By: The Polish Prince

The Lions are a lot like a vacuum cleaner. You need them in your life, you use them about once a week, they always break down, and then they suck you back in. This week was tough. At the start, I was emotionally invested. I was getting upset, frustrated, depressed, and any other emotions you could associate with a Lions Sunday. Then around the 2nd quarter when we were down 21 points, I started feeling better. We were gonna get blown out but at least we didn’t choke this one away. I was ready to move on and have me a nice little Sunday. Then the Lions vacuum cleaner was flipped on. Stafford started feeding Marvelous Marvin Jones. Dwayne Washington showed us what it looks like to have a decent running game. The defense was getting stops and then all of a sudden it was a one touchdown game. My Sunday once again hinged on the success of the Lions. Defense was stingy, the offense was rolling, and we only needed one more stop. So what happened? Naturally, Aaron Rodgers and Eddy Lacey run their way to a very anti-climatic ending. Heart ripped out once more. This week hurt because I actually thought they could string together a couple of wins at Lambeau. I thought that Rodgers was finally over the hill. I was telling people all week, “The days of Jordy Nelson breaking away from coverage are over”. But, in a tale that’s old as time, the Packers used the Lions to fix their problems and get right back in the race for the NFC North.
 
The Good

• Marvin Jones: Really the only bright spot for the Lions on Sunday. 6 receptions, 205 yards, and 2 touchdowns. He kept us in the game, especially with that 70+ yard touchdown at the end of the first half. He has shown through three weeks that he is the lead dog in this receiving corps and has done a nice job filling the shoes of Calvin Johnson thus far.

The Bad

• Matt Stafford: He ended the day with good numbers and played really well in the second half but don’t let that fool you from his performance. In the first half, when we really needed that offense to go, he wasn’t sharp. He was missing throws and just couldn’t get the offense into a groove. In the second half, the GB defense was playing a little more relaxed and that’s when Stafford amassed all those yards and touchdowns. I hate to say this, but the Stafford H8erz won this week.

The Ugly

• Jim Caldwell: This loss falls on him. The team didn’t come out ready to play. They looked sloppy, pathetic, uninspired, and simply unprepared. In a game that could turn the season from Same Old Lions to cautiously optimistic, the team looked like they didn’t want to be there. The defensive schematics were awful. Leaving our CBs one-on-one and not bringing any pressure is a bad combination and we didn’t make any adjustments until half time. Caldwell once again did a very poor job of clock management. He started using our final time outs with a little over three and a half minutes in the game. Why did he use them so early? If we get the 3-and-Out after using the timeouts then we probably have about three minutes left with only the two-minute warning. This strategy gives us no wiggle room to give a first down. Say we get the stop with out using our time outs. Then we get the ball back with two minutes and three time outs to use. That’s just as good of a scenario as the ball with three minutes and no time outs. BUT, if we saved our time outs, we could have given up a first down to Green Bay, and still had a chance at stopping them on another set of downs. Granted there wouldn’t be much time left but using our time outs early mortgaged our opportunities to win this game. If this team wants to succeed we need a coach who can get the troops fired up for big games and knows how to manage the clock. I’m not calling for Caldwell’s job just yet but anything short of a playoff win should spell the end of his time here in Detroit.
• The Defense: I said it last week, this defense isn’t going to be great but it needs to be clutch. Despite not forcing a punt in the entire first half, they still had a chance at redemption at the end of the game and they let Lacey run right over them. I know they are dinged up but they need to get healthy in a hurry if they want to save this season from being another typical year in Detroit.
• The O-line: Specifically Decker and Tomlinson. These guys are struggling horribly and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better quick. We couldn’t run the ball either. 50 yards on 23 carries is not going to get you many wins in the NFL.

 
I just don’t know what to believe in this team. Sometimes they look great, other times they look like a typical Lions team. Thank God I have the Wolverines on Saturday or this could have been a fall reminiscent of 2008.
 
P.S. Every Sunday my dad and me exchange multiple angry phone calls talking about the Lions and this week he is convinced that Jim Caldwell can’t do math and that explains his poor clock management. Not saying that’s right, but I’m definitely not ruling it out.

