- Thread starter
- #1
BoiseStateFan27
Sir Member
- 57,437
- 3,272
- 293
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2009
- Hoopla Cash
- $ 364.36
- Fav. Team #1
- Fav. Team #2
- Fav. Team #3
Who do you think is going to surprise everyone similar to Kentucky and Syracuse last year?
ACC: Florida State - it feels weird calling them a sleeper but Kendal Briles for all the controversy he brings was a great hire to fix the offense, the next bad offense he fields will be his first. It's scary to think what he can do with those receivers and Cam Akers. The offensive line is still bad but Briles for the most part will scheme around it. Florida State will be the best non-Clemson ACC team.
AAC: Navy - things have fallen apart the past few years for Ken Niumatalolo but he's a good coach. I think the additional attention to detail this offseason will lead to a turnaround for Navy. They might not win the division but I think they can win 8 games.
Big 10: Minnesota - with how loaded the East division is, it's clear the sleeper has to come out of the West. PJ Fleck really got things rolling for Minnesota late last year, including the huge road domination of Wisconsin. I think they'll build on that momentum and a big key to the division race, Minnesota's cross division games are very favorable. They get the two worst East teams in Rutgers and Maryland, and the only tough East opponent they get in Penn State is at home.
Big 12: Oklahoma State - I don't know if there was any team in the nation that found a more bizarre path to 7-6. They were impressive against the best opponent on their schedule, going 3-1 against opponents ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game, the only loss being a failed 2 point conversion in a 1 point loss to playoff bound Oklahoma. The point here is, this team had the upside and if they can consistently play at that level they're the team that can disrupt Oklahoma or Texas from winning the conference. If that isn't enough, the last time Gundy went 7-6 he rebounded to a Sugar bowl appearance the following year.
Conference USA: Charlotte - There's a lot of separation between the top teams and the bottom teams of this league. Charlotte actually made improvements last year but made a coaching change anyway. Will Healy was a great hire, he can win at places like this and shows it right away. Charlotte makes a bowl.
MAC: Eastern Michigan - Chris Creighton has done an incredible job with this program because it was once pretty much the worst program in the nation. Even winning 4 games was a feat now they've surpassed that win total each of the past 3 years. They're also very competitive, of their 13 losses the last two years only TWO were by double digits, no losses by more than 15 points. They breakthrough and start winning the close games, winning a surprise division title.
MWC: Hawaii - Finally the run and shoot is back on the islands and now Hawai'i is fun again. With QB Cole McDonald back this offense should be even better this year. The talk is that the West division will be decided between Fresno State and San Diego State but Hawai'i gets both foes at home. There's a few obstacles in the way, a non-conference schedule that opens with 3 Pac-12 teams could destroy their confidence if they can't take one of the home games against Arizona or Oregon State and their young defense needs to take a step up.
Pac-12: Stanford - It's very odd hearing so little talk about Stanford as a division title contenders but here we are. Really anyone in this conference could be a sleeper. Stanford was not their normal selves last year as they're normally known for a strong run game but last year the run game absolutely capsized. If their offensive line can improve in that aspect this year, watch out.
SEC: Missouri - It's going to be tough for anyone to crack above the top 6 in the SEC, those teams are pretty far ahead but Missouri has a shot to upset that balance. They bring in Kelly Bryant to steady the QB position and their schedule is as easy as possible for SEC play. They play in the East division and they get the two worst West teams in Ole Miss and Arkansas. Missouri also hosts Florida who they've played well against the past few years, they could finish 2nd in the East.
Sun Belt: UL-Monroe - They have a lot of good playmakers on the offense, two years ago their defense was a major issue and last year their defense made a lot more improvement than expected. However, the offense made too many mistakes turning it over which prevented them from making a bowl. This year the offense cleans things up to allow for bigger improvement.
ACC: Florida State - it feels weird calling them a sleeper but Kendal Briles for all the controversy he brings was a great hire to fix the offense, the next bad offense he fields will be his first. It's scary to think what he can do with those receivers and Cam Akers. The offensive line is still bad but Briles for the most part will scheme around it. Florida State will be the best non-Clemson ACC team.
AAC: Navy - things have fallen apart the past few years for Ken Niumatalolo but he's a good coach. I think the additional attention to detail this offseason will lead to a turnaround for Navy. They might not win the division but I think they can win 8 games.
Big 10: Minnesota - with how loaded the East division is, it's clear the sleeper has to come out of the West. PJ Fleck really got things rolling for Minnesota late last year, including the huge road domination of Wisconsin. I think they'll build on that momentum and a big key to the division race, Minnesota's cross division games are very favorable. They get the two worst East teams in Rutgers and Maryland, and the only tough East opponent they get in Penn State is at home.
Big 12: Oklahoma State - I don't know if there was any team in the nation that found a more bizarre path to 7-6. They were impressive against the best opponent on their schedule, going 3-1 against opponents ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game, the only loss being a failed 2 point conversion in a 1 point loss to playoff bound Oklahoma. The point here is, this team had the upside and if they can consistently play at that level they're the team that can disrupt Oklahoma or Texas from winning the conference. If that isn't enough, the last time Gundy went 7-6 he rebounded to a Sugar bowl appearance the following year.
Conference USA: Charlotte - There's a lot of separation between the top teams and the bottom teams of this league. Charlotte actually made improvements last year but made a coaching change anyway. Will Healy was a great hire, he can win at places like this and shows it right away. Charlotte makes a bowl.
MAC: Eastern Michigan - Chris Creighton has done an incredible job with this program because it was once pretty much the worst program in the nation. Even winning 4 games was a feat now they've surpassed that win total each of the past 3 years. They're also very competitive, of their 13 losses the last two years only TWO were by double digits, no losses by more than 15 points. They breakthrough and start winning the close games, winning a surprise division title.
MWC: Hawaii - Finally the run and shoot is back on the islands and now Hawai'i is fun again. With QB Cole McDonald back this offense should be even better this year. The talk is that the West division will be decided between Fresno State and San Diego State but Hawai'i gets both foes at home. There's a few obstacles in the way, a non-conference schedule that opens with 3 Pac-12 teams could destroy their confidence if they can't take one of the home games against Arizona or Oregon State and their young defense needs to take a step up.
Pac-12: Stanford - It's very odd hearing so little talk about Stanford as a division title contenders but here we are. Really anyone in this conference could be a sleeper. Stanford was not their normal selves last year as they're normally known for a strong run game but last year the run game absolutely capsized. If their offensive line can improve in that aspect this year, watch out.
SEC: Missouri - It's going to be tough for anyone to crack above the top 6 in the SEC, those teams are pretty far ahead but Missouri has a shot to upset that balance. They bring in Kelly Bryant to steady the QB position and their schedule is as easy as possible for SEC play. They play in the East division and they get the two worst West teams in Ole Miss and Arkansas. Missouri also hosts Florida who they've played well against the past few years, they could finish 2nd in the East.
Sun Belt: UL-Monroe - They have a lot of good playmakers on the offense, two years ago their defense was a major issue and last year their defense made a lot more improvement than expected. However, the offense made too many mistakes turning it over which prevented them from making a bowl. This year the offense cleans things up to allow for bigger improvement.
that is all 
