Continuing the preview of the 2018 College Football Season, here is the rest of the conferences.

American Athletic Conference

University of Central Florida should be the favorite here as on paper they are undoubtedly the most talented squad in the conference. Their offense is incredibly good. After a 13-0 season under Scott Frost, expectations should still be high on this team. They will be challenged by University of South Florida and their great defense, Temple, University of Cincinnati, University of Connecticut, and East Carolina as they pose the biggest threat to UCF’s conference crown bid. On the other side of the conference there is Memphis who was a good enough side to win the conference had it not been a very successful UCF squad. Memphis has a very good offense, but they should make it to the conference title game. University of Houston poses the biggest threat to Memphis’ division title hopes with the likes of the best player in College Football, Ed Oliver, but Southern Methodist and Navy could be dark horses. Tulane and Tulsa will be the weakest teams in the division, but not necessarily the conference.

Predictions

James Rowe: UCF vs Memphis in the conference championship game. UCF wins.

Thomas Martin: The Co-National Champion UCF Knights will continue their bid for perennial dominance in the AAC. They will face Memphis in the championship. UCF wins and makes another case for being put in the CFP.

 

Conference USA

Possibly the weakest of all the conferences, but there are some interesting stories here especially with Florida Atlantic as famed head coach Lane Kiffin leads FAU. The Owls are the consensus pick to win the conference, but there might be some competition from Marshall, Middle Tennessee, and Western Kentucky in their division. Others included in this division are Old Dominion, FIU, and Charlotte. In the West Division, it seems to be a little bit up for grabs with UTSA as the consensus pick to win it. They will be challenged by North Texas, Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech, UAB, UTEP, and Rice.

Predictions

James: FAU vs UTSA in conference championship. FAU are the champions.

Thomas: I’m never going to put too much confidence in a Lane Kiffin team. Just ask Oakland and Tennessee and USC and Alabama about that. I see Marshall coming up and challenging FAU. Look for Marshall vs. UTSA in the championship, Marshall winning.

Independents

Not an actual conference, but Notre Dame is the biggest name here as they are 12th ranked team in the nation. Notre Dame had a disappointing end to the 2017 season after a promising start to it. Led by Brian Kelly, there will be a lot expectations for the program, but if they don’t live up to them, you could possibly see Kelly being shown the door. BYU will be trying find a new conference to call home soon. New Mexico State and Liberty will be doing the same, but Army, while seemingly destined to be in a conference soon, seem content to be an independent at the moment. UMass seems to be in limbo in finding a new conference as well.

Predictions

James: Notre Dame will finish in Top 10.

Thomas: Notre Dame finishes strong, but just miss out on the New Year’s Six. A week after the season ends, rumors begin that BYU will finally be welcomed into the Big12, only to be disappointed once again. Everyone else? Who knows? Who cares?

Mid-American Conference

The Mid-American Conference might be a step above Conference USA, but this is still a weak conference. That being said, it is a competitive and fun one to watch. In the East Division, the consensus pick to win it will be Ohio University, but will face heavy competition from Miami (OH), Buffalo, and Akron. The rest of the division will be rounded out by Bowling Green and Kent State. In the West Division, the pick to win the division is Northern Illinois, but will be challenged by Toledo, Western Michigan, and Central Michigan. Eastern Michigan and Ball State round the rest of the conference.

Predictions

James: Ohio vs Northern Illinois in conference championship. Northern Illinois is the champion.

Thomas: MACtion strikes again with some surprisingly fun matchups both in and out of conference. I agree with James that the championship match will be between Northern Illinois (Go Huskies!) and Ohio. NIU pulls it out to win.

 

Mountain West Conference

One of the more underrated conferences in the league, this could be one of the more competitive in all of college football. Boise State is thought to not only be the best team in their division, but all of the conference as they are ranked 22nd in the Top 25. However, their division (Mountain) is tough with the likes of Utah State, Wyoming, Colorado, and Air Force vying to challenge them for the top spot. New Mexico is expected to struggle. In the West Division, it’s tougher to find to the consensus pick to win is as San Diego State and Fresno State will battle it out for the top spot. UNLV and Nevada will test them, while Hawaii and San Jose State are expected to struggle.

Predictions

James: Boise State vs San Diego State in conference championship. Boise State are the champions.

Thomas: Look out for Utah State to make a bid for dominance on the back of their QB Jordan Love and their superb defense. They play SDSU in the championship. SDSU wins.

Sun Belt Conference

This should be an intriguing conference to watch as there is a lot of balance here. The East Division should be competitive with Troy being the favorite to win, but will be challenged by Appalachian State and Georgia State. Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina will be competitive, but will round out the bottom. The West Division on the other hand should be ultra tight four teams having a decent shot at winning the top spot. The favorite is Arkansas State, but ULM, Louisiana, and South Alabama will challenge. Texas State will struggle.

Predictions

James: Troy vs Arkansas State in conference championship. Arkansas State are the champions.

Thomas: Ah, the Fun Belt! I agree with James about Troy vs. Arkansas State, but I think the Trojans could pull it out to win.

The Big 12 was very strong last year as they sent Oklahoma to the College Football Playoffs (and deservedly so), however, this year they might not have a representative from the playoffs as other conferences have seemingly gotten even stronger. But, this conference is ultra-competitive and that is always fun to watch. And with the new conference realignment as there are no more divisions, things could get even more interesting. With that being said, lets take a look at the teams in the conference.

Baylor

Baylor seemed like they were becoming a powerhouse school, then everything came crashing down last year as they were an abysmal 1-11. This program once produced a Heisman Trophy winner in Robert Griffin III, and now they are in the position of trying to get back to relevancy. However, they have nowhere to go, but up. They may not have a winning season in 2018, but they should make some strides.

