Well, it's almost here. We can almost taste it now. 10 days away from major college foosball action. Yes, I said "foosball". I have a fascination with how Adam Sandler's "Momma" said that word in the movie "The Waterboy".
Let's get down to business. I'm going to appease my northern family first and talk about the Big Ten first:
The Big Ten
The Leaders Division is already sewn up. LOL! Ohio State, as much as I hate them, is clearly the team to beat in the entire conference. Braxton Miller had an amazing season in 2012 with over 1200 yards rushing and over 2000 yards passing with 28 total touchdowns. Had he thrown for closer to 3000 and the program not been on probation, he might have been your Heisman winner.Leaders Division
1 - Ohio State
2 - Wisconsin
3 - Penn State (not bowl eligible)
4 - Purdue
5 - Indiana
6 - Illinois
The fate of the Legends Division will be a little more in doubt. Even with the loss of Denard Robinson Michigan will be a force. Taylor Martinez is a senior for the Cornhuskers, and if he improves his decision making and his improved mechanics continue to progress, they will be in the mix to defend their division crown. However, the team on the big rise in this side of the conference is Northwestern. With 10 wins in 2012, they proved they can be a factor in the division. However, I have them finishing 2nd to, you guessed it...
The Legends Division
1 - Meeechigan
2 - Northwestern
3 - Nebraska
4 - Minnesota
5 - Michigan State
6 - Iowa
Unfortunately, The Buckeyes (grrrrrrr) will defeat the Wolverines in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The SEC
Just like the last few years, the SEC West is just absolutely loaded. Alabama is vying for their 3rd national title in a row (a feat that hasn't happened since the 30's) and 4th in 5 seasons. The style in which they have done so would put a smile on the late Coach Paul Bear Bryant's face too. However, if Heisman winner Johnny Manziel plays in all of Texas A&M's games, they will be sitting atop the west this season. LSU coming off a shocking loss to Clemson in the Peach Bowl, yes I still call it the Peach Bowl, and after losing so many players to the NFL, will have a hard time overtaking the Aggies and Bama.SEC West
1 - Texas A&M
2 - Alabama
3 - LSU
4 - Ole Miss
5 - Arkansas
6 - Auburn
7 - Mississippi State
The East is going to be just as competitive, but with teams of a lesser profile than those of in the west. South Carolina, as much as I also hate them, will win this division going away. They have an enormously easy schedule as they don't have to play any of the "big 3" from the west. They do play Georgia on the road, but they've won three in a row in this series, and nothing tells me this year will be any different. The aforementioned Georgia will have a good season pending on how they make it through their monster September schedule. They could be 1-3 if they stumble to Clemson, S. Carolina, and LSU. Florida is improving, but isn't there yet.
SEC East
1 - South Carolina
2 - Florida
3 - Georgia
4 - Vanderbilt
5 - Tennessee
6 - Missouri
7 - Kentucky
I hate to make projections with "ifs", but if Johnny Manziel plays all season and leads them to the SEC championship game, I believe he will also lead them to the national championship. They will defeat South Carolina in the SEC Championship game, but it'll be a close one like last year's Bama-Bulldog classic. If Johnny is suspended for a lengthy period of time due to "autograph-gate", then Alabama will take the west and defeat S. Carolina in a slobberknocker.
The ACC
The ACC has been garbage most of the last dozen years or so, but it is improving now. I sincerely believe it is on it's way back. If Miami can avoid further NCAA sanctions, and Clemson and FSU can stay atop the Atlantic division for the time being, then when you add the recent emergence of Georgia Tech and the potential for Virginia tech to compete as well, then you have half of the conference that should be really, really good over the next several years. I didn't even mention Syracuse and Pittsburgh which have better football history than you might think. The conference isn't there yet, but they're workin on it.Don't look now, but the Coastal division is one of the most competitive divisions in all of college football. Don't confuse what I said. I didn't say they had the best teams, I said they are in a competitive division. meaning not much separates each team from the other. Miami and Georgia Tech will be the class of the Coastal though with North Carolina and Virginia Tech close behind. Virginia could surprise too and even dadgum Duke will be decent this year. I think Miami will win, but it wouldn't shock me if it was with a 4-4 record.
ACC Coastal
1 - Miami
2 - Georgia Tech
3 - North Carolina
4 - Virginia Tech
5 - Pittsburgh
6 - Duke
7 - Virginia
Now as people that know me can tell you, I am a Clemson Tiger fan, but I really try and not be quite as loony as some of my fellow Tiger fans. I do however think Clemson will win the Atlantic division, but not by much. Virtually just because the FSU game is at home. I don't think they will stumble more than once to anyone else however, so they are my pick. Florida State is very talented, but inexperienced as well. Maryland, Syracuse, and NC State will battle for 3rd.
ACC Atlantic
1 - Clemson
2 - Florida State
3 - Maryland
4 - Syracuse
5 - North Carolina State
6 - Wake Forest
7 - Boston College
National Picture and other Prognostications:
Other Conference ChampsPAC 12 - Stanford
American Athletic Conference - Louisville
Big 12 - Oklahoma State
Conference USA - Central Florida
Mid-American - Kent State
Mountain West - Boise State
Sun Belt - Louisiana Lafayette
Western Athletic Conference - Louisiana Tech
National Championship - Texas A&M over Ohio State
Heisman Trophy - Braxton Miller, QB (Ohio State)