Conference Champion Preseason Picks

[Alpha]

Alpha is so anti-Nole it fogs his windshield pretty damn good...

He's like a reverse Homer...

Yeah, but he KNOWS I'm not an FSU fan.

I believe my cross dressing buddy drunk posted me.

Nah...sober but confused. We all know you're a WVU fan...I didn't see the "If" part of your statement. Thought you were a closet 'Noles fan and holding out on the rest of us.

FSU will be a damn fine team. What I personally think about them depends on my wager that week. Personal feelings have nothing to do with it...(except when it comes to the Bucs but I don't bet on them). Regardless...FSU is more than capable of losing 3 games this year...and that doesn't make them any less of a damn good team.

The problem isn't with the program...it's with the fans. The fans (like many new fans) are blinded by the loyalty and incapable of seeing what non-fans can clearly see. That is, FSU plays a tough schedule. Starting on the road, at 'Bama. There aren't many (outside of the FSU fan base) that believe FSU is going to win that game. Could they? Sure. They COULD go undefeated. Just like they COULD lose 4 games this year. Neither is likely to happen. It's much more likely they lose 2 games.

I have to admit...it would be pretty funny to see them beat Miami, Clemson AND Louisville only to lose to some scrub team like Duke or Boston College...

Anyway...should be a fun season. Oh...and my title team is gonna be Washington.

[Mountaineer Buc]

Alpha likes the Huskies to win it all!

Bold prediction. Love it!

[Alpha]

Alpha likes the Huskies to win it all!

Bold prediction. Love it!

Their coach is a stud.

Their secondary is gonna be a question mark...considering they have to replace ALL of it...but Petersen is the real deal.

[Alpha]

Way too early final 4:

Alabama
Washington
Wisconsin
Miami


Heard it here first.

[deltbucs]

I think Clemson is waaaay overhyped right now in terms of polling. They lost too much talent to the draft and they are young. Their season won't be a disaster, but it will take a step back I think.

And the homer-ism shows.

LOL!!

[Konatown]

SEC:Bama
Big 10: Michigan
Big 12: Oklahoma
ACC: FSU
PAC 12: Washington
AAC: USF

Final 4
Washington-Goes undefeated
Bama-loses to Auburn but wins the SEC
FSU-loses to Bama early but rolls through the rest of the season
Michigan-loses to Penn state but beats Ohio State

Bama over Washington for the Championship

[Mountaineer Buc]

SEC:Bama
Big 10: Michigan
Big 12: Oklahoma
ACC: FSU
PAC 12: Washington
AAC: USF

Final 4
Washington-Goes undefeated
Bama-loses to Auburn but wins the SEC
FSU-loses to Bama early but rolls through the rest of the season
Michigan-loses to Penn state but beats Ohio State

Bama over Washington for the Championship

So in the playoff you have Washington over FSU (Would be an awesome game) and Bama over Michigan (probably a blowout) Before Bama beats U-Dub again to win it all. hmm.

I'm not real high on Michigan yet, but if they manhandle Florida I'll pay more attention. I see the B1G coming down to Ohio state and Penn State.

[Konatown]

I'm not 100% sold on Michigan, but wanna mix it up without seeing Ohio State there again. Penn state getting Michigan and Ohio state back to back will be tough.

[Cheb]

I am skeptical about Michigan's chances this year. We return only five starters from last year, which is the fewest in college football. We lost 10 starters on that spectacular defense, and while the defensive line should be reloaded pretty well, the secondary makes me nervous.

Eight or nine wins is more realistic than a top ten finish and contending for the playoffs.

[Phantom Phenom]

Top 4 in no order

Alabama
USC
Oklahoma
USF if they run the table undefeated

[uscbucsfan]

Top 4 in no order


USF if they run the table undefeated

I still think that's a long shot. There needs to be more than a few 2 or 3 loss teams from the power 5.

[Super K]

I'm gonna go with:

Bama
LSU
Ohio State
USC


My Noles lose to Bama(big) and drop another in conference play keeping them out of the dance..(although the Bama loss would've been enough to do it already)

Big 12 is weak sauce this year..

LSU's only loss is to Bama setting up a potential SEC Natty 1 year after the presumed "death" of the conference..

