Preseason 2012

The third annual preseason prediction magazine compiled and written by Karl Finkbeiner.

















Preseason Top 40
1. Georgia
2. USC
3. Alabama
4. LSU
5. Oklahoma
6. Oregon
7. Michigan
8. South Carolina
9. West Virginia
10. Arkansas
11. Stanford
12. Michigan State
13. Clemson
14. Boise State
15. Auburn
16. Ohio State
17. Wisconsin
18. Florida State
19. TCU
20. Florida
21. Virginia Tech
22. Oklahoma State
23. Texas
24. Kansas State
25. Nebraska
26. Utah
27. Tennessee
28. Iowa
29. Washington
30. Louisville
31. Virginia
32. BYU
33. Washington State
34. Notre Dame
35. Penn State
36. UCLA
38. Central Florida
39. Texas A&M
40. Texas Tech


Preseason Heisman Favorites
1. Tyler Wilson- When Mallett left after leading the Hogs to the Sugar Bowl in 2010, many
thought the passing numbers would drop significantly. Tyler Wilson stepped in and put up
stunning statistics last year. He has less weapons to work with now, but the return of Knile
Davis should help him. The combination of crazy numbers and a good record will be key to
Wilson's chance at the award.
2. Matt Barkley- Last year's preseason frontrunner, Andrew Luck, was a Pac-12 quarterback
who turned down the NFL. Barkley fits the same mold, but his chances are even better because
his team is better. He will be throwing to two of the nation's best wideouts, and if the Trojans
get to the title game, Barkley will easily win the Heisman Trophy.
3. Aaron Murray- The Dawgs are my pick to win the National Championship this year, and
Murray will be a big part of their success. He will need to cut down on the interceptions, but
the big play capability is clearly in place. A quarterback on a good team is always in the mix for
the Heisman, and Murray could find himself in that position in December.
4. Denard Robinson- As a senior, Robinson needs to finally grow up this year. After leading the
Wolverines to a BCS victory last season, he has gained a leadership role on his team. If he can
cut down on the throwing mistakes, Denard could put up RGIII type numbers in 2012 and take
Michigan back to the Rose Bowl.
5. Geno Smith- In the Orange Bowl, Smith and the Mountaineers hung 70 points on Clemson.
The offense figures to be more consistent in Dana Holgersen's second year at the helm, and
Smith will get some spotlight in the Big 12. The November 17th matchup with Oklahoma will
decide it he is a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender.
6. Montee Ball- The only non-QB on this list, Ball's Heisman chances suffered last year because
of early losses. The Badgers may need to run the table if Ball wants a shot at the Trophy.





Potential Big Games
1. LSU vs. Alabama- For a third time in two years, these two SEC heavyweights might square off
as the two highest ranked teams in the nation. In is unlikely that another National Title
rematch will be accepted, so the winner will put themselves in a great position to win it all.

2. USC vs. Oregon- The Trojans went to Autzen Stadium and pulled the "upset" last season.
With USC eligible for the postseason, this showdown will not fly under the radar again. The
winner will host the inevidable rematch in the Pac-12 championship game.

3. Alabama vs. Michigan- It is a good thing for college football for Michigan to be back, and
their return to prominence will be celebrated in an opening weekend showdown against the
defending National Champs. Alabama will be breaking in some new defensive starters, and
Michigan may be able to exploit the inexperience and pull the upset if Saban isn't careful.

4. West Virginia vs. Oklahoma- West Virginia steps into a new conference on a high note, and
they are among the favorites to win the Big 12 in their first year. They will need to first
dismantle the Sooners, however, who have been the class of the conference for the past
decade.

5. Stanford vs. USC- The Trojans will almost certainly be riding a 2-0 record and #1 record into
week three when they must travel to Stanford. If Kiffin doesn't get them ready, Stanford could
easily beat USC for the fourth straight time and the fifth time in six years.

Under the Radar Games
Michigan State vs. Boise State- This Friday night matchup will have huge implications for both
teams who are replacing a longtime starting quarterback. If Boise wins, they have a legitimate
shot at another unbeaten season.
Oklahoma State vs. Texas- Early in the season, both teams will be scrambling for the top of the
open Big 12. This is the first of three brutal games for Texas.

SEC
Dating back to 2006, the past six national champions have come from the SEC. It's no
wonder that the conference has been adamant that a playoff system should be implemented to
determine college football's best team. Last year was by far the most dominant for the
conference. They sent two representatives to the BCS title game for a rematch between the
nation's two best defenses. Those two teams, Alabama and LSU, figure to be two of the best
teams this year as well. However, the SEC may be able to prove the overwhelming gap
between themselves and the rest of the FBS this year more than ever before. The abundance
of top level talent is what is so amazing. Five of the conference's 14 teams are ranked in my
Top 10, and three are ranked in the top 4. There is no such thing as an easy game in conference
play, not to mention that many of the teams have scheduled challenging nonconference
opponents as well. The key to the conference's success in defense. The top teams all have
crushing, fast, physical defenses that can smother fast teams like Oregon and force easy three
and outs against old fashion offenses like those in the Big Ten. The one component that is
lacking is strong quarterback play. The reason that Georgia gets my call to win the conference
this year is a combination of the best defense in the country and the fact that Aaron Murray is
among the best QB's in the SEC. Although USC will start the season ranked #1 in the AP poll, I
can almost guarantee that the national champion will emerge from the SEC.
Projected Conference Champion: Georgia










Projected SEC East Standings
1. Georgia- The fact that Georgia made it to the SEC title game last year has nothing to do with me
picking them as the best team this year. In fact, I think that they were among the worst ten win
teams in the country, and their record was inflated because they avoided LSU, Alabama, and
Arkansas in cross-division play. This year they may have the easiest schedule of all the SEC teams
once again. They may play as few as three ranked teams, and the schedule sets up perfectly for an
undefeated season. The Dawgs remind me of the 2010 Auburn team that won the National
Championship. Auburn snuck away with several early wins, but as they continued to win, their
confidence level kept rising. By season's end, they could compete with any team that they faced. If
Georgia can win tough games against South Carolina and Florida, then they should run the table
and find themselves ranked in the Top 2 when the SEC championship game rolls around.
Now to the team itself. Georgia was one of the younger teams last year, and they return a
loaded roster full of 16 returning starters. There is no doubt that the anchor of the team will be the
defense. The secondary is stacked, and Bacarri Rambo will be the leader once again. The loss of
Brandon Boykin does hurt, but Sanders Commings should step up and become a big time
playmaker. As loaded as the secondary is, the linebacking corps may be even more daunting. Jarvis
Jones led the country in sack last year en route to joining Rambo as a first team All-American. Alec
Ogletree is an outstanding open field tackler who will also be a major difference maker. The
defensive line is also very talented, returning all three starters in the 3-4 scheme. Rambo may be
suspended for the first couple of games, but the defense should be able to hold on until he returns
against tougher competition.
While the defense will be dominant, the offense doesn't look too shabby either. The return
of Aaron Murray might be the difference between Georgia and the other great defensive teams
such as Alabama and LSU. Murray did have quite a few interceptions last year, though, and he will
need to make better decisions if the Bulldogs are going to win big games. He has a good team of
receivers to throw to, and he should get more help from the running game in Isaiah Crowell's
sophomore season. Crowell will be running behind an inexperienced offensive line that loses a lot
of talent. The o-line is the only weakness on this team, and they will need to gel before the thick of
the schedule comes along in October. Georgia is a much better team than they were last year and
they have a great chance to finish the regular season 12-0.
Bowl Prediction: National Championship Game
Schedule: Buffalo, @Missouri, Florida Atlantic, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, @South Carolina,
@Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi, @Auburn, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech
Georgia made the SEC title game without beating SC in 2011 and they could manage to do the same
thing this year. However, an early loss might destroy the Bulldogs' national title hopes.

2. South Carolina- After finishing the regular season 9-3 and appearing in the SEC championship
game in 2010, expectations were high for the Gamecocks in 2011. Despite losing star running
back Marcus Lattimore due to injury and QB Stephen Garcia due to suspension, they rattled off
ten wins and improved their record. Even though their record improved, South Carolina fell
short of the SEC title game because of a tough schedule, losing out to Georgia despite beating
the Bulldogs. This year, there are several signs pointing up for SC. Connor Shaw is now in his
second season as the full time starting quarterback, and his strong arm and running ability
could provide a great offensive spark this season. His stats should improve tremendously even
with the loss of career receiving yards leader Alshon Jeffery. The passing game will be much
better, but even Steve Spurrier can't deny that the focal point of this offense will be Marcus
Lattimore. As a freshman, Lattimore was among the best running backs in the nation and was
marked as a Heisman Trophy contender last year. He missed most of the season, but he will be
back at full throttle this fall. The offensive line losses three starters, but they should be able to
open some nice holes for Lattimore to run through.
Defensively, South Carolina was among the best in the country last season. They were
great throughout most of the SEC schedule, and they figure to be good once again in 2012. The
secondary was absolutely outstanding last season, but the loss of Stephon Gilmore will cause a
decent sized drop off in Lorenzo Ward's first season as defensive coordinator. The other
segment of the defense, however, should improve. The linebackers will be solid, led senior
Shaq Wilson. The strength is the d-line, where experience mixes with young talent. Jadeveon
Clowney was the top recruit in the 2011 class, and he made a significant impact as a freshman.
Overall, the defense will be very good once again and will be among the best in the conference.
However, the schedule is very demanding, featuring trips to LSU, Florida, and Clemson and
home games against Georgia and Arkansas. South Carolina is among the best teams in the SEC,
but it will be difficult for them to match last season's ten win regular season.
Bowl Prediction: Capital One Bowl
Schedule: @Vanderbilt, East Carolina, UAB, Missouri, @Kentucky, Georgia, @LSU, @Florida,
Tennessee, Arkansas, Wofford, @Clemson
South Carolina has had the Bulldogs' number in recent years, winning the past two meetings.
The Gamecocks can forget about their SEC East chances if they lose this game in Columbia.

3. Florida- Since arriving on the Florida campus in 2008, John Brantley had been highly touted
as the heralded replacement for Tim Tebow. Needless to say, he didn't quite live up to
expectations. In two years as the starter, he went 15-11 in a floundering offense. Now,
another big name recruit will take over the starting role with Brantley gone. Jeff Driskel, the

top quarterback recruit in the 2011 class, will need to play much better for the offense to
succeed. Brent Pease takes over at offensive coordinator, and he hopes to lead the new look
offense to new heights with Charlie Weis gone. Last year, the quarterbacks relied heavily on
speed demons Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. Mike Gillislee will take over the running back
position, and the lack of lightning speed in the backfield will be a setback. The offensive line
brings back four starters from a year ago, so the new RB and QB will be able to ease into their
roles. Andre Debose and Trey Burton also add some speed in the receiving game.
The offense will probably be improved, but there is no question that they will still need
to ride the defense at certain times throughout the season. However, that is not necessarily a
bad thing. The Gators bring back ten starters defensively, and they will have one of the best
units in the entire country. The strength of the Gator D is up front. The 4-3 scheme features
three returning linebackers led by Jonathon Bostic. He racked up 94 tackles as a junior and will
have even more of an impact in 2012. Dominique Easley and Sharrif Floyd are big time
playmakers on the defensive line, and they will lead a very good pass rushing group. The
secondary brings back all four starters and should also be improved. Just like last year, Florida
will probably be involved in many low scoring affairs. However, this team will be noticeably
better on both sides of the ball, making them a tough matchup for any team who has to travel
to the Swamp this fall.
Bowl Prediction: Chick-fil-A Bowl
Schedule: Bowling Green, @Texas A&M, @Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, @Vanderbilt, South
Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Louisiana, Jacksonville State, @Florida State
This matchup will feature two teams that rely heavily on their defense. Something tells me that
Florida has a chance to pull a mega upset at home if the pieces come together against LSU.

4. Tennessee- Philip Fulmer had a great 17-year coaching run at Tennessee before slipping
below .500 in 2008 and being forced to resign. Lane Kiffin took the Vols back to a bowl game in
2009 before abandoning the school to head for USC. Although Derek Dooley stepped into a
tough situation, fans are still becoming restless with the fact that Tennessee hasn't won more
than seven games since 2007. I have them pegged at fourth in their division, but I think that
they have a great chance to break that losing trend this fall. Tyler Bray has shown flashes of
excellence in his two year stint with the program, but injuries and inconsistency have held him
back. This is his junior campaign, however, and he could emerge as a prolific passer. He will
have plenty of time to throw behind the protection of an offensive line that returns all five
starters from a year ago. Wide receivers Da'Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter provide reliable
options as receivers, and the offense in general should be much improved with the only

inexperienced position being at running back. Defensively, Tennessee has been subpar in
recent seasons. This year, with nine returning starters, they should yield much less points in
SEC play. Linebacker AJ Johnson was a freshman All-American in 2011, and had the most
tackles last year of all the returning Volunteer starters. The back seven featured four freshman
last season, and the experience those players gained will be beneficial in 2012. Up front, one
starter returns but the production should not drop. Overall this is a very solid team, and if they
can pull an upset or two, the Vols could rattle off their first ten win season in five years.
Bowl Prediction: Gator Bowl
Schedule: NC State, Georgia, Florida, Akron, @Georgia, @Mississippi State, Alabama, @South
Carolina, Troy, Missouri, @Vanderbilt, Kentucky
This early season rivalry with the Gators has turned into a lopsided affair. Florida has won the
last seven meetings, but this would be a huge conference win for Tennessee.

5. Missouri- In 2007, Mizzou broke out with a 12-2 record and was a National Title contender
(ranked #1) before suffering a heartbreaking conference championship game loss to Oklahoma.
Now, the Tigers no longer have the Sooners to worry about. Unfortunately, the move to the SEC
brings several other challenges that will be very tough to overcome. Starting with Brad Smith in
2002, Missouri has had a streak of three outstanding quarterbacks that have led this team. Last
year was James Franklin's first as a starter, and he looked like he could extend the streak. He will be
the main player in the offense for the Tigers and a key factor as to whether or not head coach Gary
Pinkel reaches an eighth consecutive bowl game. TJ Moe will probably be his main target, and the
offensive line is going to be decent. The running backs are more talented than last year's group and
there is a lot of experience at the position. However, the SEC defenses will be tough to run against.
On defense, the back seven will be the toughest part to move against. Five of the six returning
starters are linebackers or defensive backs, and the secondary was Missouri's specialty a season
ago. The defensive line is inexperienced but should perform decently in 2012. The schedule is
much more challenging than last year's, but the Tigers should be able to reach a bowl game if they
win nonconference games against Syracuse, Arizona State, and Central Florida.
Bowl Prediction: Independence Bowl
Schedule: SE Louisiana, Georgia, Arizona State, @South Carolina, @UCF, Vanderbilt, Alabama,
Kentucky, @Florida, @Tennessee, Syracuse, @Texas A&M
Vandy has been among the bottom feeders of the SEC for years. They were better last year,
but Missouri need to win this game to prove they belong in this conference.

