This week, I will preview the Stanford Cardinal. Last season, Stanford won the Pac-12 and blew out Iowa in the Rose Bowl game. The Cardinal are the most likely Pac-12 team to appear in the upcoming 2017 College Football Playoff. The Cardinal will lose many key players in quarterback Kevin Hogan, running backs Remound Wright and Barry Sanders Jr., wide receivers Devon Cajuste and Michael Rector, offensive guard Joshua Garnett, offensive tackle Kyle Murphy, safety Kodi Whitfield, and defensive end Aziz Shittu. Many key players will return for Stanford as well. Running backs Christian McCaffrey (last season's Heisman runner-up) and Bryce Love, backup quarterback (likely starter, son of Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst) Keller Chryst, tight end Austin Hooper, wide receiver Francis Owusu (once again, this is the guy that did that amazing catch last season against UCLA), cornerbacks Alijah Holder and Quenton Meeks, and defensive end Solomon Thomas all return for the Cardinal.
I've placed Stanford at #2 in the country in the preseason, only behind #1 Alabama. The Cardinal open the season against Kansas State, who went 6-7 last season. This will be a nice easy start to the season before taking on USC and UCLA after their early bye week. Stanford will beat K-State 48-14. The Cardinal host USC next. This will be another win for Stanford, 44-28. By this point, I've got Stanford climbing to #1 in the nation (I predict that Ole Miss will upset Alabama again this season). After this, Stanford will make a trip to the Rose Bowl Stadium for the fifth straight year. For the past four seasons, Stanford has played at the Rose Bowl to either play against UCLA or in the Rose Bowl game. Back to the upcoming Stanford versus UCLA game, this may end up being a 42-34 Stanford win. Stanford will head up to Seattle the following Friday to take on the Washington Huskies. Stanford will win this game 52-34. After that, the Cardinal return home against Washington State, a feisty offense. Stanford will win this match in overtime 65-59. Coming up will be a probable top 10 matchup with Notre Dame on the road. This will result in another overtime, with Stanford winning 41-38. After this, there will be a break against the Colorado Buffaloes, who I think will miss out on the postseason again. Stanford will win 38-7.
Teams left over on Stanford's schedule will probably be scared. I've got Stanford at 7-0 and still at number 1 in the nation. The top-ranked Cardinal will cruise by Arizona 48-27, Oregon State 62-13, top-10 Oregon 51-38, California 49-31, and finally, Rice 56-17.
Now, I predict that Stanford will beat UCLA 48-31 in the Pac-12 Championship and head to the 3rd annual College Football Playoff. The other three teams I predict will make the Playoff are Clemson (ACC), Alabama (SEC), and Baylor (Big 12). Sorry, Big ten fans, but Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan might make the Big Ten's Playoff hopes somewhat fall apart due to the chaotic rivalry games.
Anyways, I have no idea how the teams would be ranked in the Playoff. Stanford fans, you should be looking forward to this season. It can be Stanford's dream football season: undefeated (13-0) and sitting on the College Football throne for most of the year. The 2016 NFL Draft will begin this Thursday, so I will recap the draft and the Bruins that entered it next week.
Monday, April 25, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
2016-2017 Pac-12 Football Team Previews and Record Predictions: Oregon State Beavers
This week, I will preview the Oregon State Beavers. They were at the bottom of the Pac-12 overall last season, but they do not have much to lose. The only key player that the Beavers will lose is running back Storm Barrs-Woods. Quarterback Seth Collins, tight end Ryan Nall, and wide receivers Hunter Jarmon, Victor Bolden, and Jordan Villamin will all return for the Beavers.
OSU opens the season against Minnesota of the Big Ten. Minnesota will win in overtime 27-24. Afterwards, the Beavers will take a bye week before hosting FCS Idaho State in their home opener. Even with an inept offense, the Beavers should win this game 21-17. Oregon State will play against Boise State the following week and probably lose 42-14.
The Beavers might be the only team in the Pac-12 to win less than 2 non-conference games over the non-conference slate. Now at 1-2, things will only get worse for the Beavers, who will probably lose the rest of their games. The leftover teams (and scores projections in parentheses) on Oregon State's schedule are Colorado (35-24 CU), California (49-24 Cal), Utah (38-17 Utah), Washington (41-14 UW), Washington State (56-17 WSU), Stanford (62-13 Stanford), UCLA (52-6 UCLA), Arizona (59-20 UA), and Oregon (59-23 UO).
I don't think that there's anything special or new coming up for OSU, Beaver fans. Oregon State will probably repeat what Cal did in 2013, with an 1-11 record. Oregon State will be at the bottom of the Pac-12 once again. Stay tuned for next week, Pac-12 fans! Next week, I will preview the team that everyone thinks will win the Pac-12: the Stanford Cardinal.