By: The Polish Prince

​Thankfully, I didn’t have to physically watch this week because I’m sure I would have been blind with rage where as I was only partially blinded by the radio call. If the Lions want to become a playoff team they have to win these games at home (how many times has that been typed up?). When it seemed as if they weren’t only battling the Titans but also the refs, they were in control of this game for the most part and it is still their fault that they blew this game. It takes a lot for me to even think of that last sentence so lets get on to the break down.
 
Good:

• WRs, aside from, Golden Tate: Marvin Jones and Anquan were good today. That’s about it. Obviously when your team only puts up 15 points there aren’t too many offensive bright spots but from what I heard MJ and Anquan were solid.
• Matt Prater: Answered the phone when he was called upon. A hallmark of all the good kickers.
• Kerry Hyder: Looked great again with a few more tackles for loss. Guy was a good enough preseason holdover to make people forget about cutting Rudock.

Bad:

• Eric Ebron: Had some clutch catches, especially the 20+ yarder to extend the last drive of the game. HOWEVER, he had two penalties that took back touchdowns (yes, I know that the PI was bullshit, but it is what it is). He has to be smarter if he wants to become a difference maker on this team.
• Defense: Held the Titans to 16 points and recorded a safety, but when the team needed this defense to show up the most, on the Titans’ only touchdown drive, they couldn’t get it done. Whether it be the secondary needing to knock down that touchdown pass or  the line not getting enough pressure on Mariota, the D came up just a little bit short. This year the defense isn’t gonna be great but they need to get stops when the team needs them. They didn’t get it done today and that was a real disappointment.

Ugly:

• The Refs: This was the worst officiated game I have ever heard. There wasn’t one call that DIRECTLY effected the game, i.e. The Seattle batting out of the end zone or GB false facemask call last year. But, a game with 29 penalties in it wasn’t fun to watch/listen to. Three touchdowns were called back due to penalty; the Ebron PI was one of the worst calls of the early NFL season. They missed an illegal hit on Stafford, which would have gotten called on more “valued” QBs. There was a point in the game where it seemed like a penalty was called every other play. If I did my job that poorly I would get fired. Its been said 1000 times, but these guys need to be full time employees, because they are the worst refs in all professional sports, even worse than the NBA. I don’t expect them to nail every call, but c’mon guys. The worst part is that nothing will happen to this crew. I want, nay, I need accountability from these refs whether it be a suspension or a fine. This crew was absolutely atrocious. If any reader out there can get me their names/twitter handles it will be greatly appreciated. Until then I will just keep tweeting Dean Blandino (screw you, you Dallas Cowboys son-of-a-bitch. You cost us a playoff game and for that I will always hate you), demanding answers.

 
That’s it for this week. Go walk this earth as a fan of a miserable franchise and wallow in sadness until the Lions get your hopes up only to get crushed again. GO LIONS!

By: The Polish Prince

​There is no doubt in my mind that this team will kill me. Despite trying to give away the game at every turn, they managed to pull out the win. I had to watch the game while at work, and it was almost impossible to not break the entire clubhouse. I said repeatedly that “I hate this team,” and I still believe it. However, a win’s a win and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t let out a loud “YES” when Prater hit that field goal.
 
THE GOOD:

• Matt Stafford: Holy shit, this guy looked good. I mean really, really good. 31/39, 340 yards, and 3 TDs. That is a 79% completion rate with no turnovers. This is possibly the best we have ever seen Stafford play, and it is really encouraging to see him play smart. That being said it will be interesting to see how he plays against a good and/or healthy secondary. But for now, SUCK IT Stafford H8erz.
• Running Backs: This game would have been lost without Abdullah and Riddick. Only 108 yards between them on the ground, but they came up big when we needed it. That 3rd quarter drive to go up 28-18 featured Abdullah heavily, and he really flashed the reason we drafted him. Speaking of “showing why the Lions get him”, Theo really demonstrated why he got paid this offseason. The drive to put them up 34-28 had Riddick showcasing that he can do it through the air, like we saw last year, and between the tackles. Great showing from the backfield duo.
• O-Line: Kept Stafford clean all day except once. They also did a nice job blocking for the backs. Despite returning 4-5 starters from one of the worst lines in the NFL last year, they looked great.
• JBC: The name (obviously) and the play calling were on point today

THE BAD:

• Prater: Yeah, I know he hit the game winner but that missed extra point almost got me fired so he can’t go in the Good this week.
• Penalties: Didn’t have many penalties (only 8), but there were some dumb ones. Particularly Levy’s, after he forced Andrew Luck out of bounds to bring up a 4th and 1. That drive they scored the go-ahead touchdown. What the hell are you doing, man? As a leader on the team, he can’t pick up a taunting penalty in that situation.

THE UGLY

• The Defense: The entire defense was atrocious. No pressure on the QB, wide-open receivers on almost every drive, and they couldn’t guard the double move from a white guy. WHY THE HELL ARE YOU BITING ON A MOVE WHEN THE SAFE OPTION IS TO GIVE UP THE UNDERNEATH ROUTE?  Also, where the hell was the pressure? On some of the most important drives of the game Andrew Luck had all day to throw. No pressure and a bad secondary lead to giving up 35 points. For this team to go anywhere, the defense has to force turnovers, and we just couldn’t get it done today. Also, Slay is a good CB but we are paying him like an elite one. He has to get better at playing the ball in the air instead of just letting his guy catch it and tackling him instantly.

 
I’m sure there was a lot more ugly in the game, but they won, and that blankets a lot of holes on this team. The Lions take on Tennessee (0-1) next week in their home opener. They should win that one, but as we saw today, they are still the Lions and nothing will ever be easy for them. I said it 100 times this week, and I know I’ll say it another 100 before the end of next Sunday, but I hate this team. GO LIONS!
 
WEEK 1 OVERREACTION: Theo and Ameer constitute the best RB tandem in the league. 

By The Polish Prince

              It’s finally here. The most fun/horrible time of the year. I’ve already acknowledged that the Lions are going to kill me of a heart attack one day. Some safety is going to blow a coverage assignment and then boom, lights out for your boy. With that being said, I am starting a blog this year about the Lions. Writing out my feelings and putting them on the Internet for nobody to read has to be better than internalizing all the stress and frustration, right? The first blog post will take the form of a game-by-game season preview, so I can peg exactly when I will succumb to the affliction that is my Lions fanhood.
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            Going into this year, like every year, I am cautiously optimistic. I think that Bob Quinn did a nice job in the draft/free agency and addressed some holes, such as those on the offensive line. The receiving corps took a big hit with the loss of CJ, but Marvin Jones is no scrub. I do think that with Golden, Jones, and Anquan, the Lions could have a top 10 receiving corps. The running back situation scares me though. Riddick is awesome out of the backfield as a receiver, but I’m not sure how well he does between the tackles and Abdullah can hold on to the ball about as long as I can hold the interest of a girl at Skeeps*. The defense is where I think we can surprise a lot of people. The D-Line is deep, Slay is a top 10 corner, Levy is back, and Glover is a beast at safety. Also, if you’re reading this and don’t really know me, I’m a pro-Stafford guy. I know he isn’t the top tier of NFL QBs, but damn it, he is the best QB in Lions history.
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*Not long

