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| South Bend, Indiana on a crisp Autumn afternoon |
Since I spend as much time watching Notre Dame and Boise
State play as I do any other team in College Football, I decided to rank the five
smaller Conference/Independent programs that will be the most competitive in
2013. Although none of these teams play in a BCS Conference, four of them have
significantly tougher schedules than Ohio State (zing!!!!). Anyway, let’s get
to it.
1. Louisville Cardinals: (2013 Projection: 12-0)
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| Heisman Hopeful Teddy Bridgewater |
a.
Toughest Games: @Kentucky; Rutgers; @Cincinnati
b.
Key Returning Players: QB Teddy Bridgewater; Linebacker
Preston Brown; Safety Hakeem Smith
c.
Key Question Marks: Could QB Teddy Bridgewater
do the unthinkable and lead the Cardinals to the National Championship game?
Based on their cupcake schedule, what weekly margin of victory do the Cardinals
need to gain respect among voters? Will RB Dominique Brown be able to carry the
load for the Cardinals rushing attack?
d.
Overall: Louisville returns eighteen starters,
10 of which are on Defense. Additionally, the Cardinals have arguably the best
QB in College Football and don’t have a single game scheduled against a team
ranked in the Coaches Poll. Louisville will at least be a touchdown favorite in
every game they play. You can already book them as American Athletic Conference (yes that’s a
real conference) Champions. And really, I can’t imagine the Cardinals losing a
game this year barring an injury to Bridgewater. Louisville finishes 12-0.
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: (2013 Projection:
10-2)
a. Toughest Games: Michigan State; Oklahoma; @Stanford
b.
Key Returning Players: QB Tommy Rees; Left Tackle Zack Martin; Defensive Tackle
Louis Nix III
c.
Key Question Marks: With the suspension of QB
Everett Golson, how will the Irish do with Tommy Rees under center full-time?
Have the Irish been able to fully recover from the beat down they took in the
National Championship Game? Can Coach Brian Kelly and the Irish build off their
2012 successes?
d.
Overall: Everything was going great for the
Irish until 2013. In the past seven months Notre Dame fans have been treated to
seeing their team get pushed around in
the National Championship game, discovering that Captain Manti Te'o’s dead girlfriend was never real to begin with,
and hearing that 2012 starting QB Everett Golson is suspended for 2013. However,
despite this brutal offseason, there is a lot to be optimistic about for the
upcoming season. Eight starters from their top ranked 2012 Defense are back this
year, so their defensive gamewill likely remain stout. On Offense the Irish will have to
find replacements for Tight End Tyler Eifert, along with Running Backs Theo Riddick
and Cierre Wood. However, most of the Offensive Line is back and Tommy Rees
proved himself more than capable several times last year. With the schedule
giving Notre Dame Sparty, Oklahoma, and USC all at home, I expect the Irish to
squeeze out ten regular season wins this year.
3. Boise State Broncos: (2013 Projection: 11-1)
a.
Toughest Games: @Washington; @Fresno State; @BYU
b.
Key Returning Players: QB Joe Southwick; RB Jay
Ajayi; Defensive End Demarcus Lawrence
c.
Key Question Marks: How will the Broncos Defense
fare after losing 7 starters from 2012?Do the Broncos have too many difficult
road games this year? What’s the ceiling for QB Joe Southwick?
d.
Overall: Boise is one of the few college towns
in America where 11-2 is a disappointing season. Those two losses in 2012 can be attributed to
an offense that struggled after losing legendary Bronco QB Kellen Moore. However,
Joe Southwick played well enough last year and this year he’ll have increased help
from sophomore Runnning Back Jay Ajayi. Also, despite losing most of their starters
on Defense, the new Bronco starting line is far from inexperienced.
Nevertheless, even a team as solid as Boise can’t be expected to win four
difficult road games. I expect at least one misstep for the Broncos along the
way, leaving them at 11-1.
4. Fresno State Bulldogs: (2013 Projection: 10-2)
a.
Toughest Games: Rutgers; Boise State; @ San
Diego St.
b.
Key Returning Players: QB Derek Carr; WR Devante
Adams; Safety Derron Smith
c.
Key Question Marks: Can QB Derek Carr lead the
Bulldogs to wins over Boise State and San Diego State? Will the Bulldogs
rushing attack be able to recover after the departure of RB Robbie Rouse? With
all their key defensive starters returning, do the Bulldogs have the best
Defense in the Mountain West?
d.
Overall: Derek Carr (David’s brother) was nearly
perfect last year, throwing for 37 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.
With his favorite target Devante Adams returning, expect near perfection again
from Carr. Also, the Defense will be much improved from last year, considering
most of the starters now have experience in the 3-4 scheme. Really, as long as
the running game is atleast average this year, the Bulldogs will have no
trouble racking up ten wins.
5. Brigham Young University Cougars: (2013 Projection: 6-6)
a.
Toughest Games: Texas; Boise State; @ Notre Dame
b.
Key Returning Players: Offensive Lineman Ryker
Matthews; Defensive End Bronson Kaufusi; Linebacker Kyle Van Noy
c.
Key Question Marks: Despite being very talented,
will the Cougars schedule ultimately prevent them from being Bowl eligible? Will QB
Taysom Hill be able to limit the Cougars turnovers the way 2012 QB Riley Nelson couldn’t? Based on the talent they've lost, will the Cougars Defense be able to carry the team the way it did in 2012?
d.
Overall: QB Taysom Hill is a mobile passer, who
should end up being an upgrade over Riley Nelson. Additionally, most of the
2012 offensive line returns along with WR Cody Hoffman. The Cougars Defense did
lose seven starters, but team leaders
Kyle Van Noy and Bronson Kaufusi should prevent the unit from declining
significantly. Really, the Broncos should have a nine win season. However, with
a schedule that includes Virginia, Texas, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Wisconsin,
and Notre Dame, Coach Bronco Mendenahll and company should feel happy just
going 6-6.
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