My Football Predictions…
My Football Crystal Ball…
Predictions. The summer festivities are done, so let’s talk American football.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL:
(Week 0 is Week 0 for a reason. It all really starts now…)
Look Good On Paper:
Ohio State: At Texas, at Iowa, at Indiana, at USC. Oh, and they host Oregon on November 7th. Yikes.
Georgia: Manageable schedule, they will be in the SEC Championship game and the playoff. If they drop that early game at home to Oklahoma, they will have to win every other game but one.
Notre Dame: Love the QB, and the schedule is TOO easy. If they lose at North Carolina on October 3rd, they should be eliminated though just on principle.
Texas: They have the QB, but the schedule is brutal. The trickiest game that we aren’t talking about is at Tennessee.
Indiana: New QB will be good. They will again be really good. Cignetti isn’t going anywhere from the national scene, but I think this is a playoff only year.
Miami: They will most likely make the playoff as they are in the ACC. Unless Virginia or Virginia Tech and James Franklin make a jump.
Texas A&M: At least they get Tennessee and Texas in their crib. They might be a playoff team though.
Ole Miss: Arguably the best player in the nation at the helm. That will lead to a few upsets, and possibly the SEC Championship Game, but it won’t be enough for the long run.
The Rest of the Contenders:
Texas Tech: I get the feeling that was a special defense last year that won’t be able to pull the same tricks this year.
Alabama: They didn’t even know who their QB was until a few weeks ago. Kalen is wondering if he should have stayed in the Northwest.
BYU: Always dangerous, always need to be respected, but not the squad for the full run.
USC: Riley doesn’t need to win it all to keep his job, but this squad is ridiculously talented on paper. If he doesn’t make the playoff, then that should be all she wrote.
My Sleepers:
Penn State: Schedule is favorable, talent is undeniable, and no one is talking about them.
Oklahoma: Mateer was hurt last year and never the same. He will be better this year. That being said, their schedule is SO front loaded. They will either be in the title conversation by week 6 or an afterthought.
Tennessee: This team is pretty talented, and they have the toughest place to play in the land.
My Pick:
Oregon: Dan Lanning has been knocking on the door for quite a long time. He just can’t get that last win. Well, the returning, very talented starters on his D-line can probably take the door off the hinges this year. No knocking required. They have the coach. They have a Heisman hopeful at QB. Unlike the Oregon teams from years ago, this team is BUILT for line of scrimmage control. Oh, and they have their usual allocation of ridiculous talent at the skill positions. The schedule is manageable too for this year’s run. By the time they play at Oho State in November, they might be undefeated and would be able to take a quality loss. This is Lanning’s year, I think.
NFL:
The Obvious:
Seattle: Defending Super Bowl winners, and not exactly splitting the atom here.
Los Angeles Rams: Unless you live in a phone booth, you might have heard what they did in the offseason. Aaron signing on is the cherry on top.
The Sleepers:
Tampa Bay: Baker playing with yet another eternal chip on his shoulder? They play in a division that has been winnable by anyone the last few years, so good playoff seeding might assist a playoff run.
Cincinnati: They are the team that pays a bunch of money to TWO receivers, so the whole enigma is whether the defense can take a step…any step.
Have the tools:
Indianapolis: If Jones remains healthy, their skill positions are scary.
Houston: This all depends on whether Stroud is the elevated guy from two years ago or the par guy last year. The defense is sort of crazy good.
Dallas: They are another version of Cincinnati, except for that they actually made strides on paper for their defense. Odd to say a secondary guy could be the difference, but if Caleb Downs is who we think he is, then look out.
Jacksonville: If they stay healthy, and if Trevor can keep making strides, they are definitely dangerous. I just think that Houston, Jacksonville, and Indy will be beating up each other too much to get a good seed in the playoffs.
Will not keep going up:
Chicago: Maybe Caleb Williams is the next coming of greatness. Could be. In the meantime, let me see him make a few less mistakes and get a few less sacks and then we can talk.
New England: Their schedule set them up for success last year…even with the starting QB going down in the AFC Championship game (and some snow). I can’t see that run happening again.
Why Not:
Miami: They already have Arch’s cell number.
New York Jets: Them too.
Baltimore: Can you tell me that Jackson will be healthy all year? No? Well, I can’t tell you that they are title contenders.
Cleveland: The perennial loser kept FOUR QB’s on their roster. THEY don’t even know who is going to be their QB a year or two from now.
Pittsburgh: I can’t be a homer, so I will just say that Rodgers is too old for a long run. Just give me a playoff win to calm my soul for a year and then pick from the other three QB’s for next year. Thanks. I DO have some hidden optimism this year with our skill position adds.
Denver: Too many close games were escapes last year. Yes, the defense is fantastic, and Bo might make a jump. I see playoffs and a road loss.
Las Vegas: First of all, the rest of their division is really good. Second of all, they KNOW this is not their year. Everything is building for next year.
Kansas City: This is about the same time in his career when Brady went down, and THEN did a repeat of his reign on the league. Can Mahomes do the same thing? Yes, but even if he does, the rest of the roster won’t be able to support him.
Washington: This division is tough. Jayden could show us that two years ago wasn’t a fluke. They are still lacking overall talent.
Philadelphia: Losing AJ Brown is not a small side note. This squad is good. Playoff good. Then, lose to the Rams or Seahawks bad. With Brown gone, I am the most excited about seeing what turn this football soap opera takes now, and where the heck to put Jalen Hurts on QB rankings.
New York Giants: They have a fun roster. I will give them that. They also have a new coach who will bring stability to the locker room. That being said, the jump won’t be big enough.
Green Bay: The Josh Jacobs charges aren’t good for the roster. Maybe Jordan Love finally makes this leap we have been waiting for with his “high ceiling.” I think they are playing the final weekend trying to just get into the playoffs.
Minnesota: Kyler is new. Kyler is fun. Kyler is short. They tease the playoffs though.
Atlanta: They might be starting a QB who hasn’t played in the preseason just because their starter stunk it up in preseason. Not good.
New Orleans: Sneaky team. They will make a strong move in a winnable division, and are on the right path. But, their year will be the next two years.
Carolina: No one wants to play them, and they are sneaky dangerous. But, not Super Bowl dangerous. Enjoy your 9-8 season.
San Francisco: Tell me if you haven’t heard this one. If they can stay injury-free…
Arizona: They plan on texting Arch and Dante every day.
Picks:
Detroit: I know. The defense needs to make a big jump. Yes. Coordinators exiting have obviously not optimized the team. But, I think they pull this together. Worst case, the offense will be putting a LOT of points on the board every week. IF they can get home field advantage while the Rams and Seahawks are beating up each other, I think they can make a run. Their skill positions are SO good. Their QB has already been to the big game, so he knows what’s up.
Buffalo: I think this is a great year to beat up on your division, get good playoff seeding, and play all playoff games at home. I worry a little about their skill positions, but as long as Josh limits turnovers, he can get them there…in their fancy new stadium. I think he will get a home playoff game against K.C. and get THAT monkey off his back in the process.
Winner:
Buffalo: Once he is THERE, Allen won’t be denied. It is going to be SO exciting. It will have a QB who is the best who hasn’t won it all playing a team that has never been to the Super Bowl in its entire history.