OSU/Bama rematch
LSU/USC

Buckeyes over the Trojans..

[Mountaineer Buc]

Top 4 in no order


USF if they run the table undefeated

I still think that's a long shot. There needs to be more than a few 2 or 3 loss teams from the power 5.

It's an impossible shot unless they blow out every single opponent Spurrier in the 90's style.

Conference schedule is weak.
Non-conference schedule is weak.

If they run the table they will get a GREAT bowl game, but no way do they make the dance.

[uscbucsfan]

I still think that's a long shot. There needs to be more than a few 2 or 3 loss teams from the power 5.

It's an impossible shot unless they blow out every single opponent Spurrier in the 90's style.

Conference schedule is weak.
Non-conference schedule is weak.

If they run the table they will get a GREAT bowl game, but no way do they make the dance.

I was being nice, but...I agree.

[Alpha]

I'm not a big follower of the Big 10 (former)...but I'm curious as to why y'all think Michigan is the team to beat?

Wisconsin is a perennial powerhouse and has BY FAR the easiest schedule in the conference.

Cheb...help me out...

[Alpha]

And I don't think Miami is the best team in the ACC.

They don't play Clemson or Louisville. Easier schedule.

The FSU game will determine their fate. Their defense is gonna be tough as hell (Diaz is the best DC nobody has heard of). IF they find a QB (and Richt has a track record of doing so), they have the easiest road...

[Super K]

I'm not a big follower of the Big 10 (former)...but I'm curious as to why y'all think Michigan is the team to beat?

Wisconsin is a perennial powerhouse and has BY FAR the easiest schedule in the conference.

Cheb...help me out...

They aren't...but they have all the Harbaugh/BluenMaize hype...

They lost a ton of talent, it'll be interesting to see how they reload..

But the Buckeyes are still the cream of the crop..by a bigger margin this year than last IMO...

[Cheb]

I'm not a big follower of the Big 10 (former)...but I'm curious as to why y'all think Michigan is the team to beat?

Wisconsin is a perennial powerhouse and has BY FAR the easiest schedule in the conference.

Cheb...help me out...

Michigan is getting hype we don't deserve. As I've said, it is a reloading year, we lost a ton of starters. While we should still win a respectable number of games, we will lose to superior talent and not contend for the playoffs or the conference championship.

[Zarniwoop]

I'm not sure I see where people are giving Michigan tons of hype.

Most sites have them picked third in the East....which i think is about right. I really like their QB, but they will likely be inconsistent in some key areas...particularly on Defense.

They will be a team that can win any individual game on their schedule but a team that can also disappoint on any given Saturday.

[Alpha]

Way too early final 4:

Alabama
Washington
Wisconsin
Miami


Heard it here first.

Sitting pretty thus far.

Oklahoma looks tough though. They could bust my bracket.

Notre Dame!? WTF? they look like a damn fine team. 1 point loss to UGA...and blowouts against everyone else.


FSU. Hate to say I told ya so...and that wouldn't have changed with Francois. I like your fresh. QB. He's gonna be tough in a couple of years. He played a nice game against NC State, all things considered. You're gonna lose a lot this year but your D is STOUT.

[mdb1958]

Due to lack of interest - I'll put this here.


Hardin-Simmons vs Mary Hardin-Baylor!

Texas showdown.

Hardin-Simmons averaging 713.7 yards of offense a game - 68 points per game.

[Mountaineer Buc]

I can say FSU was the big whiff this year. The loss of Francois is just too much to overcome. But there might be a late season rally to respectability.

The big dark horse I didn't see is Georgia. They aren't just winning, they're destroying. The SEC title game with Alabama should be a dandy.

Anyone still doubting Penn state?

[Super K]

I can say FSU was the big whiff this year. The loss of Francois is just too much to overcome. But there might be a late season rally to respectability.

The big dark horse I didn't see is Georgia. They aren't just winning, they're destroying. The SEC title game with Alabama should be a dandy.

Anyone still doubting Penn state?

Losing Francois hurt...but that wasn't the killer..our OL being wet tissue paper..again...has been our Achilles heel since 2014..