Iowa State

Well last year was a major step in the right direction as they won a bowl game after they had won only 11 games in the past four years. Now the Cyclones will need to take giant step forwards if they want to compete for the Big 12 championship. There was a few games last year they should have won especially with the experience they have, but if they turn those losses into wins in 2018, watch out Big 12.

Kansas

The Jayhawks are a basketball powerhouse. Let’s just get that out of the way. And let’s get something else out of the way, Kansas is going to struggle this year as some in the conference essentially will look at this as a “bye” week. But they don’t have anything to lose, so trying to be as competitive as possible might be beneficial and maybe they can pull off an upset in order to throw the race towards the championship out of whack. That being said, there is talent on this team like Khalil Herbert and Steven Sims, so don’t underestimate them.

Kansas State

The legendary coach of Bill Snyder is still going at it and why not. He is still an excellent coach. He will retire eventually, but just as long as he can continue coaching and stay in good health, take advantage of that as much as possible. There is some talent on his team though and he always has a competitive squad. But the defense will be good and the offense has a lot of potential potency, Kansas State might be fighting for the conference championship when it’s all said and done.

Oklahoma

The Sooners will have to adjust to life after Baker Mayfield left for the NFL Draft, but getting back to the College Football Playoffs has to be a must. While they lost a lot of their starters, they had tremendous depth and they hope the guys who backed up the starters from last year are just simply guys who are just the “next in line” players. The Big 12 is not as strong as last year, so expect the Sooners to take the crown.

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys have been a model of consistency in the Big 12 as they keep winning 10 games every season it seems like. There is a lot of talent here that might be good enough to be a top ten team when it’s all said and done at the end of the season. But will they win the Big 12 Championship? Only time will tell.

TCU

The Horned Frogs are arguably the second best team in the entire conference and they also boast a lot of talent. They could potentially upset Oklahoma for the Big 12 Championship as they have some great talent and they could benefit from all the experience they have although they do have a new quarterback, but keep a close eye on these guys.

Texas

The Longhorns used to be the model of a top football program, but ever since the Colt McCoy days went away, they can’t seem to be a strong contender for the National Championship anymore. But the recruit class from 2018 was incredibly good and they may be on their way to becoming a strong contender soon. College Football would benefit greatly from a strong Texas team.

Texas Tech

Kliff Kingsbury is a great coach and the offense should be explosive, but they do play in a tough conference. Can they take advantage of it this year though? Only time will tell. Their receivers can rack up a lot of yards and it will be fun to watch this offense, however they are stuck behind so many programs that are better. It will be a long season for the Red Raiders most likely.

West Virginia

It might be weird to see the Mountaineers in the Big 12 because of where they are geographically, but they are a strong program as they are trying to become a powerhouse team. Their offense is a high octane style and they have a lot of experience, so you could see them making a run at a Big 12 Championship. Besides, its time for the Mountaineers to show how good they really are.

Predictions

James Rowe: I have Oklahoma beating TCU in the championship game, but I cannot see them making the College Football Playoffs.

Thomas Martin: It will be a Oklahoma and West Virginia championship game. Oklahoma also is the winner.

 

It’s the Wild, Wild West! With all the talk about how great the SEC is, how balanced the Big Ten is, and how much better the ACC has gotten, the PAC-12 seemingly gets lost in the shuffle as it might be the most fun conference to watch with how explosive some offenses are. Usually the best quarterback prospects come from this conference especially as they boasted Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen from this year’s NFL draft. With that being said, lets take a look at the schools from the conference.

North Division

Cal

Despite a disappointing season, there have been talks about how the Golden Bears should be the breakout team in the conference. They did not lose any key players, so no need to replace anyone. Experience could be a key factor here, but Cal needs to improve in every possible facet if they want to make some noise. That being said though, expect big things from them.

Oregon

They really should use the slogan “Fear the Quack” as Oregon could be the class of not only the division, but also the conference. They are super incredibly talented and are finally back to being that powerhouse team since the Chip Kelly era. Their strength will be their defense which might be the best in the entire conference as that could be the biggest factor into whether they win the division or not. Plus they boast a talented quarterback in Justin Herbert as he will lead a potentially potent offense.

Oregon State

This program was always on cusp of being National Championship caliber good, but then when things looked optimistic, they manage to fall short of expectations and take a step back. They do have experience on the offense, but not enough explosiveness. Their hope is that their talented quarterback Jake Luton can take charge and make things happen on offense. The defense has potential, but there is a lot of uncertainty too. They will be an interesting case.

Stanford

The Cardinals might have had some great seasons of late, but they are primed to go on to do big things. They are on the cusp of becoming a powerhouse side and possibly making a trip to the National Championship game. They boast a talented player in Bryce Love, but there is a question mark as their defense could be the biggest problem with this squad. If the defense can hold up and help their awesome offense, this might be the sleeper pick to win the division.

Washington

Many Huskies fans might feel like they were slighted in the Top 25 rankings as they only got a 6 ranking (heaven forbid!), but they might have a point as some think that this a team that could make the College Football Playoffs. Often argued as the best side in the conference, we at Rowe Sports Talk Network can understand as last year they were on the brink of possibly being a National Champion. They have an experienced quarterback in Jake Browning as he is a four year starter, but the biggest question will be who will replace Vita Vea in their defensive corp. With a first weekend matchup against Auburn, they will have to make a statement.

Washington State

There seems to be potential with this team as every thing looks good, but then when they actually play, everything seemed lackluster. Mike Leach is trying to make this into a better program, but this might be the most frustrating program in all of College Football. Why can’t they make any noise? They might not be able to do much this season though as they are in a very tough division especially with the likes of Washington, Stanford, and Oregon in the division.

