1. Most underrated team this year?
Gabe (@G_Njoku): TCU. After a 7-6 record in 2012, the Horned Frogs come into 2013 with young, dynamic players. Returning players Casey Pochall (QB), Brandon Carter (WR), Jason Verrett (Preseason All-American), and Devonte Fields (Big 12 Defensive POY) could cause teams trouble. I can see TCU beating LSU and receiving an At-Large BCS bid this year.
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| Teddy Bridgewater |
Pat (@BootstrapPat): Nebraska.
Returning QB Taylor Martinez and the Huskers have one of the most powerful
offenses in the nation. Martinez had 2871 passing yards and 23 TD’s, while
rushing for 1317 yards and 10 TD’s. in 2012. Ameer Abdullah has proved to be
solid in the running game with 1193 rushing yards and 8 TD’s, while Kenny Bell
salvaged as Martinez’s #1 receiver. Head Coach Bo Pelini’s defense is set up to
take down pocket passing offenses, which is what their schedule is full of.
Their schedule is tough, with three consecutive games against Northwestern,
Michigan, and Michigan St, but I think they have a shot to knock off someone
big.
Carwile: Wisconsin. They’ve won three straight BIG 10 titles, and while they’ve changed coaches recently, don’t expect them to change much in terms of how they get things done on the field. The power running game will still be the staple of the Badgers attack. James White (806 yards, 12 TD in 2012) will replace Montee Ball in the backfield, and will be helped by sophomore Melvin Gordon (621 yards, 3 TD in 2012 on just 60 carries). Between the two of them the Badgers should be just fine on offense, while defensively they return 8 starters from a unit that held its own against Ohio State last year, holding them to a season low in rushing yards. 2. Most overrated team this year?
Gabe: Texas A&M. Johnny Manziel’s dominance in the SEC ends. Not only do they have a new offensive coordinator, but opposing teams have had a year to learn how to stop the Aggies star quarterback. Also, the amount of attention the team has received this past summer because of the Heisman winner will be too much for the team to handle.
Allen: The most over rated team in my opinion goes to Texas A&M. Last year A&M went into Tuscaloosa and won but only narrowly. Along with that a tough loss to Florida who won't drop off very far this year and and shoot out with Louisiana Tech they could've easily lost. Of course Johnny Manziel is a dynamic playmaker and the first freshman to win the Heisman but their success rests heavily on him. With his eligibility in question after wind of a possible memorabilia sign for pay situation still under investigation by the NCAA, A&M's future could be in the balance.
Pat: Louisville is the most overrated team for the 2013 season. Heisman trophy candidate QB Teddy Bridgewater has been under the spotlight for most of the offseason, and will most likely fall under pressure. Although Bridgewater accounted for 25 pass TD’s with only 7 interceptions, his lead blockers are not strong enough to protect his so called “dual-threat” capabilities. Not to mention that the Cardinals running game overall has not proven itself as an elite group with their starters only combining for 21 rush TD’s. The only thing anchoring them a shot to the National Championship would be an overall weak schedule, with their hardest competition in a solid Central Florida or Cincinnati team.
Carwile: Stanford. Replacing running back Stefan Taylor and transitioning to a more pass based offense will take its toll on the Cardinal. The PAC 12 is getting stronger, with UCLA improving and USC getting back to where they need to be. While the Cardinal get UCLA at home, they end the season with a tough 4 game stretch starting November 7 against Oregon, followed by a road game at USC, before they finish with home games against Cal and Notre Dame. My prediction is that the Cardinal lose at least 4 games this season and while that certainly is not a failure, it won’t see them ranked in the top 5, where they are now.
3. (Blank) will win the Heisman this year.
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| De'Anthony Thomas |
Allen: TJ Yeldon, Alabama Sophomore RB is my favorite for the Heisman this year. Alabama loses several lineman but they'll reload and continue a legacy of recent strong Alabama runners. Yeldon's tough running style and several marquee games will give him the venue to shine.
Pat: Texas A&M’s QB Johnny Manziel “Johnny Football” will not repeat as the Heisman trophy winner in 2013, he’ll be soiled by his last 7 months of fame and autograph allegations. However, for Georgia QB Aaron Murray, 2013 looks to be his year to shine. Murray hasn't been given the credit he deserves as a premiere QB in the NCAA after throwing for 10,091 yards and 95 touchdowns versus 32 interceptions in his three seasons for the Bulldogs. He’s been named to the Pre-season All-SEC 1st Team by coaches around the nation, and nearly took down #1 Alabama in the SEC Championship.