6. Vanderbilt- The Vanderbilt football program has made four bowl games since 1955, and
playing in the SEC certainly doesn't help. The Commodores have claimed reserved seats at the
basement of the conference ever since they joined, and they have been just as bad recently.
Luckily, there is hope. James Franklin (not Missouri QB) took over as head coach last season
and took the team to a bowl game in his first season. He will have 15 returning starters to work
with and a schedule that doesn't include Alabama, LSU, or Arkansas. Jordan Rodgers is the
biggest name on the roster. Aaron Rodgers' brother is in his senior season and should take
good strides in the fall. The weapons around him are better than what he had last year, and
the offense in general should improve. The defense losses their top three tacklers including
Chris Marve and interceptions leader Casey Hayward. This will hurt the defense, but they
weren't that great last year and shouldn't see a serious decline. Due to the easy schedule and
improved offense, Vandy has a good shot at reaching a second consecutive bowl game for the
first time in school history.
Bowl Prediction: Liberty Bowl
Schedule: South Carolina, @Northwestern, Presbyterian, @Georgia, @Missouri, Florida,
Auburn, Massachusetts, @Kentucky, @Mississippi, Tennessee, @Wake Forest
This is a big game for the Commodores if they want to make a bowl game and continue moving
up in the SEC standings. This will be the fifth meeting between the two teams.

7. Kentucky- The Wildcats are known for basketball, but their football team rose as high as #8
in the polls in 2007. They made it to five consecutive bowl games from '06 to '10, but last year
they fell to 5-7 with a struggling offense. This year, the offense should show signs of
improvement. Maxwell Smith will battle with Morgan Newton for the starting job, and
whoever wins the job needs to play much better this fall. Larry Warford earned second team
all-SEC honors on the offensive line, and overall the blocking unit will be solid. The defensive
line will be the strength on the other side of the ball, but the defense as a whole is not expected
to be stellar. Kentucky is not as experienced or talented as they were during their bowl streak,
and the Wildcats will win the least amount of games since they went 3-8 in 2005.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: @Louisville, Kent State, WKU, @Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi State, @Arkansas,
Georgia, @Missouri, Vanderbilt, Samford, @Tennessee
Kentucky has always handled Vanderbilt fairly easily, but the Commodores whipped them 38-8
last season. This home game is crucial for the Wildcats and one of only a few winnable games.

Projected SEC West Standings
1. Alabama- I have picked Alabama to win the National Title two years in a row, and I was
considering picking them again in 2012. Nick Saban truly reloads every year, and another star
athlete will fill in to replace every missing name. The only factor that steered me away from riding
the Tide once again was the fear of a 2010 repeat. When 'Bama won it all in '09, they had the best
defense in the country but struggled when they only returned 2 starters in 2010. Last year's
championship team also rode their defense, and the five returning starters worries me. In the
secondary, All-Americans Mark Barron and DeQuan Menzie are gone, as is first team SEC
cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. The only returning starter is SS Robert Lester, but he will be among the
best safeties in all of college football. Corner Dee Milliner will be a huge factor as well. Despite all
the talent that was lost, the secondary should still be very solid. The linebackers tell a similar story.
Studs Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw are gone, but CJ Mosley and Nico Johnson return to
a very dangerous group. Less talent is lost on the D-line, and the pass rush will be improved. It is
amazing how much star power is lost on the defensive side for the Crimson Tide, and any other
team would struggle severely with all the losses. Alabama, though, will not face a huge setback and
should still have one of the top defenses in the country with new playmakers stepping up to fill the
voids.
Just as in 2010, Alabama is returning their starting quarterback and the offense is expected
to be better. AJ McCarron broke out and played amazingly well against LSU in the championship
game, earning the game's MVP award. He was a great arm and Saban will open up the offense to
take advantage of his playmaking ability. He loses his top three targets, but Duron Carter, and Ohio
State transfer, should play a big part in the offense this year. He was suspended in 2011 but offers
great size and speed. Barrett Jones is coming back for his senior season after winning the Outland
Trophy as the nation's best offensive lineman. The line will be the strength of the team this fall and
is probably the best in the country with four returning starters. They will be blocking for a new
starting running back as Trent Richardson left as a first round draft pick. Eddie Lacy played a big
role in the offense last year and he should rush for 1,000 yards, but the production will not match
last year's success. Although I can't help but think about the 2010 letdown, I don't think Saban will
allow for Alabama to lose focus this season. The Tide could very well be undefeated heading into
the SEC title game against Georgia for a spot in the National Championship Game.
Bowl Prediction: Sugar Bowl
Schedule: Michigan, WKU, @Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, Mississippi, @Missouri, @Tennessee,
Mississippi State, @LSU, Texas A&M, Western Carolina, Auburn
The Tigers and Tide might once again be the top two teams heading into this November 3rd
showdown. There will probably be some more points scored in this year's edition.

2. LSU- Last year was a memorable season for the Tigers who finished the regular season with
an unblemished 12-0 record after beating an all-time record seven ranked opponents. After
smashing Georgia to earn a spot in the National Championship Game, LSU was shut down in a
rematch with Alabama. While the loss was heartbreaking, head coach Les Miles doesn't have to
worry that he'll have to wait for another shot. This year's group is equally talented and faces a
much easier schedule. The defense will be special once again, but the offense should also
provide a push. Unlike last season, LSU should have a decent passing attack this fall. Zach
Mettenberger, a transfer from Georgia, has a strong arm and the ability to make plays. As a
first year starter, he needs to limit mistakes and only take chances when it's absolutely
necessary. Spencer Ware and Michael Ford provide a great 1-2 punch at tailback, and the
running game will be the focal point of the offense. The line will provide good protection for
the offense to operate behind. The receiving corps are less talented with the loss of Rueben
Randle, but they numbers could improve with a better quarterback. Due to the defense's
strength, the offense's only job is to be stable and capitalize on turnovers. If they can control
the clock and score some easy points, then LSU will have similar results to last season.
Throughout Nick Saban's tenure and the early part of Les Miles' coaching campaign, the
LSU football team was known for great defenses. They rode their defense to a National Title in
2007, but then from 2008 to 2010 their defense was very inconsistent. Last season, they got
back to their roots. Despite the loss of Patrick Peterson, the secondary was the centerpiece of
an elite defensive squad. Morris Claiborne stepped up as a great lockdown corner, and Tyrann
Mathieu served as a hybrid type player. Mathieu redefines the term "ball hawk" with his
uncanny sense to attack the ball carrier and force turnovers. He was a Heisman finalist and is
also a great punt returner. With Claiborne gone, he is the unquestioned leader of this football
team. Eric Reid, the top safety, is also back on a great pass-defending team. The other strength
of the D is the line. Sam Montgomery is the top player on the line, and the group as a whole
will be able to apply tremendous pressure on opposing quarterbacks. My only question is at
linebacker, where inexperience is a problem. However, the defense will still be dominant. With
a strong pass rush, opposing QBs will be forced to make bad decisions which result in turnovers.
If the offense can take advantage of good field position and hold on to the football themselves,
then LSU will roll through the SEC and be a National Championship contender.
Bowl Prediction: Fiesta Bowl
Schedule: North Texas, Washington, Idaho, @Auburn, Towson, @Florida, South Carolina,
@Texas A&M, Alabama, Mississippi State, Mississippi, @Arkansas
The Tigers won the "game of the century" in Tuscaloosa last season but lost the rematch in the
National Title game. The offense must deliver for LSU to pull out a victory in Baton Rouge.

3. Arkansas- In the 2010 edition of my preseason magazine, I called for a breakout year for the
Hogs. True to my prediction, Ryan Mallett led them to a second place finish in the SEC and a
Sugar Bowl berth. Mallett left as the school's all-time passing leader after just two seasons as
the starter, but there was still plenty of promise on last year's squad. Tyler Wilson emerged as
the replacement and put up fantastic numbers en route to a first team SEC honor. Arkansas
went 11-2 even without star running back Knile Davis, who missed the entire season with an
injury. He returns this year, as does Wilson. The offense should be fantastic operating behind a
good offensive line. Head coach Bobby Petrino was fired following an off-field scandal, and his
play calling will be missed. However, the talent is still in place for the points to rack up. Davis
will rush for over 1,000 yards if he stays healthy, and could be the first Arkansas RB since
Darren McFadden to be a Heisman finalist. While Davis will be stellar, the main operation of
the offense is still the passing game. Tyler Wilson could put up even better numbers than he
did last season, and he is actually my favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. He will be throwing
to a much less experienced WR corps. Their top three wide receivers, Greg Childs, Jarius
Wright, and Joe Adams, are gone after a spectacular four years. Cobi Hamilton also had over
500 yards last year, and he will be among the top wideouts in the conference. His speed and
great hands will be accompanied by Chris Gragg, a very good tight end. Even with the loss of
three great wide receivers, Tyler Wilson and the offense will be able to score lots of points
against the tough SEC defenses.
When you look at most of the top SEC teams, you see great defenses and mediocre
offenses. Arkansas sports more of a Big 12 style, with explosive offenses and subpar defenses.
This year, with the loss of Jerry Franklin and Jake Bequette, the defense seems to be following
the same trend in 2012. Alonzo Highsmith is the clear leader of the defense, and he will need
the carry the team on his back. Outside of him, there is no distinguished playmaker on that side
of the ball for the Razorbacks. Considering how poor the team has been in recent seasons,
however, I don't think they can get much worse. The defense will stay at about the same level
as last year's edition despite the losses. Overall, Arkansas is equally talented to last year's
team. They do get Alabama and LSU at home, and an upset in either game could put them in
the SEC title game.
Bowl Prediction: Cotton Bowl
Schedule: Jacksonville State, ULM, Alabama, Rutgers, @Texas A&M, @Auburn, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Tulsa, @South Carolina, @Mississippi State, LSU
Alabama has had Arkansas' number as of late, but the Razorbacks may be able to turn this
game into a shootout in week three. If the game is high scoring, Arkansas will win.


4. Auburn- Tommy Tuberville had a great career here including going 13-0 in 2004 and getting
cheated out of the National Championship. Unfortunately his tenure ended when he was fired
in 2008 after a 5-7 campaign. Gene Chizik took over and won a national title in his second
season with the team. Now, two years later, he has a team that is hungry to get back to the
top. Most of the country is not very high on the Tigers, but I see reason for excitement. On
offense, this team draws some comparison to the 2010 group. Kiehl Frazier, like Cam Newton,
is a highly touted player who hopes to revive the passing game. Frazier could put up huge
numbers if all the stars align for him. He will be accompanied by Onterio McCalebb, who had a
great bowl game and is set for a great season. Emory Blake will be the top receiver, and tight
end Philip Lutzenkirchen will also be reliable. Even without offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn,
the offense will be explosive. When Tuberville was the head coach, defense was the key to
success. Gene Chizik managed to win the title win a vulnerable defense, but I believe there will
be major improvement on that side of the ball. The secondary and D-line are the specialties,
and Auburn will be able to limit the amount of points scored on them by mixing schemes with
talent. Corey Lemonier, a third team All-American, is the class of the defense and the SEC's
best at his position. Although they draw Georgia out of the East and must face Clemson in the
nonconference, Auburn is my surprise pick to end the season in the top 15. With a good
offense and much improved defense, Auburn is an upset or two from a BCS bowl game.
Bowl Prediction: Outback Bowl
Schedule: Clemson, @Mississippi State, ULM, LSU, Arkansas, @Mississippi, @Vanderbilt, Texas
A&M, New Mexico State, Georgia, Alabama A&M, @Alabama
Clemson broke Auburn's 17 game win streak last season and won the ACC. If Auburn can pull
the upset, they will gain a lot of momentum heading into the SEC schedule.

5. Texas A&M- The Aggies always seem to choke when there are high expectations. Last year I
called for a BCS berth and they responded with a 7-6 record and their coach was fired. It seems fit
that this year, with many people expecting a down year, that first year head coach Kevin Sumlin
would respond with a great season. Regardless of trends, there is no denying that the Aggies will be
fighting an uphill battle. They lose a Tannehill, a first round draft pick at quarterback, and move to a
much tougher conference. Johnny Manziel will be the new starter, and he will be throwing to Ryan
Swope and some very good receivers. Despite the surrounding talent, Manziel will struggle in the
SEC. However, the running game will be very good with Christine Michael running behind a veteran
offensive line. Defensively, Sean Porter and the linebackers will be very solid, but the rest of the
defense will be porous. Overall, this team looks much weaker than last year's version. The 2011
team underachieved tremendously, though, and Sumlin could form an offense that is good enough
to match last season's seven wins.

Bowl Prediction: Compass Bowl
Schedule: Louisiana Tech, Florida, @SMU, South Carolina State, Arkansas, @Mississippi, LSU,
@Auburn, @Mississippi State, @Alabama, Sam Houston State, Missouri
These two teams both underachieved last season and are ranked near the bottom of the
conference. Even so, the winner of this game should make a good bowl game.

6. Mississippi State- After watching as the Bulldogs dismantled Michigan in the Gator Bowl, I was
anticipating a great season for MSU in 2011. They had a lot of returning talent but did not perform up
to expectations, especially at quarterback. Chris Relf and Tyler Russell battled for game reps all season,
but now the team belongs to Russell. That confidence should give a big boost to the offense. While the
passing game will improve, the running game may struggle without Vick Ballard. However, the offense
as a whole should be better with Russell as the decisive leader. The defense returns more starters (7)
including their two best in tackles leader Cameron Lawrence and interceptions leader Johnthan Banks.
They also add the top JUCO transfer at defensive end in Denico Autry. With their best players back and
the stud addition, the defense should also improve. So far, head coach Dan Mullen has done wonders
since stepping on the Mississippi State campus. After underachieving last season, I will call for Mullen to
exceed most expectations in year four. The Bulldogs will make a bowl game for the third straight year
despite being near the bottom of their conference.
Bowl Prediction: Military Bowl
Schedule: Jackson State, Auburn, @Troy, South Alabama, @Kentucky, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee,
@Alabama, Texas A&M, @LSU, Arkansas, @Mississippi
These teams look about equal and a win would ensure a bowl berth for the Bulldogs.

