Jacob Bunn's 2011 College Football Preview
Posted on August 31, 2011 by Jacob Bunn
Big East: West Virginia (10-2)
The Big East is looking for a leader. The conference that has drawn much criticism about its inability to compete with other BCS conferences needs one of its member teams to step up and become dominant. Will West Virginia be that team? I don’t know, but it’s possible. I do think the Mountaineers will be the champion of the Big East this year.
ACC: Virginia Tech (12-1)
With most of the preseason college football magazines giving Florida State a virtual bye to the ACC Championship Game, Virginia Tech has been forgotten. But, I think the Hokies will beat Georgia Tech to win the ACC Coastal division and defeat Florida State in Charlotte for the conference championship.
Big Ten: Wisconsin (13-0)
I think the Wisconsin Badgers, with the addition of Russell Wilson, are a championship level team. I think they will meet Nebraska in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game, and win that contest by double digits. In addition to the dynamic playmaking ability Russell Wilson brings to the team, Wisconsin also possesses an experienced offensive line. Combine that with a defense that has the ability to lock teams down, and I think the Badgers will be on their way to the BCS Championship Game.
Pac 12: Stanford (12-1)
I think Stanford will only endure one loss during the 2011 season, and it will be against USC. I think the Cardinal will defeat Oregon in what I believe will be the biggest game in the Pac 12 this year. By default, I think Utah will win the southern division of the Pac 12. But, Stanford will better the Utes in the first ever Pac 12 Championship Game.
Big 12: Oklahoma (11-1)
A significant amount of college football analysts think Oklahoma is a lock to win the Big 12. I think Oklahoma will win it, but it will not be by a landslide. Texas cannot be forgotten about, and many think Texas A&M and Oklahoma State will be competitive until the end. I think, though, when the season comes to a conclusion, Oklahoma will be the champion of the Big 12.
SEC: Alabama (11-1)
I think Alabama has what it takes to win the SEC Championship this year. And I think if there is an SEC team with one loss, it will be invited to the BCS Championship Game. I think the Crimson Tide will defeat Georgia in the conference championship contest, and continue on to play Wisconsin for all of the marbles.
Rose Bowl: Stanford (12-1) vs Nebraska (11-2)
How cool would it be for Nebraska to get the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten representative during its first year in the new conference? Stanford comes in to the game as the Pac 12 champion, and I think Andrew Luck has a chance to go out with a major exclamation point.
Sugar Bowl: Georgia (11-2) vs Florida State (11-1)
This matchup should be an interesting one, two southern teams that are rivals in recruiting every year. For Florida State, it will be bittersweet because of their undefeated regular season and loss in the ACC Championship Game. But life must continue. For Georgia, Mark Richt has a chance to help his team achieve a twelve win season. In which case, he would continue to be the head coach in Athens.
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma (11-1) vs West Virginia (10-2)
The loss to Texas will prevent the Sooners from going undefeated, and the absence of a conference championship game in the Big 12 will give them a weaker strength of schedule at the end of the year than some of their competitors from other leagues. On the other side of the ball from the Sooners will be Dana Holgorsen’s West Virginia team. Last year, Oklahoma made mincemeat out of their opponent from the Big East. This season, though, I think it will be a closer contest.
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech (12-1) vs Notre Dame (11-1)
Sorry, but no ACC team with one loss is going to edge out an unbeaten Big Ten team or a once beaten SEC program. So, the Hokies will be relegated to the Orange Bowl. Facing the Hokies will be the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The Irish have been down the last several years, but I think Brian Kelly gets things turned around in South Bend and leads his squad to a BCS berth with one loss along the way.
BCS Championship: Wisconsin (13-0) vs Alabama (12-1)
For the second year in a row, my prediction for the BCS Championship Game contains a Big Ten and an SEC team. Last season, I picked Iowa and Florida, and look how that turned out. But, I think Wisconsin and Alabama both have much more talent than either of the aforementioned teams did last year. Alabama may be the favorite coming into the game because of the SEC’s ongoing streak of BCS championships, but don’t count Wisconsin out. The Badgers have the ability to make the game close and competitive late.
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Email Jacob at jacob@bunnsports.com and follow him on Twitter at @JacobBunn
