Here we are ten days away from the NFL draft, so I decided to put my breakdown of each position into the top three tiers at each position (excludes OG, OC, TE and FB). So here's what we're looking at....
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks:
TIER 1: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III
TIER 2: Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler
TIER 3: Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Ryan Lindley, B.J. Coleman, Nick Foles
Running Backs:
TIER 1: Trent Richardson
TIER 2: David Wilson, Doug Martin, Lamar Miller, Chris Polk
TIER 3: Robert Turbin, Bernard Pierce, Cyrus Gray
Wide Recievers:
TIER 1: Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd
TIER 2: Kendall Wright, Stephen Hill, Juron Criner, Alshon Jeffery
TIER 3: Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, Chris Givens, Nick Toon, Ryan Broyles, Reuben Randle, A.J. Jenkins
DEFENSE
Safeties:
TIER 1: Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, Harrison Smith
TIER 2: Markelle Martin, George Iloka, Brandon Taylor, Trumaine Johnson
TIER 3: Antonio Allen
Cornerbacks:
TIER 1: Morris Claiborne, Stephon Gilmore, Dre Kirkpatrick
TIER 2: Janoris Jenkins, Alfonzo Dennard, Jayron Hosley, Josh Robinson
TIER 3: Dwight Bentley, Coryell Judie, Casey Hayward, Brandon Boykin, Trumaine Johnson, Josh Norman
Outside Linebackers:
TIER 1: Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram, Zach Brown, Shea McClellin
TIER 2: Andre Branch Whitney Mercilus, Ronnell Lewis, Nick Perry, Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David
TIER 3: Jonathan Massaquoi, Cam Johnson, Chandler Jones, Vinny Curry
Inside Linebackers:
TIER 1: Luke Kuechly, Donta Hightower
TIER 2: Mychal Kendricks, Audie Cole
Defensive Ends:
TIER 1: Melvin Ingram, Whitney Mercilus, Quinton Coples
TIER 2: Andre Branch, Shea McClellin, Nick Perry, Vinny Curry
TIER 3: Cam Johnson, Jared Crick
Defensive Tackles:
TIER 1: Michael Brockers, Fletcher Cox, Dontari Poe
TIER 2: Kendall Reyes, Devon Still, Jerel Worthy
TIER 3: Alameda Ta'amu, Brandon Thompson, Mike Martin
Let me know what you think, it should provide some insight into my draft day comments and my what I would do mock draft.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Mock Draft 4/10/12
I wanted to do a mock draft pre-combine and have finished one up, this will be a 1 round mock for the foreseeable future. The way I do this is by taking a composite of other sites and using the list to help me make a more accurate mock. So here is the first mock draft on my blog....
1. Indianapolis Colts: This is a no-brainer for Jim Irsay and the rest of the Colts front office, RGIII is a nice prospect but he has adjustments to make the style of play in the NFL and doesn't have the track record that Luck has. This should be luck and barring a huge surprise will be. Pick: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. Washington Redskins: There is only one reason to move up from six to two and that is to pick a QB that you think will be the face of your franchise for the next decade. Robert Griffin III certainly looks to have the qualities to fill that void for a franchise that has been without a QB who moves the meter for a great deal of time. RGIII should huge strides in 2011 as he improved his accuracy and his ability to throw the deep ball and depending on his off-season improvement could definitely have a similar impact to Cam Newton in his rookie season. Pick: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3. Minnesota Vikings: The top three picks are pretty simple as each of these teams has a glaring need at a marquee position that once filled should provide a spark for the team. Neither Christian Ponder nor Joe Webb will have long term success behind a line as porous as last years Vikings were. Kalil fills one of the biggest needs for a team that has fallen behind the rest of the NFC North. Pick: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
4. Cleveland Browns: To be honest this pick is the trickiest to predict as it could be any of three players chosen, depending on how they rank on the Browns big board, but each affects how the rest of the round will play out. I believe it comes down to Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon or Ryan Tannehill, most people believe that Tannehill should be in play because they think Colt McCoy is a career backup/ fill-in starter at best; I'm not so sure that we can say much about him as the core of skill players around McCoy has just been atrocious and needs to be addressed. For this reason the pick comes down to Blackmon or Claiborne and based on my previous statement on the state of the skilled positions on this team, I will go with Blackmon. Pick: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay has shocked most people the last two years, with young talent they made a strong playoff push in 2010, but were right back in the thick for the #1 pick this year. I think an upgrade on defense is needed as there is some young talent on offense. I gave the Bucs Caliborne because Talib looks destined for a suspension or jail and the rest of the secondary is old or suspect. Pick: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
