2011 College Football Predictions

Written by Steve Janus

The 2011 college football season is just around the corner, and we have went through and broke down each team to make our predictions for each conference . If you want to read up more on your favorite team, just click on your teams’ conference prediction link at the bottom of this article.

SEC Prediction- The SEC has dominated college football over the past five seasons, winning five straight National Championships. There isn’t a conference that even comes close to the talent that the SEC sends to the field. Looking ahead to the 2011 season, there are two teams in each division that really stand out. Look for Alabama and LSU to battle for the top spot in the West, while Georgia and South Carolina fight for supremacy in the East.

WINNER: Alabama

Big 10 Prediction: With the addition of Nebraska the Big Ten (12 teams) will be split up into two division in 2011. Ohio State has been the team to beat in this conference for some time now, but are likely to fall back to the pack with all the drama that has unfolded this offseason. There really isn’t a clear-cut favorite in 2011, as there are at least seven teams who could make a run at the conference title. When it is all said and done, our rankings have Wisconsin taking the Leaders Division, and Northwestern surprising everyone and taking down the Legends Division.

WINNER: Wisconsin

Big 12 Prediction- The Big 12 loses Colorado and Nebraska this season, but still figures to be a very competitive conference in 2011, especially at the top. The clear favorite heading into the season is Oklahoma, and our rankings have them holding down the top spot at the end of the year. However, Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma State are all very good football teams, and there is no question they have the talent to knock off the Sooners.

WINNER: Oklahoma

ACC Predictions – The ACC has struggled to keep up with the other power conferences, but there is a good chance that will change in 2011.Both Florida State and Virginia Tech have the talent to finish the regular season 12-0. If the Seminoles and Hokies live up to their expectations, these two teams could end up facing off in the ACC Championship Game for a possible spot in the BCS National Championship.

WINNER: Florida State

PAC-12 Predictions – With the additions of Utah and Colorado, what was formally known as the PAC-10 will be known as the PAC-12 in 2011. The two new teams have forced the conference to split up into two divisions this season. In our opinion the two best teams in this conference are Oregon and Stanford, but unfortunately for these two teams they both find themselves in the North Division. Stanford gets the Ducks at home, which has us picking the Cardinal to take down the North. The top two teams in the South Division are USC and Arizona State, but the Trojans aren’t eligible to play in postseason play, paving the way for the Sun Devils to take on Stanford in the inaugural PAC-12 Championship Game.

WINNER: Stanford

Big East Prediction – The Big East doesn’t quite have the level of talent of the above conferences, but is one of the most competitive conferences in college football. Last year Connecticut, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh finished tied at the top at 5-2, but the Huskies went on to a BCS bowl thanks to wins over both the Panthers and Mountaineers. This season the Big East has four teams that appear to have what it takes to win the conference, as there isn’t much that separates Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and South Florida.

WINNER: Pittsburgh

Mountain West Predictions – When Boise State originally decided to join the MWC, this conference had the makings of becoming a legit powerhouse with the Broncos joining the likes of TCU, BYU and Utah. However, Utah went on to join the PAC-12, BYU became an independent, and TCU will leave in 2012 to join the Big East. While it’s the first season for the Boise State in the MWC< they are clearly the most talented football team in this conference. The two teams that will give the Broncos the most trouble are TCU and Air Force, but both of those game are at home, where Boise State hasn’t lost since 2005.

WINNER: Boise State

Conference USA Predictions – This conference really came into its own in 2011, as UCF and Tulsa became the first two schools to ever finish the season in the top 25. UCF finished the year ranked No. 21 after knocking off SMU in the championship game, while Tulsa ended the year No. 24. This season Conference USA could top that mark, as their are five teams who appear to have the talent to really make some noise in 2011. Houston, Tulsa and SMU are the top of the class in the West, while UCF and Southern Miss headline the East. Houston is our favorites to finish on top the conference in 2011, as they return quarterback Case Keenum, who was lost after just three games in 2010.

WINNER: Houston

WAC Predictions – With Boise State leaving to join the MWC, the WAC is as wide open as ever in 2011. The likes of Nevada, Fresno State, Hawaii, and Louisiana Tech all figure to be in the mix for the conference title. Our favorite to come out is Fresno State, with Hawaii a close second, as these two teams will have the two best quarterbacks in the conference in Bryant Moniz (Hawaii) and Derek Carr (Fresno State). The downside of the 2011 season for the WAC is this could be the last meaningful season for this conference, as Nevada, Hawaii, and Fresno State will all follow Boise State to the Mountain West in 2012.

WINNER: Fresno State

MAC Predictions - The MAC might not have the talent to compete with the other conferences, but it is very competitive within the conference. In 2011, Miami (OH) won the East Division with a 7-1 conference mark and then stunned Northern Illinois 26-21 in the conference championship game. All this after finishing just 1-11 overall and 1-7 in the MAC in 2010. This year the conference is once again jam-packed at the top, as their are six teams who could finish the year on top. Our favorites are Northern Illinois out of the West and Temple out of the East, but you can’t count out the likes of Toledo, Western Michigan, Ohio, and Miami.

WINNER: Northern Illinois

Sun Belt Predictions – The Sun Belt is arguably the weakest of the Division 1 conferences, but is another one of these small conferences that doesn’t have a lot that separates the top from the bottom. In 2010, five of the nine teams finished at .500 or better, and three more finished within one game of .500. FIU stunned everyone by winning the Sun Belt in 2010, finishing 6-2 inside the conference after going just 7-15 the previous three seasons. We like the Golden Panthers to repeat in 2011, but you can’t count out the likes of Troy, ULM, and Arkansas State.

WINNER: Florida International (FIU)

Independents Predictions – While there isn’t a league for the four schools who are independent of any conference, we have grouped Notre Dame, BYU (become independent in 2011) , Navy and Army together. Our rankings have Norte Dame as the best independent team in 2011, and we believe they have a legit shot at finishing 12-0 and competing for a National Championship in the second season under head coach Brian Kelly.

WINNER: Notre Dame

College Football Predictions
ACC Football Predictions	Big 12 Football Predictions
Conference USA Football Predictions	Independents Football Predictions
PAC 12 Football Predictions	SEC Football Predictions
Big East Football Predictions	Big Ten Football Predictions
MAC Football Predictions	Mountain West Football Predictions
Sun Belt Football Predictions	WAC Football Predictions

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