Carwile: Aaron Murray QB Georgia. The only QB in SEC history to pass for 3000+ yards in three straight seasons, Murray will own just about every offensive record in the SEC by the time this season ends. He’ll pass for over 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns, and if Georgia can win games early in the year against South Carolina, Clemson, and LSU, and Murray can put up big numbers in those games, the stage will be set for him to go head to head with A.J. McCarron for the Heisman, my money is on Murray.
4. Must see game of the year?
Gabe: Oregon (3) at Stanford (4). Going into this November game, both teams will most likely be undefeated and be ranked in the top 5 in the country. This game will decide who wins the Pac-12 North Division, the Pac-12 title, and a chance at a national championship berth.
Allen: One game I'm really looking forward to takes place early on between the offensively strong Clemson Tigers and the rough Georgia defense and two headed rushing attack. Both teams come into the season ranked and with high expectations so it should be a great matchup.
Pat: The
September 14th SEC West matchup between Alabama and Texas A & M promises to
be the game of the year as long as reigning Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel isn't sidelined due to his autograph scandal.
Carwile: Alabama @ Texas A&M. Saban and Co. have most likely had this date circled on the calendar since Manziel left Tuscaloosa with a victory last fall. If Johnny Football and crew (assuming he’s eligible) can beat the Tide this year in College Station it will flip the season on its head. The key will be whether the Crimson Tide can prevent A&M from getting off to a fast start like they did last year (21-0 at the end of the first). Saban and Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart unquestionably have something special planned for Manziel to try and slow him down, but Manziel’s ability to make something out of nothing may allow the Aggies to walk away with 2 wins in 2 tries against the Tide.
Carwile: Alabama @ Texas A&M. Saban and Co. have most likely had this date circled on the calendar since Manziel left Tuscaloosa with a victory last fall. If Johnny Football and crew (assuming he’s eligible) can beat the Tide this year in College Station it will flip the season on its head. The key will be whether the Crimson Tide can prevent A&M from getting off to a fast start like they did last year (21-0 at the end of the first). Saban and Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart unquestionably have something special planned for Manziel to try and slow him down, but Manziel’s ability to make something out of nothing may allow the Aggies to walk away with 2 wins in 2 tries against the Tide.
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| Aaron Murray and the Georgia Bulldogs |
Gabe: Georgia. Not only because I want to see a team other than Alabama win this year, but the Bulldogs have one of the best offenses in the nation coming into 2013. They return 10 starters on offense, including star quarterback Aaron Murray. Georgia will learn from their mistakes in previous years and find a way to beat Alabama in Atlanta.
Allen: The Alabama Crimson Tide. I look for them to repeat even if they slip up once in the conference.
Pat: The Crimson Tide of Alabama will outlast the Georgia Bulldogs for the second consecutive season, thus propelling them to the National Championship. A strong recruiting class, running game, offensive line, and overall stamina fuel the Crimson Tide. Enough said.
Carwile: Alabama. As cliche as it sounds Alabama doesn’t rebuild, they reload. This year is no exception. They lose RB Ed Lacey, but back up T.J. Yeldon showed last season that he is ready to take over the reigns. The offensive line loses All-American Center Barrett Jones, as well as G Chance Warmack. However, QB A.J. McCarron returns in pursuit of a third national title, and Alabama has proven in the past that it is more than capable of replacing linemen. Defensively Haha Clinton-Dix returns at safety along with 9 other starters from last years unit. The schedule is relatively easy, after a week 2 road trip to College Station. The Tide don’t play Florida or Georgia in the regular season, and get LSU at home.
Gabe: Oklahoma Sooners. OU goes into the season with a lot of uncertainties on defense and at quarterback. But, if Trevor Knight can come into the season and be successful throwing the ball, OU can be dangerous. It’ll come down to a Thursday night game in Waco against Baylor to determine who will win the Big 12.
Allen: OU is my Big 12 pick under new starter Trevor Knight and many returning weapons at receiver and running back. If they are able to have the same results in last year's TCU, OSU and Texas games, I see them winning the Big 12 title outright this year.
Pat: The big 12 has a lot of uncertainty for an outright leader in 2013. A repeat of a co-champion between Oklahoma and Kansas State seems very possible. If not, I predict Kansas St. to take home the gold. TCU and Oklahoma St. could be trouble though, don’t count them out.
Carwile: Oklahoma State. Mike Gundy’s team averaged 45.6 ppg last season, and doesn’t look like it will slow down anytime soon. They return one of the best receiver corps in the country in Seniors Charlie Moore, Blake Jackson, and Tracey Moore. In addition they return QB Clint Chelf. The defense will need work, but the Cowboys offense should give them a chance to win a lot of games. They also get Oklahoma and Kansas State at home in Stillwater this year. If OSU can get past Mississippi State in Houston to open the year, and West Virginia in week 4, they will give themselves a great shot at taking home the Big 12 crown.
