It's time to kick off a new football season! College
football begins September 3rd, so here's a look at the top teams, starting with
my top 21-40.
40. Miami: The Canes haven't been covering numbers (6-15 ATS
run) but Al Golden's team returns dazzling sophomore QB Brad Kaaya (3,198
yards, 26 TDs, 12 INTs). They averaged 29.3 points and 250 yards passing.
The Hurricanes had one of the better offensive lines in the ACC, allowing only
21 sacks, helping rushers average 5.3 yards per carry. The defense lacks
a pass rush but allowed 24.3 ppg and returns a deep LB corps, including soph
Al-Quadin Muhammad, who was suspended last season. They will start 2-0
before hosting Nebraska (Sept. 19), a revenge game after a 41-31 road
loss.
39. Northern Illinois: A slow start and a hot finish have
the Huskies primed to dominant the MAC in 2015 after going 11-3. The offense
struck for 31.5 points, 192 yards passing and 249 yards rushing. Junior
QB Drew Hare (18 TDs, 2 INTs) solidified the passing game and senior WR
Tommylee Lewis is a big play threat who was on the shelf most of last
fall.
The ground attack returns Joel Bouagnon (655 yards,
5.8 ypc), plus All-MAC center Andrew Ness and guard Aidan Conlon return for
their fourth years in the starting lineup. The defense excelled down the
stretch (7-4 run under the total) and the Huskies return seven of their top
eight linemen, five of sixLBs, and eight of nine defensive backs. They
need to survive a tough stretch September 19 playing 4 of 5 away - beginning at
Ohio State!
38. North Carolina: Coach Larry Fedora runs attacking
offenses and his team returns 10 starters on offense, 6 on defense. This
offense averaged 33.2 points, 151 yards rushing and 278 passing (28th) and
returns senior QB Marquise Williams (21 TDs, 9 INTs). 5 starters are back on
offensive line that gave up just 25 ACC sacks.
Junior RB T.J. Logan (582 yards) and Elijah
Hood are back, a former top-10 RB prospect. The WRs loaded behind 6-4 senior
Quinshad Davis and sophomore All-American return ace Ryan Switzer (757 yards).
New defensive coordinator Gene Chizk overhauls a unit that allowed 39 ppg,
returning a strong secondary and an experienced LB corps.
37. Cincinnati: Tommy Tuberville's Bearcats scorched
defenses last year averaging 34 points and 303.6 yards passing (13th in the
nation). They will be fine behind 6-4 junior QB Gunner Kiel (31 TDs, 13 INTs)
and senior WR Shaq Washington (761 yards) leading this four-wideout offense.
The D-line is a weak spot, but the secondary is strong behind ball-hawking
safety Zach Edwards (121 tackles) and cornerback Adrian Witty, who missed time
last year. They don't play Ohio State like in 2014, so the schedule is much
easier.
36. Penn State: The offense can't be as bad as 2014
and the defense should be one of the best in the Big 10. Senior DE Garrett
Sickels and tackle Anthony Zettel return up front to a Nittany Lions defense
that ranked seventh in the nation allowing 18.6 ppg. The offense was terrible
under first-year coach James Franklin allowing a Big Ten-worst 44 sacks. 6-7
Juco transfer Tackle Paris Palmer is aboard to help the line for talented 6-4
junior QB Christian Hackenberg (12 TDs, 15 INTs). He has fine targets in
sophomore WR DaeSean Hamilton (899 yards) and junior WR Geno Lewis (751 yards).
Hard to believe Penn State is on a 21-13 run over the total.
35. Utah: Kyle Whittingham's team won 9 games and
returns 6 on offense, 5 on defense. This balanced attack averaged 31.3 points
and over 190 yards rushing and passing. The offense will be fine returning 6-6
seniors QB Travis Wilson (18 TDs, 5 INTs) and RB Devontae Booker (1,512 yards,
5.2 ypc). Marcus Williams returns to the defensive line after posting 59
tackles along with Tevin Carter and Andre Godfrey. The defense allowed 24.9 ppg
(43rd) and the Utes are on a 17-9 run under the total
34. Virginia Tech: It's now or never for Frank Beamer's
Hokies to get back to the 10-win mark. 9 starters are back on offense, 8 on D.
The offense has been a problem (24 ppg) and sophomore QB Andrew Ford would
probably be a better choice over senior QB Michael Brewer (18 TDs, 15 INTs).
