Conference Winner Predictions

ACC: Clemson
Clemson won the ACC last season and I expect them to repeat. The Tigers return starting QB Tajh Boyd who threw for 3828 yards and 33 touchdowns. They also return 1000-yard rusher Andre Ellington as well as explosive receivers Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins. I do have concerns about their defense which 29 points per game including 70 to West Virginia. However their defense didn't keep them from winning the ACC last year. They also bring in a Top 10 recruiting class which should include some early contributors.
 
Big East: Louisville
The Big East is bad. Without West Virgina the Big East could finish the season without a ranked team. That said, I believe that Louisville will win the Big East this year. The Louisville offense was sluggish last year, but with a year under his belt, sophomore Teddy Bridgewater should be able to make some better decisions and limit the turnovers. Bridgewater's first career pass was an interception, but he got better as the year went on. The question is will his offensive line give him enough protection. The Cardinals O-Line gave up 41 sacks last season. Unlike the offense, the defense was solid, a trend which I expect to continue. Louisville was 17th in the NCAA in points allowed, giving up only 20 per game. However Preston Brown is the only experienced linebacker returning, some younger players will need to step up.
 
Big 10: Michigan
Michigan made a big turnaround last season under first-year coach Brady Hoke. Last season the Wolverines made it back to a BCS bowl for the first time since the 2006 season, defeating Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Denard Robinson returns for his senior year after running for nearly 1200 yards and passing  for over 2100 yards, combining for 36 touchdowns. Michigan also returns 1000-yard rusher Fitzgerald Toussaint. Michigan had one of the bests defenses in the nation, ranking sixth in points allowed. The Wolverines will need to find a replacement for wide receiver Junior Hemingway. Expect Jeremy Gallon and Roy Roundtree to up their production.
 
Big 12: Oklahoma
As usual Oklahoma will be the favorite to win the Big 12, they have had some serious problems with their receiving core. Trey Franks, Jaz Reynolds, and Kameel Jackson have all been suspended for an extensive amount of games, leaving Kenny Stills as the only OU wide receiver who had a catch last year. Fortunately for OU they are bringing in the country's best wide receiver class including spring standout Trey Metoyer who will more than likely now be their number two receiver. Oklahoma lost leading tackler Travis Lewis but look for Corey Nelson to step up. The Sooners are strong at most positions and return QB Landry Jones.

C-USA: Tulsa
Tulsa's only conference loss came to Houston, and without Case Keenum and Kevin Sumlin I expect Houston to fall off a bit. The Golden Hurricane lose quarterback GJ Kinne, and the battle for the starting spot will come down to Kalen Henderson and Nebraska transfer Cody Green. I expect Green to secure the spot. Tulsa returns all 3 contributing runningbacks: Ja'Terian Douglas, Ted Watts, and Alex Singleton. Douglas averaged almost 8 yards per carry last season. Tulsa also returns their top two receivers: Willie Carter and Bryan Burnham. The Golden Hurricane lost their best defender, linebacker Curnelius Arnick as well as linebacker Alan Dock. I expect Cody Wilson and DeAundre Brown to join Shawn Jackson as the starting linebackers.

MAC: Ohio
Dual-threat quarterback Tyler Tettleton was very impressive last season, passing for more than 3300 yards and rushing for nearly 700 yards. Unfortunately the bulk of his receiving core is gone. Donte Foster will be expected to step up as the number one receiver, while the other spots are wide open. Runningback Donte Harden, who ran for nearly 1000 yards is gone. However, the Bobcats return Beau Blankenship and Ryan Boykin who combined for nearly 900 yards. The Bobcats return most of their defense and Gerald Moore is a guy who can make a lot of plays.

MWC: Boise State
The Broncos lose their starting quarterback and runningback, but that's never slowed them down before. Kellen Moore broke several records including most wins in a career by a starting quarterback. Whoever comes next won't be able to replace him, but the Broncos will still put up a lot of points. With TCU gone I don't see anyone who can stop Boise State from winning the Mountain West in their last season before heading to the Big East. Joe Southwick will most likely be the starting QB this season.  Matt Miller, Mitch Burroughs and Geraldo Boldewijn make up a solid receiving core. DJ Harper should be the starting runningback with Drew Wright also getting carries. The really question mark is the defense, which only returns one starter. The defense won't be as good as it was last season but expect it to be good enough.

Pac 12: USC
Would not have picked the Trojans to win the Pac-12 if Matt Barkley wasn't returning. He gave up being a top 10 draft choice to come back his senior year citing "unfinished business". Barkley will be one of the frontrunners for the Heisman and he has the guys around him to do it. First, USC returns prolific receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. The two combined for 184 receptions for 2435 yards and 26 touchdowns. Also return starting tight end Randall Telfer. USC gets back 1000-yard rusher Curtis McNeal who averaged nearly seven yards-per-carry last season. At linebacker USC brings back Freshman All-Americans Hayes Pullard and Dion Bailey. Monte Kiffins defense should continue to improve. USC will be a serious title contender as they are now bowl eligible.

SEC: Alabama
The Crimson Tide is looking to repeat as National Champions. They lost Heisman finalist Trent Richardson and a bulk of their defense to the NFL, but Alabama has the talent to reload. Eddie Lacy will be the top back, with Jalston Fowler and Dee Hart also receiving carries. The two of them will need to step up big as Alabama is a run-first team. The Crimson Tide will have some new faces at receiver, as Kenny Bell's 17 catches for 255 yards is the most of any returning receiver. Bama will have familiarity at QB, as AJ McCarron returns for his second year as starter. The defense will be the real question mark as the Crimson Tide lost 6 defenders to the NFL and several others to graduation. However, Nick Saban has never failed to field a top tier defense.