PREVIEW

• Week 1 @ Indy: Gotta get this off my chest: Andrew Luck is bad. If I had to pick a QB to win 1 game for me I’m going Stafford 9 days a week. Lions get one on the road. Record: 1-0
• Week 2 vs Titans: Home opener for the 313. I’ll probably be there, so there is a great chance that they lose, but I just don’t see Mariotta as being developed enough to win, or that Tennessee secondary being anything but Swiss cheese. Record: 2-0
• Week 3 @ Green Bay: I’m glad this game is being played early in the year, because it helps our chances, but it’s the Lions in Wisconsin. Not a winning combo. Record: 2-1
• Week 4 @ Chicago: This is the game that sets the tone for the season. Win, and it could be a good year. Lose, and look out for an early Dalton heart attack. Doubling down on what I said earlier, it’s going to be a good year. Record: 3-1
• Week 5 vs Eagles: Lions will probably find a way to mess this one up. Record: 3-2
• Week 6 vs Rams: Jeff Fisher will come in at 4-1 and that’s a little too close to having a winning record on the year. He picks up a loss in Detroit to get closer to his signature 8-8 season. Record: 4-2
• Week 7 vs Washington: My first thought upon seeing this one on the schedule: “No way, no how Kirk Cousins comes in and beats the Lions in Detroit.” On paper the Lions are a better overall team. Then again, they are the Lions. Skins win. Record: 4-3
• Week 8 @ Houston: After a humiliating outing against Washington, the Lions come back on the road and give every single fan a glimmer of hope of what they can be. Record: 5-3
• Week 9 @ Vikings: No Bridgewater means the Lions can load the box up and try to stop AP. This is assuming that Sam Bradford is hurt by week 9, which is almost a lock. Record: 6-3
• Week 10 Bye: Can’t mess this up, right? Right?
• Week 11 vs Jax: Jags will actually be good this year and will Jagg Off too much for the Lions to stop them. (Editor’s note: boooooo) Record: 6-4
• Week 12 vs Vikings: Sam Bradford: still hurt and still the most highly valued China Doll in the world. Record: 7-4
• Week 13 @ NO: Lions not only lose this one but they look pathetic doing it. This is a game where the Stafford H8erz come out and rip on him. Record: 7-5
• Week 14 vs Bears: Lions need this one. They’ll be at home, against an inferior opponent, and in the middle of the wild card race. They surprise everyone and win this one, guaranteeing them a non-losing season for the 4th time this century. Record: 8-5.
• Week 15 @ Giants: Eli makes a bunch of weird faces and throws a half dozen near-picks, but still manages to shred the Lions’ secondary. Slay tries his best, but OBJ is too good of a wideout to stop. Record: 8-6
• Week 16 @ Dallas: Romo actually makes his first start of the season when rookie phenom Dak Prescott sustains a finger injury trying to operate on a mosquito. Lions feast on a feeble Dallas D. Record: 9-6
• Week 17 vs Green Bay: Lions get Matt Flynned by whoever is Rodgers’ back up. Disapointing loss, because this is probably one of those games where they could have sealed their playoff fate. Record: 9-7
• Detroit does make it into the playoffs, but they don’t get that victory that this fan base so sorely needs. In typical Lions fashion, they don’t really do anything, but they do just enough to get another mid-round draft pick and keep Caldwell/Stafford around. Left unstable from the Week 17 Packers loss, I finally suffer that heart attack after an uncalled hold on Ziggy leads to a go-ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter of the inevitable playoff defeat.

by Will Yang, WCBN College Football Analyst

Conference breakdowns, Playoff projection, and Heisman predictions, enjoy!

ACC

        The ACC is really Clemson and Florida State’s conference. Clemson is returning most of their starters on offense, starting with quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson was a Heisman trophy finalist last year and is a preseason favorite to win the award. Alabama coach Nick Saban says Watson is the best college football player since Auburn’s Cam Newton. I completely agree with this. Watson has an extremely strong and accurate arm mixed with the athleticism to escape pressure in the pocket and make big plays with his legs, and he shredded Alabama’s top-ranked defense last year. Watson would have been the clear number one overall pick in the NFL draft last year. He has a great attitude, so he will be even better in 2016.
           Watson’s favorite weapons will be returning to the offense. Running back Wayne Gallman, who rushed for 1,500+ yards last year, returns to the Tigers’ backfield, and will balance Clemson’s offense. Wide receivers Artavis Scott, who had 93 receptions in 2015, and Mike Williams, who was lost for the 2015 season with a neck injury, will both return. The offense was explosive without Williams, and with him back healthy, the sky's the limit.
           The defense will lose a significant step. Clemson lost some of its most important defensive players from last year’s national championship run in Kevin Dodd, Shaq Lawson, and Mackenzie Alexander, but the offense will more than make up for this diminished defense.

           Clemson's only threat in the ACC is Florida State. This Seminoles team will revolve around Dalvin Cook, one of the best running backs in all of college football. He is an every down back. He is powerful, quick in space, and has breakaway speed. Cook alone is enough to put Florida State in the playoff picture.
           Redshirt Freshman Deondre Francois will be the starting quarterback to start the season. Florida State face Ole Miss in Week 1, and Francois’s inexperience could hurt the Seminoles.
           The defense returns 7 to 8 starters. Last year Florida State had a stout defensive front, and I see them being just as strong this year. They lost Jalen Ramsey, possibly the best defensive player in all of college football, to the NFL draft, but he will be replaced by Derwin James. James is an athletic and long safety who will anchor the defense. He is practically a clone of Ramsey and could even turn out to be a better football player than his predecessor.
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           North Carolina had a very good record last year and won their division of the ACC. The Tar Heels went 11-3 last season. And their three losses were all less than 11 points to South Carolina, Clemson, and Baylor. Some might attribute their success to an easy schedule, but they did give Clemson a run for their money in the ACC championship game last year. They lose quarterback Marquese Williams, who accounted for most of UNC’s offense. They do, however, return running back Elijah Hood, one of the most underrated players in college football.