The skill positions on offense are good and the defense should be great after
allowing 20 ppg (14th in the nation). Sack artist senior DT Luther Maddy
returns with cornerback Brandon Facyson to what should be one of the ACC's top
defenses. But can this offense improve? V-Tech is on a 31-19-2 run under the
total.
33. Arizona State: Coach Todd Graham is off a pair of 10-win
seasons and returns 6 starters on offense, 7 on defense. Senior QB Mike
Bercovici (12 TDs, 4 INTs) shared time with Taylor Kelly, but had back-to-back
games against USC and UCLA throwing for 488 and 510 yards, 8 TDs, 2 picks.
Senior RB D.J. Foster (1,081 yards, 5.6 ypc)
also caught 62 passes for 688 yards. The defense (27.9 ppg allowed) returns
senior NT Jaxon Hood and senior safety Jordan Simone to a unit that has upside.
They open against Texas A&M at Houston's NRG stadium and have only
two tough road games (UCLA, Utah). The Sun Devils are on a 16-11 run over
the total.
32. Tennessee: It's taken three years but Coach Butch Jones
has built a rising newcomer and the Vols see this as their breakthrough season.
11 starters are back on offense, 8 on defense. Junior QB Joshua Dobbs (9 TDs, 6
INTs) operates a fast-pace attack with sophomore RB Jalen Hurd (889 yards) and
a slew of wideouts. The main concern is an offensive line that is experienced
but allowed 43 sacks.
The defense gave up just 24.2 ppg and is loaded, led
by sophomore DE Derek Barnett and DT Owen Williams. They had the SEC's
second-best third-down defense (34 percent). The Vols host Oklahoma in Week 2
(a 34-10 loss in 2014), and the toughest road games are at Florida, Bama and
Missouri. Tennessee is on a 22-13-2 run over the total run.
31. Louisville: Head Coach Bobby Petrino is off a 9-4 season
but returns only 4 starters on both sides of the ball. The good news is junior
QB Will Gardner (12 TDs, 3 picks) returns along with 5-9 junior RB Brandon
Radcliff (737 yards). 3 QBs combined for 21 TDs, 10 picks. The
defense was strong (21.8 ppg allowed) but lost its top players up front. The
secondary adds Georgia transfers Shaq Wiggins and Josh Harvey-Clemons.
The Cardinals have been dangerous as a dog: 3 years
ago they beat Florida in the Sugar bowl, 33-23, as a +14 dog and in 2013
whipped Miami, 36-9 as -5 chalk. Last year they won at Notre Dame (31-28) as +3
dog and lost 23-17 at Clemson as +9.
30. Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy's no-huddle offense returns
senior QB J.W. Walsh, who barely played in 2014 because of injuries. Senior QB
Daxx Garman (12 TDs, 12 INTs) is also back along with 6-4 sophomore QB Mason
Rudolph (6 TDs, 4 INTs, 853 yards). The ground game disappeared (136 yards per
game) as the porous O-line allowed 40 sacks.
On the plus side, the wide receivers are deep. The
defense slipped from 21st in points allowed to 94th (31.2 ppg). DE Emmanuel
Ogbah, LB Ryan Simmons and CB Kevin Peterson anchor a unit that should bounce
back. Instead of opening vs. Florida State like last year, they open with
Central Michigan, Central Arkansas, UTSA, then at Texas.
29. Nebraska: Bo Pelini is out, but the Huskers scooped up
former Oregon State coach Mike Riley and his pro-style offense. The
offense averaged 37.8 points and returns junior QB Tommy Armstrong (22 TDs, 12
INTs) plus senior RB Imani Cross (384 yards, 5.1 ypc). The shaky defense
returns 5 starters, but allowed 59, 28, 34 and 45 the last four (1-3).
The schedule is in their favor, with 4 of 6 at home to start, plus road
games at Miami, Minnesota, Purdue and Rutgers are winnable. Nebraska is 22-12
SU/21-11 ATS on the road.
28. Texas: Coach Charlie Strong improved the defense (23.8
ppg allowed) and the offense will be more stable after a chaotic 2014 with
suspensions and injuries. 5 starters are back on the offensive line along with
senior RB Johnathan Gray. 6-4 junior QB Tyrone Swoopes (13 TDs, 11 INTs) will
be pressed by freshman QB Kai Locksley, a four-star recruit who flipped from
Florida State to Texas. The Texas defense held opponents to just 4.7 yards per
play and adds freshman LB Malik Jefferson, one of the top high school LBs, a
big coup. They open at Notre Dame and totals' bettors take note: The Longhorns
are on a 17-9 run under the total.
