT
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Post by doc on Apr 1, 2021 13:32:43 GMT
Georgia non-conference schedule is pretty stout. OSU has...
2021 - Oregon 2022 - Notre Dame 2023 - Notre Dame 2024 - Washington
2025 - Texas, Washington 2026 - Texas, BC 2027 - Alabama, BC 2028 - Alabama 2030 - Georgia 2031 - Georgia
I guess 2029 remains TBA....
I hope I'm around and able to attend most of these games!!! I'll be 73 in 2031!!!
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Post by bluehen on Apr 1, 2021 17:38:57 GMT
who are you trying to fool, cpa ?
In the next 6 seasons mighty UGA plays : UAB ( twice !) ,Kent State, Austin Peay, Tenn- Martin, Charleston Southern, Charlotte, Samford, Tennessee Tech, Western Kentucky, and UMASS....and more to be scheduled in future.
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Post by tigercpa on Apr 2, 2021 16:27:38 GMT
Spring games coming...
Early thoughts - this spring game has a similar feel to 2018 for a few reasons. DJ's another 5-star heir at quarterback, though he’s already got 2 wins under his belt. There’s talent galore at wide receiver again after injuries robbed Lawrence of his most talented weapons. There’s a confident buzz around a maturing defensive line.
DJ's deep ball is a thing of beauty, he'll probably see a lot of 2 high safeties, at least initially. The good news for that is Clemson is as deep at TE as we have been in a long time. hopefully, we will use the middle of the field more.
That being said, I'm not going along with a number of the #1 rankings in preseason. Too many issues not resovled last year - O Line, Safety.
Clemson definitely needs a clean palate after that semifinal game. Venables said it was all his fault recently.
Clemson has a deep RB room...will an alpha back emerge?
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Post by tigercpa on Apr 2, 2021 16:33:46 GMT
who are you trying to fool, cpa ?
In the next 6 seasons mighty UGA plays : UAB ( twice !) ,Kent State, Austin Peay, Tenn- Martin, Charleston Southern, Charlotte, Samford, Tennessee Tech, Western Kentucky, and UMASS....and more to be scheduled in future.
'26 - '31 is no slouch..with GT every year...
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Post by EvilVodka on Jul 6, 2021 3:11:21 GMT
even after reading preseason mags, I am still high on Oklahoma and Georgia
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Post by doc on Jul 6, 2021 12:45:41 GMT
I really don't know how Ohio State will do...they'll have loads of talent, but where do they go without Fields?
CJ Stroud, Kyle McCord or Jack Miller - it really doesn't matter. Their 3rd string receivers would start at every other B1G school...Olave, Wilson, Njigba, Fleming, Harrison, Egbuka, Ballard - Gee Scott moved to TE the WR room so crowded. OL has the best 2 tackles in the conference and 5 star recruits at both guard and the center spots. Running backs are 5 deep and add Treveyon Henderson - a 5 star out of Virginia. Jeremy Ruckert returns at TE. Ohio State's offense will average close to 50 points a game - MID.
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Post by tigercpa on Jul 6, 2021 17:02:59 GMT
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