7. Mississippi- Houston Nutt appeared to have rescued the Ole Miss program with back to back nine win
seasons and Cotton Bowl victories. They then plummeted back to Earth, winning 4 games in 2010 and
two in 2011. Hugh Freeze is now in as the head coach and he has some serious work to do. Sixteen
starters return (eight on each side of the ball) and that experience will make for an improved team.
However, the schedule is brutal and there is no way that Freeze will take the Rebels to a bowl game in
year one.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: Central Arkansas, UTEP, Texas @Tulane, @Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn, @Arkansas,
@Georgia, Vanderbilt, @LSU, Mississippi State
The Egg Bowl is always the biggest game on Ole Miss' schedule.

Big 12
Like the SEC, this conference is very deep. There could be eight teams who make a bowl game
from the Big 12 this season, and every game is tough. Unlike the SEC, the Big 12 does not have
any great teams. There are several good teams, but no special teams. Oklahoma and West
Virginia figure to be the top two, and their meeting will be huge. But like WV, TCU is also a first
year member who will be in the mix. Despite losing four good teams in the past two years, the
Big 12 has done a great job of sticking together. The ten team round robin format is perfect,
and this conference will be a major player in the future playoff system. As for this year, there is
reason for excitement. Texas has had a couple of down years and it will be interesting to see if
they can bounce back. Oklahoma State, Kansas State, and Baylor will try to stay relevant after
great seasons. While offense will still be the staple of the league, the defenses should at least
improve from their brutal showings in recent years. West Virginia is a perfect fit with their
passing style, and TCU will renew their old rivalries in the Southwest. Even with all the NFL
talent lost, this is still among the premiere conferences in America and it will provide plenty of
excitement this fall.
Projected Conference Champion: Oklahoma













Projected Big 12 Standings
1. Oklahoma- There haven't been many seasons since Bob Stoops took over the team that
Oklahoma wasn't the favorite to win the Big 12. They constantly recruit top talent and develop
that talent over their four years with the team. Landry Jones is one of the players who learned
the system as a backup and was ready to perform when he was given the starting job. After
playing most of the 2009 season due to Sam Bradford's injury, Jones played great as a
sophomore and was among the Heisman favorites last offseason. He started off hot, but his
play severely dipped when his security blanket, Ryan Broyles, was lost for the season in Week 8.
That is a major concern heading into 2012 because Broyles is now gone for the NFL. Jones will
need to develop chemistry with his new targets if the offense is to have success. Kenny Stills
and Jaz Reynolds will be the top wideouts, and both have big play potential. The running game
also has experience now, a key component that was missing last season due to the departure of
DeMarco Murray. Dominique Whaley and Roy Finch each showed promise, and both will play a
big role in the offense along with fullback Trey Millard. The offensive line is also experienced
and led by Gabe Ikard. The offense was still getting to know each other in 2011, but now
they've had time to gel and there should be increased production in all the offensive categories
this fall.
The talent is always in place for the Sooner defenses to be very good. For some reason,
however, that talent hasn't led to less points allowed. Although Oklahoma has one of the best
defenses in their conference, they are a ways back nationally. That has hurt them in bowl
games and against nonconference opponents with better defenses. They once again have a
defensive unit that looks dangerous this season. Seven starters return, including linebacker
Tom Wort. The secondary will be stellar, with their top three playmakers returning led by
Demontre Hurst. There is a lot of returning talent, but the losses are all painful. Travis Lewis
and Ronnell Lewis were the team's best LBs last season, and they are both gone. Top defensive
lineman Frank Alexander is also gone. Because of the heavy losses up front, the great
secondary won't help the defense improve as a whole. Oklahoma will once again be no better
that decent on the defensive side of the ball, but I expect the offense to be much improved
over last year's version.
Bowl Prediction: Fiesta Bowl
Schedule: @UTEP, Florida A&M, Kansas State, @Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas, Notre Dame, @Iowa
State, Baylor, @West Virginia, Oklahoma State, @TCU
The Mountaineers joined the conference this offseason and are built similarly to the other Big 12 teams.
OU must slow down the passing game in order to win this "conference championship game."

2. West Virginia- After struggling to a 3-8 record in his first season, Rich Rodriguez righted the
ship and led the Mountaineers to three straight eleven win seasons from 2005 to 2007. Bill
Stewart won nine games in his three years when Rodriguez left, but that wasn't good enough in
the weak Big East. Dana Holgorsen came in and took with him a great offensive scheme that
had been proven in the Big 12. It took a few weeks for the players to catch on, but the offense
continued to improve as the season went on. The production peaked in the bowl game against
Clemson in which WV hung 70 points on the Tigers! Geno Smith enters the season as a
Heisman contender and has a lot of rich talent around him. Tavon Austin is among the most
explosive players in the country, and his partner in crime will be Stedman Bailey. Both figure to
be among the best wide receivers in the conference. The offensive line will continue to get
better, and the only question on offense is at running back, where the numbers will need to
improve. West Virginia's high flying aerial attack fits in perfectly with the rest of the Big 12
offenses, and they should make an immediate splash.
While the offense is sure to be explosive, the defense is definitely up for question. They
were extremely vulnerable last year against weaker Big East offenses, and the defense will need
to get much better if the Mountaineers want to compete against the great offenses of the Big
Twelve. The loss of Bruce Irvin, the Big East's best defensive lineman a year ago, will not help
their cause. Neither will the departure of linebacker Najee Goode, the team's tackles leader.
However, there is nowhere to go but up. The defense must get a little better and I believe they
will. Nonetheless, the offense will still need to win a lot of shootouts. I predict that the offense
will improve in Holgorsen's second season, and that is why I have them ranked in my preseason
Top 10. Unfortunately, one bad offensive game could cost this team a shot at the Big 12 title
and a BCS bowl game.
Bowl Prediction: Sugar Bowl
Schedule: Marshall, James Madison, Maryland, Baylor, @Texas, @Texas Tech, Kansas State,
TCU, @Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, @Iowa State, Kansas
West Virginia plays the three toughest teams on their schedule after their bye week. This is the
third game of that stretch, and it will likely decide the conference champion.

3. TCU- No team has switched conferences as many times as the Horned Frogs have in their
football history. They were among the members of the storied Southwest Conference, then
moved to Conference USA, and then to the Mountain West. They have had great success in
every conference, but especially in the MWC. They won the conference the last three seasons
including a #2 final ranking and Rose Bowl victory in 2010. They agreed to join the Big East in
2012, but never played a game in the conference before backing out of the deal and accepting

an offer from the Big 12. They will begin play in the Big 12 this fall, and renew many of the
dead rivalries they once had established in the Southwest Conference. On the field, TCU will be
very strong once again. The defense, which ranked #1 in the country three years in a row from
2008-2010, struggled last season. Their two outstanding linebackers, Tank Carder and Tanner
Brock, were banged up and didn't produce. Both are gone this season, but other players got a
chance to fill in last year and the linebackers in general should be improved with the return of
Kenny Cain. Stansley Maponga leads a very good defensive line that will be much better than
last year's group against the run. The secondary only returns one starter and must transition to
a conference with a lot of good passing games and excellent quarterbacks. Even with weaker
defensive backs, TCU's defense will be better than last year's version and the numbers will
improve despite the move to a tougher conference. Although the defense will step it up, the
offense is still going to carry the load like it did last season. Casey Pachall was a surprising
success as a first year starter replacing Andy Dalton, and he will be even more productive as a
junior. The running back depth chart is very deep and talented even with the departure of Ed
Wesley. Matthew Tucker and Waymon James will both make a big impact. With good
quarterback play, the receivers will naturally have good numbers. Casey Pachall is the
centerpiece of a very good football team that will overachieve and make a splash in their first
year in the Big Twelve.
Bowl Prediction: Cotton Bowl
Schedule: Grambling State, @Kansas, Virginia, @SMU, Iowa State, @Baylor, Texas Tech,
@Oklahoma State, @West Virginia, Kansas State, @Texas, Oklahoma
TCU is much better than last year but faces a tougher schedule. Their five hardest games come
last, and this trip to face the defending conference champs is the first test.

4. Oklahoma State- In 2008 and 2009, QB Zac Robinson and WR Dez Bryant were the best pass-
catch combo in the country, leading the Cowboys to nine wins in each season. Their departure
had all the experts worried, but Brandon Weedon and Justin Blackmon stepped up to fill the
holes. OSU west 11-2 in 2010 and returned a lot of starters in 2011. They went 12-1, winning
the Big 12 by demolishing Oklahoma and nearly made the National Championship Game. Now
that Weedon and Blackmon are gone, many people will once again predict a huge drop-off.
Wes Lunt will be the starting quarterback, and as a true freshman at 18 years old, he is ten
years younger than Weedon was last year. That inexperience may result in some turnovers, but
any quarterback in this offense will put up lofty statistics. Without Blackmon to throw to, the
passing game will drop in production. The running game is led by Joseph Randle, who will be
the focal point of the offense this fall. Oklahoma State will still have a high powered attack, but

the offense won't approach the best in the country like they did last season. Defensively,
however, the Cowboys will improve. They managed to create enough turnovers to stop
opposing offenses, but they will need more than luck to succeed this year. I think they be a lot
more solid with safety Broderick Brown leading the eight returning starters. While OSU won't
be in the National Title discussion, they are still a legitimate Big Twelve contender in 2012.
Bowl Prediction: Alamo Bowl
Schedule: Savannah State, @Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, @Kansas, Iowa State, TCU, @Kansas
State, West Virginia, Texas Tech, @Oklahoma, @Baylor
I said that the Cowboys would still contend for the Big Twelve title, and this rivalry game could
determine the conference champion for the third straight season.

5. Texas- Mack Brown had everything going right for him as from 2002 -2009 Texas never won less
than ten games and played for the National Title twice. Then Colt McCoy left. The past two years,
the quarterback play has been brutal. Turnovers were very common, and the running backs didn't
offer much help. Now, with two consecutive subpar seasons behind him, Brown must find a way to
bring the Longhorns back if he wants his job to remain secure. The first thing he must get fixed is
the quarterback position. Bryan Harsin is in his second season as the offensive coordinator, and
they will really need to cut down on the turnovers for the offense to succeed. David Ash performed
well in the bowl game, and it will be his job to lose heading into the season. He is a run-first threat,
and he must learn to throw with consistency if he wants to be the starter. The backfield is loaded
with young talent, but it hasn't amounted to much recently. The running backs are led by Malcolm
Brown, and the numbers should improve running behind a veteran offensive line. The defense tells
a similar story. Texas recruits great players on both sides of the ball, but the result isn't always
pretty. However, this may be the year that the relentless recruiting pays off. Alex Okafor, a first
team All-American in 2011, will be the star of the defense. He leads a defensive line that will put
good pressure on quarterbacks. The linebacking corps is loaded with talent but full of inexperience.
In the secondary, safety Kenny Vaccaro is the top dog but has lots of talent around him as well. The
defense will challenge Oklahoma for the best in the conference, but the offense is still full of
question marks which prevents me from picking Texas as a Top 10 team.
Bowl Prediction: Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Schedule: Wyoming, New Mexico, @Mississippi, @Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Oklahoma,
Baylor, @Kansas, @Texas Tech, Iowa State, TCU, @Kansas State
Texas had an inflated ranking heading into the Red River Rivalry last season and the Sooners put
them in their place. If Texas is unbeaten this season, then this will be the big test once again.

6. Kansas State- Bill Snyder seems to have the magic touch for this football team. He had a very
successful run that ended in 2005 with a 5-6 campaign, at which time he resigned. The stadium
was named after him and the Wildcats continued to struggle. Snyder returned in 2009 and last
year led K-State to a surprising 10-3 record en route to earning coach of the year honors.
Considering the fourteen returning starters, it may seem like I am underrating the Wildcats in
2012. Eight of their ten wins were by less than ten points, and the schedule only gets tougher
this season. Collin Klein was the main reason for the Wildcats' success last season. He came in
as a run-first quarterback, but he learned to throw with efficiency and earned first team all-
conference honors. His continued growth will be key for the offense to flourish. He will be
throwing to a familiar group, and the running game provides a good balance. On the other side
of the ball, Kansas State had among the best defenses in the conference a year ago. Arthur
Brown was a standout after transferring from Miami (Fl.) and will once again lead the defense.
The secondary is probably the best whole unit on defense. If there is one word I could use to
describe this team it would be solid. They have a perfect balance on offense and a good
defense to go along with it, but their lack of firepower will cost them when they play the
heavyweights like Oklahoma.
Bowl Prediction: Holiday Bowl
Schedule: Missouri State, Miami (Fl.), North Texas, @Oklahoma, Kansas, @Iowa State, @West
Virginia, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, @TCU, @Baylor, Texas
WV will be able to win a lot of shootouts, but K-State could push them out of their comfort
zone by turning this game into a low scoring affair and pull yet another upset.

7. Texas Tech- Mike Leach had this team plugging along very steadily through the 2009 season,
after which he was fired for and off the field scandal. Tommy Tubberville has had limited
success in his first two seasons as head coach, and his job in year three is to take the Red
Raiders back to the postseason. With seventeen returning starters, he may be able to capitalize
on the opportunity. At Texas Tech, the offense is always the reason why this team wins games.
Quarterback Seth Doege led the country in completions per game, and he could be among the
conference's best QBs as a senior. The running game has its top two starters back, and the
wide receivers are solid. The offense will be good once again, but the defense needs to be able
to provide some support if TT wants to top five wins. They bring back their top six tacklers, and
the defense should improve. Although the record may not show it, Texas Tech is a much better
team than last year's version and will make it back to the postseason.
Bowl Prediction: Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Schedule: Northwestern State, @Texas State, New Mexico, @Iowa State, Oklahoma, West
Virginia, @TCU, Texas, Kansas, @Oklahoma State, Baylor
TT hasn't beaten their in-state rivals since the Hail Mary win in 2008. This is a game that the
Raiders could win if they play a good game.