6. St. Louis Rams: With Blackmon off the board this pick is pretty simple as a talent upgrade around Sam Bradford should be of the utmost importance in the Gateway city. Pick: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: I wasn't sure how to prognosticate this pick as Jacksonville has a habit of picking for fit to their system and shunning what convention says about the drafts big board. I looked through the pack for a defensive player with high character, high motor and coming from a strong system and came out with Upshaw. Who without an unfortunate injury would have been a consensus top ten pick this season and one of the, if not, the most hyped defensive prospects in this draft. Pick: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
8. Miami Dolphins: This pick is made but I'm not convinced that it should be. Tannehill has made great strides a passer since moving back to QB two years ago, he can make most of the throws right now from the pocket and on the move but he's still a bit of a project. Would the fans allow a team to start Matt Moore and give Tannehill the time to develop. I believe there is the off chance of a front seven defensive player but the scuttlebutt is strong enough to plug Tannehill in here. Pick: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
9. Carolina Panthers: This pick will be one of three defensive linemen for the Panthers who need to strengthen the core of their defense to help make stops and give an up an coming potent offense a chance to outscore opponents. I think Cox fits that mold, however, both Brockers and Poe fit that mold as well. Pick: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
10. Buffalo Bills: Four the third consecutive year the Bills could use a significant upgrade on both lines and seem a ways off from being a real challenger in the AFC East. With the contract extension for Fitzpatrick some more help up front would be a major plus. Reiff comes out of a O-line production machine in Iowa and would provide an upgrade along the line. WR is an option here but with both Floyd and Blackmon off the board at this pick either Wright or Hill would be a major reach here. Pick: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
11. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs D needs some help and with some young talent in the backfield some disruption help up front is just a smart place for Pioli and company to go. Some have pointed to a lack of production at Memphis as a major question mark for Poe but he's a physical freak and would help alleviate some of the pressure on Dorsey who is out of position in a 3-4. Pick: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
12. Seattle Seahawks: A no-brainer for the 'Hawks who could use the upgrade in the middle of their defense with his ability to play sideline to sideline. Some have pointed to his size a detraction but you don't lead the nation in tackles to years in a row without good instincts and a knack for finding the football. Pick: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
13. Arizona Cardinals: If you don't know that Ingram is a freak, please watch this clip... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt1CDLouWYY... I mean come on that just pure athleticism, and should be huge tool as he moves to being upright. He will have the ability to play both DE & OLB and would help to upgrade a defense that lacks playmakers. Pick: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina
14. Dallas Cowboys: Coples is an interesting slot in this draft as he could go anywhere from about 6th to 25th, he has top ten talent but he shows a propensity to take plays off and has had off the field issues which may cause him to fall. Dallas needs some young talent on defense and a DB is need Dallas will look to solve in this draft but I don't think they will be able to pass on Coples at this point in the first. Pick: Quinton Coples, DE/OLB, North Carolina
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Since Andy Reid has arrived in Philly he has taken offensive or defensive linemen in 7 of the last 13 years (11 1st rd draft picks). I think they take Brockers who was a key cog on one of the best defenses in the country. Brockers should add some youth to a group that needs to be dominant in a division with elite QB play. Pick: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
16. New York Jets: Richardson has top 5-10 talent but RB's just aren't worth the high first round that they use to be. The Jets should be looking for an upgrade in the backfield and a 1-2 combo of Green and Richardson would be big for that offense. Pick: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
17. Via Oakland Cincinnati Bengals: Pick: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
18. San Diego Chargers: Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
19. Chicago Bears: Pick: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
