2011 AQ Preview

With the college football season a week away, now is as good of time as ever to put some thoughts on the season out there. It's stacking up to be a very positive year for college football on the field, the combination of expansion and spread of talent within conferences should make for some exciting games and conferences races throughout the entirety of the year. We're at the exciting time of year where all teams have a chance to do something special and out perform expectations. So let's take a look at each conference heading into the year:
SEC: The West division has dominated the last few years and the conference is on an unbelievable run of 5 straight BCS championships and they should continue that dominance.
Overrated: Arkansas, is expected to pick up the slack left by Mallett and Williams on offense and now they have lost their leading rusher from last season to injury. I think the Hogs take a step back and don't live up to the billing most people are giving them as dark horses.
Underrated: Mississippi State, most expect a better team to come out of Starkville this year, coach Mullen has a good squad and will surprise teams, with South Carolina, Alabama and LSU coming to town they have the chance to shock some people in the SEC West this year.
West Winner: Alabama, I think this is a 3 team race with LSU and Miss State, the winner will more than likely have a blemish on the resume but will be the champ of the toughest division in the country.
East Winner: Georgia, the east is a two team race this year between the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks, Spurrier's team has a good amount of distraction from the off-season but will put up a strong fight.   Conference Champ: Alabama, the best defense in the country anchors the SEC champs this year, Saban likes a defensive orientated team and can win with inexperience.
Big Ten: The 2011 edition of the Big Ten should be an exciting race with the addition of Nebraska and divisions. Although the divisional names are pretty lame they are a welcome addition and with no real elite team showing itself the divisional and conference race should be fun to watch.
Overrated: Iowa, there is an expectation that they will bounce back relatively well from the loss of much of last years team, however I'm not as high on the Hawkeyes because they lost a lot in the secondary and a solid senior quarterback, I think we see another six or seven win team from Iowa City.
Underrated: Ohio State, I know this repulses most of the country and the Big Ten, however, they still have the best recruiting in the Big Ten for the last decade or so and that has helped to build a talent base that should allow the Buckeyes to be a nine or ten win team this year in the conference and challenge for the Leaders division title. 
Leaders Winner: Wisconsin, earlier in the summer I predicted the Big Ten and had Penn State winning the Leaders, however, with the addition of Russell Wilson and his assimilation with the Badgers I see them as the top dogs in the division this season. It will be a close race between Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State.
Legends Winner: Nebraska, as much as it pains me the huskers have the best defense in the conference and the opportunity for one of the most explosive offenses as well. They will have competition from Michigan State and Michigan but I think they are the best balanced team in the Legends division.
Conference Champ: Wisconsin, this is a tough choice and lean towards the Badgers on a hunch, that being said Delaney and his cohorts have to be happy with the product that will be on the field in November in Indianapolis.
Pac-12: Much like the Big Ten the Pac-12 draws interest because of last summer's expansion of Utah and Colorado make this year important for the Pac-12. The North has two marquee teams in the national eye with Oregon and Stanford and the South is mired in an interesting position with no real top rate team.
Overrated: Stanford, let me make this clear I love Andrew Luck as a quarterback but they replace their head coach, the majority of the offenses line and their middle linebacker which all sets them up with large gaps to fill.
Underrated: Utah, unlike fellow newcomer Colorado, has a team that could challenge in the Pac-12 South. Utah may not have the recruits that some in the conference have but they have enough talent to challenge Arizona State for the South championship and with USC not post-season eligible ASU is the only real obstacle to them winning their division.
North Winner: Oregon, the Ducks have enough talent returning to win the Division, at Stanford presents a test but coming off a BCS title game appearance the Ducks have a good shot at the first division title. Distractions will be a big key to their success and will be the deciding factor. 
South Winner: Arizona State, I will buy the hype on the Sun Devils this year and without USC in the way the south is ASU's to win or lose.
Conference Champ: Oregon, best team in the conference wins this one not much else to say, I think the South will bring the weaker of the two representatives this year.
Big XII: The Big XII is top heavy as with most years in the conference with three teams in Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M possibly being elite, however the three team race should be exciting none the less.
Overrated: Texas, I don't see them improving as much as most this year I really like Mack Brown but the offense is shifting to a multiple looks offense and I think we're looking at a two year process. I think Texas ends up a six or seven win team instead of a 8 or 9 win team like many think.
Underrated: Oklahoma State, I know they lost Holgerson to West Virginia but they bring back the best WR in the country in the form of Justin Blackmon and their QB. I think it will be a smoother transition than many think and that OK State will seriously challenge Texas A&M and Oklahoma for the conference title.
Conference Champ: Oklahoma, they are the most talented team in the conference and the team and coach I trust the most to live up to expectations of the three rated at the top. It will be interesting to see how the Sooners and Aggies live up to expectations this year.
ACC: This conference is mired in off the field issues involving Miami, Georgia Tech and North Carolina two whom will likely be hit hard by the NCAA in widespread allegations, however their is light at the end of the tunnel. Virginia Tech and Florida State will take some of the spotlight off of that trio and bring good press on the field. FSU is a National Championship contender this pre-season and Va Tech seems to be a reload team now under Frank Beamer.
Overrated: Clemson, I will claim they are overrated every year until they prove me wrong. The perennial underachievers are great recruiters, but something seems to be missing when they hit the field. Clemson will fail to live up to expectations once again in 2011.
Underrated: Virginia, I'm not saying they will challenge for their division but I do see even more improvement under Mike London in his second year. Although you won't hear much about it, the second year bump will be in effect with the Cavaliers and look for at least one upset that sends a wave through the ACC.
Atlantic Winner: Florida State, I don't think there is too much explanation needed on this one, the only team with the talent to really challenge them is Clemson and you already know what I think of the Tigers.
Coastal Winner: Virginia Tech, the most consistent team in the conference does it again, with investigations at Miami and UNC they lack the distractions of the rest of the division.
Conference Champ: Virginia Tech, Florida State is a slightly lesser version of Clemson in that they seem to disappoint in one way or another every year. Va Tech wins a close one but they win it.
Big East: Everybody's favorite little big conference, or least favorite big little conference is the bane of the BCS's existence because it routinely sends sub-par automatic qualifier to their game. Like many other year the conference appears to be weak and the lament of the college football world.
Overrated: USF, I've heard this song about the Bulls before, a young program ready to break out and grab that all elusive championship. However they seem to fall short and disappoint so I'm not bullish on the Bulls this year.
Underrated: Rutgers, like Virginia in the ACC I don't think they challenge for the Conference but I think they can whip up a winning season and challenge for fourth or so in the conference.
Conference Champ: West Virginia, I'm not big on this pick I think I could get trapped but Holgerson improves offenses as soon as he arrives on campus and that should help a talented WVU get instantly better on one side of the ball. I think Pitt challenges them here which means the Backyard Brawl will be very interesting this year.