           Georgia Tech had a down year last year. Following a successful 2014 campaign, the Yellow Jackets had a disappointing 2015 season, going 3-9. 2014 Orange Bowl MVP and quarterback Justin Thomas is returning for his senior season. Georgia Tech beat Florida State in a thriller last year. The Yellow Jackets have the talent to give either Florida State or Clemson a run for their money, but it depends on which version of the team shows up; 2014 Georgia Tech or 2015 Georgia Tech? This depends on how Thomas plays, and the success of the Yellow Jackets’ triple-option offense built on a maturing backfield.

           Miami is an interesting team. Brad Kaaya is a top 5 quarterback prospect coming into this season, but I don’t think there is enough talent around him for me to consider the Hurricanes a contender. Miami is recovering from the firing of former head coach Al Golden last season.

           Louisville, Duke, and Pittsburgh are also teams that have been strong in the past few years. However, the ACC really belongs to Florida State and Clemson. Florida State has Cook, one of the best running back in the nation, but Clemson is blessed with the best player in college football in Deshaun Watson and possibly one of the most explosive offenses in the NCAA. The ACC crown will go to the Clemson Tigers.

Big Ten
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             Ohio State is the popular favorite to win the Big Ten. The Buckeyes return a measly 6 starters. They had 12 players drafted in the first four rounds of the NFL draft: they didn’t just lose key players, they lost superstars. Urban Meyer is one of the best recruiters in college football, though, and if any team can reload from losing this much talent, it’s Ohio State.
            Returning quarterback JT Barrett will be the most important player on this team. Barrett was a preseason favorite to win the Heisman two years ago, but an ankle injury ended his 2014 Heisman campaign. Last year, the Buckeyes struggled, with playing time split between both Barrett and Cardale Jones at QB. But 2016 will be Barrett’s show. His new backfield mate will be running back Mike Weber, a 4-star recruit out of high school who was once committed to Michigan. The defense will be led by returning linebacker Raekwon MacMillian. Barrett is a superstar QB, and can carry this depleted Buckeye squad to the playoffs.

             Jim Harbaugh has made a lot of noise this offseason at Michigan. Michigan returns a whopping 16 starters. This is the most talented football team we have seen in Ann Arbor in a long time. Jabrill Peppers is one of the most athletic players in the college football and will play a large role on offense, defense, and special teams. Led by senior captain Chris Wormley, Michigan’s D-line will be one of the best in the country. There are questions marks at the quarterback position. Harbaugh still hasn’t announced whether Wilton Speight, John O’Korn or Shane Morris will start. If the Wolverines don’t get their quarterback position straightened out they could struggle like Ohio State did with Barrett and Jones in 2015. With a defense poised to dominate, and with talent and experience at the skill positions on offense, the only concern for Michigan is whether any of these quarterbacks can carry the team with their arm if they need to, and I don’t think any of them can.

            Mark Dantonio proved he belongs with the college football coaching elite last year, when he led Michigan State to a Big Ten title and a playoff berth. The Spartans lost Connor Cook, Jack Conklin, Shilique Calhoun, and Aaron Burbridge to the NFL, but they have important players returning, too. Cook’s replacement at QB, Tyler O’Connor, has some starting experience, and helped MSU beat Ohio State in the regular season last year. The Spartans also return three running backs that all saw a heavy workload last year; LJ Scott, Madre London, and Gerald Holmes, all of whom will run behind a physical O-line anchored by G Brian Allen.
On defense, Malik McDowell and Riley Bullough return to solidify the front seven, and most of their secondary returns. MSU has a lot of talent returning, and their run game will be among the strongest in the Big Ten.

            Iowa will win their half of the conference. CJ Beathard is the most experienced quarterback in the Big Ten (besides Barrett). The Hawkeyes return lockdown cornerback, Desmond King, last year’s Jim Thorpe award winner.