Sun Belt: Arkansas State
The Red Wolves are looking to repeat as Sun Belt champions. With Hugh Freeze leaving for Ole Miss, Auburn OC Gus Malzahn takes over as head coach. Seasoned quarterback Ryan Aplin returns for his senior season, but still needs to limit the turnovers. He's also a threat on the ground and was the Red Wolves' leading rusher last season. Former Auburn starting runningback Michael Dyer transferred to Arkansas State, but is no long with the team. I'd expect Frankie Jackson to be the starter at runningback this season, but that isn't set in stone. Aplin loses his favorite target, Dwayne Frampton. However, he gets back his number two and three targets: Taylor Stockemer and Josh Jarboe. Expect Arkansas State to once again have one of the better defenses in the Sun Belt.

WAC: Louisiana Tech
The WAC is the weakest conference in college football, and the Bulldogs are heavy favorite to repeat as WAC champions in the conference's last year of existence. Nick Isham stared last season but was replaced by Colby Cameron mid-season. Expect Cameron to get the nod this season. Lennon Creer is gone but Hunter Lee showed plenty of promise as a freshman last season and should be able to take over. Leading receiver Quinton Patton returns for his senior season. Patton had 1202 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Myles White and David Gru will be able to fill the hole left by Taulib Ikharo's departure. Louisiana Tech will most likely steamroll its way through the WAC. 

Texas Tech Ring of Honor

Texas Tech recently announced the creation of the Texas Tech Football Ring of Honor which will honor Texas Techs greatest. The names will be placed on Jones AT&T Stadium, similar to the way the Cowboys Ring of Honor is on Cowboys Stadium. Here is who I believe should be in the first class.

1st Class

Donny Anderson, RB - Anderson played football at Texas Tech from 1963-1965 and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He finished fourth in the 1965 Heisman Trophy race which is tied for the highest ever by a Texas Tech football player. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-America and three time All-Southwest Conference. Additional honors include being named The Sporting News National Co-Player of the Year in 1965, and and being inducted in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Anderson was also a punter and was responsible for the creation of the concept of hang-time. He still holds the Texas Tech career kickoff return yardage record. Anderson was drafted seventh overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1965 NFL draft, and started for the Green Bay team that won the first two Super Bowls. Texas Tech retired the #44 in Donny Anderson's honor, one of three players to have their number retired.


Michael Crabtree, WR - Some may want to delay his entrance to the Ring of Honor because of how recently he played for Texas Tech, or the short amount of time he was there, but Crabtree's contribution is significant enough to be included in the first class. Crabtree played football for the Red Raiders in 2007 and 2008 and owns almost ever Texas Tech single season receiving record. He is also considered a shoo-in for the College Football Hall of Fame. His catch in the waning seconds to beat #1 Texas in 2008 was the Capital One Play of the Year and cemented his legacy. Crabtree was a two-time unanimous first team All-American and was the first person to win the Fred Biletnikoff Award twice, an award which recognizes the college football's best receiver. He is also the only freshman to win the award. Crabtree was drafted 10th overall by the San Fransisco 49ers in the 2008 draft, and lead the team in receiving last season. In 2008 he finished 5th in the Heisman voting, the highest of any non-quarterback that year. Crabtree was named AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Year and CBSSports.com Freshman of the Year in 2007. To add to the impressiveness of all his feats, Crabtree never played wide receiver before college.


EJ Holub, C/LB -A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Holub played football at Texas Tech from 1958 to 1960. He was Texas Tech's first two-time consensus All-American; the only other two are Donny Anderson and Michael Crabtree. Holub finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting in 1960, despite being a lineman. He was drafted 6th overall in the 1961 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans, who became the Kansas City Chiefs a couple years later. Holub was a seven time AFL All-Star and four time All-Pro. He is the only player in NFL history to start two Super Bowls on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage (Super Bowl I at linebacker and Super Bowl IV at center). Holub never used injury as an excuse undergoing 12 knee surgeries during his career. He is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs' Hall of Fame and Texas Tech has retired the #55 in his honor. He was the first Texas Tech player to have his number retired.

Dave Parks, WR - By time he left Texas Tech in 1964, Parks owned almost ever Texas Tech receiving record. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Parks was the first Red Raider to be named first-team All-America by The Associated Press. He was twice named first team All-SWC and was named to All-America Blocking Team. Parks was draft first overall in the 1964 draft by the San Fransisco 49ers, and is the only Red Raider to be taken number one overall. He was named to All-Pro Rookie team in 1964 after leading NFL in receiving. Parks was an All-Pro in 1965 and 1966, and played in three Pro Bowls. Texas Tech retire the number 81 in his honor.






Gabe Rivera, DT - Also known as Senor Sack, Rivera was a great player on a pretty bad team. Texas Tech won a total of 13 games during his four seasons, but that didn't stop Rivera from being named a consensus All-American and Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year during his senior season. Rivera started 40 games and had 321 career tackles. His 105 tackles in 1982 is most ever by a Red Raider defensive tackle. This year Gabe Rivera became only the fourth Red Raider to be voted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Rivera was drafted 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1983 but his career ended six games into his rookie season when he was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident.