2013 College Football Preview

I know it’s only July, however, if you’re like me, you can’t wait for the College Football season to begin.  Full disclosure, I’m not a lifelong college football fanatic. Growing up in Upstate New York, college football wasn't exactly part of the culture here. However, I fell in love with the sport during the 2005 football season, in particular the USC-. Notre Dame game and the RoseBowl. Ever since, I've been following the sport as closely as possible. As a result, I want to get a head start on the season by presenting everyone with my 2013 College Football Preview. I’ll be previewing all the BCS conferences and some other notable teams. I’ll do at least one team everyday and I’m starting with the PAC-12.




 

Ranking the PAC- 12 12 through 1:

12.  Colarado Buffaloes (Projected Record: 3-9)

a.     Toughest Games: @Oregon State, Oregon, @Wash, USC

b.     Key Returning Players: Defensive End, Chidera Uzo-Diribe; Running Back Christian Powell, Wide Receiver Nelson Spruce (really the less people that return the better)

c.      Key Question Marks: Connor Wood’s ability at Quarterback?, Will the defense be faster in 2013 (apparently Head Coach  Mike MacIntyre is making the entire Defensive Line lose 20 pounds each)?

 

Overall: With seemingly no hope at Quarterback and a Defense which let up 46 points per game last year look for the Buffaloes to finish last in the Pac -12 even with a favorable schedule

11. Utah Utes (Projected Record: 4-8)

 

a. Toughest Games: UCLA, Stanford, @USC, @Oregon

b.     Key Returning Players: Quarterback Travis Wilson, OT Jeremiah Poutasi,   Line Backer Brian Blechen.

c.  Key Question Marks: Can Travis Wilson continue to improve at Quarterback?, Can the Defense continue its relative dominance from 2012 after losing several starters?

   Overall: Let me be clear, I believe in Coach Kyle Whittingham and Quarterback Travis Wilson. However, Wilson has very little to work with on offense this year after losing Running Back John White. Also, the schedule is just too tough and the Defense has lost too many starters to improve from last year. I hope I’m wrong though.

10. Cal Golden Bears (Projected Record 4-8)

a.  Toughest Games: Ohio State, @Oregon, USC, @Stanford

b. Key Returning Players: Running Back Brendan Bigelow, Wide Receivers  Chris Harper, DeAndre Coleman DL,

c. Key Question Marks: Maynard just graduated and Bridgford just transferred, so the current projected starting QB  is 6-2 Freshman Zach Kline???or Jared Goff??? or Austin Hinder???, How will new Head Coach Sonny Dykes do in his first year in the PAC 12?, Can this Defense get any worse?

Overall: With a new Head Coach and a Freshman QB, the Cal Bears are definitely in rebuilding mode. Although I love the young crop of Freshman talent entering the program this season, this team is too young and their schedule is just too tough to finish .500 or better.

 

9. Washington State (4-8)

 

a. Toughest Games: @USC, Stanford, @Oregon

 

b. Key Returning Players: QB Connor Halliday; Wide Receiver,  Dominique Williams;  Safety, Deone Bucannon

 

c.   Key Question Marks: Can Coach Mike Leach’s high flying offensive system produce more wins? Can the defense play consistently on a weekly basis?

 

d.  Overall: The Washington State Cougars were the most frustrating team to watch in 2012. One week there taking Stanford to the wire in Palo Alto and the next week there getting blown out by Utah. Coach Leach is a proven commodity and his system produces yards, however I still think this team is a year away from playing in a Bowl Game.

 

8. Arizona (6-6)

 

a. Toughest Games: @USC, Oregon, @Arizona State

 

b. Key Returning Players: Running Back Ka’Deem Carey; Wide Reciever Austin Hill; Linebacker Jake Fischer

 

c. Key Question Marks:  Is Ka’Deem Carey a legitimate Heisman contender? How will this offense perform without Matt Scott?  Will Austin Hill play this season after his recent ACL tear?

 

d. There’s a lot to like here. Rich Rodriguez is a very good offensive coach (despite what people in Ann Arbor say) and Ka’Deem Carey led the nation in all-purpose yards last year. However, the team is now weak at wideout and I don’t trust a single QB on this roster, as a result they won’t contend for the PAC 12 Championship.

 

7. Washington (6-6)

 

a. Toughest Games: Boise State, @Stanford, Oregon (back to back), @UCLA

 

b. Key Returning Players: Quarterback  Keith Price; Running Back, Bishop Sankey; Wide Receiver Kasen Williams

 

c. Key Question Marks: Can the Huskies avoid getting swept in October, with Stanford, Oregon, and Arizona State all in a row? The Huskies stingy defense returns 8 starters, can they continue in the right direction?  Will Keith Price ultimately fold under these newfound expectations?

 

d. Overall: The Huskies return 9 starters on Offense and 8 starters on Defense, including their starting QB, RB, and top Wide Receiver.  Additionally, this defense is one of the top 3 in the PAC-12. However, there schedule does them no favors and I expect them to slide during the middle of the season. As solid as this team is, there still not at Stanford’s or Oregon’s level. They’ll be in a bowl game, but that’s about it.

