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I have made a habit of doing this every year on some of my other forums, but this is the first time I've posted it here (obviously)... Here goes:
BCS Conference winners
ACC: Miami (11-2, 8-1) over Boston College (9-4, 6-3)
Big 12: Nebraska (12-1, 8-1) over Oklahoma (11-2, 7-2)
Big East: Pittsburgh (10-2, 6-1) ahead of West Virginia (10-2, 6-1)
Big Ten: Iowa (11-1, 7-1) ahead of Ohio State (10-2, 6-2)
Pac 10: Stanford (10-2, 7-2) ahead of Oregon State (9-3, 7-2)
SEC: Alabama (12-1, 8-1) over Florida (10-3, 6-3)
Non-AQ/Independents
BCS Bowl Matchups
National Champions
Heisman Winner
Dion Lewis
BCS Conference winners
ACC: Miami (11-2, 8-1) over Boston College (9-4, 6-3)
I know all the VT fans will bitch and moan about picking Miami to win the ACC, but they have a very favorable conference schedule, by having FSU, UNC and VT to all come to Coral Gables. I do think they will lose to OSU in Columbus, and I think the game with Pittsburgh is a toss up, but I think they find a way to win. BC may serve as a bit of a surprise to most, but I do not think FSU has the talent to immediately compete, even though Ponder is an exceptional QB. As of late, FSU always seems to lose one or two headscratchers per year, and I think this year will be no different. However, they are my darkhorse team to win the ACC, but most of that hinges on Ponder's supporting cast and whether or not they can keep him healthy.
I think I am going out on a bit of a limb picking Nebraska to win the Big 12, but they have a great schedule, getting Texas in the Sea of Red. They do have two potentially tough games, at Okie State and at Texas A&M, but I think they navigate through their schedule with only one conference loss. Now, I will add a caveat to this, by saying much of the Cornhusker's success relies on their QB play, and this will be the biggest factor in determining the outcome of their season. I think the Blackshirts will be able to overcome most of the offenses shortcomings and the QB, whoever it may be, will just have to manage the game. And as for the Championship game, I just think Bo Pelini will out-gameplan the hell out of Big Game Bob. My darkhorse pick for the Big 12, if you can call them that, is Texas. I do not think they have a good enough running game (yet), and Mack Brown has made it clear that he wants a more run heavy, pro style offense this year. They could be very successful at this style and contend for the Big 12 title immediately, I just do not think they will.
As much as it pains me to pick Shittsburgh to win the Big East, their talent is undeniable. Much like Nebraska, almost all of their success hinges on how Tino Sunseri performs at QB, and they also have a solid defense that can bail out Sunseri if he makes a bad play. However, unlike Nebraska, Pitt and Sunseri have a Heisman front runner to hand the ball to every down in Dion Lewis. Lewis is easily one of the best running backs in the country and he will be out to prove that his freshman season was not an aberration. As long as Wannstache keeps it simple (i.e. putting the ball in Lewis' hands as much as possible) and does not get in the way of his teams success, Pitt will be Big East champs in 2010, beating WVU in the Backyard Brawl to clinch it. My darkhorse pick for the Big East goes to UConn, mostly because of their coach, Randy Edsall, and his hard nosed philosophy that his teams mirror. USC transfer DJ Shoemate will ease the burden on Jordan Todman, and will help UConn continue the two-headed attack at RB they have been known for the past few seasons. The biggest reason for listing them as my darkhorse is their favorable schedule, as the Huskies get WVU, Pitt and Cincinnati to all come to Rentschler.
Now, before Sportsbuck and all the entire horde of VSN's Buckeyes attack me, let me explain this pick. We all know Kirk Ferentz is always at the helm of a hard-nosed bunch and this year's Hawkeye team is no different. Their front four is quite possibly the best in the country and their defense, as a whole, is one of the elite units in all of college football. They return all of their important skill players on offense, and even though most of the o-line is gone, Ferentz and his staff seem to find more than adequate replacements every year. The most important reasoning for this pick is the schedule, as Iowa gets all the big dogs in Kinnick this year (PSU, Wisconsin and OSU, respectively). The Hawkeyes are solid across the board, and if a few bounces go their way, I see them winning the Big 10 title this fall. My darkhorse team for the Big Ten is Penn State, and while I realize this is not going out on a limb, not many people outside of State College think the Nittany Lions are serious contenders for the Big Ten crown. They will lose to Bama (that's a fact), but if they can exact revenge on both Iowa and OSU (both away, and neither is out of the question), they will be the Big Ten champs in 2010.
Andrew Luck. He is the sole reason I am picking the Cardinal to win the Pac 10, as out of all the stars in this conference, he is the one that will be shining brightest in 2010. Yes, they lost Toby Gerhart, but implementing a running back by committee system should be more than efficient in replacing Gerhart's production. While they lack the overall talent of the USC's, Oregon's and Oregon State's of the world, they make up for it with the ability to always make the right decision as well as always being in the right place at the right time. No team in the country embodies the persona of their coach more so than Stanford does with Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh is a proven winner, and he will take Luck and Stanford to new heights in 2010, securing a Rose Bowl berth in the last week of their season, by beating Oregon State in Palo Alto. My darkhorse pick for the Pac 10 is Arizona. I think the Wildcats will field one of the better offenses in the Pac 10 (returning 10 starters), and while they lack experience on the defensive side, they have a favorable schedule. If they can knock off Stanford and Oregon on the road, as well as Iowa at home, the Wildcats will be smelling roses in 2010.
