2012 Preseason Top 25

1 - LSU
2 - USC
3 - Alabama
4 - Oklahoma
5 - Michigan
6 - Oregon
7 - Georgia
8 - Wisconsin
9 - South Carolina
10 - Florida State
11 - West Virginia
12 - Arkansas
13 - Michigan State
14 - Virginia Tech
15 - Nebraska
16 - Stanford
17 - Clemson
18 - Texas
19 - Oklahoma State
20 - North Carolina
21 - Boise State
22 - TCU
23 - Iowa
24 - Notre Dame
25 - Northern Illinoi


Others Receiving Votes:  FIU, Florida, Georgia Tech, Louisiana Tech, Missouri, Ohio, Ohio State, Pitt, Tulsa, Utah

2012 Week 1 Picks

Thursday, August 30
South Carolina at Vanderbilt
UCF at Akron
Eastern Michigan at Ball State
SE Missouri State at Central Michigan
Towson at Kent State
Northern Colorado at Utah
Massachusetts at Connecticut
UCLA at Rice
Sacramento State at New Mexico State
Southern Utah at Utah State

McNeese State at MTSU
Eastern Washington at Idaho
Washington State at BYU
Northern Arizona at Arizona State
Minnesota at UNLV


Friday, August 31

Villanova at Temple
Wagner at FAU
Tennessee vs NC State at Atlanta
Boise State at Michigan State
San Jose State at Stanford


Saturday, September 1

Wyoming at Texas
Northwestern State at Texas Tech
Notre Dame vs Navy at Ireland
Troy at UAB
Buffalo at Georgia
Tulsa at Iowa State
Appalachian State at East Carolina
Northwestern at Syracuse
Miami (OH) at Ohio State
Ohio at Penn State

Marshall at West Virginia
Western Michigan at Illinois
Elon at North Carolina
Idaho State at Air Force
Nevada at Cal
William & Mary at Maryland
Richmond at Virginia
Bowling Green at Florida
Miami at Boston College
Southern Miss at Nebraska

Northern Iowa at Wisconsin
Iowa vs Northern Illinois at Chicago
Eastern Kentucky at Purdue
Colorado State vs Colorado at Denver
Southern at New Mexico
Murray State at Florida State
Youngstown State at Pitt
Liberty at Wake Forest
Clemson vs Auburn at Atlanta
Jacksonville State at Arkansas

Chattanooga at USF
Austin Peay at Western Kentucky
North Texas at LSU
SE Louisiana at Missouri
Central Arkansas at Mississippi
FIU at Duke
Savannah State at Oklahoma State
UT Martin at Memphis
Lamar at Louisiana Lafayette
Jackson State at Mississippi State

South Dakota State at Kansas
Missouri State at Kansas State
Hawaii at USC
Indiana State at Indiana
Texas State at Houston
Michigan vs Alabama at Arlington
Rutgers at Tulane
Weber State at Fresno State
Toledo at Arizona
San Diego State at Washington

Arkansas State at Oregon
Oklahoma at UTEP


Sunday, September 2

Kentucky at Louisville
SMU at Baylor


Monday, September 3

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech


Texas A&M vs Louisiana Tech at Shreveport - postponed
Nicholls State at Oregon State - postponed

2012 Preseason Bowl Projections

BCS Bowl Games:

BCS National Championship Game: LSU vs USC
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs Wisconsin
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs Michigan
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs Texas
Orange Bowl: Pitt vs Florida State


The Rest:

New Mexico Bowl: California vs Wyoming
Humanitarian Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs Western Michigan
New Orleans Bowl: Marshall vs FIU
Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl: East Carolina vs Vanderbilt
Las Vegas Bowl: Utah vs Boise State

Poinsettia Bowl: Nevada vs BYU
Hawaii Bowl: SMU vs San Diego State
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Northern Illinois vs Utah State
Independence Bowl: Texas A&M vs Boston College
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: Illinois vs TCU

Russell Athletic Bowl: Clemson vs USF
Military Bowl: Army vs Bowling Green
Car Care Bowl of Texas: Purdue vs Kansas State
Alamo Bowl: Utah vs Oklahoma State
Armed Forces Bowl: Southern Miss vs Air Force

Pinstripe Bowl: Notre Dame vs Cincinnati
Music City Bowl: Missouri vs Virginia
Holiday Bowl: Baylor vs Stanford
Belk Bowl: Louisville vs NC State
Sun Bowl: Washington vs Georgia Tech