 

6. Oregon State Beavers (8-4)

 

a. Toughest Games: Stanford, USC, @Arizona State, @Oregon

 

b. Key Returning Players: QB Sean Mannion; Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks Jr.; Defensive End Scott Crichton Jr.

 

c. Key Question Marks: After an early schedule that should leave Oregon State 6-0, will the Beavers be able to handle the spotlight and expectations as they play the Big Dogs down the stretch? Will Cody Vaz or Sean Mannion be named the starting QB this year? Can the Beavers establish a running game this year?

 

d. The Beavers should be favored in their first 6 games before they play consecutive games against Stanford, SC, and Arizona State. The Defense is stout and loaded with talent, however with question marks at Quarterback and no running game, the Beavers will ultimately lose key games against Stanford and Oregon.

 

5. Arizona State (8-4)

 

a .Toughest Games: Wisconsin, @Stanford, USC, Notre Dame, @UCLA

 

b. Key Returning Players: Defensive Tackle Will Sutton, QB Taylor Kelly, Tackle Evan Finkenberg

 

c. Key Question Marks: Can Taylor Kelly improve on his stellar 2012 season? Is the non-conference schedule too difficult for the Sun Devils?

 

d. Overall: Arizona State has a big time team this year but is also facing a big time schedule. However, I like their chances in many of these games thanks to returning QB Taylor Kelly who threw 29 touchdowns last year. This team can compete for the PAC-12 South Title, but I still think their defensive secondary is too problematic for them to actually win it.

 

4. USC (8-4)

 

a. Toughest Games: @Arizona State, @Notre Dame, @ Oregon State, Stanford

 

b. Key Returning Players:  Wide Receiver Marquis Lee,  Defensive End Morgan Breslin, Safety Dion Bailey

 

c. Key Question Marks: Is Max Wittek mobile enough at QB to compete with top tier Pac-12 defenses? Can Lane Kiffen lead the Trojans to a bounce back season?  Will  Marquis Lee have a disappointing season with the departure of Robert Woods?

 

Overall: USC has a favorable schedule, getting Stanford at home and not having to play Oregon. Their defense is stout and Wittek might end eclipsing Barkley as an all-around quarterback. Still, Lane Kiffen’s Trojans have failed to show me they can win tough games away from home. They’ll compete for the Pac-12 South title, but they’re still not in Oregon’s or Stanford’s league.

 

3. UCLA (8-4)

 

a. Toughest Games: @Nebraska, @Stanford, @ Oregon, USC

 

b. Key Returning Players: QB Brett Hundley, Linebacker Anthony Barr, Guard Xavier Su'a-Filo

 

c.  Key Question Marks: Has Jim Mora Jr. sufficiently changed the culture of UCLA or was last year a flash in the pan? How will the Bruins handle back to back games at Stanford and Oregon? Is Brett Hundley ready for the big time?

 

Overall: UCLA shocked everyone last year and went 9-5. Additionally, they return last year’s Freshman Breakout QB Brett Hundley. However, Running Back Johnathan Franklin is gone and this Defense is still pretty flimsy. I like the Bruins to repeat as PAC-12 South champs, but ultimately lose to the PAC-12 North winner.

 

2. Oregon Ducks (11-1)

 

a. Toughest Games: @Wash, @Stanford, Oregon State

 

b. Key Returning Players: QB Marcus Mariota, Tackle Jake Fisher, Running Back De'Anthony Thomas, Corner Back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu

 

c. Key Question Marks: Can Head Coach Mark Helfrich pickup where Chip Kelly left off? Will the Ducks high-powered offense be stopped by Stanford again? Can Marcus Mariota establish a consistent passing attack to compliment the run game?

 

Overall: Oregon has been a model of consistency in the PAC-12 since 2009. With most of the talent on offense returning and an easy non-conference schedule, Oregon is sure to finish the year in the BCS Top 10. However, Chip Kelly will be missed and his offensive mind isn’t something that can simply be learned. Oregon will win a lot this year and Helfrich will have a lot of success, but I think Stanford beats them easily in Palo Alto this year.

 

1. Stanford (12-0)

 

a. Toughest Games: @UCLA, Oregon, @USC, Notre Dame

 

b. Key Returning Players: QB Kevin Hogan, Tackle Cameron Fleming, Guard David Yankey, Linebacker Shayne Skov, Safety Ed Reynolds

 

c. If asked to, can Kevin Hogan throw for big yards against elite PAC-12 defenses? Is there enough talent at wide receiver here to sustain potential shoot outs with Oregon and USC?

 

 

Overall: The defense is head and shoulders the best in the PAC-12. Of course, there are deficiencies on offense. Running back Stepfan Taylor just graduated and the best receiver on the team is a Tight End. Still, Stanford from the top down is the most efficiently run program in the PAC-12. This team is well prepared every week and Coach Shaw continues to richly develop young talent. I don’t see a loss on the entire schedule