20. Tennessee Titans: Pick: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Pick: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
22. Via Atlanta Cleveland Browns: Pick: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia
23. Detroit Lions: Pick: Mark Barron, S, Alabama
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Pick: Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama
25. Denver Broncos: Pick: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
26. Houston Texans: Pick: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
27. Via New Orleans New England Patriots: Pick: Devon Still, DT, Penn State
28. Green Bay Packers: Pick: Nick Perry, DE, USC
29. Baltimore Ravens: Pick: Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin
30. San Francisco 49ers: Pick: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
31. New England Patriots: Pick: Janoris Jenkins, CB, South Alabama
32. New York Giants: Pick: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
1. Indianapolis Colts: This is a no-brainer for Jim Irsay and the rest of the Colts front office, RGIII is a nice prospect but he has adjustments to make the style of play in the NFL and doesn't have the track record that Luck has. This should be luck and barring a huge surprise will be. Pick: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. Washington Redskins: There is only one reason to move up from six to two and that is to pick a QB that you think will be the face of your franchise for the next decade. Robert Griffin III certainly looks to have the qualities to fill that void for a franchise that has been without a QB who moves the meter for a great deal of time. RGIII should huge strides in 2011 as he improved his accuracy and his ability to throw the deep ball and depending on his off-season improvement could definitely have a similar impact to Cam Newton in his rookie season. Pick: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3. Minnesota Vikings: The top three picks are pretty simple as each of these teams has a glaring need at a marquee position that once filled should provide a spark for the team. Neither Christian Ponder nor Joe Webb will have long term success behind a line as porous as last years Vikings were. Kalil fills one of the biggest needs for a team that has fallen behind the rest of the NFC North. Pick: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
4. Cleveland Browns: To be honest this pick is the trickiest to predict as it could be any of three players chosen, depending on how they rank on the Browns big board, but each affects how the rest of the round will play out. I believe it comes down to Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon or Ryan Tannehill, most people believe that Tannehill should be in play because they think Colt McCoy is a career backup/ fill-in starter at best; I'm not so sure that we can say much about him as the core of skill players around McCoy has just been atrocious and needs to be addressed. For this reason the pick comes down to Blackmon or Claiborne and based on my previous statement on the state of the skilled positions on this team, I will go with Blackmon. Pick: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay has shocked most people the last two years, with young talent they made a strong playoff push in 2010, but were right back in the thick for the #1 pick this year. I think an upgrade on defense is needed as there is some young talent on offense. I gave the Bucs Caliborne because Talib looks destined for a suspension or jail and the rest of the secondary is old or suspect. Pick: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
6. St. Louis Rams: With Blackmon off the board this pick is pretty simple as a talent upgrade around Sam Bradford should be of the utmost importance in the Gateway city. Pick: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: I wasn't sure how to prognosticate this pick as Jacksonville has a habit of picking for fit to their system and shunning what convention says about the drafts big board. I looked through the pack for a defensive player with high character, high motor and coming from a strong system and came out with Upshaw. Who without an unfortunate injury would have been a consensus top ten pick this season and one of the, if not, the most hyped defensive prospects in this draft. Pick: Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
8. Miami Dolphins: This pick is made but I'm not convinced that it should be. Tannehill has made great strides a passer since moving back to QB two years ago, he can make most of the throws right now from the pocket and on the move but he's still a bit of a project. Would the fans allow a team to start Matt Moore and give Tannehill the time to develop. I believe there is the off chance of a front seven defensive player but the scuttlebutt is strong enough to plug Tannehill in here. Pick: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
9. Carolina Panthers: This pick will be one of three defensive linemen for the Panthers who need to strengthen the core of their defense to help make stops and give an up an coming potent offense a chance to outscore opponents. I think Cox fits that mold, however, both Brockers and Poe fit that mold as well. Pick: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