8. Baylor- Even though I have them ranked eighth in their own conference, Baylor is one of the
most interesting teams to break down in 2012. Despite the loss of some great talent, the Bears
should make it back to the postseason and could end up as high as third in their conference.
Nick Florence is RGIII's replacement at quarterback, and I certainly don't expect him to win the
Heisman Trophy. However, he played very well when Griffin was hurt at different times
throughout his career, and I expect him to put up solid numbers. The running game also losses
a star, but once again there is a good replacement. Lache Seatrunk, a very highly touted
running back transfer from Oregon, will do a good job filling the large shoes left by Terrance
Ganaway. The only missing piece at receiver is Kendall Wright, but the first round draft pick will
leave a big gap. Still, Florence has a good supply of talent to work with. The offense will
continue to be explosive, but they will have a new look and will definitely decline with the loss
of Griffin. Defensively, Baylor has been among the worst in the country throughout Art Briles'
tenure as head coach. While I don't expect a huge improvement, the defense will get better
with an experienced secondary leading the way. This team is hard to predict, with the best case
scenario being another 9-3 finish and the worst case being 4-8 and missing the postseason.
Bowl Prediction: New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Schedule: SMU, Sam Houston State, @ULM, @West Virginia, TCU, @Texas, @Iowa State,
Kansas, @Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State
A shootout victory over TCU in the nonconference opener kicked off a great season for Baylor in
2011. This is one of several games that Baylor could win to end up matching last year's 9 wins.

9. Iowa State- Fans in Ames have to be excited about Paul Rhodes leading them to two bowl
games in his first three seasons after Gene Chizik amassed only five wins in his short two year
stint. But the bowl berth wasn't actually the biggest bright spot in the 2011 season for the
Cyclones. That moment belongs to the mayhem that occurred in Week 10 when ISU pulled a
double-OT upset of the #2 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys and cost them a chance to play for
the national title. They also managed to knock off rival Iowa and #19 ranked Texas Tech. Both
the quarterbacks and running backs operated in a committee, and it figures to be the same

situation coming up this season. Those players have another year under their belt and the
offense should be better. The defense left something to be desired in most of their games a
year ago, and inexperience plagues that side of the ball. I still think this year's D will be on par
with last year's struggling edition. In general, this team is equally talented and capable as
2011's team was. Unfortunately, the schedule is even tougher and I don't expect as many
upsets from the Cyclones this season.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: Tulsa, @Iowa, Western Illinois, Texas Tech, @TCU, Kansas State, @Oklahoma State,
Baylor, Oklahoma, @Texas, @Kansas, West Virginia
Paul Rhodes has his players convinced they can win against all odds. ISU will likely be the
underdog in the opener, and an upset would set the tone for another bowl season.

10. Kansas- Where ever Charlie Weis goes in the NFL, his team seems to have a productive,
upper level offense. In college, though, his schemes don't seem to work out. Weis failed
expectations at Notre Dame and captained a struggling offense at Florida last season. Why
should things change now that he's the head coach at Kansas? Something tells me the trend
will continue. Kansas was brutal in all senses of the word last year. Their 2-10 record was the
worst in their conference by three games, and their offense couldn't move the ball while their
defense couldn't stop anybody. They have fourteen returning starters, but the excitement in
Lawrence revolves around a transfer named Dayne Crist. He was recruited by Weis, rode the
bench at Notre Dame, and now has decided to rejoin his old coach at Kansas. If he plays to his
great potential, Kansas could make a big leap. However, his tendency to underachieve has me
calling for another down year for the Jayhawks.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: South Dakota State, Rice, TCU, @Northern Illinois, @Kansas State, Oklahoma State,
@Oklahoma, Texas, @Baylor, @Texas Tech, Iowa State, @West Virginia
The Huskies have reached consecutive MAC championship games and are a big road test that
will determine how much Kansas has improved.




Big Ten
The Big Ten has been good every year, but they haven't sent a representative to the National
Championship Game since 2007. Unlike the other power conferences, their offenses haven't
seemed to be able to adjust to modern schemes. While the competition within the league is
exciting week in and week out, the games are often ugly and the top teams knock each other
out of national contention. This year, that story seems set to repeat itself. Michigan and Ohio
State are the top teams in the conference, but the Buckeyes are under a postseason ban and
the Wolverines draw Alabama in the nonconference. Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Nebraska
could all play spoiler and reach the conference championship game themselves. As you can
see, the Big Ten has a lot of good teams but no great teams. The lack of style points will
continue to hurt the chances of a one loss team from this conference getting into the national
title game. Nonetheless, when you rank this conference from top to bottom, it is still among
the top three conferences in the FBS. While the Big Ten won't get the conference
championship matchup they wanted between OSU and Michigan, those two teams are the two
best and the future of the Big Ten remains very bright.
Projected Conference Champion: Michigan













Big Ten Legends Projected Standings
1. Michigan- The history at the University of Michigan is unlike anything you will find in college
football. Their rich tradition extends all the way back to the early 1900s, when Fielding Yost
dominated the college football landscape. Then Bo entered the scene in the 70s, and he
brought back the goal of Big Ten championships and consistent ten win seasons. Gary Moeller
and Lloyd Carr continued the winning tradition, but then Carr retired in 2007. The next three
seasons under Rich Rodriguez were among the worst in Michigan history. The Wolverines
missed two straight bowls while amassing a measly total of three conference wins. The offense
was revitalized when Denard Robinson entered the scene in 2010, but the brutal defense and
subpar 7-6 record forced the university to look for another coach. Needless to say, they made
the perfect choice. Athletic director Dave Brandon selected former defensive line coach Brady
Hoke, who had turned the Ball State and SDSU programs around, as the new head coach for the
Wolverines. By bringing the defense from dead last in the Big Ten to #17 in the country, Hoke
led Michigan to an 11-2 record and Sugar Bowl victory in his first season as head coach. He
knows how to fire up his players with new, exciting things like new jerseys and an under the
lights game. But it's his recognition of the school's history that has him hungry for more in
2012. The Wolverines missed out on a chance to play for the conference title last season, and
that is their main goal for the upcoming campaign.
As for the team itself, most of the known star power is on offense. Denard Robinson is a
senior, and his performance in big games will be crucial in determining whether or not U-M
reaches their goal of a Big Ten championship. He needs to make better decisions with the
football so as to cut down on the turnovers. I saw tremendous improvements in the passing
game last season, but Robinson needs to have performances like he did against Ohio State
more often. He loses his main target in Junior Hemingway, but a lot of talent returns at
receiver. Roy Roundtree figures to be the top target this season, but Jeremy Gallon also brings
a speedy option. Fitzgerald Toussaint stepped up and established himself as the clear starter at
running back early last season, something that Rich Rod's offense never had. Toussaint will top
last year's 1,041 rushing yards if he stays healthy, and he will play a major role in the offense.
The loss of David Molk on the offensive line has many people concerned, but they do return
three starters highlighted by Taylor Lewan. Kyle Kalis, a highly touted freshman, may also reach
the starting lineup. The offense in general should be more consistent as Robinson matures.
The main reason for the turnaround last season was the vastly improved defense.
Seven starters return on that side of the ball. The only question mark is on the defensive line,
where Craig Roh is the only returning starter and Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen are gone.
The back seven is very solid, however, as all the starters return. The linebackers are headed by
tackles leader Kenny Demens and sophomore Jake Ryan. Jordan Kovacs will be a big playmaker

in the secondary once again, and Blake Countess will be a full time starter after bursting on to
the scene as a freshman a year ago. With the best back seven in the Big Ten, Michigan's
defense will be better but may not improve much upon the stellar 17.9 points per game
allowed. Despite a killer schedule including a nonconference opener against defending national
champion Alabama, Michigan is a better team that gets my call to win the Big Ten conference
and go back to the Rose Bowl.
Bowl Prediction: Rose Bowl
Schedule: Alabama, Air Force, Massachusetts, @Notre Dame, @Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State,
@Nebraska, @Minnesota, Northwestern, Iowa, @Ohio State
The Spartans have taken advantage of Michigan's dormancy and won four straight over the
Wolverines. This game will probably decide the Legends division champion.

2. Michigan State- It is truly amazing what Mark Dantonio has been able to do here in five
years. He has turned the Spartans from a dormant Big Ten bottom dweller into a legitimate Big
Ten contender. The past two years, they have reached eleven wins and ranked in the top two
of the conference. However, Dantonio has his biggest test waiting for him this year. The loss of
a four year starter in quarterback Kirk Cousins and a depleted receiving corps has the offense
looking a little weak. Andrew Maxwell has high expectations, but there is no underestimating
the importance of experience at the quarterback position. With the heavy losses in the passing
game, Le'Veon Bell will need to play a big role in the offense. He and the other running backs
will run behind an experienced offensive line. Even with an improved running game, I don't
think this offense will be as productive as last year's due to the loss of Kirk Cousins.
Although the offense may be weaker, there is no doubting that the defense will be
dominant once again. Eight starters return to a group that ranked sixth in the entire country in
total defense. On the line, defensive end William Gholston returns after a breakout sophomore
season. He may be the best lineman in the conference, and he will make up for the loss of
second round draft pick Jerel Worthy. The linebackers are also stellar, as all three starters
return from a dominant group. In the secondary, Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard
highlight a good pass defending unit. The defense showed up in a big way against the top
teams on their schedule, but they were prone to the big play last year. If they can bear down
and eliminate the homerun possibility, the Spartans will pass Michigan for the best defense in
the Big Ten. The inexperienced offense has me picking them second in their division, but the
game in Ann Arbor on October 20th should decide the division winner.
Bowl Prediction: Capital One Bowl

Schedule: Boise State, @Central Michigan, Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, Ohio State,
@Indiana, Iowa, @Michigan, @Wisconsin, Nebraska, Northwestern, @Minnesota
A fifth straight victory over their "Big Brother" would really pump the team up and they begin a
three game stretch against their three toughest opponents.

3. Iowa- Kirk Ferentz has done a very good job with this program since arriving in 1999 as the
head coach of the Hawkeyes. They were near the top of the Big Ten in the early 2000s before
slipping to three consecutive 6 or 7 win seasons. They rose back up with an Orange Bowl
victory in 2009, but fell short of expectations in 2010 and won only 7 games last season. They
return only eleven starters, and you may be wondering why I have them ahead of Nebraska in
this division. The reason is the schedule. Iowa avoids Ohio State and Wisconsin, and Nebraska
must play both teams. Not only is the schedule very manageable, I also believe this is a better
team that last year's version. James Vandenberg is now a senior, and he trails only Robinson
and Miller as the third best QB in the Big Ten. He loses his main target in Marvin McNutt, but I
still think the passing game will be better. The offensive line returns only two starters, but
James Ferentz is one of them and he should be an All-Conference selection at center. Iowa's
specialty is usually a good running game, but in recent years they have been injured at that
position and the backs have underachieved. I think the offense will be one of the most
surprising in the conference. The defense returns their top two tacklers and their interception
leader. Linebackers James Morris will be an impact player, and the Hawkeye defense will
improve. Iowa is I team that I think could be a big surprise in 2012. They improve on both sides
of the ball, and they played the top teams tough last year including an upset of Michigan. If
Iowa pulls another upset like that this fall, they may wind up reaching ten wins and playing in a
BCS bowl game.
Bowl Prediction: Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Schedule: N. Illinois, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Central Michigan, Minnesota, @Michigan State,
Penn State, @Northwestern, @Indiana, Purdue, @Michigan, Nebraska
Iowa always seems to have Penn State's number, but they lost to the Nittany Lions in Happy
Valley a year ago. A win at home in game seven would give the Hawkeyes a shot at nine wins.

4. Nebraska- The is no questioning the fact that Bo Pelini has done a great job in four years
here and has resurrected this storied program. Nebraska was the preseason favorite to win the
Big Ten in their first season but I went with Michigan State to win the division. The 'Huskers fell

to a disappointing 9-3 record, and their offense seemed to be overwhelmed by the physical Big
Ten defenses. Their own defense, which was among the nation's best the previous two
seasons, was gashed by Washington, Wisconsin, and Michigan. They return fourteen starters
from that team and the core of their offense returns. That includes Taylor Martinez, who
seemed to be affected the most by the move to the Big Ten. The reason I picked MSU ahead of
Nebraska last season was Martinez's inability to throw the football, and that is what cost them
in big games. Jamal Turner and Kenny Bell, a pair of speedy sophomore wideouts with great
potential, could make a huge difference in the offense if Martinez can get them the ball with
consistency. Rex Burkhead will be the feature back in the option look, and he will put up big
stats once again. With Martinez and Burkhead running the football, this offense can be
explosive if they can take advantage of Turner and Bell and keep the opposing defenses off
balance. On the other side of the ball, more stars are gone. LB Lavonte David and defensive
lineman Jared Crick are the biggest losses, but DE Cameron Meredith, LB Will Compton, and SS
Daimion Stafford provide a solid returning base. The defense greatly underachieved last
season, and I expect better numbers on that side of the ball. The special teams is also very
good at Nebraska, as Brett Maher was named first team All-Big Ten both as a kicker and as a
punter. Although the Huskers may be the second or third most talented team in the Big Ten,
their tendency to underachieve and the fact that they draw Wisconsin and OSU has me calling
for a fourth place conference finish and an 8-4 record.
Bowl Prediction: Gator Bowl
Schedule: Southern Miss, @UCLA, Arkansas State, Idaho State, Wisconsin, @Ohio State,
@Northwestern, Michigan, @Michigan State, Penn State, Minnesota, @Iowa
Michigan welcomed Nebraska into the Big House with a 45-17 demolition of the Cornhuskers.
At win at home against the Wolverines might give Nebraska a chance to salvage their season.

5. Northwestern- The Wildcats are a team that I would best describe as "mediocre." In the six
years that Pat Fitzgerald has been the head coach, NU has made a bowl game four times but
they never topped nine wins and never were in Big Ten contention. As a matter of fact, the last
and only bowl win for Northwestern came in the 1948 Rose Bowl Game against California. The
Wildcats had an up and down year that ended at 6-7 with another bowl loss. Only ten total
starters return from that team, and there is a good chance they could miss out on a bowl game
for the first time since 2007. Kain Colter, who performed well in the option attack last season,
will get the majority of the reps at QB and will put up good rushing numbers. He needs to
improve in the passing game for the offense to succeed. The defense was porous a year ago,
and that trend may continue with only five defensive starters coming back. There is no way to

overstate the impact head coach Pat Fitzgerald has had on this program. It wouldn't surprise
me if he beat the odds once again and took the Wildcats to a fifth consecutive bowl game.
Bowl Prediction: Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Schedule: @Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Boston College, South Dakota, Indiana, @Penn State,
@Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, @Michigan, @Michigan State, Illinois
The Fighting Illini have taken the last two in this in-state rivalry. The Wildcats may need to
break that streak in order to reach six wins and make a bowl game.