 

South Division

Arizona

Kevin Sumlin might have been one of the best hires during the offseason as this was a program that needed something big if they wanted to return to being a great program. If Sumlin does what he did with Texas A&M, then the future is bright for the Wildcats. He also comes with a good amount of talent and with how the South Division is this year, he might have a chance to go to the PAC-12 championship.

Arizona State

Herm Edwards? Yeah, that Herm Edwards. Edwards is the new head coach for a program that hasn’t done much in the past. He is great at preaching football to his players, but in his last years in Kansas City, they struggled. This might not have been a sexy selection given his age, but the hope is to make the Sun Devils relevant again. Quarterback play shouldn’t be an issue this year, but the running back situation might be a problem. We will see what happens once the season gets going.

Colorado

It hasn’t been easy since the Buffaloes joined the conference a few years back as last year, their 5-7 record, was their second best record since becoming a PAC-12 side. Heck, they haven’t been relevant in over a decade in College Football. They need to make strides this year if they want to become relevant again. This isn’t an easy conference by any means, but they need to improve some how and in some way. Yes 2016 was a great year for them, but they need to rebound in 2018 after how last season ended especially in this division.

UCLA

Holy moly! Here comes Chip Kelly again. He might have been one of the best head coaches in College Football when he was with Oregon, but he undoubtedly should make UCLA a strong contender this season. And not only did they get Kelly, but they also got Wilton Speight as a transfer from Michigan and he could make the offense even better in 2018. What is there not to like about the Bruins this year?

USC

Here come the Trojans. They were very close to making the College Football Playoffs as they were PAC-12 Champions, but the selection committee made it very clear where they thought they should have been as they played Penn State in the Rose Bowl. They did lose Darnold and Ronald Jones as those are guys who made the offense so good, but the hope is that they can replace them with no problem. They do have a tough schedule, but there’s a good chance they could even make the College Football Playoffs.

Utah

The Utes have all the weapons to make noise, but they never seem to breakthrough and take the next step. This is a good program, but considering the conference they play in, it’s hard for them to get anything going. They certainly have the offense to match with any other team in the conference any day of the week so expect them to compete in every game. And considering how the division might be up for grabs, they should be able to compete for the division crown.

Predictions

James Rowe: I’m very boring with my picks here, but I think it will be a USC-Washington PAC-12 Championship game and with the Huskies taking the championship.

Thomas Martin: I’m also going to be boring and predict the same thing. The Huskies are poised to have a dream season, finally being able to land a spot in the playoff after winning the Pac-12.

This arguably is the best conference in college football and last season showed with Georgia and Alabama in the championship game. So with that being said, get ready for another round of some of the best football in the country. People might argue against it, but with the crowds, the traditions, the programs, how could you think otherwise? With that being said, let’s take a look at the teams in this awesome conference.

 

East Division

Florida

This has always been a traditional powerhouse, but with the talent here, they may actually be able to compete with Georgia for the top spot in the division. Yes, the program has struggled as late, but there has to be a lot of optimism here. With a head coach that has a dying urgency to win, you can’t help, but think that there are exciting times for the Gators. Their offense is fast and their defense is stingy, just watch out Georgia, you have a tough challenge ahead.

Georgia

Speaking of Georgia, they are still the favorite to win the division. Not only were they in the College Football Championship game against Alabama, they came so close to winning it, but lost in devastating fashion. Yes, last year ended in heart breaking fashion, but there is a lot of optimism here and they could be back to that same possible promise land come January. Despite losing Roquan Smith, Nick Chubb, and Sony Michel, they might actually be better this year, and losing those names shouldn’t be as big of a deal despite them being awesome players. Jake Fromm is an awesome quarterback and will be in the NFL soon, but his backup Justin Fields might even be more talented. So if Fromm goes down, there is no worry there for the Bulldogs. They will be a very fun team to watch.

Kentucky

Kentucky has long been regarded as a laughing stock in the SEC when it came to College Football (basketball is another story, but that’s a different sport anyways), as some fans of other teams in the division look at them on their schedule and see it as an easy win. The question will be whether they will ever be good? With Mark Stoops as the head coach, they might finally have a team that could compete. What helps Kentucky is that they will return a great portion of their starters back, so experience will help here. Their schedule isn’t easy and the division is significantly better from last year, but the Wildcats have gotten better as well.

Missouri

Missouri significantly improved from 2016 in 2017 as they went 7-6 after going 4-8 a season earlier, but the question is whether they will make strides in 2018. They caught a lucky break that SEC East was a weak division, but if it has gotten stronger this year, will Mizzou show up to play or will they struggle? The offense will be story this year as the offense has changed a lot and they have a strong NFL prospect at quarterback, Drew Lock. It’s going to be interesting to see how they do this season.

South Carolina

The Gamecocks went 9-4 in 2017 which suggests they had a good season, but they also played in a weak division. Their offense was atrocious and they need that to be better if they want to be competitive in their division considering how much it improved. However, they will likely rely on strong play from their defense which is a strength on this squad. With Will Muschamp as the coach, they could make things interesting and could snatch the division title away from Georgia.

Tennessee

Trying to become a superpower once again, the Volunteers do have some promise. They hired Jeremy Pruitt to be their head coach and revamped seemingly everything as they plan to do big things this year. There are still some question marks though, as the quarterback, offensive line, running back, and some on the defensive line situations need to be worked out. This will be an interesting story to watch, but Volunteer fans might be in for a fun ride in 2018.

Vanderbilt

Along with Kentucky, Vanderbilt has also long been seen as the whipping boy of the SEC. Vandy really struggled last season going 1-7 in conference play, but they do play in a very tough conference. This season will be a mystery as the division has gotten stronger, but there are improvements with the Commodores. Their offense will need to be much better this season if they want to compete and the defense cannot continue to make as many mistakes as they did last year if they want to win some games. It might as well be a rebuilding season for Vandy.