10. Buffalo Bills: Four the third consecutive year the Bills could use a significant upgrade on both lines and seem a ways off from being a real challenger in the AFC East. With the contract extension for Fitzpatrick some more help up front would be a major plus. Reiff comes out of a O-line production machine in Iowa and would provide an upgrade along the line. WR is an option here but with both Floyd and Blackmon off the board at this pick either Wright or Hill would be a major reach here. Pick: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
11. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs D needs some help and with some young talent in the backfield some disruption help up front is just a smart place for Pioli and company to go. Some have pointed to a lack of production at Memphis as a major question mark for Poe but he's a physical freak and would help alleviate some of the pressure on Dorsey who is out of position in a 3-4. Pick: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
12. Seattle Seahawks: A no-brainer for the 'Hawks who could use the upgrade in the middle of their defense with his ability to play sideline to sideline. Some have pointed to his size a detraction but you don't lead the nation in tackles to years in a row without good instincts and a knack for finding the football. Pick: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
13. Arizona Cardinals: If you don't know that Ingram is a freak, please watch this clip... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt1CDLouWYY... I mean come on that just pure athleticism, and should be huge tool as he moves to being upright. He will have the ability to play both DE & OLB and would help to upgrade a defense that lacks playmakers. Pick: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina
14. Dallas Cowboys: Coples is an interesting slot in this draft as he could go anywhere from about 6th to 25th, he has top ten talent but he shows a propensity to take plays off and has had off the field issues which may cause him to fall. Dallas needs some young talent on defense and a DB is need Dallas will look to solve in this draft but I don't think they will be able to pass on Coples at this point in the first. Pick: Quinton Coples, DE/OLB, North Carolina
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Since Andy Reid has arrived in Philly he has taken offensive or defensive linemen in 7 of the last 13 years (11 1st rd draft picks). I think they take Brockers who was a key cog on one of the best defenses in the country. Brockers should add some youth to a group that needs to be dominant in a division with elite QB play. Pick: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
16. New York Jets: Richardson has top 5-10 talent but RB's just aren't worth the high first round that they use to be. The Jets should be looking for an upgrade in the backfield and a 1-2 combo of Green and Richardson would be big for that offense. Pick: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
17. Via Oakland Cincinnati Bengals: Pick: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
18. San Diego Chargers: Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
19. Chicago Bears: Pick: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
20. Tennessee Titans: Pick: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Pick: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
22. Via Atlanta Cleveland Browns: Pick: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia
23. Detroit Lions: Pick: Mark Barron, S, Alabama
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Pick: Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama
25. Denver Broncos: Pick: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
26. Houston Texans: Pick: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
27. Via New Orleans New England Patriots: Pick: Devon Still, DT, Penn State
28. Green Bay Packers: Pick: Nick Perry, DE, USC
29. Baltimore Ravens: Pick: Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin
30. San Francisco 49ers: Pick: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
31. New England Patriots: Pick: Janoris Jenkins, CB, South Alabama
32. New York Giants: Pick: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
College Basketball
I haven't written much since the end of the CFB regular season but I thought it was about time to start talking CBB as we work our way towards conference tournaments and March Madness. I will be taking a look at the polls just like during the CFB season and will provide other posts as I see fit. My first college basketball post will be after the super bowl which I may be posting on as well in the coming days. Sorry for the lack of content as of late I hope to remedy these issues.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Rambling's Week 14 CFB Recap
It's bowl season in college football as Championship week has ended and what a weekend it was...