           Wisconsin and Penn State are both in similar situations: both are built around talented running backs in Corey Clement and Saquon Barkley, respectively. There isn’t much talent around these players so it will be up to both running backs to carry their respective teams this year.
Nebraska will be a sneaky team this year. They lost 5 games on the last play in 2015, so they were a better team than their record suggests. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. will return for his senior season, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cornhuskers shocks some teams this season.
Northwestern is another team that surprised a lot of people last year, as they beat Stanford in their season opener on their way to a 10-3 season. I think the Wildcats are a team that will have another successful season with both quarterback Clayton Thorson and running back Justin Jackson coming back, as well as some key guys like Anthony Walker Jr and Godwin Igwebuike on defense.

            The ACC only has 2 teams with a realistic shot at winning the conference (Clemson and Florida State). The Big Ten has 3 in Ohio State, Michigan, and MSU. Each team has pros and cons. Ohio State has the best quarterback of the three, but is the least talented across the board and the most poorly coached in game (OSU’s two quarterback struggles and their meltdown against MSU last year as the result of poor coaching). Michigan has the best team from all around but they have many questions at quarterback, which is cause for concern. Lastly, MSU has a good enough defense, but what sets them apart from the rest of the conference is their ability to run the ball effectively. Having three talented running backs will allow them to outlast teams, and survive the season. This will be close conference race until the end, but I think the ground game is what wins games in the NCAA (and how Alabama has won its championships), and I see Dantonio's Spartans coming out of this dog fight on top.

Big 12

           I, like most people, have Oklahoma as the favorites to win the Big 12. Baker Mayfield is coming off of a sensational year after winning the starting quarterback job in 2015. The passing game will take a hit after losing receiver Sterling Shepard to the NFL, but the running game should be strong as ever. Both running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon have rushed for 2000+ career yards, and they return to the Sooners’ backfield. They do lose stars Erik Stricker and Zach Sanchez from the defensive side, but the Sooners return 7 starters on defense. Oklahoma faces the 6th ranked Buckeyes in Week 3, and I think they will lose that contest, but overall I think they are the most talented team in the Big 12 and should come out on top of the conference.

           TCU lost a lot from last year, but they have one of the best defenses in the offense-heavy Big 12. While the Horned Frogs lost a lot of players from their 2015 roster, they do bring in key transfers. Quarterback Kenny Hill transferred from Texas A&M where he put up ridiculous numbers, but struggled due to off-the-field issues. And transfer running back Derrick Green from Michigan comes in as a sturdy bruiser to stabilize the offense and compliment starting tailback Kyle Hicks. I look to TCU to be a surprise team this year.

           Baylor is a team that has been in the news for all of the wrong reasons. The Bears suffered a multitude of suspensions and punishments from the NCAA for sexual-assault cases, and have fired their head coach Art Briles for his role in the scandal that swept the entire athletic program. With that said, starting quarterback Seth Russell and deep threat KD Cannon both return to the Bears offense. I’m not sure how interim coach Jim Grobe will fair, but the offense returns a lot of firepower. The defense does have a lot of holes, but that’s never been a strong trait of Baylor’s.

            Oklahoma St and Texas Tech are two other teams I see with a shot at winning the Big Twelve title. Mike Gundy is one of the best coaches in college football and always has his Cowboys in the title conversation. And Texas Tech returns one of the most underrated quarterbacks in college football, Patrick Mahomes II. Kansas State has a chance to be sneaky good this year. If they beat 8th ranked Stanford in Week 1, they could stand a chance to beat a lot of teams this year. And lastly, Texas is still trying to figure out things under second-year coach Charlie Strong. The Longhorns have good talent, but I think they are a few years away from being in the playoff conversation.

            I see Oklahoma winning the conference, simply because they are the most talented team in the Big Twelve top-to-bottom. However, I don’t see a Big 12 team making the playoffs. The Big Twelve is the weakest conference, and they don’t have a conference championship game. Other conference champion teams will end the regular season with 13 games as opposed to 12 for a Big Twelve team. I don’t see any Big Twelve team going 12-0, and a 12-1 Clemson team will a lot better than an 11-1 Oklahoma team to the Playoff committee, even though Oklahoma has a great non-conference schedule.

Pac-12

            The Pac 12 championship race will be more wide open than in the other conferences. The title is up for grabs between a lot of teams. The teams might end up beating each other up, but I think the fact that the Pac-12 has a championship game helps them, and still see the Pac-12 getting a team into the playoffs.

