These are the teams that I expect to prevail in their respective divisions and conferences this year. Expect to see most of them playing in BCS Bowls at season's end.
Southeastern Conference Championship Game (Georgia Dome - Atlanta, Georgia)
The ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE defeat the GEORGIA BULLDOGS
AmStat is calling for the Tide to cap off their second straight undefeated season with a win over the Bulldogs in Atlanta. If all goes according to plans, 'Bama will be waiting to defend their title in the BCS National Championship Game.
Big Ten Champions
The IOWA HAWKEYES
The Hawkeyes are projected to finish atop the conference at 7-1, finishing one game ahead of a pack of four teams that includes Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. A Rose Bowl appearance will most likely be the reward for Iowa's efforts.
Big 12 Championship Game (Texas Stadium - Arlington, Texas)
The NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS defeat the TEXAS A&M AGGIES
AmStat is making a surprise pick in the Big 12 this year. Jerod Johnson will lead the Aggies past both Texas and Oklahoma on their way to Arlington, but Johnson won't have anything for the Cornhuskers with a BCS bid on the line. Nebraska will finally return to the big time bowl stage this season. Oklahoma will be a strong BCS at-large contender, as AmStat only projects them to have one loss this year.
Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game (Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, North Carolina)
The FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES defeat the VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
The Seminoles are back to being a national title contender under first year coach Jimbo Fisher. They will get by Virginia Tech and return to the BCS for the first time since their epic 2006 Orange Bowl matchup with Penn State. The 'Noles only projected loss is to Oklahoma at Norman. If quarterback Christian Ponder can lead his team to an upset, Florida State could very well be playing in the National Championship.
Pacific 10 Champions
The OREGON STATE BEAVERS
For the second year in a row, the conference will be decided during the "Civil War" rivalry game that annually matches up the Beavers with perennial power Oregon. Last year, the Ducks won at home and went on to the Rose Bowl. This year, the Beavers will use their home field advantage to propel them to Pasadena. They will be led by a pair of diminutive AmStat All-Americans, brothers James (WR) and Jacquizz (RB) Rogers.
Big East Champions
The WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
The Mounties look to be fully reloaded this year, just in time to be the class of the conference. AmStat actually calls for them to lose their all important "Backyard Brawl" matchup with Pitt, but West Virginia will managed to limp into the BCS off the strength of Pitt losing road games to both USF and Cincinnati late in the season. If the Mountaineers reach their projected 10 wins and a conference championship, all will be right in Morgantown...even if they lose to Pittsburgh.
Mountain West Champions
The TEXAS CHRISTIAN HORNED FROGS
The Frogs will get past their four daunting tests for the year (Oregon State, Baylor, BYU, and Utah) in style and finish the season undefeated, but they will fall short of their goal of playing in the BCS Title Game. They will have to settle for a second straight BCS bowl bid and a possible appearance at New York's Downtown Athletic Club by quarterback Andy Dalton. TCU's fearless and unquestioned leader could very well be a Heisman finalist.
Western Athletic Conference Champions
The BOISE STATE BRONCOS
The Broncos will also finish the season undefeated, but their series of wins will impress the pollsters just a little more than TCU's, allowing them to be the first non-AQ football program to be allowed to play for the BCS National Championship. The Broncos' season really boils down to one single game. THEY MUST BEAT VIRGINIA TECH ON LABOR DAY NIGHT!!!!!
Conference USA Championship Game (Gerald J. Ford Stadium - Dallas, Texas) ***Site Will Be the Home Field of the CUSA West Champion
The CENTRAL FLORIDA BLACK KNIGHTS defeat the SOUTHERN METHODIST MUSTANGS
UCF may have been expecting to play Houston in this game, but they will have a tough time dispatching June Jones and his pesky Ponies. Ultimately, the Knights will prove to be the class of the conference thanks to solid quarterback play from Ryan Calabrese and the skills of returning 1000 yard rusher Brynn Harvey.
Mid-American Conference Championship Game (Ford Field - Detroit, Michigan)
The TEMPLE OWLS defeat the WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS
The Broncos might actually be the MAC's best team, but the Owls have the conference's most dynamic player BY FAR. Running back Bernard Pierce is a good enough talent to put Temple over the top against any team in the MAC. He will definitely be a nightmare for a random underachieving Big Ten team in the Little Caesar's Bowl.
Sun Belt Champions
The MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
This may be one of the best teams that the Sun Belt has ever produced in just their 10th year as a FBS conference. MTSU quarterback Dwight Dasher is the Belt's best player and the primary reason why the Blue Raiders will most likely run through the conference.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
AmStat College Football Preview: The Pre-Season All-American Teams
Four teams filled with the best players in the country. This isn't about the NFL, it's about the most productive college athletes in the nation.
