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iowajerms
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Steele: Nebraska leads teams that are poised for a turnaround in 2019
Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
Making my most improved list has generally been a blessing for teams, as they usually make significant turnarounds. This list consists of teams that had a losing record the previous season that I think can make it to a bowl game in 2019.
Last year Florida was my No. 1 most improved team and went from 4-8 to a top-10 finish. Utah State, which was my No. 2 most improved team, went from 6-7 in 2017 to 11-2 last season. Georgia Southern, my No. 5 team on the list a season ago, had the most significant turnaround of any FBS team in 2018, going from 2-10 to 10-3 and a bowl win.
Note: Win totals courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook, except where noted (*provided by FanDuel).
1. Nebraska Cornhuskers (O/U 8.5 wins)
If you watched the Huskers' first six games last year, they were better than an 0-6 team. In the second half of the season, Nebraska went 4-2, averaged 36.6 points per game and nearly pulled the upset at Ohio State, losing 36-31. The Huskers have 13 starters back, including dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez, who had 2,617 passing yards and 629 rushing yards a year ago. The Huskers are on the right track under head coach Scott Frost and are my pick to come out of the Big Ten West.
2. Florida Atlantic Owls (8*)
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The Owls finished 5-7 after an 11-3 season in 2017. FAU brings in former Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois and former Alabama running back B.J. Emmons on offense. Six starters are back on defense, including linebacker Rashad Smith, who led FAU with 86 tackles in 2018. There is plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, and the Owls will be in contention for the Conference USA East crown.
3. Florida State Seminoles (7)
Last year the Seminoles finished with a losing record for the first time since 1976! I have been waiting for the day to put Florida State on this list and see the Seminoles improving in Year 2 under Willie Taggart, as they have 16 starters back (eight on both sides of the ball). Florida State gets its leading rusher back on offense, and eight of the top 10 tacklers return on defense. The Seminoles have four units that rank in my top 25, and I am looking for them to bounce back in 2019.
4. Virginia Tech Hokies (8)
The Hokies return 16 starters, 10 of them on defense. The Hokies are another team I have waited to put on this list for quite some time, as last year they endured their first losing record since 1992! After losing several key starters on defense in 2018 and allowing 439 yards per game, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster will surely have the Hokies' D back to their typical production, and that will help them get back to a winning record.
5. Air Force Falcons (6.5*)
After reaching three straight bowl games from 2014 to 2016, Air Force is coming off of back-to-back 5-7 finishes. But they have 14 starters returning and jump to No. 25 on my experience chart. Head coach Troy Calhoun enters his 13th season in Colorado Springs, and this is his best team in years. I expect the Falcons to contend in the Mountain West this year.
Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
Making my most improved list has generally been a blessing for teams, as they usually make significant turnarounds. This list consists of teams that had a losing record the previous season that I think can make it to a bowl game in 2019.
Last year Florida was my No. 1 most improved team and went from 4-8 to a top-10 finish. Utah State, which was my No. 2 most improved team, went from 6-7 in 2017 to 11-2 last season. Georgia Southern, my No. 5 team on the list a season ago, had the most significant turnaround of any FBS team in 2018, going from 2-10 to 10-3 and a bowl win.
Note: Win totals courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook, except where noted (*provided by FanDuel).
1. Nebraska Cornhuskers (O/U 8.5 wins)
If you watched the Huskers' first six games last year, they were better than an 0-6 team. In the second half of the season, Nebraska went 4-2, averaged 36.6 points per game and nearly pulled the upset at Ohio State, losing 36-31. The Huskers have 13 starters back, including dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez, who had 2,617 passing yards and 629 rushing yards a year ago. The Huskers are on the right track under head coach Scott Frost and are my pick to come out of the Big Ten West.
2. Florida Atlantic Owls (8*)
Pick the winner of 10 college football games each week (straight up or ranked by confidence) and compete for $8,800 in prizes! Play now for free!
The Owls finished 5-7 after an 11-3 season in 2017. FAU brings in former Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois and former Alabama running back B.J. Emmons on offense. Six starters are back on defense, including linebacker Rashad Smith, who led FAU with 86 tackles in 2018. There is plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, and the Owls will be in contention for the Conference USA East crown.
3. Florida State Seminoles (7)
Last year the Seminoles finished with a losing record for the first time since 1976! I have been waiting for the day to put Florida State on this list and see the Seminoles improving in Year 2 under Willie Taggart, as they have 16 starters back (eight on both sides of the ball). Florida State gets its leading rusher back on offense, and eight of the top 10 tacklers return on defense. The Seminoles have four units that rank in my top 25, and I am looking for them to bounce back in 2019.
4. Virginia Tech Hokies (8)
The Hokies return 16 starters, 10 of them on defense. The Hokies are another team I have waited to put on this list for quite some time, as last year they endured their first losing record since 1992! After losing several key starters on defense in 2018 and allowing 439 yards per game, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster will surely have the Hokies' D back to their typical production, and that will help them get back to a winning record.
5. Air Force Falcons (6.5*)
After reaching three straight bowl games from 2014 to 2016, Air Force is coming off of back-to-back 5-7 finishes. But they have 14 starters returning and jump to No. 25 on my experience chart. Head coach Troy Calhoun enters his 13th season in Colorado Springs, and this is his best team in years. I expect the Falcons to contend in the Mountain West this year.