 

West Division

Alabama

The Crimson Tide’s appearance in the College Football Playoffs last year was controversial, but their finish as the National Champions suggests that they did, in fact, belong. Nick Saban will look at last season as a failure, despite winning the National Championship, simply because of how much they struggled against teams that should have been no challenge (also, because he’s Nick Saban, and he’s never satisfied with anything). That being said, coming into 2018, you can really make a strong case they are the best team in College Football. Their offense should be as strong as always, but it will be interesting to see what happens with the quarterback situation with possibly either Jalen Hurts or Tua Tagovailoa starting. And of course their Nick-Saban-coached defense will be great. Bama should be awesome to watch in 2018.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks could have had a great 2017 as their offense was explosive, but there was one problem — their defense practically gave up as many yards as the offense gained. Arkansas are going to have limit the damage as much as possible in 2018 if they want to make some noise, but playing in such a strong division, a loss to Alabama or Auburn would easily be forgiven. They should be better in 2018, but they need limit the damage as much as possible.

Auburn

If you were an Auburn fan last season, it was gut wrenching to watch how everything ended. Losing the SEC Championship to Georgia was heartbreaking, especially seeing how everything ended up. After all, the Tigers managed to beat both Georgia and Alabama last season to clinch the West Division. Jarrett Stidham showed how good of a quarterback he is, and with him coming back, this could be a great year once again. Traditionally Auburn does better when they have returning quarterbacks, but the loss of Kerryon Johnson in the backfield will hurt. Replacing him will be a tough task. And the defense? Well, they are pretty good as well. It could get interesting in the West Division because of Auburn.

LSU

Well last year was an interesting season for LSU as a good amount of people thought they would win 10 games and compete with Alabama for the the division title. But then they lost four games, including a heartbreaking loss to Troy, which sealed the deal on whether or not they would make the playoffs. That being said, the same expectations will be upon the Bayou Bengals in 2018 as they are a deep and strong side. A strong LSU team to compete with Alabama and Auburn for the division title is always a good thing, and it could make it interesting in the West this season.

Ole Miss

Losing Shea Patterson will really hurt the Rebels’ chances at winning the division this season, but they come in as probably one of the biggest mysteries in the SEC. Things could go well or they could go awry. They won six games last season, but the Rebels could go either go up or go down. The only thing that is known for sure is that they will be able to compete, as they have some experience with most of their starters coming back. They will also be returning three of their top wide receivers as they are the only team in College Football to return three receivers that racked up seven or more touchdowns from the season before. That could mean that their offense will be explosive in 2018. But how they will do by the end of the season will be a mystery.

Mississippi State

Offense will not be a problem for Mississippi State this season, as they might be able to match up with any team in the division if it becomes shootout. However, as good as the offense is, the defense could be the difference as to whether or not they will compete for the division title. They will be an interesting case, but keep a close eye on them. Besides, the division is so strong, it really will be fun to see what they do this season.

Texas A&M

Jimbo Fisher is now the new head coach for the Aggies and there is a lot hope for the fans as that is an incredibly splashy hire. While there won’t be an immediate division crown for the Aggies, there is some talent for Fisher to work with. With how strong the division is, Texas A&M will make a lot of noise and like Mississippi State could make a huge difference as to how things play out. They will be interesting to watch.

Predictions

James Rowe: Georgia vs Alabama in SEC Championship. Alabama wins. Auburn, Alabama, and Georgia will make the College Football Playoffs. Yeah, the SEC is that strong this year. Also with three SEC teams in the playoffs, is that considered a hot take?

Thomas Martin: Georgia coasts through the East, with only a few minor struggles along the way. My total, unbiased, completely non-partisan, non-homerish (skeptical yet) pick for the West is Auburn. There is a LOT of good on this Auburn team, and the God of Chaos reigns supreme on the plains. Sure, the boring pick is Alabama with their boring (read: cupcake-filled) schedule, but who wants boring? Georgia vs. Auburn in the SEC championship. Auburn wins it all.

Last season was a crazy year for the conference, but it wasn’t shocking to see Ohio State claim the championship. In what is arguably the most balanced conference in college football, you could see numerous teams make a ton of bowls. With that being said, lets look at the squads.

East Division

Indiana

It may not have been a winning season for the Hoosiers, but there is a lot of promise. Immediately, the first thought is that they play in a division where they would have to play Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and Michigan State, it’s tough to get any sort of momentum. Head coach Tom Allen will have to navigate the waters a little bit with such a stacked division, but they should be a team to watch.

Maryland

The news coming out of Maryland the last few weeks has put a real damper on the team. No one should have to die for a game, and the coaching staff’s negligence seems problematic at best. We’ll see how the team recovers with their head coach on leave following a very troubling story. In general, this school has been an interesting case as it seems they can’t get consistent results. One season they are good and the next they struggle. Will the real Maryland please stand up? Yes, they do play in a very tough division, but they could compete with the rest. They will be an interesting case as they do have some talent and they got a few transfers that could beef up their team.

Michigan

Led by Jim Harbaugh, expect them to compete for the division crown and the conference title. However, they will have to exorcise their demons as trying to beat Ohio State, their bitter arch rival, will be their toughest task. Last year the Wolverines had to totally rebuild a good portion of their team which might have hurt them especially with how tough the division is. They got Shea Patterson from Ole Miss and there is some young talent here, but they got a very tough schedule so it could be another long year in Ann Arbor.

Michigan State

Remember how good that 2015 team was? Yeah some are considering this to be even better than that one. And they will also boast a lot of experience as that could help them in the long run. On paper, things look great, but once the season starts, who knows what will happen as this is the hardest division to predict with all the great programs it has. Michigan State might surprise everyone and dethrone Ohio State, but they need to beat Michigan and Penn State if they want even challenge the Buckeyes.