OSU opens the season against Minnesota of the Big Ten. Minnesota will win in overtime 27-24. Afterwards, the Beavers will take a bye week before hosting FCS Idaho State in their home opener. Even with an inept offense, the Beavers should win this game 21-17. Oregon State will play against Boise State the following week and probably lose 42-14.
The Beavers might be the only team in the Pac-12 to win less than 2 non-conference games over the non-conference slate. Now at 1-2, things will only get worse for the Beavers, who will probably lose the rest of their games. The leftover teams (and scores projections in parentheses) on Oregon State's schedule are Colorado (35-24 CU), California (49-24 Cal), Utah (38-17 Utah), Washington (41-14 UW), Washington State (56-17 WSU), Stanford (62-13 Stanford), UCLA (52-6 UCLA), Arizona (59-20 UA), and Oregon (59-23 UO).
I don't think that there's anything special or new coming up for OSU, Beaver fans. Oregon State will probably repeat what Cal did in 2013, with an 1-11 record. Oregon State will be at the bottom of the Pac-12 once again. Stay tuned for next week, Pac-12 fans! Next week, I will preview the team that everyone thinks will win the Pac-12: the Stanford Cardinal.
Monday, April 11, 2016
2016-2017 Pac-12 Football Team Previews and Record Predictions: Oregon Ducks
This week, I will preview the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks have been known for a great football program and national title contender until last season. They lost 4 games, each because of quarterback Vernon Adams' constant injuries and poor defense. They could've beaten Michigan State, who went to the College Football Playoff last season. they lost to Utah 62-20 at home, Washington State in overtime, and TCU in triple overtime. The Ducks will be losing quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (a graduate transfer from FCS Eastern Washington), tight end Pharaoh Brown, wide receivers Byron Marshall and Bralon Addison, running back Thomas Tyner (who is retiring from football itself), defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, and linebacker Joe Walker. Running back Royce Freeman and wide receivers Darren Carrington and Dwayne Stanford will return. Just like last season, Oregon will bring in FCS Montana State quarterback graduate transfer Dakota Prukop, who will probably start for the Ducks next season.
They will also bring in a new defensive coordinator: former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke. Hoke had a 31-20 record, failing to reach bowl eligibility in his final season. He guided Michigan to a 23-20 overtime Sugar Bowl victory against Virginia Tech in 2011, his first season. The following year, the Wolverines went 8-5, losing to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. In 2013, Michigan began to receive a lot of national attention before dodging two big upsets and eventually finishing the season 7-6 with a 31-14 loss to Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Finally, Michigan fired Brady Hoke after a 5-7 season in 2014.
Oregon opens the 2016-2017 season against FCS UC Davis at home. This should be an easy 77-7 win for the Ducks. Next up is Virginia, which is also a home game. Oregon will win this one 48-20. After this is Nebraska, who beat UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl almost two months ago. Oregon will win this shootout 45-42. But the Ducks will face another shootout against Colorado, which be probably be a 40-37 victory for the Ducks. Now at 4-0, the Ducks should be somewhere in the top 15, if not, the top 10. Washington State will grant Oregon yet another shootout. This time, WSU will pull away 35-31. Oregon will fall to 15th in the top 25 or something like that. They will redeem themselves with a 38-27 victory against Washington. The Ducks will defeat Cal 56-48 and climb back into the top 10. Oregon will face yet another shootout against Arizona State, winning 62-55. It will get tough for Oregon starting here. First up is a trip to USC. Oregon will win this game 52-38. The following week, Oregon hosts Stanford in the big battle for the Pac-12 North Division. Stanford will handle Oregon 51-38 and clinch the Pac-12 North Division, shattering Oregon's Playoff hopes. Oregon will take on Utah after this and probably win 47-33. Finally, the Ducks will defeat Oregon State in the Civil War rivalry 59-23 in Corvallis.
This season, I predict that Oregon will go 10-2, which will be another great season for the Ducks. Even though they fell short of the Pac-12 Championship, Oregon will probably go to one of the New Year's Six bowl games, ranked 8th or somewhere around there. Oregon fans should look forward to this upcoming season and keep cheering for their Ducks. Stay tuned for next week, Pac-12 fans, as I will preview the Oregon State Beavers next.
They will also bring in a new defensive coordinator: former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke. Hoke had a 31-20 record, failing to reach bowl eligibility in his final season. He guided Michigan to a 23-20 overtime Sugar Bowl victory against Virginia Tech in 2011, his first season. The following year, the Wolverines went 8-5, losing to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. In 2013, Michigan began to receive a lot of national attention before dodging two big upsets and eventually finishing the season 7-6 with a 31-14 loss to Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Finally, Michigan fired Brady Hoke after a 5-7 season in 2014.