27. BYU: The Cougars have great stability with 11-year Coach
Bronco Mendenhall. This offense has exceptional balance after averaging 37.1
points, 278.7 yards passing and 181.8 yards rushing and returns dual-threat
senior QB Taysom Hill (7 TDs, 3 INTs). Two years ago he threw 19 TDs and ran
for 1,344 yards. They were 4-0 in 2014 before Hill broke his leg.
He teams with senior RB Jamaal Williams (775,
1,233 and 518 yds the last 3 years) and talented WR Mitch Mathews (922 yds).
The defense took a step back prompting Mendenhall to get more involved. This
should be a highly motivated squad, after a bowl loss to Memphis (55-48)
followed by a postgame brawl. BYU is on an 8-2 run over the total, as well as
3-8 ATS.
26. UCLA: Fourth-year coach Jim Mora, Jr, has to replace
star QB Brett Hundley but he thinks he found the next "Mr. Football" in 6-4
freshman Josh "Chosen" Rosen, the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the nation.
Fortunately the skill positions are deep with junior RB Paul Perkins (1,575
yards, 6.3 ypc), and senior WRs Devin Fuller, Jordan Payton (954 yards) and 6-3
junior Thomas Duarte (540 yards).
The defense (28 ppg allowed) has 6 starters back and
a new defensive coordinator for the second straight year in Tom Bradley.
Road games are at Arizona, Stanford, Utah and USC (Utah is a revenge game
after a 28-20 loss as -13 chalk).
25. Kansas State: Is there a better coach than Bill Snyder?
He continues to amaze, on a 15-5 SU, 15-7 ATS run. 6 starters are back on
offense, 8 on defense. The Wildcats averaged 35.8 ppg but have a relatively new
QB in junior Joe Hubener (235 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). The offensive line
returns four starters, including standout left tackle Cody Whitehair, and junior
RB Charles Jones (540 yards).
The defense has been Top 30 in points allowed
in each of the last two seasons and should be strong with safety Dante Barnett,
defensive lineman Travis Britz, CB Morgan Burns. They get 5 bowl teams at home
and the only tough road games are at Ok-State and Texas.
24. Clemson: Clemson has 11, 11 and 10 wins the last three
years for Coach Dabo Swinney, though only 4 starters are back on offense, 2 on
defense. 6-3 sophomore QB Deshaun Watson (14 TDs, 2 picks) returns (67.9%
completions) along with a deep wide receiver crop, including junior Mike
Williams (1,030 yds, 18.1 ypc). The defensive line lost its top players, so
junior DE Shaq Lawson steps up to a unit that was third in the nation allowing
16.7 ppg. The Tigers are 32-21 ATS the last four years.
23. Oklahoma: Bob Stoops has 7 starters back on
offense, 6 on defense. This ground attack ranked 11th in the nation with 261
yards per game and returns Junior QB Trevor Knight (14 TDs, 12 INTs) and
sophomore RB Samaje Perine (1,713 yards, 21 TDs, 6.5 ypc) was a beast as a
freshman. New offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley comes over from East Carolina
where they ran uptempo attacks.
The linebacking corps returns intact, plus LB
Frank Shannon is back after a suspension, a former 4-star recruit. The
defensive front has junior DT Matt Romar and senior DE Charles Tapper.
Oklahoma is on a 24-12-1 run over the total.
22. Arizona: Fourth-year Coach Rich Rodriguez runs a
zone-read spread option attack that struck for 34.5 points, 281 yards passing
and 182 rushing per contest. He found a gem in Sophomore QB Anu Solomon, (28
TDs, 9 INTs). Teamed with Junior RB Nick Wilson (1,375 yards, 5.8 ypc, 16 TDs)
and senior WR Cayleb Jones (1,018 yards) this offense should hum. Only 5
starters are back on defense, but one is amazing LB Scooby Wright. They will
start 3-0, then host UCLA and go to Stanford. They won't play Oregon (a
51-13 loss), unless they meet in the Pac 12 title game.
21. Boise State: No
slowing down the Broncos, who won 12 games and return 17 starters. 9 starters
return on offense, though sophomore QB Ryan Finley (161 yards) has to step in.
The offense averaged 39.7 points, 280 yards passing and 214 rushing. They won't
score as much, but the defense is loaded (26.8 ppg allowed) led by M-West sack
leader Kamalei Correa (12), Darian Thompson (7 picks) and cornerback Donte
Deayon (6 picks, 2 TDs). They have September road tests at BYU and Virginia.
For Jim Fiest winning picks click here