Ohio State

The defending Big Ten champions, they are one of the favorites to win it once again as they are the gold standard. However, last year, because of their massive loss to Iowa, it prevented them from even making the College Football Playoffs even though they were arguably better than some of the teams that made it. You cannot lose big to a team like Iowa in the fashion that they did. The biggest task will be who will replace J.T. Barrett at quarterback. Dwayne Haskins is expected to take over as the starting quarterback and he does have some great potential. With Nick Bosa leading the charge on defense, this is one incredibly talented squad. However, they cannot allow any slip ups like they did last season and hope this scandal that has gotten their head coach Urban Meyer suspended doesn’t impact their chances at the playoffs.

Penn State

My how the mighty have fallen… really hard. Once the whole Jerry Sandusky scandal tarnished the school and Joe Paterno’s legacy, it was going to be a difficult task to regain a positive image. Last year, the Nittany Lions came back strong and at one point it seemed like they were the best team in the conference, however a rude awakening happened for them when they lost a heartbreaking game to Ohio State after they started strong. Last season, they had a very good team, but there will be some top players like Saquon Barkley to replace. That being said, Penn State will be a strong team in 2018 which will make this division race incredibly interesting to watch.

Rutgers

Not only the weakest team in the division, but possibly the entire conference. But that being said, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a good team, in fact there is a lot of talent here. And they possibly could upset some teams in their division that could alter how things go with not only the Big Ten Championship, but possibly the playoffs. Their defense is great, but the offense is a question mark. If the offense produces, they could make some noise and with former NFL coaches on the coaching staff, Rutgers might be on it’s way on to becoming a decent program.

 

West Division

Illinois

Lovie Smith is trying to make the Fighting Illini into a powerhouse and after going 2-10 last season, things aren’t going the way they want. However, there is promise here as they are bringing many of their starters back and experience could go a long way. And not only are they experienced, they are also young. They might even make some noise in their division. And with the hire of Rod Smith, the hope is that their offense can take off.

Iowa

Iowa hasn’t gotten the consistent results they have wanted as they fluctuate between a great program or mediocre one. However, the Hawkeyes have a really good chance of winning this division. Iowa seems to always compete and they could even steal the division. Their defense will be their biggest asset as they always produce great players from that side of the field and it could help them win so many games this season. Keep an eye out on them.

Minnesota

They are always trying to get better, but with what is a very good conference, Minnesota always seem to get screwed over with a tough schedule that doesn’t allow them to showcase their incredible talent they manage to recruit. Now, they are actually recruiting talent that could make them a stronger contender very soon. There’s a good chance that the West is up for grabs and Minnesota could challenge for it. The time is now for them to succeed and with other programs in the division getting stronger, Minnesota needs to play it’s absolute best in every game they play.

Nebraska

Start the Scott Frost era now. Frost was one of the most highly sought after head coaching prospects and the Cornhuskers got him. While the program is a couple of years away from being a competitive team again, things are going in the right direction for the school. There is a lot of talent here like Stanley Morgan and Adrian Martinez, but this will be a work in progress for Frost and the future looks promising.

Northwestern

Northwestern might finally breakthrough as they are now at the point where they can be a competitive side every year. Just like Minnesota, the time is now for them to breakthrough and take the next step. With a boat load of talent, the hardest thing will be replacing Justin Jackson at running back who was just an excellent player. That being said, the defense is a bit of a concern, but the hope is that they can overcome that and show how good they really are.

Purdue

This will be a short and sweet primer for the Boilermakers, but this team is really good. And in a division where it’s up for grabs in which could be a free for all, Purdue may actually make it to the Big Ten Championship game. Purdue’s defense could be a huge difference maker as to whether they will win the division or not, but keep an eye out for this squad in 2018.

Wisconsin

They were really close to possibly making it to the College Football Playoffs last year, but then a glaring weakness appeared in the Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State, their offense was able to navigate a weaker division, but was not able to face off against a strong foe. The receiving corp was subpar last year despite the strong running back play from Jonathan Taylor, but offense was a concern. This year, starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook has better receivers now and their running backs are deep, strong, and talented, which could mean their offense could put them over the top, and with a strong defense, they might actually make it to the playoffs this year.

 

Predictions

James Rowe: Ohio State vs Wisconsin in Big Ten Championship game. Ohio State are the Big Ten champions. Yeah, again. That’s how good they are.

Thomas Martin: Ohio State manages to push it over Michigan to win the East, while Purdue shocks the doubters to win the West. Ohio State edges out Purdue in a tight championship game.

The ACC is becoming a better and better conference every season, but this could be it’s most competitive season yet. Clemson is the heavy favorite to win the conference, but there could be a lot of challengers here where they might not even win. With that being said, let’s take a look at each team in the conference.

Atlantic Division

Boston College

The Eagles are on the rise, but after last season’s incredible run, they might be destined to do bigger things in 2018. The offense could be what makes them a tough team to beat as there are some lethal weapons there. AJ Dillon at running back will be the player to watch. Their defense will be fun to watch too as that should keep them in games.

Clemson

The favorites to win the division and the conference as they have been one of the most consistent and best teams in the nation (four straight appearances to the playoffs). They are ranked number two in the nation for a reason as Dabo Swinney is slowly becoming one of the best head coaches in college football. Defensively, they are absolutely stacked and with a player like Kelly Bryant leading the offense, you should be excited for what could be another awesome season for the Tigers.