6. Minnesota- With all due respect to Tim Brewster, I think the worst mistake the Minnesota
staff has ever made was to fire Glen Mason. He had turned them around and made them a
perennial bowl team and Big Ten dark horse. When he left, the Gophers plummeted to 1-11
and have struggled ever since. Jerry Kill is now in his second season, and he may begin to feel
the heat if Minnesota doesn't top last year's three wins. They lose playmaking wide receiver
Da'Jon McKnight, but the passing game could improve with the emergence of MarQueis Gray.
Gray is a duel threat quarterback with the potential to make a big impact. The defense was
atrocious in 2011, with their worst loss being a 58-0 embarrassment at the hands of Michigan.
Only twelve starters return, but that may be a good thing considering how poor the team
played a year ago. Gray is the wild card, and he has the potential to carry this team to a bowl
game. Nonetheless, I will call for a third straight three win season.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: @UNLV, New Hampshire, Western Michigan, Syracuse, @Iowa, Northwestern,
@Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan, @Illinois, @Nebraska, Michigan State
This rivalry is no longer at the end of the season but the Gophers have had Iowa's number in
recent years. A third straight victory over the Hawkeyes could give Minny a 5-0 start.







Big Ten Leaders Projected Standings
1. Ohio State- Things haven't been pretty in Columbus since news leaked out that players had
traded memorabilia for cash and tattoos. Five Buckeye starters were suspended and Jim
Tressel was fired for lying to the NCAA. Terrelle Pryor left for the NFL, and Luke Fickell was left
with the dirty job of taking over as interim head coach with a freshman quarterback. Braxton
Miller struggled mightily in the early part of the season, but his continued improvement as the
season progressed gave OSU fans hope as they suffered through a 6-7 season. After six straight
10+ win seasons, a losing season was obviously not enough for Fickell to keep his job. A rather
quick search process brought Urban Meyer to the school, and he seems like a great fit. Meyer
will run a spread offense, and Miller is the perfect fit for that scheme. Despite the terrible
record a year ago, Buckeye fans are as excited as ever before with the new hire.
The offense will be Urban Meyer's first concern this offseason. While they showed
flashes of explosiveness, the offense was far too inconsistent and cost the team several games.
Braxton Miller will need to be fine tuned as a passer to keep opposing defenses off balance, and
if his arm improves to could be among the top QBs in the country by season's end. He will be
passing to some new faces, as DeVier Posey is gone and tight end Jake Stoneburner is
questionable due to off-field problems. Jordan Hall will be the main back if he stays healthy,
and he could top last year's running back-by-committee numbers. Unfortunately for Urban
Meyer, the offense will be operating behind an inexperienced offensive line. Mike Brewster
departs, and the vacancy at the center position is a real issue. On defense, the Buckeyes return
nine starters and figure to improve. Ryan Shazier was introduced to the big stage with a
breakout game in Week 12 against Michigan. The linebackers will be stellar, and Ohio State
may have the third best defense in the conference. My best-worst case scenario for OSU
ranges from 8-4 to 12-0 even though they can't compete for a Big Ten title due to a postseason
ban.
Bowl Prediction: *Ohio State is under a one year postseason ban, which prevents them from
playing in a bowl game or conference championship game.
Schedule: Miami (Oh.), UCF, California, UAB, @Michigan State, Nebraska, @Indiana, Purdue,
@Penn State, Illinois, @Wisconsin, Michigan
Many predict that the Hoke vs. Meyer era will be comparable to the Ten Year War between
Woody and Bo. Ohio State would be thrilled to ruin UM's national title chances in Week 12.



2. Wisconsin- I may not be as high on the Badgers as I was a year ago when I had them down as
a potential National Title contender, but my expectation are still high this season. The major
difference between last year's team and this year's is the quarterback position. The loss of
Russell Wilson is huge, as he was a great playmaker who made defenses pay if they ignored the
passing game. However, the situation is much brighter than expected because of Danny
O'Brien transferring from Maryland. Like Wilson, O'Brien won the ACC Freshman of the Year
Award in his first season. Unlike Wilson, O'Brien's playmaking ability is limited to a run-only
threat. Despite the fact that he's less athletic, O'Brien fits into the offense well and will provide
a solid play-action passing attack. It is obvious that even when Wilson was at the helm, the real
offensive leader was running back Montee Ball. He broke Barry Sanders' record for most
rushing TDs in a season en route to All-American honors, a Heisman campaign, and the Big Ten
MVP award. He turned down a shot at the NFL to be the sparkplug in this offense once again.
James White also will have a big impact as his backup. The offensive line only returns two
starters, but they are always a solid group and I don't have many concerns. With a more
conventional quarterback and a bruising running game, Wisconsin figures to go back to a power
offense that values running over passing. Defensively, Wisconsin has been good against most
teams but was scorched against better offenses such as MSU and Oregon. The difference this
season will be the return of Chris Borland and Mike Taylor, two outstanding linebackers that are
among the conference's best. The rest of the defense will be able to build around those two
guys, and the defense as a whole will be much better because of it. While the Badgers still have
a very good shot at a third straight conference title and Rose Bowl berth a less explosive
offense has me calling for a loss in the Big Ten championship game.
Bowl Prediction: Outback Bowl
Schedule: Northern Iowa, Utah State, UTEP, @Nebraska, Illinois, @Purdue, Minnesota,
Michigan State, @Indiana, Ohio State, @Penn State
This is becoming a huge rivalry in the Big Ten that seems to come down to the wire every year.
The Badgers have dropped the last two but get the game at home for the first time since 2009.

3. Penn State- Joe Paterno's storied career came to a sad ending after a scandal resulted in him
being fired. Paterno died weeks later, and Bill O'Brien was named in successor within days. The
former Patriots offensive coordinator must stabilize a fan base that is in an uproar over the
firing of their legend. He also must prove he can win games (Paterno won 409 in his career).
He inherits only nine starters from a team that has struggled in the past two seasons. After
falling to 7-6 in 2010, Penn State actually overachieved last season by winning nine games
amidst the chaos. There is certainly plenty of uncertainty heading into this season because of

the killer sanctions and the fact that the Nittany Lions beat no ranked teams in 2011. Their
offense struggled in a three headed quarterback system that was the worst among bowl teams
in several categories. There is no doubt that the quarterback issue must be solved if Penn State
wants to have success in O'Brien's first season. The running backs are already set with Silas
Redd returning after a breakout sophomore campaign. While he must run behind an
inexperienced offensive line, he should continue to improve. If Paul Jones can take over at
quarterback and lead the team, then the offense should make great strides this fall. The
defense may be the biggest concern due to the inexperience with only four starters coming
back. I do see several bright spots, however, as they held their ground against good offenses
such as Alabama, Nebraska, and Houston. The linebackers are the anchors of the defense with
two key returning starters. The return of Michael Mauti, who missed two of the last three
seasons with an ACL injury. The defense will surprise people and the offense should be much
better, so I will call for Penn State to win eight games in Bill O'Brien's first season if players key
players don't transfer.
Bowl Prediction: *Penn State is under a four year postseason ban and therefore cannot
participate in the conference championship game or a bowl game.
Schedule: Ohio, @Virginia, Navy, Temple, @Illinois, Northwestern, @Iowa, Ohio State,
@Purdue, @Nebraska, Indiana, Wisconsin
Both of these teams will be better than expected and this is a big midseason game that will
determine where Penn State stands in the Big Ten.

4. Purdue- As bad as it was for Boilermaker fans to suffer through three consecutive losing
seasons, it wasn't like Purdue wasn't in most of the games. There have been a countless
number of tough opponents that they have scared in recent years, but they never were healthy
enough to pull off the upsets. Now three talented quarterbacks return with some experience,
and there is a good chance at least one of them will be healthy enough to play. Robert Marve
and Rob Henry figure to get the first shot at the starting spot, but Caleb TerBush played last
season and has a good chance to win the job himself. Ralph Bolden, a senior running back, has
also battled injuries but appears good to go in 2012. The offense operates behind an
experienced O-line and should improve. The defense kept Purdue in games against tough
opponents such as Penn State and Ohio State. While I don't expect the Boilermakers to
contend for the Big Ten title, their grittiness and will to win will help them reach their second
consecutive bowl game.
Bowl Prediction: Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

Schedule: Eastern Kentucky, @Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, Marshall, Michigan, Wisconsin,
@Ohio State, @Minnesota, Penn State, @Iowa, @Illinois, Indiana
Purdue handed the Illini a second straight loss and got their season going with a home win a
year ago. This matchup is away from West Lafayette and is a crucial late season challenge.

5. Illinois- The Fighting Illini slipped into the basement of the Big Ten in the early 2000s before
shocking the college football world with a 9-4 season and Rose Bowl berth in 2007. Perhaps
just as surprising was the next two seasons in which they missed out on the postseason with
some talented players. They've gone 7-6 in each of the past two years but Ron Zook has now
been replaced by Tim Beckman as head coach. The team has promise with fourteen returning
starters including junior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. The defense has suddenly become a
haven for future NFL linement, and they should be solid up front once again. While there could
be a drop off with a new coach, Illinois does have the potential to reach eight wins this season.
Bowl Prediction: TicketCity Bowl
Schedule: Western Michigan, @Arizona State, Charleston Southern, Louisiana Tech, Penn State,
@Wisconsin, @Michigan, Indiana, @Ohio State, Minnesota, Purdue, @Northwestern
The last two games will be crucial for Illinois' chances to top last year's win total. Illinois is more
talented than Purdue but the Boilermakers may have more will to win.

6. Indiana- Ben Chappell's importance to this offense was clear after he left and Indiana slipped
to 1-11 last season. They now have more experience at the offensive skill positions and the
return of wide receiver Duwyce Wilso will be helpful. The offense has been decent recently but
the defense has been absolutely awful. Despite the seven returning starters on that side of the
ball, Indiana's defense will severely hold them back in their quest for a bowl game.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: Indiana State, @Massachusetts, Ball State, @Northwestern, Michigan State, Ohio
State, @Navy, @Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, @Penn State, @Purdue
Purdue is on the upturn but they're still among the least talented teams in this conference. A
win over their in-state rivals would most likely give Indiana four wins.


Pac-12
Throughout its history, this conference has consisted of four teams near the top and a drop off
down to the rest of the teams. That was changed when USC took sole control of the
conference from 2002 to 2009. Now, the Trojans' short decline has opened the door for a new
wave of powerhouses in the Pac-12. Oregon and Stanford have taken a strong hold in the
North Division, while the South remains USC's kingdom. With USC back in contention, the
conference championship is all the more important this season. While the top three teams
battle it out, other sleepers such as Utah, Washington, and Washington State hope to close the
gap between the elite and the bottom-dwellers. The Pac-12 has gained a reputation as a pass-
heavy conference, but Barkley is the only star quarterback this season. More emphasis will be
placed on running the football and playing tough defense. As opposed to recent seasons when
the conference has been very top-heavy, the Pac-12 will have more good teams behind the
elite three to give it more balance this season.
Projected Conference Champion: USC














Pac-12 South Projected Standings
1. USC- The Southern California program has gone through a lot in its long, storied history.
Their annual rivalry game with UCLA used to always have Rose Bowl implications, and they
continued their Pac-12 dominance into the 1990s. At the end of the century, however, they
slumped and were in a dismal state before the hiring of Pete Carroll in 2002. Carroll proceeded
to build a dynasty out of the Trojans, leading them to seven consecutive 11+ win seasons. Then
came the Reggie Bush scandal, and USC was vacated of their 2004 National Championship and
given a two year bowl ban. They struggled to consecutive sub-ten-win seasons and
expectations were relatively low heading into 2011. After struggling past Minnesota and Utah,
they lost to Arizona State and the season seemed lost. However, a revitalized Trojan team
strung together three consecutive wins and took #4 Stanford to triple overtime in a 56-48 loss.
Three weeks later, they pulled a mega upset of Oregon, finishing in the Top 10 with a 10-2
record. Now the Lane Kiffin era officially begins, and USC is loaded with talent in Matt Barkley's
senior season.
When you list the top QBs in this school's history, some great ones come to mind. But
when the 2012 season is over, Matt Barkley might be above all of them. He has loads of
talented receivers to throw to including Biletnikoff Award contenders Robert Woods and
Marquise Lee. George Farmer is now a sophomore and he will have a chance to live up to his
high billing as the nation's top WR prospect. The previously uncertain running back corps
received a huge upgrade when Silas Redd transferred following the Penn State scandal. He is
eligible to play immediately, and he is the final piece in the offensive juggernaut that Kiffin will
unleash this fall. With the offensive line intact, the Trojans may finally have an answer for how
to beat SEC defenses. Their defense, on the other hand, does leave something to be desired.
After years of stifling, draft-loaded defenses, USC has been short on talent recently. They do
return a lot of promising talent, and most of it is in the back seven. Hayes Pullard and Dion
Bailey, a pair of sophomore studs with a great upside, anchor the linebackers. In the secondary,
Nickell Robey and TJ McDonald are both ball-hawking playmakers who won All-Conference
honors a year ago. Wes Horton is the only notable name on the defensive line, and that is a
concern. Across the board, the Trojans are among the most talented teams in the country and
they have a great shot at a National Championship in Barkley's final season.
Bowl Prediction: National Championship Game
Schedule: Hawai'i, Syracuse, @Stanford, California, @Utah, @Washington, Colorado, @Arizona,
Oregon, Arizona State, @UCLA, Notre Dame
A win in this game would give the Trojans home field advantage in the Pac-12 Title game.

2. Utah- When Urban Meyer took over in 2003, the Utes were coming off a 5-6 season. He led
them to a 10-2 record in year one and a 12-0 season in 2004. They ran the table again in 2008
including an upset win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. After two straight 10-3 campaigns,
they finally made the jump to an AQ conference last year. Things didn't look good for the Utes
in their transition to a major conference when they dropped their first four Pac-12 contests.
While it wasn't pretty, they did manage to string off several late season victories and would
have finished with nine wins if they hadn't choked away the final game against Colorado. They
are looking forward to their second season in the conference with sixteen returning starters.
Jordan Wynn is a junior and he hopes to play his first injury-free season at quarterback. John
White ran well, and the power runner will be even better as a senior. The defense is always
solid, and that trend will continue. Overall, this is a much more experienced and Utah squad
that is better than the 2011 edition. Their schedule is favorable as they avoid Oregon and
Stanford from the North, and they could be favored in as many as eleven games this fall!
Bowl Prediction: Holiday Bowl
Schedule: N. Colorado, @Utah State, BYU, @Arizona State, USC, @UCLA, @Oregon State,
California, Washington State, @Washington, Arizona, @Colorado
This is always a huge game and last year Utah was one of only three teams to beat the Cougars.
They get this game at home and a win could wind up giving them a double digit win total.

