As we conclude our offseason Clemson football mailbox, today we look at each staff member’s predictions for the upcoming College Football season.
We have made it to the final question of our Clemson football mailbox for the offseason.
We thank you, once again, for your participation and many questions that were asked over the spring and summer months. We apologize for the questions that we did not get to answer, but for the most part, we got around to several and hope that it provided you with insight heading into the upcoming Clemson football season.
Today, we will take a look at each staff member’s conference-by-conference predictions for the upcoming College Football season.
Andrew, Editor:
Pac-12: Washington State. The Cougars finished 9-4 in 2015 and had a chance to beat Stanford- the reigning Pac-12 champions- late in the season. They return just about everyone on offense including quarterback Falk and should have one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
Big Ten: Ohio State. I want to give the edge to Michigan because I believe they are talented enough, but I just can’t pick against the Buckeyes until the Wolverines prove it on the field.
Big 12: Oklahoma. Baylor was my favorite to begin with, but with all the turmoil surrounding the program now, I think the Sooners are Big 12 Champions.
SEC: Alabama. Until otherwise proven, the Crimson Tide are the dominant team in this conference. There’s a lot of talk about Tennessee and LSU and I honestly expect the Vols to be talented, but until they prove it and beat Bama in a championship game, I’m giving the edge to the Crimson Tide.
ACC: Clemson. The Tigers will have to beat FSU on the road and a tough Louisville team, but I believe they are without a doubt the favorites to win the ACC.
Ty, Staff Writer:
Pac-12. Stanford wins the North and USC wins the South. USC defeats Stanford to win the championship.
BIG 12. Oklahoma finishes ahead of the Jim Grobe-led Baylor Bears.
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Big Ten. Ohio State holds off Michigan to win the East and Iowa repeats as the West divisional champs. The Buckeyes defeat Iowa and win the Big Ten crown.
SEC. Tennessee is the favorite to win the East but Georgia and Florida will put up a fight. If the Gators improve on offense, then they can win. However, I will have to go with the Vols. Maybe, they have learned from their past mistakes and will be able to win the close games.
Alabama wins the West and get another SEC championship.
ACC. There could be a three team battle for the Atlantic division title between Clemson, FSU, and Louisville. Clemson could lose to a super talented FSU on the road, the Cards could upset FSU at Papa John stadium, but lose to the Tigers.
Louisville’s schedule is favorable, Clemson’s toughest game is FSU, and the Seminoles may lose twice with road games at Miami, UNC, and NC State on their schedule. So I predict Clemson to win the division either as an undefeated team or by winning the head to head tie-breaker against Louisville. The Tigers get another ACC Championship with a win over Coastal champs UNC.
Ben, Staff Writer:
I’ll start out West and work my way East. I look for the usual suspects to emerge in the Pac 12 this season. Oregon will have a high powered offense again this year, but I don’t think they’ll contend nationally. I see Stanford under the very structured David Shaw to come out in the North division and the South should be decided between the winner of the USC/UCLA game.
UCLA has a really good QB in Josh Rosen, but their dreadful rush defense will have to be corrected or they’ll never make it to the P12CG. Injuries killed UCLA last season, so barring injury. I’m taking UCLA in the PAC 12.
The BIG 12 (with only 10 teams) who doesn’t have a championship game, will have to have a one loss team, at most, to even be considered for the playoff this season. I’m not sure I see a team that can do that in the BIG 12 this year. I do see Texas improving, Baylor is a dumpster fire and most of the other teams don’t know how to play Defense. Oklahoma is my choice here, by default.
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The BIG 10 (14 teams…go figure) Again, back to it’s usual suspects Ohio State will always be in the conversation as long as Urban Meyer is coaching there. Like him or hate him he’s a heck of a coach and recruiter. He’ll have OSU in the hunt every year.
Michigan and Michigan State will battle it out for the toughest division in the BIG 10. They are doing us a disservice by having OSU, Michigan and Michigan State in the same division. Come on, bust it up guys. I’m going on a limb and picking Michigan to win the BIG 10 this year. However, with a couple losses sprinkled in there somewhere, I don’t see them in the national hunt.
Now on to the good ole’ SEC. The East has been pretty bad the last couple of years. The Gamecocks have been chosen to finish dead last, and while that brought out a small chuckle inside my head, I don’t think it’ll be THAT bad for the Cocks. Mizzou is going to be disastrous, Vandy and Kentucky are, well, Vandy and Kentucky.
So, UGA, Florida and Tennessee will fight it out for the East. UT has the only QB with any experience coming back. But, they play in Athens this season, so I’m going to give those dirty Dawgs the nod in the East. The west will come down to LSU and Bama. Shocker I know. I’m picking Bama in the West, and Bama to win the SECCG. Why would you pick against them, right?
The ACC is a two team race and the whole country knows it. That race will be decided at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 29th as the Tigers will head south and try to win for the 3rd time since 1989 against the salty Seminoles.
Clemson and FSU are the class of the conference and it’s not likely to change anytime soon. I’m giving the nod to Clemson, to win the Atlantic and the ACCCG as well, and it’s all because of Deshaun Watson. He’s the catalyst, he’s the GOAT and he’s going to take the Tigers to Charlotte and beyond this season. Of course it’s not a one man team, but you’ve got a big advantage when you have the best player in college football under center.
Cole, Staff Writer:
ACC: Clemson Tigers
Big 12: Oklahoma Sooners
Big Ten: Ohio State Buckeyes
Pac-12: Washington Huskies
SEC: LSU Tigers
Travis, Staff Writer:
ACC: Clemson
SEC: Tennessee
Big 10: Michigan
Big 12: Oklahoma
Pac-12: Washington St
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We hope you have enjoyed our Clemson football mailboxes this summer and offseason. Make sure you continue to check back as we continue to preview the upcoming season and get you ready for the showdown against Auburn on September 3rd to begin the year.