Florida State

Oh what could have been last year. Going into the season, things looked promising and people thought the showdown between them and Clemson was going to decide who wins the division. Then an injury to quarterback Deondre Francois seemed to doom them as they fell to a 7-6 record. With Jimbo Fisher out as head coach, there is a lot of question marks. Will Willie Taggart do a good job of rebuilding the program? Will there be anybody on defense who can step up and fill in Derwin James’ shoes? Will Francois be at his absolute best given the potential he has? While the talent is there, too many question marks will make it hard to get a good read on them.

Louisville

Life after quarterback Lamar Jackson will be hard, but this season might be even harder as last season was a bit of a struggle. With Bobby Petrino at the helm, there might be hope and with Jawon Pass expected to take over Jackson’s spot, there is encouraging signs that this season might go better than last season. It is tough to keep up with Clemson or Florida State in the division, but if you catch some lucky breaks and take advantage of them, you could be in a better position than many thought you would be in which is exactly what Louisville will want. Plus they do boast experience which could help them in those games.

North Carolina State

After seeing how good this team was last season, 9-4 record, you can expect bigger things out of them in 2018. They might play in a tough division, but there’s a good chance they could dethrone Clemson. Quarterback Ryan Findley showed that he was the real deal last season as he was the most efficient passer in the ACC. Plus it helps that he has an explosive offense. The only concern is that they lost a lot of starters in the defense, but their hope is that their depth will replace them with no problem. It should be a big year for the Wolfpack.

Syracuse

Yes, there is some football history with this program, but they are also arguably the weakest team in the division. They did beat Clemson last season, which was a shocker, but it was still a miserable season. There is some talent here like Ervin Phillips and Eric Dungey, but prepare for the Orange to flounder again in 2018.

Wake Forest

Potentially a team that could ruin many other teams’ seasons, the Demon Deacons could make some noise in 2018. This also should be the best team that head coach Dave Clawson has had in the five years since he has had the job. It’s a very tough division for Wake Forest, but there is some promise here. The offense will be good and the defense should do fine, but don’t sleep on these guys.

 

Coastal Division

Duke

Wait, the traditional basketball powerhouse is also good at football? Yep, and they have an excellent head coach in David Cutcliffe. They might not make the ACC Championship game, but they will make some noise as they have talent AND experience. That’s a recipe for success. Now how will this season project for the Blue Devils? Only time will tell, but expect them to compete in every game they play. They have linebacker Joe Giles-Harris leading their defense and Daniel Jones manning at quarterback to control the offense, it could be fun to watch what happens in Durham in 2018.

Georgia Tech

David Johnson might have an impressive resume, but things haven’t been too kind to him the last few seasons. Once a staple of being a top team in the ACC, the Yellow Jackets have been a subpar team the last couple of years. In 2018, they should be a wild card as their offense is projected to do well, but with the team seemingly floundering of late, it could be another miserable year in Winston-Salem.

Miami

Isn’t it great to finally see Miami become a powerhouse again? Earlier in the 21st century they had some of the best talent in the nation that some claim were NFL ready talent. They used to be really good and really fun to watch. Then the program languished for what seemed like a long time, but now they are back to being another powerhouse. The turnover chain was a fun thing last season and that camaraderie is great for any team in any sport. They pose the biggest threat to Clemson in the championship game, but they have to get there first. The defense is great and the offense is awesome, but the question mark will be who will man the quarterback position. If they can figure it out, this will be another fun season in Miami.

North Carolina

A few seasons ago they seemed to be a decent team in the conference year in and year out. Now? Not so much. 3-9 last season isn’t exactly a great year. But in 2018? Well, a lot of question marks. Honestly, where the season will go no one can predict. Their offense will need to rebuild after losing key starters and the defense will need to step up if they want to be at least competitive. Otherwise, it will be a long season in Chapel Hill.

Pittsburgh

Inconsistent play has plagued the Panthers the last two seasons as they seem to do well against the better teams, but struggle against squads that are languishing. However, they should do better in 2018 as they have a defense that should at least help them win some games. If they can stay competitive, then promising things could be on the horizon for the program in the coming years.

Virginia

Things don’t look too promising for the Cavaliers this season as some are predicting them to win only a game in conference play. Yes, it is not an easy division by any means, but this could be the one year that might not be pretty to watch. Yes, it will be a seventh straight losing season. Is there promise? Sure, but it will seemingly be a work starting from scratch to rebuild this program into a winner.

Virginia Tech

When the Hokies are one of the best teams in the conference, it’s a good thing for college football. Life is still weird with Frank Beamer not being the head coach, but Justin Fuente has done a great job replacing him as he makes his Virginia Tech a really strong side. There’s a good amount of question marks, but they do have a lot of talent that could answer those early in the season. While they aren’t quite as good as last year, expect them to battle Miami for the division crown which could could be an exciting game to watch. Josh Jackson will be the driving force as the quarterback as he’s truly a pleasure to watch.

 

Predictions

James Rowe: Miami vs Clemson in championship game. Clemson win the conference championship.

Thomas Martin: In the Coastal, I like Virginia Tech, but their schedule gives them a much harder road than Miami, who should easily have 10+ wins this season. In the Atlantic, I just don’t see anyone matching toe-to-toe with Clemson. So, I agree with James: Miami vs. Clemson in the Championship, and a battle-tested Clemson over a Miami who hasn’t had to face much all year. (PS – The turnover chain is stupid).

This Friday it will be another edition of the Aviva Premiership season as eleven squads will try their hand at dethroning the Saracens as champions. With hopes that it will be another exciting season, let’s take a look at each side competing in the 2018-19 campaign.

Bath

Bath is one of those squads that seems to have so much potential, but they always have a disappointing result to their season whether it’s just barely missing the playoffs or just underperforming after making the final in 2014-15. The squad lost one of their top players in Matt Banahan, but they also lost key players in Ben Taupai and Nick Auterac which could hamper them a bit this season. That being said, they did add Jamie Roberts and a young, but talented Joe Cokanasiga to compliment their talented side of Anthony Watson, Rhys Priestland, Jonathan Joseph, and Taulupe Faletau. Maybe they could claw their way into a playoff spot.