First Team All-Americans
QB) Ryan Mallett - Arkansas
RB) Mark Ingram - Alabama
RB) DeMarco Murray - Oklahoma
FB) Stanley Havili - USC
WR) AJ Green - Georgia
WR) Julio Jones - Alabama
WR) Jon Baldwin - Pittsburgh
TE) Kyle Rudolph - Notre Dame [pictured right]
OT) Gabe Carimi - Wisconsin
OT) Marcus Cannon - TCU
C) Kristofer O'Dowd - USC
OG) Stefen Wisniewski - Penn State
OG) Justin Boren - Ohio State
DE) Adrian Clayborn - Iowa
DE) Robert Quinn - North Carolina
DT) Marvin Austin - North Carolina
DT) Jared Crick - Nebraska
MLB) Quan Sturdivant - North Carolina
MLB) Greg Jones - Michigan State
OLB) Bruce Carter - North Carolina
OLB) Mark Herzlich - Boston College [pictured right]
CB) Patrick Peterson - LSU
CB) Prince Amukamara - Nebraska
FS) Will Hill - Florida
SS) Ahmad Black - Florida
K) Kai Forbath - UCLA
P) Ryan Donahue - Iowa
KR) Cyrus Gray - Texas A&M
PR) Jeremy Kerley - TCU
Second Team All-Americans
QB) Andrew Luck - Stanford
RB) Jacquizz Rogers - Oregon State
RB) Evan Royster - Penn State
FB) Charles Clay - Tulsa
WR) Michael Floyd - Notre Dame
WR) DeAndre Brown - Southern Miss
WR) Devier Posey - Ohio State [pictured right]
TE) DJ Williams - Arkansas
OT) Matt Reynolds - BYU
OT) Kyle Hix - Texas
C) Mike Pouncey - Florida
OG) Stephen Schilling - Michigan
OG) Carl Johnson - Florida
DE) Cameron Heyward - Ohio State
DE) Da'Quan Bowers - Clemson
DT) Jarvis Jenkins - Clemson
DT) Drake Nevis - LSU
MLB) Mike Mohamed - California
MLB) Chris Galippo - Alabama
OLB) Akeem Ayers - UCLA
OLB) Travis Lewis - Oklahoma
CB) Ras-I Dowling - Virginia [pictured right]
CB) Chimdi Chekwa - Ohio State
FS) Kenny Tate - Maryland
SS) Tyler Sash - Iowa
K) Caleb Sturgis - Florida
P) Johnny Hekker - Oregon State
KR) Dwayne Harris - East Carolina
PR) Ryan Broyles - Oklahoma
Third Team All-Americans
QB) Jerrod Johnson - Texas A&M [pictured right]
RB) Noel Divine - West Virginia
RB) Ryan Williams - Virginia Tech
FB) Owen Marecic - Stanford
WR) Terrance Tolliver - LSU
WR) Austin Pettis - Boise State
WR) James Rogers - Oregon State
TE) Charlie Gantt - Michigan State
OT) Joseph Barksdale - LSU
OT) Blake DeChristopher - Virginia Tech
C) David Molk - Michigan
OG) Bryant Browning - Ohio State
OG) Chris Stewart - Notre Dame
DE) Greg Romeus - Pittsburgh
DE) Marcell Dareus - Alabama
DT) Jerel Worthy - Michigan State [pictured right]
DT) Christian Ballard - Iowa
MLB) Martez Wilson - Illinois
MLB) Brian Rolle - Ohio State
OLB) Sean Spence - Miami FL
OLB) Ross Homan - Ohio State
CB) Kendric Burney - North Carolina
CB) Janoris Jenkins - Florida
FS) Blake Gideon - Texas
SS) Mark Barron - Alabama
K) Blair Walsh - Georgia
P) Drew Butler - Georgia
KR) Damaris Johnson - Tulsa
PR) David Gilreath - Wisconsin
Fourth Team All-Americans
QB) Jake Locker - Washington
RB) Dion Lewis - Pittsburgh
RB) Bernard Pierce - Temple [pictured right]
FB) Vince Pascoe - Fresno State
WR) Armon Binns - Cincinnati
WR) Derrell Johnson Koulianos - Iowa
WR) Ronald Johnson - USC
TE) Ben Guidugli - Cincinnati
OT) Clint Boling - Georgia
OT) Anthony Castonzo - Boston College
C) John Moffitt - Wisconsin
OG) Rodney Hudson - Florida State
OG) Caleb Schlauderaff - Utah
DE) Ryan Winterswyk - Boise State
DE) Jeremy Beal - Oklahoma
DT) Mike Martin - Michigan
DT) Chris Neild - West Virginia
MLB) Obi Ezeh - Michigan [pictured right]
MLB) Casey Matthews - Oregon
OLB) Nick Bellore - Central Michigan
OLB) Lawrence Wilson - Connecticut
CB) Curtis Brown - Texas
CB) Aaron Williams - Texas
FS) Brian Lainhart - Kent State
SS) Jay Valai - Wisconsin
K) Wes Byrum - Auburn
P) Derek Epperson - Baylor
KR) Darryl Stonum - Michigan
PR) Niles Paul - Nebraska
AmStat College Football Preview: The Pre-Season NCAA Power Rankings
This one is a lot less complicated than the Preseason Top 33. No records and schedules are considered. These are simply AmStat's Top 30 teams in the country. Nothing more and nothing less. It's pretty self-explanatory.
These are AmStat's most powerful and talented teams in the country.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Oklahoma Sooners
4. Boise State Broncos
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
6. Florida Gators
7. USC Trojans
8. Miami FL Hurricanes
9. Oregon Ducks
10. Texas Longhorns
11. North Carolina Tar Heels
12. TCU Horned Frogs
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
14. Florida State Seminoles
15. Penn State Nittany Lions
16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
17. Georgia Bullldogs
18. Wisconsin Badgers
19. LSU Tigers
20. Oregon State Beavers
22. Michigan Wolverines
23. Iowa Hawkeyes
24. Auburn Tigers
25. Michigan State Spartans
These are AmStat's most powerful and talented teams in the country.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Oklahoma Sooners
4. Boise State Broncos
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
6. Florida Gators
7. USC Trojans
8. Miami FL Hurricanes
9. Oregon Ducks
10. Texas Longhorns
11. North Carolina Tar Heels
12. TCU Horned Frogs
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
14. Florida State Seminoles
15. Penn State Nittany Lions
16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
17. Georgia Bullldogs
18. Wisconsin Badgers
19. LSU Tigers
20. Oregon State Beavers
22. Michigan Wolverines
23. Iowa Hawkeyes
24. Auburn Tigers
25. Michigan State Spartans
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