Duh. Alabama returns the core of their 2009 BCS Title team, and while they have to replace some of the studs from last years defense, the cupboard is not bare. Saban seems to have an incredible ability to develop his inexperienced underclassmen into all out defensive stars in very little time. He will plug in the missing pieces to the puzzle on defense and Alabama will not miss a beat in 2010. I think teams will force McElroy to do more this year, by stacking against the run, in an attempt to slow down the two headed monster of Ingram and Richardson. Time will tell if McElroy can live up to the challenge, but given how he stepped up in key situations last year, he and the Crimson Tide should be more than fine. Their toughest game will be a night contest in Death Valley, where LSU is damn near unbeatable. However, Florida proved LSU is susceptible to losing at home last year, and Bama will prove that yet again this year in Baton Rouge. I do, however, think Bama slips up in one conference game, either at South Carolina or at Arkansas, but there is quite the possibility that Bama repeats last years undefeated season. My darkhorse pick for the SEC resides in the SEC West. I struggled choosing between Auburn and LSU, but after looking at the schedules, I have to choose Auburn (lesser of two evils). Auburn's SEC slate for 2010 is relatively easy, as all of their tough opponents come to Jordan-Hare, save for one. That one, is a very important game in the state of Alabama: the Iron Bowl. While they do have to play in Tuscaloosa this go round, I feel if Malzahn can get Cam Newton on the same page with the rest of his offense, and the defense can slow down Bama's rushing attack, then it will not be out of the question for Auburn to upset the Tide. However, as with most of my predictions, it hinges on the success of Newton.
Non-AQ/Independents
Boise State (11-1, 8-0)
They will lose to VT, have a close game with Oregon State (I want to think the Beavers will win it, but that damn blue turf won't let me), and run through the WAC like Taco Bell through an intestinal tract.
TCU (11-1, 7-1)
Again, a part of me wants to pick the Beavers to beat them in what is essentially a home game for TCU, but it is the first game of the season and Oregon State has to break in a new QB in Ryan Katz. TCU is too solid across the board to think they will lose a conference game in the MWC, but I still think they have a slip this year, possibly when they travel to play at Utah.
Houston (10-2, 7-1)
The Cougars have one of the most explosive offenses in college football, and QB Case Keenum has the talent around him to lead Houston to an undefeated season. However, I think Houston will lose on the road to UCLA, and since they always seem to slip up against a conference opponent, I think Southern Miss will knock them off in their last conference game.
Notre Dame (9-3)
All of my prediction on Notre Dame is due to my faith in Brian Kelly's coaching abilities, as the man is a miracle worker. I do think the Irish will lose at home to Stanford and Pittsburgh, as well as on the road at USC. However, they will beat Michigan at home, as well as going on the road at BC and winning at Alumni Stadium. All in all, it will be a much better experience for the Irish fans, and they will quickly forget the pains of the Weis era.
Navy (9-3)
The triple option is quite possibly the hardest offense in CFB to gameplan for (especially if you only have one week to do so), and because of this (and Ricky Dobbs), I feel Navy will have a quite successful season. They do not have a particularly tough schedule, but I do think they lose to Maryland and Notre Dame at neutral locations, as well as on the road at Air Force.
They will lose to VT, have a close game with Oregon State (I want to think the Beavers will win it, but that damn blue turf won't let me), and run through the WAC like Taco Bell through an intestinal tract.
TCU (11-1, 7-1)
Again, a part of me wants to pick the Beavers to beat them in what is essentially a home game for TCU, but it is the first game of the season and Oregon State has to break in a new QB in Ryan Katz. TCU is too solid across the board to think they will lose a conference game in the MWC, but I still think they have a slip this year, possibly when they travel to play at Utah.
Houston (10-2, 7-1)
The Cougars have one of the most explosive offenses in college football, and QB Case Keenum has the talent around him to lead Houston to an undefeated season. However, I think Houston will lose on the road to UCLA, and since they always seem to slip up against a conference opponent, I think Southern Miss will knock them off in their last conference game.
Notre Dame (9-3)
All of my prediction on Notre Dame is due to my faith in Brian Kelly's coaching abilities, as the man is a miracle worker. I do think the Irish will lose at home to Stanford and Pittsburgh, as well as on the road at USC. However, they will beat Michigan at home, as well as going on the road at BC and winning at Alumni Stadium. All in all, it will be a much better experience for the Irish fans, and they will quickly forget the pains of the Weis era.
Navy (9-3)
The triple option is quite possibly the hardest offense in CFB to gameplan for (especially if you only have one week to do so), and because of this (and Ricky Dobbs), I feel Navy will have a quite successful season. They do not have a particularly tough schedule, but I do think they lose to Maryland and Notre Dame at neutral locations, as well as on the road at Air Force.
BCS Bowl Matchups
National Champions
Heisman Winner
Dion Lewis
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