Bristol Bears (Promoted from RFU Championship)

Being the newly promoted side only gives more questions than answers, but the hope is that they can prove themselves to be a very formidable squad. They do boast some talent like Ian Madigan and Siale Piutau, but there still are too many questions as to whether they will do well this season. They have made a slew of moves as many have left, but a lot of come in including the legendary George Smith, who will make his move to the Aviva Premiership after the Super Rugby season concluded, and Charles Piutau who will be reunited with his brother.

Exeter Chiefs

Exeter came very close to winning the championship in 2017-18, but ultimately lost to the Saracens in the final even though they finished in first. The expectations are extremely high for them as for some fans its either winning the championship or bust. For three straight seasons they have reached the final so they will be looking to win their second championship in three campaigns. The team is led by Sam and Joe Simmonds, Sam Skinner, Jonny Hill, Santiago Cordero, Lachie Turner, Michele Campagnaro, Nic White, and the newest addition in Alex Cuthbert. This team should be back in the final.

Gloucester

Led by Johan Ackermann, Gloucester scored the most tries in their time in the Premiership last season and have a great offense. However, their defense is suspect as they conceded 73 tries in 2017-18 and because of their defense they failed to finish in the top half of the table. With additions of Danny Cipriani and Matt Banahan along with a few more signings, Gloucester could be a dark horse squad and might even get into the playoffs. The loss of Ross Moriarty will hurt this team the most, but with how good this side will be, it might only be miniscule.

Harlequins

There was a lot of promise for the Harlequins after winning a title back in 2011-12 and had two straight top four finishes, but have since disappointed. They hope to change it around for this campaign. The hope is that their breakout star Marcus Smith can continue his success and that Charlie Walker does more of the same. They did add Paul Lasike from the Utah Warriors of Major League Rugby, but they also brought in Nathan Earle, Nick Auterac, and Ben Tapuai. They did lose some big names like Jamie Roberts to Bath and Adam Jones to retirement. With this squad, there is some slight optimism.

Leicester Tigers

Leicester missed the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons as they finished fifth, but they should still be a favorite to return. They are incredibly talented especially with the likes of George Ford, Johnny May, and Tatafu Polota-Nau, plus they recruited the likes of David Denton and Guy Thompson as they should help improve the club. Keep an eye out for them this season as they could even be the dark horse to win the championship.

Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle had a great season in 2017-18 and are certainly on the rise, but some thought that it was a little fluky that they made it into the playoffs over Leicester. While talented, there are lot’s of questions. However, this season they look to continue that success and prove the critics wrong by getting back into the playoffs. Maybe their first ever appearance in the playoffs since it was introduced to the competition will make them even better. They boast some great players like Vereniki Goneva, Mark Wilson, Calum Green, and Kyle Cooper, plus they added some like Johnny Williams, Paul Mullen, and Logovi’i Mulipola. The loss of Juan Pablo Socino will hurt, but the hope is that they can mitigate that loss as much as possible.

Northampton Saints

While it wasn’t a great campaign last season, Northampton will hope to make some progress in 2018-19. They suffered their worst finish since they were relegated in 2006-07, but a climb up the table will be looked at positively no matter where they finish this season. Their offense seemed to struggle last season with Jamie Gibson being the only bright spot and it hurt that they lost Rob Horne who had to end his career early due to injuries, but they did add Dan Biggar, Ben Franks, James Haskell, and Taqele Naiyaravoro plus they have some young studs in Alex Moon, James Grayson, and Ehren Painter. The hope is that their veterans in Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, and Dylan Hartley pick up the slack.

Sale Sharks

While being one of the more talented sides in the league, they certainly haven’t showed much in the table after finishing eighth last season. There is some great names on the roster like AJ MacGinty, Faf de Klerk, James O’Connor, and Marland Yarde and they added a name like Chris Ashton, who is so explosive on offense, along with Rohan Janse van Rensburg, they should make them more exciting to watch. The losses of TJ Ioane and Will Addison should not be much of a factor with Ashton on the squad, but it would have been great had they stayed.

Saracens

The Saracens will be the team that every one will be gunning for this season as they are the defending champions and have been the champions for the third time in four campaigns. The hope is to make it four out of five in 2018-19. They boast a grand amount of talent that continues to make them the favorites as they have Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje, Will Skelton, and Owen Farrell on the roster, plus they added David Strettle. This team is scary good.

Wasps

The Wasps are another very good team to watch in this league as they finished third in 2017-18. They have so many good players like Joe Launchbury, Willie le Roux, and Elliot Daly, plus they added some others like Brad Shields and Lima Sopoaga which makes them even better. They did lose some talented players like Guy Thompson, Danny Cipriani, and James Haskell, but they should have no problem making the playoffs again.

Worcester Warriors

This is a very frustrating team as they never seem to want to get better, but are satisfied with staying put instead of trying to improve. They also barely missed out on being relegated last season. With Ben Te’o, Josh Adams, and Francois Hougaard, there is some talent there plus they added Duncan Weir, Francois Venter, Callum Black, and Cornell du Preez. The losses of Andrew Durutalo, David Denton, Jackson Willison, and Will Spencer will have some affect on the team this season.

Predictions

James Rowe: I think the top will be more predictable than the bottom, that being said I believe this will be a very competitive season as you can expect many great battles for playoff spots and for relegation.

