Top 5 favorites to win the 2011 BCS Championship Game
Although the 2009 college football season just concluded with Alabama defeating Texas for the national championship, it?s already time to start speculating on who?ll win it all in 2010.
The Crimson Tide and Longhorns should be in the hunt once again; however, there will be several other teams competing for the top spot, including a surprise or two.
Alabama Crimson Tide (+200)
Alabama will likely begin next season in the same position it finished this year?the number one-ranked team in the major polls.
If standouts LB Rolando McClain and CB Kareem Jackson go pro early, the Crimson Tide will return only three defensive starters. (Editor?s note: McClain has already declared for the NFL Draft). Nevertheless, ?Bama will simply reload defensively, not rebuild.
Alabama will be extremely stout on offensive, returning eight starters, including QB Greg McElroy, WR Julio Jones and Heisman-winning RB Mark Ingram. The Crimson Tide?s recruiting class is one of the best in the nation, highlighted by defensive back commitments Keenan Allen and DeMarcus Milliner.
The non-conference schedule includes a difficult challenge?a September 11th home date with Penn State. Alabama must also host Florida and travels to Tennessee and LSU in back-to-back games.
Ohio State Buckeyes (+500)
Ohio State will enter the 2010 campaign returning all but one offensive starter and four on defense, although OG Justin Boren and DE Cameron Heyward may depart early for the pros.
Its lone weakness might be its passing game but QB Terrelle Pryor has slowly begun to come into his own, passing for career highs in completions and yards in the Bucks? recent Rose Bowl victory.
Currently, the Buckeyes? high school commitments are not even ranked among the nation?s top 25 classes; however, look for OSU, like most years, to finish strong in recruiting.
Miami (Fla) is the only scare Ohio State will face out of conference while Penn State and Michigan must play in Columbus.
The Buckeyes were possibly the best team in the country the last half of the 2009 season. Expect them to ride that momentum into next year as a viable contender for the national title.
Oregon Ducks (+1000)
Oregon finished this season ranked 11th?its fifth-best finish ever in the AP Poll. Nonetheless, more is expected from the Ducks next year; they very well could start the season a top-five team for the first time in their history.
Only two of 22 offensive and defensive starters do not return for 2010?both on the defensive line. Oregon?s weakest link in ?09 was its secondary; however, in enduring season-long injuries in their defensive backfield, the Ducks gained experience for the upcoming year.
Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and TB LaMichael James will again wreck havoc against Pac-10 defenses; Oregon was sixth in the nation in rushing offense and eighth in scoring offense in ?09.
Cornerback Dior Mathis, Oregon?s top recruit, spurned his native Michigan and will add depth to the Ducks? defensive backfield.
The Ducks travel to Knoxville for a non-conference showdown with Tennessee on September 11th. Their difficult road schedule also includes conference foes USC, California, and Oregon State.
Texas Longhorns (+1200)
Colt McCoy?s injury and freshman QB Garrett Gilbert?s appearance in the BCS title game might have cost Texas the national championship but will benefit its 2010 season as Gilbert gained valuable experience on a big stage.
Gilbert will be without the Longhorns? favorite target, Jordan Shipley, and three starting offensive linemen (four if tackle Kyle Hix leaves early for the NFL). Texas does return a quartet of running backs who combined to rush for 1,400 yards and 24 touchdowns in ?09.
The ?Horns will be dominating on defense; they return eight starters, including all five defensive backs. In addition, Texas will have arguably college football?s greatest recruiting class rivaled only by Oklahoma and USC of non-SEC schools.
As was the case this season, the Longhorns will have a favorable schedule; UCLA at home is their toughest non-conference foe. Texas does have to travel to Nebraska on October 16th for one of the most anticipated games of the 2010 season.
Boise State Broncos (+1300)
The Broncos are absolutely loaded at every position for the upcoming season. Including special teams, all but a single starter return in 2010.
The only possible question mark for Boise State might be its rush defense. Then again, the Broncos held TCU?s stalwart rushing attack to 77 yards and 2.4 yards per carry in the Fiesta Bowl.
With only six current recruiting commitments, BSU?s freshman class is shaping up to finish in the bottom half of all FBS schools; a low-rating frosh class, however, has not kept the Broncos from success in the past.
For the first time in their history, the Broncos will likely be preseason ranked between fifth and 10th in the nation. If Boise State goes undefeated in all 12 regular-season games, including wins over Oregon State and Virginia Tech?both who?ll also be among the preseason ranked?in games three and four, the Broncos could find themselves in the BCS title game come January 2011.