           Stanford returns a lot of talented players from their 2015 Pac-12 championship team. Running back Christian McCaffrey was the most dominant player in college football last year, a jack-of-all-trades. He did everything for the Stanford’s offense and specials teams units, and destroyed Iowa in Stanford’s final victory in the Rose Bowl. Opposing defenses still won’t be able to figure McCaffrey out this year, and he will be just as dominant. Senior Ryan Burns will be the new starting quarterback. Burns has big shoes to fill; Stanford’s last two quarterbacks were Kevin Hogan (career 36-9) and Andrew Luck (31-7). Speedster Michael Rector returns and should help out Burns by stretching the field vertically. Stanford’s defense is always strong, and David Shaw is one of the best coaches in the country when it comes to reloading talent on defense.

            Oregon had a roller coaster season in 2015. The Ducks were plagued with injuries across the board. Quarterback Vernon Adams was off and on with various injuries, which robbed Oregon of a promising season; Oregon was undefeated whenever Adams lasted for a full game. The Ducks have a punishing runner in Royce Freeman. Adams is gone, but Oregon brings in graduate transfer Dakota Prukop to fill his role. Reports have said Prukop has been gelling well with his new teammates in camp this summer. Both receivers Darren Carrington and Olympic hurdler Devon Allen return. Mark Helfrich has done a stellar job filling in for former head coach Chip Kelly in directing Oregon’s fast-paced offensive scheme. Few teams in the Pac-12 have been able to figure out Oregon’s uptempo assault. Stanford’s Shaw seemed to develop a formula to stop the Oregon offense in 2012 and 2013, but the Ducks have still won 4 of their last 6 meetings against the Cardinal.
            Oregon’s defense has been atrocious during Helfrich’s tenure, but new defensive coordinator Brady Hoke should fix that. Although Hoke was a disaster as Michigan’s head coach, his defensive units in Ann Arbor were always strong. Hoke brings some old school grit and toughness that Oregon defenses have lacked in the past few years.

           This finally seems to be the year for USC. The Trojans seem to have gotten stronger and stronger every year since they were blasted by sanctions in a few years back. In 2015, USC won the Pac-12 South and hung around with Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game. This may be one of the most talented teams USC has had since the glory days with Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. Senior running back Justin Davis is one of the better runners in the conference, and he will be running behind one of the nation’s best offensive lines. Juju Smith-Schuster is a superstar receiver who can do everything at the position, and Adoree Jackson is a freakishly athletic two-way player and kick returner who is deadly in open space. Like Oregon’s Allen, Jackson also competed in the 2016 Olympic trials, in long jump.  Max Browne will be the quarterback, a solid player with some experience.
USC’s failures to meet expectations over the past few years were the result of poor coaching. Lane Kiffin was an awful decision maker on the field, and Steve Sarkisian had personal problems that distracted him from focusing on his job. New coach Clay Helton took over midway through last year for Sarkisian and did a great job, finishing the year. USC plays Alabama Week 1, and if they manage to beat the Tide Week 1, they have a very good chance of having a successful season. This USC team is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball. This might be the year the mighty Trojans return to former glory.

           The other Pac-12 school in Southern California also has a lot of hype coming into 2016. UCLA’s quarterback Josh Rosen had a good freshman campaign in 2015, and I only see him improving in year two. He is a big kid with a strong arm. UCLA has done well in recruiting over the last few years. This Bruins squad will be good, no doubt, but they will still just be right outside of the Pac-12’s elite. The same goes for Washington. The Huskies also have a lot of talent on their roster, and they have a lot of hype surrounding them this year, but are a few years away from making a playoff run.
           Utah was a surprise contender last year, but they lose almost everyone to graduation or to the NFL. The Utes won’t meet the mark they set in 2015.

          Like I said, the Pac-12 is pretty wide open this year. Stanford has the best player, USC has the most talent, but Oregon has the best combination of talent and cohesiveness, assuming Prukop has a smooth transition learning the Ducks offense, and I think he will. Hoke should improve the defense, and the fighting Ducks will fly to the college football playoffs this year.