3. Arizona State- Two years ago, the Sun Devils lost six games, five of which were by a combined 20
points including close losses against Wisconsin, Oregon, and Stanford. They returned 18 starters
and were the common pick to win the Pac-12 South. Unfortunately, the bunch underachieved
again and Dennis Erickson was let go after a fourth straight losing season. This season expectations
will be much lower with the loss of QB Brock Osweiler as well as linebackers Colin Parker and
Vontaze Burflict. Todd Graham surprised many by leaving Pittsburgh after one year the take the job
in Tempe. He is known as an offensive minded coach and he inherits a promising rusher in
Cameron Marshall. The senior will be among the best in the conference if he plays to his potential.
The defense is veteran but doesn't have much starting experience. After falling short of
expectations in 2011, I will predict ASU to exceed expectations this season and make a second
straight bowl game.
Bowl Prediction: New Mexico Bowl
Schedule: Northern Arizona, Illinois, @Missouri, Utah, @California, @Colorado, Oregon, UCLA,
@Oregon State, @USC, Washington State, @Arizona
This mid-season game is the focal point of the schedule and may determine if ASU goes bowling.

4. UCLA- For most of the school's storied history, UCLA has been at the top of the conference. In the
past decade, however, they have gotten used to the role of bottom-feeder. They managed to win the
division (USC was ineligible) a year ago with a 6-6 record and finished the season 6-8. The disappointing
record led to the end of the Rick Neuheisel era and Jim Mora is now the head coach. The core players in
the offense, quarterback Kevin Prince and running back Johnathan Franklin, are both back as seniors,
and the putrid scoring totals should improve. The recruiting classes are always top notch, but now the
Bruins must translate the recruiting success into victories on the field. A tough nonconference slate to
kick off the season will make it difficult for UCLA to get back to the postseason. It will probably be a
couple more seasons before the Bruins return to their winning ways.
Schedule: @Rice, Nebraska, Houston, Oregon State, @Colorado, @California, Utah, @Arizona State,
Arizona, @Washington State, USC, Stanford
UCLA hung with the 13-1 Cougars last season and Houston losses Case Keenum this year. If they win this
game they will start 2-1 and could reach a bowl game.

5. Arizona- Mike Stoops did a great job building this dormant program up into a winner. I disagreed
with the move to fire him after his first losing season in four years because of how much he'd meant to
the program. The 'Cats did underachieve in 2011 and now lose their top two offensive weapons in Nick
Foles and Juron Criner. The passing game will suffer, especially with the transition to a new offense.
Rich Rodriguez has yet to top three wins in his first year with a new team, and his recent stint with
Michigan was a disaster. If he ignores the defensive aspect like he did in Ann Arbor, Arizona won't stand
a chance in the pass-happy Pac-12. It wouldn't surprise me if Arizona falls short of last year's four win
total as they must face both Oregon and Stanford on the road.
Schedule: Toledo, Oklahoma State, South Carolina State, @Oregon, Oregon State, @Stanford,
Washington, USC, @UCLA, Colorado, @Utah, Arizona State
Arizona will need to beat their in-state rivals to keep fans happy at the end of a disappointing season.

6. Colorado- Things have gone downhill for the Buffaloes ever since they hired Dan Hawkins from Boise
State. He couldn't work his magic in the Big 12 and Colorado had five straight losing seasons. Jon
Embree took over as CU made the move to the Pac-12 and went 3-10 in their first season. With only
nine returning starters, they need to start over now. This year will be difficult and they will once again
be at the basement of the conference.
Schedule: Colorado State, Sacramento State, @Fresno State, @Washington State, UCLA,
Arizona State, @USC, @Oregon, Stanford, @Arizona, Washington, Utah
Both teams are going through growing pains and will be in need of a win at the end of the season.

Pac-12 North Projected Standings
1. Oregon- With Dennis Dixon at the helm, the Ducks began the 2007 season with an 8-1
record. They were ranked #2 when Dixon went down with an injury, and they lost their next
three games. The electric offense continued into the next season, and in 2009 Chip Kelly was
named as the new head coach when Mike Bellotti retired. In his three years, they have made
three BCS bowl games. They are coming off a Rose Bowl win but lost their QB Thomas and RB
James in the offseason. Despite the losses, the offense is still loaded. The quarterback battle
will come down to two candidates, Bryan Bennett and Marcus Mariota. Bennett has looked
good in cleanup duty at the end of blowouts, and he is the favorite to take over. Both are fast
and well suited for the offense. The running backs are even faster, especially sophomore
De'Anthony Thomas. He and Kenjon Barner will both see more carries from the backfield after
serving as receivers a year ago. Devon Blackmon and Josh Huff are converted running backs
who will play receiver this fall. The offense is built around speed and trickery, and Chip Kelly
has players who are perfect for his system once again. The passing game features mainly
bubble screens and short slants, and the quarterback's main role is in the option game. There is
no question that the Ducks will rack up points with their up-tempo offense.
Ever since Kelly took over in 2009, Oregon has won games by outscoring opponents in
shootouts. The defense may need to improve if they want to stop USC's balanced attack. Dion
Jordan leads the charge in the middle of the defense. The one constant in the Oregon defense
is a good defensive back, which John Boyett brings to the table. The defense has been living off
turnovers and they have enough depth to plug in several players. There is no doubt that the
offense will carry the team, but they hope the defense can provide some support this season.
OU has dominated Stanford in each of the past two seasons with the Pac-12 title on the line.
This year the big game is in LA against USC. If they win that game they will be have the inside
track to the national title game.
Bowl Prediction: Rose Bowl
Schedule: Arkansas State, Fresno State, Tennessee Tech, Arizona, @Washington State,
Washington, @Arizona State, Colorado, @USC, @California, Stanford, @Oregon State
An "upset" over the Trojans would give the Ducks home field advantage in the Pac-12
championship game. Oregon matches up poorly against USC.



2. Stanford- Through most of the 2000s Stanford was about as bad as an AQ conference team
can get. Their 1-11 season in 2006 led to the hiring of Jim Harbaugh, a former quarterback from
the University of Michigan. He brought a tough mentality and by 2009 they had a winning
record (8-5) and had sent RB Toby Gerhart to New York as a Heisman finalist. Gerhart was gone
in 2010 but Andrew Luck emerged as the nation's best quarterback, leading the Cardinal to a
12-1 record and an Orange Bowl victory. Many fans were skeptical about how much success
the team would have in 2011 when Harbaugh left to coach in the NFL. I called for a National
Championship appearance, but a loss to Oregon left them at 11-1 for a second straight season.
After losing the Fiesta Bowl in overtime, they finished 11-2. Andrew Luck was the first overall
pick in this spring's NFL draft, and three other Stanford players were also drafted in the first two
rounds. Expectations are even lower this year than they were a year ago with only thirteen
starters returning once again. In my mind, however, David Shaw has built a program that will
contend even with the losses of their stars.
Stephan Taylor has emerged as the Pac-12's best running back. Even when Luck was
playing quarterback, Taylor and the other running backs were the main carriers of the offense.
Brett Nottingham takes over at quarterback in his sophomore season. He has had a lot of time
to learn the offense sitting behind Luck, and the run-first offensive attack will give him a chance
to ease into the job much like Luck did in 2009. As always, the tight ends will be very involved
in the offense. The play-action passing game will be huge, and Stanford will still have one of
the best offenses in the conference. Defensively, they were beaten up by the better offenses
such as Oregon, USC, and Oklahoma State. Their tough mentality should help them improve,
and I expect them to rank near the top of the conference in total defense this season. It won't
be pretty, but Stanford will grind their way to 10+ wins for a third straight season in 2012.
Bowl Prediction: Alamo Bowl
Schedule: San Jose State, Duke, USC, @Washington, Arizona, @Notre Dame, @California,
Washington State, @Colorado, Oregon State, @Oregon, @UCLA
Stanford has beaten USC four of the past five seasons. USC will already be looking ahead to the
showdown against Oregon, and the Cardinal have a great chance to pull the upset in Week 3.

3. Washington- In the Pac-10's long history, Washington has been near the top of the
conference's standings. That changed in the 2000s when the Huskies were atrocious. They
stumbled as low as 0-12 in 2008 and Tyrone Willingham was out as head coach. Steve Sarkisian
took over and the program has improved steadily ever since. They got back to a bowl game in
2010, but many doubted their chances after Jake Locker left. Keith Price stepped in at
quarterback and led Washington to seven wins for a second consecutive season. Last year's

success was culminated by a close, high scoring loss to #15 Baylor. They lose Chris Polk this
season and the running game will suffer because of it. Still, I expect the offense to improve
upon its impressive numbers from a year ago with Price at the helm. The defense was brutal,
especially in the bowl game. They allowed 67 points to the Bears, and their defensive
coordinator was gone. The loss of Cort Dennison will hurt, but CB Desmond Trufant should step
up as a leader. There is only one way to go for this defense and that is up. Overall, the Huskies
are a better team but a killer schedule may prevent them from topping last year's seven wins.
Bowl Prediction: Sun Bowl
Schedule: San Diego State, @LSU, Portland State, Stanford, @Oregon, USC, @Arizona, Oregon
State, @California, Utah, @Colorado, @Washington State
Washington must face LSU and then the Pac-12's three elite teams in three straight weeks. This
end of the season showdown against a better Cougars team may get WU into a bowl.

4. Washington State- The Cougars have followed a similar trend as their in-state rivals over
their long history. They were contenders in the Pac-12 up until 2004, when they fell into a
streak of seven straight losing seasons. Paul Wulff was fired after getting Washington State to a
4-8 record. Now, with fourteen returning starters, new head coach Mike Leach has a shot to
get the Cougars to a bowl game in his first season. The offensively minded coach has the
perfect quarterback for his pass-happy scheme in Jeff Tuel. The senior has the potential to put
up huge numbers this season. His favorite target last year was Marquess Wilson. The
combination of Tuel and Wilson will be among the best in the conference this fall. If the
defense can be decent, this team has a great chance to make their first bowl game since 2003.
Bowl Prediction: Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Schedule: @BYU, Eastern Washington, @UNLV, Colorado, Oregon, @Oregon State, California,
@Stanford, @Utah, UCLA, @Arizona State, Washington
BYU won ten games last season and host WSU in game one. This battle of the Cougars will
determine if Washington State is ready to take the next step to a bowl game.

5. California- It seems like California doesn't like high expectations. They have been a very solid
team throughout the decade, including two ten win seasons. In 2007 and 2009, they rose into
the top ten before failing to top eight wins. After consecutive sub-par seasons including a 5-7
record in 2010, Cal looks ready to make an under-the-radar run once again. They return Zach

Maynard at quarterback and Keenan Allan at receiver. Unfortunately, the schedule is very
tough and it may be difficult for the Bears to make it back to a bowl game. Their offense hasn't
been the same since Jahvid Best left, and the team as a whole has suffered. Cal will contend in
most games this fall, but it will be a struggle to reach the postseason.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: Nevada, Southern Utah, @Ohio State, @USC, Arizona State, UCLA, @Washington
State, Stanford, @Utah, Washington, Oregon, @Oregon State
The season opener against a decent non-AQ team will determine how Cal's season will go. A
loss will get fans grumbling and may put Jeff Tedford on the hot seat.

6. Oregon State- Mike Riley did a great job leading this team after Dennis Erickson turned the
program around. His tenure peaked in 2006 when OSU went 10-4. They won nine games the
next two seasons and had become one of the best teams in the West. That changed in 2010
when QB Sean Canfield left for the NFL. Ryan Katz struggled mightily and the Beavers couldn't
hold up with a tough schedule. They fell all the way to 3-9 a year ago including an embarrassing
loss to FBS school Sacramento State. Sean Mannion showed signs of maturity as a redshirt
freshman and will lead the offense this season. There are plenty more starters coming back,
but an even tougher will make it difficult for Oregon State to top three wins.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: Nicholls State, Wisconsin, @UCLA, @Arizona, Washington State, @BYU, Utah,
@Washington, Arizona State, @Stanford, California, Oregon
This will be OSU's easiest conference game and it will determine if they can get back to
contention in the Pac-12 North.







ACC
As always, the outlook for the ACC this season is promising. There are several teams vying for
the top spot in each division, and no team can be left off the contenders list. However, the
conference is hurt by the fact that there is no true national championship contender. Florida
State and Clemson both have high expectations, and Virginia Tech is always near the top.
Virginia shocked the world last season and North Carolina may be ready to take the next step.
The exciting week-to-week atmosphere features several matchups between equal opponents,
and that is what keeps the ACC relevant. The story seems the same this year, and until a
national champion can emerge from the ACC, the conference won't get the respect they want.
Projected Conference Champion: Clemson




ACC Atlantic Projected Standings
1. Clemson- While Tommy Bowden made the Tigers an annual contender, Clemson was very
inconsistent throughout his tenure. Dabo Swinney took over in 2009 and in year three led his
team to a 10-4 record. Many thought Clemson would run the table considering their 8-0 start
which included three straight wins against ranked opponents. They return loaded on offense
with several key starters coming back. Tajh Boyd started off on fire throwing all over the yard
in the first eight games. Later in the season, he tailed off and began making mental mistakes
and rushing throws. He now has one year of starting experience under his belt and he could get
Heisman attention if Clemson starts out well again. He will be throwing to explosive targets in
DeAndre Hopkins and stellar sophomore Sammy Watkins. Watkins was a first team All-
American as a freshman and he is among the nation's most exciting players. Complimenting
the ACC's best passing game will be the top RB in the conference, Andre Ellington. He has done

very well in his two years as a starter since replacing CJ Spiller, bringing both power and speed
to the table. With all the speed returning, Clemson may have the nation's most explosive
offense in 2012. The concern is on defense, where the Tigers were very hit-or-miss a year ago.
After holding a good Virginia Tech offense to ten points in the ACC Title Game, they were
spotted for 70 against West Virginia in the Orange bowl. They lose Andre Branch on the D-line,
and that will hurt. Brent Venables, the new defensive coordinator, hopes to bring the unit back
to respectability. If the defense can create turnovers and get the ball back in the offense's
hands, this is going to be a very tough team to beat.
Bowl Prediction: Orange Bowl
Schedule: Auburn, Ball State, Furman, @Florida State, @Boston College, Georgia Tech, Virginia
Tech, @Wake Forest, @Duke, Maryland, NC State, South Carolina
The book ends of Clemson's schedule feature ranked SEC opponents. This game will determine
how much UC has improved from last year as they try to beat SC for the first time since 2008.

