Preseason Heisman Predictions

Here are our preseason predictions for who will win the Heisman trophy this year. The top 4 are pretty set in stone, and most people seem to agree that one of those 4 will win the trophy.

Stanford QB Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck

University of Stanford

Senior

Last Years Stats:
3338 YDS (263/372)
32 TDs

Luck finished last season as the #2 vote getter in the Heisman trophy race. With Cam Newton out of the picture this year, he should be the odds on favorite to win. His team will have a new coach with Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL, but don't expect Luck to have a down year. He passed up millions of dollars and a guaranteed #1 pick in the NFL draft to come back to school, knowing that Harbaugh would be leaving. He knows what he's getting himself into, and I expect big things from Luck this year.

The problems he will have stem from Stanford's lack of national appeal. He will get on TV sparingly, with perhaps only 3 national tv games this year. Also, the East Coast voters may forget him if another player manages to put up similar numbers while playing on the East Coast. He will need to surpass everyone and be the clear favorite in order to ensure his Heisman trophy.

Preseason Conference Predictions

Here are my preseason predictions for how each team in a major conference will finish. These things aren't very exciting now, but in the future it is fun to see how you did compared to the real thing.



USC Quarterback Matt Barkley



Pacific 12 Conference:

North:

1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. Washington
4. California
5. Oregon State
6. Washington State

South:

1. Utah
2. Arizona State
3. USC
4. Arizona
5. UCLA
6. Colorado

Championship Game: Oregon over Utah

The two best teams in the Pac this year are Stanford and Oregon, it's that easy. Sadly these two are in the same division and cannot meet up in the Pac 12 Championship game. Stanford-Oregon will decide the Pac 12 North. Washington comes on at a strong third behind the two favorite, while Oregon State suffers from major injuries and drops farther back in the Pac.

The South will be decided between three teams: USC, Arizona State and Utah. Since USC will be unable to participate in a championship game, that opens the door for Arizona State or Utah (in their first year) to take a trip to Oregon.

Click to read the Big XII, SEC, ACC and Big Ten predictions!

Week 1: Game of the Week

The first week of the college football season is usually home to some of the less interesting games of the year. It doesn't really matter though, since football being back is exciting enough for most people. This first week of the season has it's share of the uninteresting beat downs that every year has, but it also has a few gems. Some of the games this week have the potential to be exciting, close fights. In some cases we may even have a classic game for the ages in this first week of play.

So, which game is our game of the week this week? Click to find out.

Week 1: SEC Predictions

The conference at the center of all the expansion talks. Will this be the last year the SEC plays with 12 teams? Will the other schools in the SEC even allow expansion? It's a mess right now that only looks to get more complicated in the next few weeks, but for now at least we have college football games to hold our attention.

Alabama RB Trent Richardson

Mississippi State @ Memphis
Prediction: Mississippi State 35, Memphis 14
In a Thursday night game on the first day of the college football season Mississippi State will travel too Memphis (seems strange to me) to fight a Conference USA team that only managed 1 win last year. Memphis will score a handful of points at home, likely late in the game against the second and third team defenses. It won't be nearly enough to take out Mississippi State. Memphis will not be able to handle the first team on offense or defense, so expect a route by halftime.

Auburn vs. Utah State
Prediction: Auburn 42, Utah State 17
Auburn is a better team than Utah State, Cam Newton or no. However, Utah State nearly beat Oklahoma last year in the first game of the season. Do I think that will happen again (they finished 4-8)? No, but I do think Auburn needs to come fully prepared. If Auburn rises to the occasion this game will be put away by halftime. Anything else and Utah State may close the score gap substantially.

Week 1: Big XII Predictions

Here are our predictions for the Big XII (10?, 9? who knows) Conference's first week of play. The Big XII will should have a large impact on college football as a sport this year, they have 3 teams in the top 10 and a number of spoilers who are looking to make a name for themselves. Yet it will be the off field issues that will highlight this season for the Big XII. Will we have a Big XII after this year? It's too soon to tell, but in the mean time we have football games to keep us content. 

Will Gilbert be able to recapture the Texas magic?

Baylor vs. TCU
Prediction: Baylor 17, TCU 35
I applaud Baylor for scheduling a tough out of conference game in the first week. Even better, they took a risk and scheduled a non-BCS conference school that has a history of being extremely dangerous. Still, my praise doesn't win Baylor football games. TCU will jump out and look to make another statement against a Big XII school (even though they will be favored). They will play with the same ambition that Boise State, Utah and BYU bring to the table when facing off against the larger conferences.

Missouri vs. Miami (OH)
Prediction: Missouri 35, Miami 14
Missouri destroyed Miami (OH) in their game last year, and I see no reason why they shouldn't make it two in a row. The score for this contest will be much closer than last years blowout, and Miami (OH) should go on to win the MAC for a second straight year, but Missouri has their sites set on playing spoiler in a Big XII conference with three teams ranked in the top 10. Miami (OH) will keep it close for a half, and that will be all.

Week 1: Independent Predictions

BYU QB Jake Heaps

Here are our predictions for the independent division 1 football schools. This year sees the inclusion of a fourth independent school: BYU. After leaving the Mountain West Conference they have set out on their own much like Notre Dame and the military schools.

BYU @ Ole Miss
Prediction: BYU 42, Ole Miss 35
I expect an exciting game in Oxford to start the season. BYU isn't as talented as they have been in the past, and that will hurt them farther into the season. However, I believe Jake Heaps can win football games and carry the BYU team to a bowl game each year. This game will come down to Heap's arm over the Ole Miss defense, the winner of that battle will come away as the winner in BYU's first game as an independent.

Week 1: ACC Predictions

The ACC, which is currently living in fear of an SEC invasion, has a very easy week ahead of them to start off the 2011-2012 college football season. Along with every other major conference in college football, the majority of their games this week will be David vs. Goliath moments with little excitement (save for those rare James Madison upsets).

Will Jacory Harris be allowed to play at Miami this year?

Georgia Tech vs. Western Carolina
Prediction: Georgia Tech 35, Western Carolina 7
Georgia Tech starts off their season on the early day this year (Thursday, September 1) with a game against Western Carolina. This game will be decided by size, with Western Carolina losing the battle in the trenches. Georgia Tech's lines will overpower the Caramounts on both sides of the ball, while Tech's QB Washington gets all the time he needs to make big plays. This game will be the start of the Tech program's turnaround after a lackluster 2010 season.

Wake Forest @ Syracuse
Prediction: WF 14, Syracuse 21
I expect this game to be a low scoring, grind-it-out sort of affair. The Wake Forest offense will ultimately fall to an under appreciated Syracuse football team. Ultimately, the road test will fall flat for the Demon Deacons. I still expect a better season for Wake Forest, and a great season for Syracuse by its standards.