Gabe: Ohio State. Braxton Miller will have a breakout season for the Buckeyes alongside a strong defense. They’ll go undefeated in Conference, just like last year, and go to the national championship.
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| Braxton Miller |
Pat: If the 2012 undefeated season of the Ohio St. Buckeyes is any indication of how they will perform in the 2013 season, then a Big 10 championship is clearly in store. With the return of Heisman trophy candidate QB Braxton Miller, stellar Urban Meyer recruits, and a solid group of replacement and returning starters, the Buckeyes can surely win the Big 10 outright. The only thing truly stopping them from a chance at the National Championship would be their Nov. 30th regular season finale in Ann Arbor with Michigan.
Carwile: Michigan. The Wolverines win their first conference title under Brady Hoke, knocking off Ohio State in the season finale before beating Wisconsin in Indianapolis to finish the season 10-2 and earn a trip to Pasadena. Greg Mattison’s defense will need to replace 5 starters, but his ability to recruit top players will help them fill the gaps. The offense gets a new QB (kind of) in Devon Gardner, but Gardner took a large number of snaps last season, and his speed and throwing ability combined with his size will help to ease the learning curve, and may make him more of a headache for opposing defensive coordinator than his predecessor was. Fitz Toussaint is back at running back as well. The key for Michigan is the last five games of the season, starting at Michigan State on November 1st, then Nebraska at home, at Northwestern, at Iowa, and Ohio State at home. That’s 5 tough games in a row with no bye week in between. If they can win 4 of those, they should find themselves as Division champions and headed to Indy.
Gabe: Clemson. Their only competition in the conference this year will be Florida State, who lost 11 players to April’s NFL Draft. Tajh Boyd is looking to have a repeat season from 2012 that included 36 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 passing yards. They’ll dominate the ACC this year.
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| Tajh Boyd |
Carwile: Clemson. Tajh Boyd is a Heisman candidate at QB, and this Tigers team is loaded with other big time players like Sammie Watkins, that will make them very dangerous offensively. Defensively they lose some big pieces, with just 6 full time starters returning from last season, but they return 10 players who started at least 5 games. The defense was third in the ACC in scoring, and will look to get even better under second year coordinator Brent Venables.
Gabe: Oregon. The Ducks have 15 returning starters between offense and defense this year. That experience will help them get through a tough second half of the season schedule (UCLA, Stanford, Arizona, and Oregon State). Huge offensive threats such as Marcus Mariota (26 TDs and 2600 passing yards) and De’Anthony Thomas will lead Oregon to go undefeated and win the Pac-12.
Pat: Stanford and head coach David Shaw will repeat as the champion of the Pac-12. Although the Oregon Ducks explosive offense poses a huge obstacle for the Cardinal, Stanford has one of the strongest front 7 in the nation on defense. The Cardinal return talented starters on both offense and defense including QB Kevin Hogan and three All-Pac-12 offensive linemen to protect him, while the defense brings back defensive end Henry Anderson and linebacker Trent Murphy. Despite the strong team still being intact and a clever coach, Stanford’s schedule is what could hinder them from a National Championship. They play 4 back-to-back games against top 25 teams in UCLA, Oregon St, Oregon, and USC, with a regular season finale at home against Notre Dame. Winning the Pac 12 would be difficult, but is possible for the Cardinal.
Carwile: Oregon. Yes they lose coach Chip Kelley, but they keep QB Marcus Mariota, while running backs De’Anthony Thomas, Byron Marshall, and Freshman Thomas Tyner will be charged with carrying the load now that all-time leading rusher Kenjon Barner has gone on to the NFL. The offense returns 9 starters from a unit that ranked in the top 5 in points per game, rushing yards per game, and total yards per game. Defensively they return all their starters from a secondary that led the country with 26 interceptions last year. The Ducks get UCLA at home, before a November 7 game at Stanford. Win both of those, and the PAC 12 title should be theres, with a possible national title game birth a strong possibility.
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| AJ Mccarron |
Pat: There is no doubt that Saban’s Alabama squad is a powerhouse with the ability to three-peat. They’re still the team to beat for the upcoming 2013 season.
Carwile: Alabama. They have too much talent, to good of coaching, and a relatively easy schedule. Not to mention, despite coming off a national title last year they didn’t end the season undefeated, something I’m sure Saban will continue to point out to every Crimson Tide player. Alabama won’t get complacent, Saban will make sure his team stays hungry, and when Alabama is hungry they can be almost impossible to beat.
Gabe, Allen, Pat and Carwile are contributors to Corbaz Sports. Make sure you go follow these three guys for all the latest updates.
Gabe Njoku: (@G_Njoku)
Allen Collins: (@AC_Writer)
Pat Turner: (@BootstrapPat)
Corbaz Sports (@corbazsports)
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