2. Florida State- Although Bobby Bowden could be considered the best coach in college football
history, his tenure didn't end as he would have wished. The 'Noles have been merely mediocre
throughout the 2000s and Bowden was basically forced out after the 2009 season. Jimbo Fisher
seemed like a great replacement and he has gone 19-8 in his first two seasons. While that is good,
fans are getting anxious because of how the team underachieved last season. The main reason for
the disappointing record was because of EJ Manuel's injury against Oklahoma. He never fully
recovered during the season. Assuming he stays healthy, FSU will get much more productive
quarterback play this fall. The running backs looks very deep a year ago but they fell short of
expectations and the run game was nearly a non-factor. Chris Thompson needs to step up and
carry the load this year with the loss of Jermaine Thomas. With the return of a healthy Manuel, I
expect the Seminole offense to be better on offense this year. On the other side of the ball, many
predict FSU to have one the nation's top defenses. The D-line is all it is hyped up to be. Brandon
Jenkins anchors a front four that will create a great pass rush. Aside from him, though, the defense
has no real stars. The secondary took a hit when Greg Reid was released from the team in the
offseason. Xavier Rhodes is now the top pass defender, but the special teams will also take a hit
with the loss of Reid. While this is a solid Florida State team capable of winning ten games thanks
to an easy schedule, I don't expect them to contend for a national title this fall.
Bowl Prediction: Russell Athletic Bowl
Schedule: Murray State, Savannah State, Wake Forest, Clemson, @USF, @NC State, Boston College,
@Miami (Fl.), Duke, @Virginia Tech, @Maryland, Florida

This game in Tallahassee will determine the ACC Atlantic champion and might have National
Championship implications.

3. NC State- Russell Wilson was a great athlete who never reached his full potential at NC State.
After he left and had a great season at Wisconsin, Mike Glennon took over at quarterback in his
junior season. He was terrific in the passing game and his stats will improve this season. On
defense, David Amerson led the FBS in interceptions with 13. All four secondary members
return for the Wolfpack, and the pass-defense should be excellent. With a great player on each
side of the ball, NC State could make a surprising run at the Atlantic Division crown.
Bowl Prediction: Independence Bowl
Schedule: Tennessee, @Connecticut, South Alabama, The Citadel, @Miami (Fl.), Florida State,
@Maryland, @North Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest, @Clemson, Boston College
If they can beat Tennessee in Week 1, then an upset of FSU at home would make the Wolfpack
6-0 and put them in solid position to win the conference.

4. Maryland- As awful as the new jerseys were last year's the Terps' on-field play may have
been even more brutal. They finished 2-10 in Randy Edsall's first season. The last time they
went 2-10, they rebounded with a 9-4 season in 2011. However, I don't think Edsall will get
Maryland to a bowl game despite the ACC's best rush defense.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: William & Mary, @Temple, Connecticut, @West Virginia, Wake Forest, @Virginia, NC
State, @Boston College, Georgia Tech, @Clemson, Florida State, @North Carolina
The last four games are very tough, so Maryland will need to get a win against equally matched
BC to give them confidence.

5. Boston College- Tom O'Brien did a great job at BC from 1997 to 2006 but surprisingly took
the NC State job in 2007. Jeff Jagodzinski let them to an 11-3 record and then a 9-5 record in
2008. He interviewed for an NFL job and was fired by the school. The record has declined in
each of Frank Spaziani's three seasons, and they missed a bowl game a year ago. Despite the
seventeen returning starters, it will be tough for Boston College to make a bowl game with Luke
Kuechly gone to the NFL.

Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: Miami (Fl.), Maine, @Northwestern, Clemson, @Army, @Florida State, @Georgia
Tech, Maryland, @Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, @NC State
This test will prove whether or not BC's offense is good enough to compete in the ACC.

6. Wake Forest- Riley Skinner guided the Deacons to three consecutive bowl games including a
conference title in 2006. Since he has left, though, there haven't been enough playmakers on
either side of the ball for Wake to compete. That trend will continue as they will fall short of a
bowl game for the third time in four seasons.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: Liberty, North Carolina, @Florida State, Army, Duke, @Maryland, @Virginia, Clemson,
Boston College, @NC State, @Notre Dame, Vanderbilt
An upset over their in-state rivals would jump start a successful season for Wake Forest.


ACC Coastal Projected Standings
1. Virginia Tech- For much of Frank Beamer's 26 year tenure as VT head coach, the Hokies have
been a dominant force among the inconsistent ACC teams. They've reached four of the last five
ACC championships and they are my pick to make it to the big game once again. There is
always a replacement for players lost to the NFL or to injury. A perfect example is when Darrell
Evans was lost for the season after a great freshman year. Ryan Williams stepped in and
surpassed Evans' feats and both returned in 2010. They left after that season and David Wilson
stepped in as ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Wilson is now gone, but someone else will step
up and have a productive year. The quarterback position is much more solid this year as Logan
Thomas is now in his second season as a starter. In 2011 he improved vastly from September
to January, and I expect that improvement to continue. He has an upcoming talent in DJ Coles
to throw the ball to, meaning good statistics. Defensively, VT returns nine starters from a team
that ranked among the best in the country a year ago. They have a good pass rush and great
linebackers, which results in a low total of points allowed. The special teams unit should get
back near the top of the list after a down year. The defense will play a key role once again, but
Logan Thomas will determine if Virginia Tech can win the ACC title game.

Bowl Prediction: Chick-fil-A Bowl
Schedule: Georgia Tech, Austin Peay, @Pittsburgh, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, @North Carolina,
Duke, @Clemson, @Miami (Fl.), Florida State, @Boston College, Virginia
The Hokies were smoked twice by the Tigers in 2011 and this is their chance at revenge.

2. Georgia Tech- Many expected a down year from the Jackets last season after a 6-7 campaign
considering they had to break in a new quarterback. Tevin Washington fit into Paul Johnson's
option system perfectly and he worked with RBs David Sims and Orwin Smith to create a quick
running attack. They rose as high as #12 before finishing unranked. They play BYU and Georgia
in the nonconference but have a chance to top eight wins.
Bowl Prediction: Sun Bowl
Schedule: @Virginia Tech, Presbyterian, Virginia, Miami (Fl.), Middle Tennessee, @Clemson,
Boston College, BYU, @Maryland, @North Carolina, Duke, @Georgia
This would be a huge upset win to kick off the season and help their ACC chances.

3. Virginia- Mike London was among the top coaches in the country last year after leading a
rather untalented team to an 8-5 record. Although they did win a lot of close games a year ago,
a lot of the team returns intact including star running back Perry Jones. For that reason, I don't
think it will be a struggle for UV to get back to the postseason. Still, I don't think they will last in
the ACC hunt due to a tough schedule.
Bowl Prediction: Music City Bowl
Schedule: Richmond, Penn State, @Georgia Tech, @TCU, Louisiana Tech, @Duke, Maryland,
Wake Forest, @NC State, Miami (Fl.), North Carolina, @Virginia Tech
A win in this game would prove that last season wasn't just a fluke.

4. North Carolina- In 2010 North Carolina appeared to have the best defense in the country
before much of their NFL-loaded roster was suspended prior to the opener. The team finished
just 8-5 and TJ Yates left to be a QB in the NFL. The defense was once again stripped by
suspensions and their record dropped to 7-6. Bryn Renner is now a second year starter at
quarterback and the offensive line is experienced. Furthermore, the defense appears to have a

lot of talent as well. Unfortunately, I believe the postseason ban will drag NC down in Larry
Fedora's first season as head coach.
Bowl Prediction: *NC is under a postseason ban. They can't play in the ACC championship game
or a bowl game.
Schedule: Elon, @Wake Forest, @Louisville, East Carolina, Idaho, Virginia Tech, @Miami (Fl.),
@Duke, NC State, Georgia Tech, @Virginia, Maryland
This is the Heels' bowl game and they could pull the upset to ruin VT's season.

5. Miami (Fl.)- In my first magazine I predicted the Hurricanes to win the ACC and finish #4 in
the country. The team underachieved with a 7-6 finish. Sanctions kept "The U" out of a bowl
game at 6-6 last year and they only return ten starters from that team. Stephen Morris and
Ray-Ray Armstrong are the top two players, but there is less talent than in most years. There is
still a black cloud hovering over the program, and things will be tough for Al Golden in year two.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: @Boston College, @Kansas State, Bethune-Cookman, @Georgia Tech, NC State,
Notre Dame, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia Tech, @Virginia, USF, @Duke
A late upset could put the 'Canes back into bowl contention.

6. Duke- The Blue Devils nearly reached a bowl game in David Cutcliffe's second season as head
coach. Since then they have failed to reach four wins, and the outlook for this season doesn't
look promising. Despite having 17 returning starters, the streak of losing seasons will continue.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Schedule: FIU, @Stanford, NC Central, Memphis, @Wake Forest, Virginia, @Virginia Tech, North
Carolina, @Florida State, Clemson, @Georgia Tech, Miami (Fl.)
A win would give Duke a confidence boost heading into next season.




Big East Projected Standings
1. Louisville- Although the team's success has gone under the radar, Louisville has competed
well in all the conferences it has been a part of. It began with Bobby Petrino leading the
Cardinals to an 11 win season in 2004 including a win over #10 Boise State in the Liberty Bowl.
Two years later, they would have played for the National Championship if they hadn't blown a
25-7 lead against Rutgers. Since Petrino left, however, it has been a struggle for the Cardinals
to win games. They seem to have the answer in Charlie Strong. The former Florida defensive
coordinator has amassed fourteen wins over the past two seasons and is ready to make the
jump this year. Teddy Bridgewater played very well at quarterback as a freshman, and he will
be the Big East's best as a sophomore. The defense was very solid and it will be the
conference's best unit once again with eight returning starters. Because of the balance of
offense and defense, Louisville may be favored in all but one game and are the popular pick to
win the Big East.
Bowl Prediction: Orange Bowl
Schedule: Kentucky, Missouri State, North Carolina, @FIU, @Southern Mississippi, @Pittsburgh,
USF, Cincinnati, Temple, @Syracuse, Connecticut, @Rutgers
Louisville needs to prevent an upset so they can stay focused heading into conference play.

2. South Florida- I called for the Bulls to finish second in the conference last year and they
disappointed with a 5-7 record. They were just 1-6 in the Big East and struggled to pull out
close wins. BJ Daniels is now a senior and it is time for him to live up to his hype. If he reaches
his full potential, the Bulls could beat out Louisville for the conference title despite being a less
complete team than the Cards.
Bowl Prediction: Russell Athletic Bowl
Schedule: Chattanooga, @Nevada, Rutgers, @Ball State, Florida State, @Temple, @Louisville,
Syracuse, Connecticut, @Miami (Fl.), @Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
While it isn't a two team race, this game should have the biggest implications of all conference
games this season.

3. Pittsburgh- Freshman All-American running back Dion Lewis led Pitt to a ten win season in
'09 and high expectations followed. Unfortunately, both Lewis and his team struggled in 2010

and Dave Wannstedt was fired. They went 6-7 last year but showed promise under Todd
Graham. He left for Arizona State and Paul Chryst now has the reigns. This is the team's third
coach in as many years. The production of offensive playmakers Tino Sunseri and Ray Graham
will determine how far this team can go, but I call for an eight win season in Pittsburgh.
Bowl Prediction: Belk Bowl
Schedule: Youngstown State, @Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Gardner-Webb, @Syracuse, Louisville,
@Buffalo, Temple, @Notre Dame, @Connecticut, Rutgers, @USF
This game has had conference championship implications in recent seasons.

4. Rutgers- This team has had its ups and downs recently but the lowest point in recent
memory came when Greg Schiano accepted the job as head coach for the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers. They lose their top playmaker in WR Mohammed Sanu but return fifteen starters
from a team that won nine games. Rutgers could contend for the Big East title.
Bowl Prediction: New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Key Games: @USF, @Cincinnati, Louisville

5. Cincinnati- After Brian Kelly left, Bearcat fans didn't know what to expect from their team.
Butch Davis' squad fell to 4-8 in his first season, but they won ten games a year ago in an
underrated season. They lose three key players in QB Collaros, RB Pead, and WR Woods.
Munchie Legaux has shown potential as a dual threat quarterback, but the weaker offense will
hold Cincinnati back this fall.
Bowl Prediction: Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl
Key Games: Pittsburgh, @Louisville, Rutgers

6. Syracuse- The Orange have made huge strides under Doug Marrone's leadership the past
three seasons. Ryan Nassib has improved vastly as a quarterback and his ability to take over
the team will define their team's season. Despite a tough schedule, Syracuse has the chance to
reach their second bowl game in four years.
Bowl Prediction: NONE

Key Games: Northwestern, Connecticut, @USF

7. Connecticut- Although they reached a BCS bowl game in 2010, UConn has been merely a
decent team during their time in the Big East. However, they were impressive considering they
are still new to the FBS. The team did take a hit last offseason when their coach, Randy Edsall,
made a lateral move to Maryland. They dropped to 5-7 last year, but they may get back to
bowl eligible this season.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Key Games: @Maryland, @Rutgers, Pittsburgh

8. Temple- The Eagles were essentially kicked out of the Big East in 2004 but are now back in
after West Virginia departed for the Big Twelve. They've won 26 games the last three years in
the MAC but have struggled against winning teams. They also lose their top player, running
back Bernard Pierce. With only eight returning starters and a much tougher schedule, Temple
will be hard pressed to win four games this fall.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Key Games: @Penn State, @Connecticut, @Army


Mountain West Projected Standings
1. Boise State- Boise State has been a constant non-AQ powerhouse since Dan Hawkins took
over the team in 2001. He got the Broncos on the national spotlight and then handed the keys
over to Chris Peterson. He proceeded to take Boise to the Fiesta Bowl, where they pulled off an
amazing upset of Oklahoma with the help of several trick plays. While the team has finished in
the top ten every year since 2008, they have settled for the Las Vegas Bowl the past two years
thanks to a couple of botched field goals. In fact, a missed game winning field goal against TCU
cost the Broncos a shot at the national title game last season. With the departure of the
Horned Frogs, Boise State is the clear favorite to win the weak Mountain West.
Now to the team itself. Kellen Moore leaves the program as the NCAA's leader in
career wins. There appears to be a huge void at quarterback, but I believe Joe Southwick will

still be able to put up decent numbers behind center. He has legitimate weapons in Mitch
Burroughs, Matt Miller, and Kellen's brother Kirby. Doug Martin is gone at running back, but DJ
Harper should still be able to rack up yards and put the ball in the end zone if he stays healthy.
On the other side of the ball, the losses of their top five defenders will hurt. Byron Hout is a big
loss at linebacker, and McClellin, Crawford, and Winn are all hard to replace on the defensive
line. In the secondary, their top player in George Iloka is also gone. Although they played in a
small conference, Boise State was one of the most physical teams in the country a year ago.
The key losses on defense will make the team thinner and less able to hold up against physical
teams such as MSU, who they play in the opener. However, the defense operated with a team
effort and they should still have success against Mountain West opponents. With just seven
returning starters, six draft picks lost, and the departure of a player like Moore, nobody knows
quite what to expect. The opener will answer that question, but Boise should be favored in the
final 11 games.
Bowl Prediction: Las Vegas Bowl
Schedule: @Michigan State, Miami (Oh.), BYU, @New Mexico, @Southern Mississippi, Fresno
State, UNLV, @Wyoming, San Diego State, @Hawai'i, Colorado State, @Nevada
This Friday night game will be on national television. It is the third straight year in which the
Broncos have opened against a ranked team away from home and it will define their season.

