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!

Big XII:

1. Oklahoma
2. Oklahoma St.
3. Texas A&M
4. Missouri
5. Texas
6. Kansas State
7. Baylor
8. Texas Tech
9. Kansas
10. Idaho State

The Big XII comes down to two halves this year. The top 5 have a semblance of a chance to win the conference. Texas and Missouri will be looking to play spoiler against the three top 10 rated teams in Oklahoma, Oklahoma St. and Texas A&M. Oklahoma is the undisputed #1 in the college football land, yet they will have some tough battles to make it through the Big XII. Texas A&M in their final year in the Big XII will look to play spoiler to the Oklahoma schools.
The bottom half of the Big XII features most of the familiar faces that have been stuck down there for the last few years (minus Colorado). Kansas State should come out on the top of that half, with Baylor and Texas Tech having a good chance to sneak into that #6 spot.



Auburn RB Michael Dyer will have to carry his team in the West division



SEC:

East:

1. South Carolina
2. Georgia
3. Florida
4. Tennessee
5. Kentucky 
6. Vanderbilt

West:

1.  Alabama
2. LSU
3. Arkansas
4. Mississippi State
5. Auburn
6. Ole Miss

Championship Game: Alabama over South Carolina

The East and West divisions of the SEC are two very different halves. You can expect the team to come from the West to be playing for a spot in the National Championship game, while the East school will have a 8-4 record and will be playing for bragging rights.
Alabama is the king of the SEC this year but the West will look to stop that. Alabama will have 4 difficult games against the Western teams (Auburn will play hard against them). LSU or Arkansas have the chance to win the West if they can take out Alabama.
The East will be decided between Georgia and South Carolina. I gave South Carolina the repeat since I'm not sure what to make of that Georgia team. If Georgia is as advertised they will have a legitimate chance to upset South Carolina's conference championship bid.

ACC:
Atlantic:

1. Florida State
2. Boston College
3. Clemson
4. North Carolina State
5. Maryland
6. Wake Forest

Coastal:

1. Virginia Tech
2. Georgia Tech
3. Miami
4. North Carolina
5. Virginia
6. Duke

Championship Game: Florida State over Virginia Tech

The ACC has two clear front runners for the conference championship game now that Miami and North Carolina are in the NCAA crosshairs. With those two out of the way the Coastal division belongs to Virginia Tech, even without Tyrod Taylor.

The Atlantic division is a little tougher to navigate (no giveaway games like the Coastal divison) but Florida State has 17 returning starters from a 10 win team. If they can get past Oklahoma in non-conference play expect them to make a strong push through the ACC Atlantic division.

The ACC championship game this year should be a great battle between two top 10 ranked teams in Virginia Tech and Florida State.



Wisconsin RB Montee Ball

Big Ten:

Leaders:

1. Wisconsin
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Purdue
5. Illinois
6. Indiana

Legends:

1. Nebraska
2. Michigan State
3. Michigan
4. Iowa
5. Northwestern
6. Minnesota

Championship Game: Nebraska over Wisconsin

The Big Ten may be the strongest conference top to bottom this year (though they certainly don't have the strongest division names). With Ohio State down, the Leaders division will be up for Wisconsin or Penn State to grab. I expect Wisconsin to be playing for a second Rose Bowl appearance.
The Legends side will be dominated by the newcomer Nebraska while Micigan State, Michigan and Iowa try to keep up.
The championship game will be a good battle of the old vs. the new, with Nebraska making a big statement in their first year in the Big Ten.

There are my conference predictions! What do you think? Did I do a terrible job?