Thursday, December 1st, 2011:
Thursday, December 1st, 2011:
#23 West Virginia at South Florida, 7:00 pm ESPN, You know what screw West Virginia and their inconsistent play through out this season. South Florida you are who I though you were. Winner: 0-1 ATS: 0-1
Friday, December 2nd, 2011:
Ohio vs Northern Illinois, 6:00 pm ESPN2, Northern Illinois rallied to from a huge first half deficit to win the MAC championship game. Winner: 1-1 ATS: 1-1
UCLA at #9 Oregon, 7:00 pm FOX, Rich Neuheisel... yep that is all. Winner: 2-1 ATS: 2-1
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011:
#24 Southern Miss at #6 Houston, 11:00 am ABC, Houston is a good team but they weren't a top 15 team let alone a top 10 team and Southern Miss was good enough and trying to make up for a late season loss to UAB. Keenum will go down as one of the best QBs of all time in college and Kevin Sumlin will go on to bigger and better things. Winner: 3-1 ATS: 3-1
Iowa State at #11 Kansas State, 11:30 am, Bill Snyder is your coach of the year having lead his Wildcates to 10-2 record. The Cyclones have good wins to build on the past two years and should continue to grow under coach Paul Rhodes. Winner: 4-1 ATS: 3-2
UNLV at #18 TCU, 1:00 pm Versus, ummmm, yeah.... TCU ran away with this. Winner: 5-1 ATS: 3-3
#22 Texas at #17 Baylor, 2:30 pm ABC, RGIII may have won the Heisman Saturday and put an exclamation mark on their season. Texas is getting better and the new coaching staff should continue to round this team into form. Winner: 6-1 ATS: 4-3
#14 Georgia vs #1 LSU, 3:00 pm CBS, LSU is the best team in the country hands down in my opinion and should wrap up Les Miles' second National Championship in January. Georgia has made strides with some young talent and should be trouble for a Big Ten team on Jan. 1. Winner: 7-1 ATS: 5-3
New Mexico at #7 Boise State, 5:00 pm, part two of the MWC ummm.... yeah game of the week. Winner: 8-1 ATS: 6-3
#10 Oklahoma at #3 Oklahoma State, 7:00 pm ABC, I have to say Crow tastes horrible but, a great win for the Cowboys and how much did Broyles really mean to this team and how was that possible. Winner: 8-2 ATS: 6-4
#5 Virginia Tech vs #20 Clemson, 7:00 pm ESPN, Clemson is better than Virginia Tech no matter what the pollsters are trying to tell us, they have now whooped up on the Hokies twice in a season (Road & Neutral). Virginia Tech doesn't have that disappointing loss like usual but also is the same caliber of team we are used to from that coaching staff. Winner: 8-3 ATS: 7-4
#15 Wisconsin vs #13 Michigan State, 7:17 pm FOX, Another classic from these two teams that culminated with aonther late rally from the Badgers and some boneheaded mistakes on special teams by teh Spartans. Did the punter ham it up a bit? Yes. Was he run into by a man going for the punt block? Absolutely. Winner: 9-3 ATS: 8-4
Went 9-3 on winners and 8-4 ATS bringing my season totals to 229-58 & 135-121-5 respectively. I will have a bowl preview of sorts going through the games to look forward to and maybe even one last poll recap. Enjoy NFL Sunday and get ready to argue about the BCS.
Rambling's AQ Predictions Recap
The season was once again exciting and entertaining, so let us take a look at my preseason predictions for the AQ conferences and you can have a good laugh at my stupidity.
SEC: The West is the best division in all of college football, but the SEC was not the best conference this year as I think the Big XII had the depth that the SEC just didn't.
Overrated: Arkansas, I'm not sure if I was right or wrong on this one on one hand Arkansas was better than I thought they would be, but on the other they weren't the dark horse contender many built them up as. I think they were what I thought they were and I call this one a push because I don't think you could say they were overrated or underrated.
Underrated: Mississippi State: This one bombed on me as Miss State never got much Quarterback play this season and it hurt the teams chances at success as they never really got any kind of momentum going. Their D was good enough but like a lot of the SEC the offense just wasn't much.
West Winner: Alabama: It was a 3 team race with Arkansas technically in it but LSU won the division on the back of an undefeated conference record that included a win on the road in Tuscaloosa.
East Winner: Georgia, I hit this one on the head as it was a two team race between the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks but the biggest help was the unfortunate injury to Marcus Lattimore.
Conference Champ: Alabama, they were the second best team in the conference just happened to be a little bit worse than LSU.
Conference Champ: Alabama, they were the second best team in the conference just happened to be a little bit worse than LSU.
Big Ten: The Big Ten was indeed an exciting race especially in the Leaders division as the Badgers win over Penn State gave them the divisional title in the last game of the season. The Big Ten didn't have an elite team this year with Ohio State and Michigan in rebuilding type seasons, Penn State's sex scandal and Nebraska not being able to play D. Wisconsin and Michigan State are pushing on the barrier to elite and becoming much more ingrained in the national conscience.