2. Nevada- The Wolfpack have been a good lower-conference team for several years, but the
peak came with a 13-1 season in 2010 including an upset over Boise State. They slipped to 7-6
without Colin Kaepernick and move to the Mountain West this season. They should still be a
good team and may win nine games.
Bowl Prediction: Poinsettia Bowl
Key Games: @California, USF, Boise State

3. Fresno State- During Pat Hill's tenure, Fresno State was always near nine wins and the top of
the WAC. However, their inability to win a conference title cost Hill his job after a 4-9 campaign
in 2011. The offense should be good in FSU's first season in the MW conference and they
should contend with Nevada for second place with Derek Carr at quarterback.
Bowl Prediction: New Mexico Bowl
Key Games: @Tulsa, San Diego State, @Nevada


4. Air Force- Only six starters return and Tim Jefferson is gone, but the option will still give
defenses fits.
Bowl Prediction: Armed Forces Bowl
Key Games: Navy, @Army, @Fresno State

5. San Diego State- Ryan Katz is the QB but the team will fall in Rocky Long's second year with
the loss of NFL talent.
Bowl Prediction: Hawaii Bowl
Key Games: @Fresno State, @Nevada, Air Force

6. Wyoming- Big Game: San Diego State
7. Hawai'i- Big Game: @Air Force
8. Colorado State- Big Game: @Wyoming
9. UNLV- Big Game: @Utah State
10. New Mexico- Big Game: @New Mexico State


Conference USA East Projected Standings
1. Central Florida- The Knights have been up and down but last year they fell to 5-7 after
winning eleven games in 2010. Despite the poor record, they were in most games including a
one point loss to So. Miss. and seven point losses to both BYU and Tulsa. They are much more
experienced this season and that will help them to win those close games. They have three
sophomore quarterbacks with potential and a good offensive line. The Knights started six
freshmen a year ago and they now have good experience for years to come. They must play
Ohio State and Missouri but get the big game against Southern Mississippi at home and that
will likely decide the conference.

Bowl Prediction: Liberty Bowl
Schedule: @Akron, @Ohio State, FIU, Missouri, East Carolina, Southern Mississippi, @Memphis,
@Marshall, SMU, @UTEP, @Tulsa, UAB
This showdown with the inexperienced defending conference champs will decide whether UCF
can win ten games and reach the C-USA title game.

2. Southern Mississippi- The Golden Eagles have been a constant force in this conference and
won the league at a 12-2 mark a year ago thanks to an upset of Houston in the championship
game. The team is still going to contend for the East Division crown, but the loss of school
passing leader Austin Davis will hurt the team's chances. Despite the inexperience, Southern
Miss will likely be able to win the division and match last year's record if they beat UCF.
Bowl Prediction: Hawaii Bowl
Schedule: @Nebraska, East Carolina, @WKU, Louisville, Boise State, @UCF, Marshall, @Rice,
UAB, @SMU, UTEP, @Memphis
This midseason showdown will determine the East Division champion.

3. East Carolina- In a three game stretch beginning in the 2007 bowl game and lasting through
the first two games of the next season, East Carolina knocked off three ranked teams. They
rose up to #14 but finished unranked with a 9-5 record. After another 9-5 record, Skip Holtz left
the team to take the job at USF. Since then, they have only amassed eleven wins in the past
two seasons. Nonetheless, this season appears promising. ECU returns fifteen starters and I
expect them to be back in the postseason despite drawing South Carolina, Southern Miss,
North Carolina, and UCF all on the road.
Bowl Prediction: New Orleans Bowl
Key Games: @Southern Miss, Navy, Houston

4. Marshall- The Herd are a team that has been up and down, with an average win total over
the past decade being around .500. Last year was an up year, and a bowl win gave them a 7-6
record. However, the defense was vulnerable and that will cost them a shot at a bowl.
Key Games: Ohio, Tulsa, @East Carolina

5. Memphis- They avoid Tulsa and Houston and may reach four wins.
Big Game: @UAB

6. UAB- Big Game: Memphis


C-USA West Projected Standings
1. Tulsa- Just like UCF and Southern Miss, Tulsa can always be counted upon to be near the top
of this conference. They finished 8-5 a year ago but now must replace their starting
quarterback, GJ Kinne. He will be tough to replace, but the schedule is easy in the first eight
weeks, which will allow the new starter to ease into the job. Tulsa had to play four top ten
teams last season, and the easier schedule will result in more wins. The game against Houston
will probably decide the division title.
Bowl Prediction: Armed Forces Bowl
Schedule: @Iowa State, Tulane, Nicholls State, Fresno State, @UAB, @Marshall, UTEP, Rice,
@Arkansas, @Houston, UCF, @SMU
This game against the defending division champs will determine the West champion this year.

2. Houston- Case Keenum had a storied six year career with Houston en route to becoming the
NCAA's all-time passing leader. After he led an upset of #5 Oklahoma State and guided the
Cougars to a 10-4 record, I picker Houston to be a BCS buster in 2010, Keenum's final season.
He only needed nine more yards to break the record but was injured in the opener and Houston
went 5-7. Keenum redshirted and returned for 2011, in which they finished 13-1. Keenum is
now gone and he'll be replaced by David Piland. Their top receiver, Patrick Edwards, is gone as
well. However, RB Charles Sims will carry the offense and take the load off the passing game.
The defense will struggle once again, but I expect Sims and the offense to keep this team in
conference contention.
Bowl Prediction: Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl

Schedule: Texas State, Louisiana Tech, @UCLA, Rice, North Texas, UAB, @SMU, UTEP, @East
Carolina, Tulsa, @Marshall, Tulane
Houston gets the key game against Tulsa at home, and it will probably decide the West Division.

3. SMU- The Mustang program was left in shambles by the "Death Penalty" levied by the NCAA
in the 1980s. June Jones finally got SMU back to a bowl game in 2009 and they have now
reached three in a row. Kyle Padron had a roller coaster career, and he is now gone at
quarterback. In comes highly touted Texas transfer Garrett Gilbert. If he lives up to his high
expectations, he could be the conference's top quarterback. He'll be throwing to Darius
Johnson, the senior wideout. However, power runner Zach Line will still carry the offense. The
defense is solid as well, and SMU should reach a fourth straight bowl game despite their
offensive inexperience.
Bowl Prediction: TicketCity Bowl
Schedule: @Baylor, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, TCU, @UTEP, @Tulane, Houston, Memphis,
@UCF, Southern Miss, @Rice, Tulsa
The Mustangs were smashed on the road against Tulsa last season, but a rebound win could
give them the conference title.

4. Rice- This is their best team since 2008.
Key Games: @Kansas, Houston, SMU

5. UTEP- Big Game: Rice
6. Tulane- Big Game: @UTEP






Independents
BYU- I surprised many people by saying BYU had a great shot at ten wins last season. They lost
to their only ranked opponent and while it wasn't pretty, they did finish 10-3. This year is when
they will get tested. They are a much better team than last year's edition, but the Cougars face
a much more difficult schedule. On the field, BYU returns fourteen starters, seven on each side
of the ball. Riley Nelson is the clear starter after having a very good junior season. He has
some good wide receivers to throw to and will be protected by a seasoned offensive line. The
running backs will benefit because of the offensive line and dangerous passing game. On
defense, BYU was weak against the run in 2011. They now have experience up front, though,
so I expect a much more solid bunch. The linebackers return three starters and they are among
the best groups in the nation! The defense will be tested in the opener when they face the high
powered Washington State attack. Overall, this team is leaps and bounds ahead of last year's
squad. If they can win tough games against WSU, Utah, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech, they
could top last year's ten wins by the end of the regular season.
Bowl Prediction: Poinsettia Bowl
Schedule: Washington State, Weber State, @Utah, @Boise State, Hawai'i, Utah State, Oregon
State, @Notre Dame, @Georgia Tech, Idaho, @San Jose State, @New Mexico State
These two teams will battle it out for Independent supremacy in the middle of the season. BYU
may wind up with a better record, but they will be the underdog in this game.

Notre Dame- Although the mystique is still present any time a team faces the Fighting Irish,
Notre Dame's magic may be running out. Considering their storied past, ND's recent history has
been rather pathetic. They have gone through three coaches in the past decade while amassing
a less-than-spectacular record of 72-53 during that span. The fear factor of playing the Irish is
all but history, and off field issues have hindered their lofty reputation. While they have
showed signs of offensive explosiveness and defensive toughness, inconsistency has hurt this
team in recent years. Last season, they were killed by red zone turnovers and costly penalties.
To make matters worse, they face the nation's toughest schedule this season. If Brian Kelly
doesn't get to nine wins this fall, his seat will be as hot as Charlie Weis' was after the 2008
season. That will be very difficult to achieve considering that Notre Dame has no clue who their
starting quarterback will be. They lose their top receiver in Michael Floyd, but Theo Riddick and
Tyler Eifert should be able to pick up the slack. Cierre Wood is suspended to start, the season,
but he will carry the bulk of the load at running back. The defense is led by star linebacker
Manti Te'o, but outside of him there wasn't a consistent player on that side of the ball a year

ago. Although Notre Dame remains one of the nation's most talented teams, they haven't
shown the ability to put together a complete season under Kelly. Add that to a killer schedule,
and the Irish will have a tough time winning eight games again this fall.
Bowl Prediction: Belk Bowl
Schedule: Navy, Purdue, @Michigan State, Michigan, Miami (Fl.), Stanford, BYU, @Oklahoma,
Pittsburgh, @Boston College, Wake Forest, @USC
The last three games have been lost by ND in the final minute of the game. Michigan is back on
the winning trend, and Notre Dame desperately needs a win at home to capture momentum.

Navy- The Midshipmen have been very good in the 2000s but dropped to 5-7 with a new
quarterback in 2011. They have beaten Notre Dame three of the past five seasons, rising to
Independent supremacy. They have now passed the rebuilding stage but have fallen back
behind Notre Dame and BYU. I still expect them to get back to the postseason at 9-3 and win
the Commander's Cup.
Bowl Prediction: Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Key Games: @Penn State, @Air Force, Army

Army- Trent Steelman has become the face of this team with his running and throwing ability.
The Black Knights return a shocking total of fifteen returning starters and run the option very
well. Their offense isn't quite good enough to compensate for a weak defense, and Army will
fall short of a bowl game despite having an improved team.
Key Games: Boston College, Air Force, Navy


MAC East Projected Standings
1. Ohio- The Bobcats have reached four bowl games in the past six seasons and can be counted
among the MAC's top tier teams. They won ten games last year and they could have won more
if it weren't for several close losses and a blown lead in the MAC title game. Their defense
returns eight starters and their offense brings back six including QB Tyler Tettleton. He will be

among the best QBs in the conference and the offense will be good because of him. Not only is
Ohio the MAC's best team, they also avoid the top three from the West Division and face the
easiest schedule in the country. If they can pull off the upset over Penn State in the opener,
Ohio could run the table.
Bowl Prediction: GoDaddy.com Bowl
Key Games: @Penn State, @Marshall, @Miami (Oh.)

2. Miami (Oh.)- The Redhawks won the conference in 2010 and will challenge Ohio this season.
Big Game: Ohio

3. Kent State
4. Buffalo
5. Bowling Green
6. Akron
7. Massachusetts


MAC West Projected Standings
1. Western Michigan- The Broncons have been pretty good by MAC standards since Bill Cubit
took over the team in 2005. This year they are experienced and should get to the conference
title game behind senior quarterback Alex Carder.
Bowl Prediction: Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Key Games: @Minnesota, Toledo, Eastern Michigan

2. Eastern Michigan- Ron English's team will surprise people and contend for the West title.
Big Game: @Western Michigan

3. Northern Illinois- They've become a constant contender in the MAC and will complete
without QB Chandler Harnish.
Bowl Prediction: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Key Games: @Army, Kansas, @Western Michigan

4. Toledo- The Rockets lose too many playmakers to contend.
Big Game: @Western Michigan

5. Ball State
6. Central Michigan


WAC Projected Standings
1. Louisiana Tech- The Bulldogs always lingered near the top of the WAC, but they are now the
kings with the top four teams gone to the Mountain West. They won eight games a year ago
with an explosive offense and nearly upset TCU in the bowl game. They are a sleeper team to
win ten games if they can beat a couple of mediocre AQ teams. The schedule is no sweat and
Louisiana Tech is set to dominate the WAC.
Bowl Prediction: Military Bowl
Key Games: @Houston, @Illinois, Utah State

2. Utah State- They are the only team who is close to LT in this conference.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Big Game: @Louisiana Tech

3. Idaho

4. San Jose State
5. New Mexico State
6. Texas State
7. Texas San Antonio

Sun Belt Projected Standings
1. Florida International- FIU has reached consecutive bowl games (first two in school history)
and returns seventeen starters. They lose receiver TY Hilton but should be at the top of this
conference again.
Bowl Prediction: New Orleans Bowl
Key Games: @UCF, @Louisiana, @Troy
2. Louisiana- They made their first bowl game last season and will be back again.
Bowl Prediction: GoDaddy.com Bowl
Big Game: FIU
3. Troy- They're always near the top of this conference and should be near the top again.
Bowl Prediction: NONE
Big Game: FIU
4. Arkansas State
5. Middle Tennessee
6. Western Kentucky
7. North Texas
8. ULM
9. Florida Atlantic
10. South Alabama

Sources
I finished this magazine on Thursday, August 30th, 2012 with the help of Phil Steele's 2012
College Football Preview magazine and pictures from Google Images.











Projected National Champion: Georgia