Oregon opens the 2016-2017 season against FCS UC Davis at home. This should be an easy 77-7 win for the Ducks. Next up is Virginia, which is also a home game. Oregon will win this one 48-20. After this is Nebraska, who beat UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl almost two months ago. Oregon will win this shootout 45-42. But the Ducks will face another shootout against Colorado, which be probably be a 40-37 victory for the Ducks. Now at 4-0, the Ducks should be somewhere in the top 15, if not, the top 10. Washington State will grant Oregon yet another shootout. This time, WSU will pull away 35-31. Oregon will fall to 15th in the top 25 or something like that. They will redeem themselves with a 38-27 victory against Washington. The Ducks will defeat Cal 56-48 and climb back into the top 10. Oregon will face yet another shootout against Arizona State, winning 62-55. It will get tough for Oregon starting here. First up is a trip to USC. Oregon will win this game 52-38. The following week, Oregon hosts Stanford in the big battle for the Pac-12 North Division. Stanford will handle Oregon 51-38 and clinch the Pac-12 North Division, shattering Oregon's Playoff hopes. Oregon will take on Utah after this and probably win 47-33. Finally, the Ducks will defeat Oregon State in the Civil War rivalry 59-23 in Corvallis.
This season, I predict that Oregon will go 10-2, which will be another great season for the Ducks. Even though they fell short of the Pac-12 Championship, Oregon will probably go to one of the New Year's Six bowl games, ranked 8th or somewhere around there. Oregon fans should look forward to this upcoming season and keep cheering for their Ducks. Stay tuned for next week, Pac-12 fans, as I will preview the Oregon State Beavers next.
Monday, April 4, 2016
2016-2017 Pac-12 Football Team Previews and Record Predictions: Colorado Buffaloes
This week, I will preview the 2016 football schedule and impact roster for the Colorado Buffaloes. The Buffs will be losing running back Christian Powell and wide receiver Nelson Spruce. Spruce leads the Pac-12 in all-time receiving yards, despite not making even one appearance in a bowl game. Colorado will bring back quarterback Sefo Liufau, running back Patrick Carr, and wide receiver Donovan Lee. However, Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb will transfer to Colorado and may assume the starting quarterback job over Liufau.
Colorado opens the season with the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado State. Colorado is used to playing against Power 5 teams unlike Colorado State. The Buffaloes will pull away with the victory 34-27. Colorado will get to relax against FCS Idaho State, winning 48-0. This would be a well-scheduled games, because Michigan is up next. Michigan will probably crush Colorado 42-7. Colorado will prove to be more formidable than last season. But Oregon will add to the losses by beating the Buffs 40-37 in a shootout. Colorado will get another win against Oregon State 35-24. USC will defeat Colorado 42-27, a much larger margin than last season's 27-24 USC victory. Arizona State will also beat Colorado 38-14. For the first time this season, Colorado will be below .500 winning percentage, now at 3-4. Stanford will blow out Colorado once again, 38-7.
After their bye week, the Buffaloes will play against the UCLA Bruins. In each season, Colorado just kept getting closer and closer to beating UCLA, but that will end with a UCLA 48-10 win. Arizona will beat up Colorado again 45-14. The Buffaloes will lose their final two games against Washington State 35-20 and Utah 34-24.
There is nothing new to expect here, CU fans. I predict that the Buffaloes will go 3-9 during the next season, another disappointment. Stay tuned, Pac-12 fans, for next week's preview on the Oregon Ducks!
Colorado opens the season with the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado State. Colorado is used to playing against Power 5 teams unlike Colorado State. The Buffaloes will pull away with the victory 34-27. Colorado will get to relax against FCS Idaho State, winning 48-0. This would be a well-scheduled games, because Michigan is up next. Michigan will probably crush Colorado 42-7. Colorado will prove to be more formidable than last season. But Oregon will add to the losses by beating the Buffs 40-37 in a shootout. Colorado will get another win against Oregon State 35-24. USC will defeat Colorado 42-27, a much larger margin than last season's 27-24 USC victory. Arizona State will also beat Colorado 38-14. For the first time this season, Colorado will be below .500 winning percentage, now at 3-4. Stanford will blow out Colorado once again, 38-7.
After their bye week, the Buffaloes will play against the UCLA Bruins. In each season, Colorado just kept getting closer and closer to beating UCLA, but that will end with a UCLA 48-10 win. Arizona will beat up Colorado again 45-14. The Buffaloes will lose their final two games against Washington State 35-20 and Utah 34-24.
There is nothing new to expect here, CU fans. I predict that the Buffaloes will go 3-9 during the next season, another disappointment. Stay tuned, Pac-12 fans, for next week's preview on the Oregon Ducks!
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