Although the 2009 college football season just concluded with Alabama defeating Texas for the national championship, it?s already time to start speculating on who?ll win it all in 2010.
The Crimson Tide and Longhorns should be in the hunt once again; however, there will be several other teams competing for the top spot, including a surprise or two.
Alabama Crimson Tide (+200)
Alabama will likely begin next season in the same position it finished this year?the number one-ranked team in the major polls.
If standouts LB Rolando McClain and CB Kareem Jackson go pro early, the Crimson Tide will return only three defensive starters. (Editor?s note: McClain has already declared for the NFL Draft). Nevertheless, ?Bama will simply reload defensively, not rebuild.
Alabama will be extremely stout on offensive, returning eight starters, including QB Greg McElroy, WR Julio Jones and Heisman-winning RB Mark Ingram. The Crimson Tide?s recruiting class is one of the best in the nation, highlighted by defensive back commitments Keenan Allen and DeMarcus Milliner.
The non-conference schedule includes a difficult challenge?a September 11th home date with Penn State. Alabama must also host Florida and travels to Tennessee and LSU in back-to-back games.
Ohio State Buckeyes (+500)
Ohio State will enter the 2010 campaign returning all but one offensive starter and four on defense, although OG Justin Boren and DE Cameron Heyward may depart early for the pros.
Its lone weakness might be its passing game but QB Terrelle Pryor has slowly begun to come into his own, passing for career highs in completions and yards in the Bucks? recent Rose Bowl victory.
Currently, the Buckeyes? high school commitments are not even ranked among the nation?s top 25 classes; however, look for OSU, like most years, to finish strong in recruiting.
Miami (Fla) is the only scare Ohio State will face out of conference while Penn State and Michigan must play in Columbus.
The Buckeyes were possibly the best team in the country the last half of the 2009 season. Expect them to ride that momentum into next year as a viable contender for the national title.
Oregon Ducks (+1000)
Oregon finished this season ranked 11th?its fifth-best finish ever in the AP Poll. Nonetheless, more is expected from the Ducks next year; they very well could start the season a top-five team for the first time in their history.
Only two of 22 offensive and defensive starters do not return for 2010?both on the defensive line. Oregon?s weakest link in ?09 was its secondary; however, in enduring season-long injuries in their defensive backfield, the Ducks gained experience for the upcoming year.
Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and TB LaMichael James will again wreck havoc against Pac-10 defenses; Oregon was sixth in the nation in rushing offense and eighth in scoring offense in ?09.
Cornerback Dior Mathis, Oregon?s top recruit, spurned his native Michigan and will add depth to the Ducks? defensive backfield.
The Ducks travel to Knoxville for a non-conference showdown with Tennessee on September 11th. Their difficult road schedule also includes conference foes USC, California, and Oregon State.
Texas Longhorns (+1200)
Colt McCoy?s injury and freshman QB Garrett Gilbert?s appearance in the BCS title game might have cost Texas the national championship but will benefit its 2010 season as Gilbert gained valuable experience on a big stage.
Gilbert will be without the Longhorns? favorite target, Jordan Shipley, and three starting offensive linemen (four if tackle Kyle Hix leaves early for the NFL). Texas does return a quartet of running backs who combined to rush for 1,400 yards and 24 touchdowns in ?09.
The ?Horns will be dominating on defense; they return eight starters, including all five defensive backs. In addition, Texas will have arguably college football?s greatest recruiting class rivaled only by Oklahoma and USC of non-SEC schools.
As was the case this season, the Longhorns will have a favorable schedule; UCLA at home is their toughest non-conference foe. Texas does have to travel to Nebraska on October 16th for one of the most anticipated games of the 2010 season.
Boise State Broncos (+1300)
The Broncos are absolutely loaded at every position for the upcoming season. Including special teams, all but a single starter return in 2010.
The only possible question mark for Boise State might be its rush defense. Then again, the Broncos held TCU?s stalwart rushing attack to 77 yards and 2.4 yards per carry in the Fiesta Bowl.
With only six current recruiting commitments, BSU?s freshman class is shaping up to finish in the bottom half of all FBS schools; a low-rating frosh class, however, has not kept the Broncos from success in the past.
For the first time in their history, the Broncos will likely be preseason ranked between fifth and 10th in the nation. If Boise State goes undefeated in all 12 regular-season games, including wins over Oregon State and Virginia Tech?both who?ll also be among the preseason ranked?in games three and four, the Broncos could find themselves in the BCS title game come January 2011.
