by
Todd
Helmick
THE
2013 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
IN A NUTSHELL
THE
GUARANTEED TOP TEAMS FOR 2013
The Top 5 teams to start the
year now that every preseason
magazine and poll under the
summer sun is out, are Alabama,
Stanford, Oregon, Ohio State
and either Georgia or Texas
A&M. The order may vary,
but the teams won't.
The
one aspect that really sticks
out with this 2013 preview
is the fact that the Top 10
teams currently dotting the
2012 polls will be pretty
much the same exact Top 10
teams in the 2013 polls. For
one reason or another all
these teams bring back the
most returning players. LSU
is the exception as they take
a massive drop out of that
list considering 11 Bayou
Bengals declared early for
the NFL. The best explanation
as to why the Top 10 rarely
changes from season to season
has to do with recruiting.
Many lesser ranked teams heavily
rely on seniors so the turnover
is always much greater. These
Top 10 programs rely on the
best man, which many times
is an underclassman.
TRENDS
AND STANFORD
The biggest trend NationalChamps.net
can see at this point is what
actually wins football games.
Sure, spread offenses, big
time statistics, high scoring
offenses and Heisman quarterbacks
now lighting up the NFL are
great. However, the SEC has
won seven straight national
championships for a different
reason. Notre Dame made this
year's national championship
for a different reason...great
line of scrimmage, great defense,
run with the ball. In fact,
heading into the 2012 season,
Alabama was considered as
having the best offensive
line unit in the country.
Notre Dame was second. That
is why Stanford should be
an overwhelming preseason
choice to push for Top 2 or
3 preseason status. Stanford
head coach David Shaw has
been wondering out loud why
his team isn't getting the
respect it deserves in the
rankings. Be careful what
you wish for David. Stanford
now goes from being the hunter
to the hunted with a target
on the chest. Playing Oregon
and Notre Dame on the road
in 2012 were great challenges
but nothing compared to the
pressure Stanford will get
week-in-and-week-out now from
opponents.
SURPRISE
TEAMS
Looking for a team no one
might see coming next year?
In terms of national championship
possibilities look no further
than Louisville. The Boise
State of 2013 will be...Boise
State. But look out for East
Carolina from Conference USA.
LOUISVILLE
If the complete beat down
of a highly rated Florida
Gator team in the Sugar Bowl
didn't wake up college football
fans from around the country
in regards to quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater and what
head coach Charlie Strong
is accomplishing in Louisville
these days, nothing will.
Beating Florida was not a
fluke. Throw in the fact Louisville
has 17 starters coming back
and the fact the Cardinals
will face another year of
watered down Big East opponents
plus a non-conference schedule
that has Ohio, Eastern Kentucky,
Florida International and
Kentucky on the list and the
makings for a title run seem
very possible.
TOP
5 SURPRISE TEAMS
Outside of the national championship
discussions...
1.
Ole Miss - The Rebels compete
in the SEC so, NO, the Rebels
aren't going to be competing
for a post-season trip to
Atlanta for the SEC Championship
Game. Out of everyone we evaluated
from the current 2012 BCS
Poll Top 75 teams, nobody
else brings back 20 starters.
But what sells the Rebels
wasn't their big win over
in-state rival Mississippi
State in the Egg Bowl finale
or the fact they return so
many starters. This is about
the way Ole Miss hung tough
versus top SEC competition.
Both Texas A&M and LSU
were more than happy to come
out victorious against the
Rebels by less than a touchdown.
The convincing bowl win over
Pittsburgh only furthered
the Ole Miss promise for 2013.
2.
Texas - Again, another team
bringing back a ton of starters.
The pressure is on in Austin
as the Longhorn faithful seems
to believe head coach Mack
Brown has been doing less
with more in regards to wins
vs. talent. Beating Oregon
State in the Alamo Bowl carries
this a step further in regards
to higher expectations. The
Longhorns are poised for a
Top 10 push...on paper that
is.
3.
Miami FL - The Hurricanes
just don't have any defense
while ranking near the bottom
of the ACC in almost every
single defensive statistic.
The NCAA still has an investigative
cloud over the program in
regards to what sanctions
might be on the way. But none
of this has kept head coach
Al Golden off the successful
recruiting path. This team,
especially the defense, was
extremely young. Stephen Morris
is improving as a passing
quarterback and the skill
positions have speed and talent
behind a veteran offensive
line. This is shaping up to
be the best offense in the
ACC.
4.
East Carolina - With 18 starters
returning it's likely they
will be the favorite to win
Conference USA. Whether that
can equate to a Top 25 ranking
at some point remains to be
seen. But non-conference opponents
North Carolina, NC State and
Virginia Tech better take
upset notice.
5.
Washington - Seattle is just
waiting for something to give
with the Huskies in regards
to getting some Top 25 respect.
The upcoming season offers
a great chance to get that
respect. With 18 starters
coming back, QB Keith Price,
RB Bishop Sankey, All-American
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins
among them, this Husky team
is going to make it.
CHANGE
From head coaches, to players
leaving early, to conference
realignment...nothing represents
change more than what 2013
will offer. But not so in
regards to King of the Hill
discussions. The SEC will
continue to dominate college
football and this year's Top
10 will be next year's Top
10.
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