Final standings

1. Saracens
2. Exeter Chiefs
3. Leicester
4. Wasps
5. Newcastle Falcons
6. Bath
7. Northampton
8. Sale Sharks
9. Gloucester
10. Harlequins
11. Bristol Bears
12. Worcester Warriors

Argentina vs South Africa

James Rowe: South Africa. At one point I thought Argentina was going to win with how impressive they looked in the first half, but then the Springboks reminded me why they are so good as they came back to win the match. That being said, Argentina really looked decent. Now that Argentina will be hosting this game, I can see them playing even harder and will probably put up a better fight, but honestly South Africa’s pack is so freaking good that not even Argentina’s awesome scrum will be able to compete with them.

New Zealand vs Australia

James: New Zealand. Just as I thought, I had a feeling that the All-Blacks were going to run all over the Wallabies. Australia will need to tighten up their defense if they want to compete as there are too many leaks and it showed in the second half. New Zealand is incredibly talented and are more disciplined, this was an easy decision. Also, it will be behind the All-Blacks crowd, tough to beat that.

I am sure some of you when reading the headline were thinking “It must be some American! He probably doesn’t know anything about football!” Yes, I am an American and I am going to call it soccer, so deal with it, and yes, I do understand and quite well actually. However, hear me out on this because you may actually like the idea as much as I do.

I love watching the Premier League as it’s undoubtedly the best soccer league in the world. I love the drama and watching all the great talent on the field, but as an American who loves watching sports drama, I can’t help but think that such a great league that possesses incredible sports drama, doesn’t have the most dramatic thing about sports, playoffs. Yes, you won’t see the same type of drama like Sergio Aguero’s game winning goal that helped earn Manchester City the championship on the last day of the season, but that could happen in the playoffs too! Heck it already happens in rugby as the Aviva Premiership has one and it’s pretty great to watch. And Super Rugby does too and that might even be better.

A playoff at the end of the season could be a really great addition to the season as it would add more excitement, bring more money into the league, and it gives teams more incentive to play harder at the end of the regular season. So theoretically it could really prove whether Leicester City was truly the best team in 2015-16. Heck, even for this past season, it could have proven whether Manchester City was really as good as advertised. In an article that I found that was trying to make the same argument about introducing a postseason to the Premier League found a great statistic that would suggest having playoffs at the end of the season actually makes sense. It showed of the champions from 2006-07 to 2015-16, how many points earned were from against the top eight teams in the league. Here is what he found:

1. 2011/12 Manchester City 41.5%
2. 2007/08 Manchester United 38%
3. 2006/07 Manchester United 33.7%
4. 2013/14 Manchester City 33.7%
5. 2010/11 Manchester United 31%
6. 2009/10 Chelsea 29%
7. 2014/15 Chelsea 28.7%
8. 2012/13 Manchester United 27%
9. 2015/16 Leicester City 26%
10. 2008/09 Manchester United 22%

So as you can see there, outside of Manchester City’s championship in 2011-12, each of the winners won the championship by getting points from most of the teams outside of the top eight. That’s unfair. A postseason would be a better indicator who is the best team that season. When it’s the same top five clubs vying for the championship every year, it creates a very stagnant and boring competition to watch where as here in the United States, every team has a realistic chance. Seeing Leicester City win in 2015-16 actually made the competition so worth watching that even non soccer fans legitimately were interested in what happened. It get’s boring just to see Manchester United, City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool contend year and year out just to see who is the top dog in the competition (maybe it’s also because I’m an Everton fan and I want them to realistically have a chance of winning the championship). It might even finally allow Tottenham to win the title finally.

Here in the United States we have Major League Soccer. It’s our top domestic league. While the quality is not quite the same as the Premier League, MLS has something the Premier League does not, a postseason. I don’t usually watch MLS, but when I do it’s during their playoffs as it’s one of the most dramatic and most fun things in soccer. If Premier League had such a thing, I guarantee it will automatically be the most fun thing to watch for the sport. Maybe even more so than the World Cup (bold statement, I know).

So what should the playoffs in the Premier League look like? Well I have a few different proposals. My first proposal is that the top six teams advance to the playoffs with the two best sides getting byes. The three seed would play the six seed and the fourth would play the fifth as those matchups are single elimination. Then in the semi-finals and finals, the teams would play two matches (or legs if you want to call it that) and advance/win the championship based off of aggregate goals. Another simpler version of the proposal that I just proposed is having the whole tournament as single elimination.

My third proposal is just like the one above which was also used in the article I reference (the bracket is actually the same one used in the same story) as the top ten sides advance to the postseason. I like this idea only because there is absolutely no parity in the Premier League and if a team like Stoke City in the above bracket gets hot, they theoretically have a chance of winning the championship that year. However, in my opinion, that’s too many teams in the postseason. While it could be more fun and would bring in more money, it waters down the competition. This is the Premier League after all and the postseason should be the most premier soccer playoffs.

My fourth proposal is that it’s a best of eight clubs advancing to the postseason with in the first two rounds there are two matches played in each matchup with the winner advancing based off aggregate goals with the championship round being single elimination. And with my final proposal is to have the same thing that I just mentioned except every matchup is single elimination.

There are some complications here as the most important one is how do you fit it on the calendar. That’s why a single elimination tournament for a postseason would work best as it would not affect anything during the offseason that would conflict with international matches. While I personally would like to see a postseason with two legs per round, single elimination actually would be better logistically, possibly economically, and in terms of drama.

I think a lot of people from outside of the United States will be automatically resistant to the idea of a postseason, but trust me, here in America, we really love postseasons as they are so much fun to watch. We live and breathe in it as so much drama occurs, but there are also benefits to it as well as more money is brought into the sports because of playoffs. I also guarantee more Americans would become more interested in soccer if the Premier League introduced such a thing. And who knows, the people who follow the Premier League who live outside of the United Kingdom and the residents of the U.K. might fall in love with the idea as well. I think the drama of the knockout stage of this World Cup has even proven that this concept could work. Just give it a thought and better yet give it a chance.