Couple that with a defense that, outside the Bama game, has been a real let down and you get what we got..

Only way Francois was leading us to the Natty was with a killer run game/OL and a suffocating D..

[Mountaineer Buc]

I can say FSU was the big whiff this year. The loss of Francois is just too much to overcome. But there might be a late season rally to respectability.

The big dark horse I didn't see is Georgia. They aren't just winning, they're destroying. The SEC title game with Alabama should be a dandy.

Anyone still doubting Penn state?

Losing Francois hurt...but that wasn't the killer..our OL being wet tissue paper..again...has been our Achilles heel since 2014..

Couple that with a defense that, outside the Bama game, has been a real let down and you get what we got..

Only way Francois was leading us to the Natty was with a killer run game/OL and a suffocating D..

Oh, I didn't have them winning it all, but I had them winning the ACC.

I also vastly underestimated Clemson.

[BucJordan]

I know USF was pretty much the consensus pick for the AAC, but things are setting up quite nicely for a UCF to make a run at it. I know it's early, but looking at their schedules it could very easily be a battle of undefeated teams the final week of the season.

[Alpha]

I also vastly underestimated Clemson.

Same here. Had no idea their first year starter at QB would be this good.

Georgia and ND are the other 2 teams that have surprised me.

That 1 point loss to an apparently dominant UGA looks pretty impressive to this point. ND at Miami and homes against NC State. IF Notre Dame is for real, they're gonna get every chance to show it.

BTW...that schedule they play is beyond ridiculous. USC, Michigan St., Miami, NC State, Georgia. Jesus...whoever put that schedule together needs to be fired.

[Alpha]

I also vastly underestimated Clemson.

Same here. Had no idea their first year starter at QB would be this good.

Georgia and ND are the other 2 teams that have surprised me.

That 1 point loss to an apparently dominant UGA looks pretty impressive to this point. ND at Miami and homes against NC State. IF Notre Dame is for real, they're gonna get every chance to show it.

BTW...that schedule they play is beyond ridiculous. USC, Michigan St., Miami, NC State, Georgia. Jesus...whoever put that schedule together needs to be fired.

Down to 3...Washington decided to **** the bed.

I didn't take Clemson...but holy ****. Didn't see them losing to the 'Cuse.

A buddy played WR at Syracuse and told me not to be shocked if they beat Clemson.

I laughed.

Alabama/Miami/Wisconsin...still alive and undefeated.

How many of y'all still have 3 undefeated teams, at this point?

[Kress]

College football is awesome. Alabama and Georgia, if they have a close game, could both go. Are you seriously going to think that a 1 loss Alabama team isn't the best? Likewise, if Clemson wins the ACC they're likely in. They will have beaten Auburn, Louisville, VT, NC State, FSU, and ultimately Miami. Then what? Wisconsin?

[uscbucsfan]

College football is awesome. Alabama and Georgia, if they have a close game, could both go. Are you seriously going to think that a 1 loss Alabama team isn't the best? Likewise, if Clemson wins the ACC they're likely in. They will have beaten Auburn, Louisville, VT, NC State, FSU, and ultimately Miami. Then what? Wisconsin?

If ND wins out they are in, but I think they will drop another game or two.

[Alpha]

College football is awesome. Alabama and Georgia, if they have a close game, could both go. Are you seriously going to think that a 1 loss Alabama team isn't the best? Likewise, if Clemson wins the ACC they're likely in. They will have beaten Auburn, Louisville, VT, NC State, FSU, and ultimately Miami. Then what? Wisconsin?

Clemson is waaay behind the 8 ball here. Not to mention...they could easily **** the bed again. NC State seems to be the best team in that half of the conference. Could a 1-loss, conference champion Clemson make the final 4? Absolutely. They most likely would. Their bigger obstacle is playing in the championship game to begin with.

I think it's HIGHLY unlikely that one conference sends 2 schools. It would take a LOT more than UGA/Bama playing a really tight game. it would take MULTIPLE conferences having weak, multi-loss conference champions and ND not winning out. And probably other factors as well (principally, the SEC not being all that good outside of UGA and Bama).

The "Final 4 Committee" has shown that they tend to favor conference champions and not the "best 4 teams" in the country.