Overrated: Iowa, Too many were way to high on this Hawkeyes team coming into the year for my liking and this team performed exactly as I expected a bad loss, a couple good wins and another infuriating season out of Iowa City.
Underrated: Ohio State, Unfortunately for my predictions the Buckeyes looked like a team that had lost it's starting QB, it's head coach and was in a quagmire of off the field issues.
Leaders Winner: Wisconsin, Behind Montee Ball and Russell Wilson the Badgers offense was again one of the best in the country, too bad the defense showed it's lack of depth and the loss of J.J. Watt so much. Two tough road losses in the waning seconds but the Badgers still managed to pull out the divisional title.
Legends Winner: Nebraska, the defense never came around for the Cornhuskers and the offense didn't gel like I thought it would. Michigan State turned out to be the most balanced team in the division and maybe the conference and took the divisional title by a game over Nebraska.
Conference Champ: Wisconsin, Delaney was more than likely pleased with the game in Indy and the Badgers did squeeze out a win for the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game.
Pac-12: Oregon and Stanford ruled this conference this year and the South was just horrible other than a post-season banned USC team. Oregon once again crushed Stanford for the second year in a row and took the North.
Overrated: Stanford, I still feel like they are overrated and I'm not sure that I can count this as a win but I see only one win that impresses me this season on their schedule and that is USC in 3OT on the road.
Underrated: Utah, well it turns out that if you injure your starting QB the rest of the season will be uphill that being said the Utes finished one game out of first place in the South and challenged for the Divisional crowd in year one of the Pac-12. All in all I count this as a push as well.
North Winner: Oregon, The Ducks did what they had to do to win the North and that was win on the road against Stanford. Oregon isn't as good as last years team but they are still top flight in the Pac-12.
South Winner: Arizona State, Note to self never try to be one year early on Arizona State.
Conference Champ: Oregon, best team in the conference wins this one not much else to say, other than UCLA made the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game, I mean come on, UCLA?
Big XII: The Big XII was better than just top heavy this year as the middle of the conference was laiden with inconsistency but talent that made them the best conference in the country in my mind this season.
Overrated: Texas: They made strides but unlike many thought Texas is not Texas quite yet and was undoubtedly overrated in my opinion this season. This is a team that should be back to prominence soon but it wasn't this year.
Underrated: Oklahoma State, they won the conference I think I was a bit ahead not that I was the only one touting them as real competition but they ended up being the best in the conference.
Conference Champ: Oklahoma: Most talented but injuries just blasted this team and key losses meant too many holes to stop the leak. Oklahoma State was the most consistent team in the conference and the best having beaten both teams that were next in the standings.
ACC: The ACC is mediocre but consistent, with no real top flight teams and a bottom that is really bad I think it would be the bottom rung on the AQ ladder if not for that wonderful Big East conference we'll talk about next.
Overrated: Clemson, I should have done the same with Arizona State above but I'm alright with not liking Clemson they ended up being a 3 loss team and that sounds about right for Clemson. I'm calling a push even with the division title because the division wasn't that good.
Underrated: Virginia, Second Mike London year turned out to be a challenge for the division year, kind of. They had a shot in the season finale but Va Tech is still ahead of them by quite a bit which doesn't say much about the rest of this division either.
Atlantic Winner: Florida State, I mean, I don't know what happened here.
Coastal Winner: Virginia Tech, "the most consistent team in the conference does it again." My initial statement said all that needs to be said here.
Conference Champ: Virginia Tech, Clemson was the best team in this conference which is all that needs to be said about this conference with the end of the season upon us.
Big East: The Big East is just bad, we were one Cincy upset away from 7-5 Louisville being the representative to the BCS.
Overrated: USF, Same old story same old song and dance at USF as they started out with a stunning upset of Notre Dame and then a collapse to mediocrity (which may be too nice of me).
Underrated: Rutgers: much like Virginia, Rutgers out did my expectations for their season being much better than even I thought.
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." Once again I think my quote from my prediction sums up what happened here along with WVU being woefully inconsistant throughout the year.
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