SEC
               The defending national champion Alabama comes into the season ranked no 1 overall in the preseason AP poll. The Tide lost a lot of talent last year, including Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. But nobody reloads better than Nick Saban. Alabama has a lot of guys returning on the front 7, which will be the best in the country. Among them are Tim Williams, Da’Shawn Hand, Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson and Reuben Foster. OJ Howard is the best tight end in college football and will contribute to many explosive plays this year. Speedy wideout Calvin Ridley returns too. Saban hasn’t announced who the quarterback will be yet out of Connor Bateman or Blake Barnett. Bateman played a bit last season and was absolutely miserable, and Barnett has no experience whatsoever. Alabama won games thanks to a dominant ground game. The new starting running back ,whether it will be Bo Scarbrough or Damien Harris, will have to fill the massive shoes of Derrick Henry, Eddie Lacy, TJ Yeldon, Trent Richardson, and Mark Ingram. If they get similar production out of their new starting RB, this Tide team will be as dominant as any of the Alabama teams we’ve seen during this dynasty.

               Leonard Fournette is the best running back in college football. He is on a different level from any other running back, including FSU’s Cook or Stanford’s McCaffrey. LSU had a topsy turvy season last year and almost fired coach Les Miles. But Miles is back, his job is secure, and the Tigers should have a drama free season. The only concern is if Fournette doesn’t go 100% in order to preserve his body for the NFL. I’m going to assume he will go full speed, and if he does there is not a defense in the country that can stop him. LSU has some other playmakers on offense: wideouts Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre, as well as quarterback Brandon Harris, who has a lot of experience, should help out Fournette. LSU’s starting defense is mostly comprised of upperclassmen; they will surely have one of the best units in the nation.

               Many analysts seem to have forgotten about Georgia. Football games in college are won on the ground, and the Bulldogs have a top 5 running back on their team in Nick Chubb. Chubb was a preseason Heisman favorite in 2015, but he was lost for the year with a gruesome knee injury midway through the season. He will be back at 100% and I expect him to be just as dominant as before. If other players on this team can step up and do their job, Georgia could easily win their half of the SEC.

               Florida boasts one of the best defenses in the country. Jalen Tabor is one of the best cornerbacks in the nation and is capable of taking out an opposing receiver for an entire game. Tabor suffered a hand injury in the offseason and will miss the season opener, but hopefully should be okay for most of the season. The Gators also have some experience at linebacker with Jarrad Davis, and at safety with Marcus Maye. Treon Harris was an awful quarterback for Florida last year; new quarterback Luke Del Rio should prove to be better. Florida will likely have a committee of three running backs at their disposal;Jordan Scarlett, Mark Thompson, and Jordan Cronkrite. If quarterback play is solid for the Gators, they could sneak into the playoffs.

               Tennessee is a sleeper pick this year to win the SEC. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs returns for his senior season. The most athletic quarterback in the SEC, Dobbs can create big plays with both his arm and his legs.
               Auburn is another team whose name gets thrown around in the SEC contention, but I think this Tigers squad is too far removed from their championship days with Nick Marshall and Cam Newton at quarterback. They play Clemson Week 1 and they will get completely smacked.
               Games are won in the trenches and Alabama has the best offensive and defensive lines in the SEC, but Leonard Fournette is a special player. If he doesn’t get hurt, and LSU’s role players contribute, the Bayou Bengals will snap Alabama’s college football streak.

Non-Power 5
               Neither Notre Dame nor Houston are in a Power 5 Conference. Notre has two talented quarterbacks in Malik Zaire and Deshonne Kaizer. This is both a blessing and curse. Ohio State found themselves in the exact same situation as last year, and it ruined their season. I see the same thing happening to the Irish unless they commit to one guy. Houston has an incredibly talented team that beat Florida State in the Peach Bowl to end 2015. They have a lot of guys coming back from last year too. This Houston team will be really good, and they face an early test against 3rd ranked Oklahoma on Week 1. Both Notre Dame and Houston could have excellent seasons, but neither of them is quite good enough to make it to the playoffs this year.

Postseason

              If you’ve been following, you’ll know that my predicted college football playoff will include Clemson, LSU, Oregon, and Michigan State. MSU’s secondary wont be able to stop Deshaun Watson’s aerial assault, and LSU’s defense won’t be enough to keep up with Oregon’s speed. In the finals, Clemson’s offense will be just too much for the Ducks’ improved defense and the Clemson Tigers will win the 2016-17 college football championship.          
           The Heisman finalists will be Watson, Fournette, and McCaffrey, and the Stanford product will win the trophy he should have won in 2015.