Liberty Bowl: Tennessee vs Tulsa
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Florida vs Virginia Tech
TicketCity Bowl: Northwestern vs Houston
Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs Nebraska
Capital One Bowl: Michigan State vs Georgia

Gator Bowl: Auburn vs Iowa
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Ohio vs Arkansas State
Cotton Bowl Classic: Arkansas vs West Virginia
BBVA Compass Bowl: Mississippi State vs Rutgers
Fight Hunger Bowl: Navy at Washington State


Conference Championship Games

ACC: Florida State vs Virginia Tech
Big Ten: Michigan vs Wisconsin
C-USA: Tulsa vs Southern Miss
MAC: Ohio vs Northern Illinois
Pac-12: USC vs Oregon
SEC: LSU vs Georgia

2012 ACC Preview

State of the ACC:  Despite multiple rumors, no program chose to leave the ACC during this round of realignment.  Instead the ACC only grew, adding Pitt and Syracuse for the 2013 season.  Much like last year, many prognosticators are high on Florida State playing in the BCS National Championship Game.  Along with Virginia Tech, I think Florida State will be a favorite to win the conference, but will fall well short of an undefeated season.  Also, North Carolina is under NCAA sanctions and is ineligible for the postseason.


Projected Standings:
Atlantic:

Florida St | 10-2 | 6-2







Clemson | 9-3 | 6-2







NC State | 7-5 | 4-4







Boston College | 6-6 | 4-4







Maryland | 5-7 | 2-6







Wake Forest | 3-9 | 1-7







Coastal:

Virginia Tech | 10-2 | 6-2







North Carolina | 9-3 | 5-3







Georgia Tech | 8-4 | 4-4







Virginia | 7-5 | 4-4







Miami | 5-7 | 3-5







Duke | 4-8 | 2-6

2012 Big XII Preview

State of the Big 12:  The Big 12 lost two member institutions for a second straight season as Missouri and Texas A&M defected to the SEC.  The Big XII moved quickly, replacing them with TCU and West Virginia.  The Big XII is currently considering expanding back to 12 teams in order to have a championship game again, but no decisions have been made on that front for now.


Projected Standings:

Oklahoma | 11-1 | 8-1








Texas | 10-2 | 7-2







West Virginia | 9-3 | 6-3




 

Oklahoma St | 8-4 | 5-4







TCU | 8-4 | 5-4





Baylor | 7-5 | 4-5







Kansas St | 7-5 | 4-5







Iowa St | 4-8 | 3-6







Texas Tech | 5-7 | 2-7







Kansas | 3-9 | 1-8

2012 Big Ten Preview

State of the Big Ten:  The Big Ten is dealing with scandals at two of its flagship institutions, with Ohio State and Penn State both under NCAA sanctions and ineligible to play in the championship game or bowl games.  The conference still has plenty of elite teams, as I have four teams projected to have double-digit wins.


Projected Standings:
Legends:

Michigan | 11-1 | 7-1







Michigan State | 10-2 | 6-2







Nebraska | 10-2 | 6-2







Iowa | 9-3 | 5-3







Northwestern | 6-6 | 3-5







Minnesota | 4-8 | 1-7







Leaders:

Wisconsin | 11-1 | 7-1







Ohio State | 8-4 | 4-4







Illinois | 6-6 | 4-4







Purdue | 6-6 | 3-5







Penn State | 4-8 | 2-6







Indiana | 3-9 | 0-8

2012 C-USA Preview

State of C-USA:  Conference-USA keeps its current 12-member lineup for one more season before one-third of the league defects to the Big East.  The conference will look a lot different on the sidelines this year, as five programs changed head coaches in the offseason.  The East division is extremely wide open in my opinion, as I have three teams within one game of first place and Marshall is just two games away.  In the West, SMU and Houston should have strong teams, but I think Tulsa should be the class of that division.



Projected Standings:
East:

Southern Miss | 7-5 | 6-2







East Carolina | 7-5 | 5-3







UCF  |7-5 | 5-3 







Marshall | 6-6 | 4-4







UAB | 4-8 | 3-5







Memphis | 3-9 | 2-6







West:

Tulsa | 9-3 | 6-2







SMU | 7-5 | 5-3





 

Houston | 7-5 | 5-3







Rice | 4-8 | 3-5







UTEP | 4-8 | 3-5







Tulane | 2-10 | 1-7