College Football Bold Predictions

I often like to make bold predictions, like when I said Christian Hackenberg would win the Heisman Trophy and be the number one draft pick in the NFL Draft. They’re bold predictions, yes, but often times things that could actually come true. With the college football season starting this week, here are some bold predictions for 2016

(the first 5 are Penn State related)

Penn State’s offensive line gives up only 15 sacks. I don’t actually see this happening but I have a shred of confidence in our offensive line who, for the most part, have been together for two going on three seasons. The last two seasons have been hard to watch as the offensive line has given up 83 sacks. I do expect this season to be better but just 15 sacks better? That’s bold.

Tight end Mike Gesicki leads the Nittany Lions in touchdowns. Gesicki has all the tools, both physically and on the field skills to be the best tight end in the conference. Maybe even the country. At 6’6”, 250-pounds, Gesicki can be the top-target for Trace McSorley if he can get over the drops he had. The new offense that Joe Moorhead is bringing to Penn State is tight end friendly and if that holds true then the junior could have a big year.

Saquon Barkley named Big Ten MVP. This isn’t really that bold of a prediction. Barkley might be the most complete player in the conference but there is plenty of talent on other teams. The only way he comes close to winning the award is his offensive line holds up their end of the deal and opens up holes for him. Added Prediction: Barkley leads the country in all-purpose yards.

Trace McSorley gets All-Big Ten nod. It wasn’t a surprise when McSorley was named Penn State’s starting quarterback and with that it becomes his team. As I mentioned earlier new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead brings a new and very upbeat offense to Happy Valley. McSorley showed flashes last season when he filled in for Christian Hackenberg in the team’s bowl game and if he can build of the little bit of momentum he found, and again, the offensive line holds up, then he could have a huge season. Don’t sleep on McSCORLEY. (Someone trademark that)

Deshaun Watson doesn’t get invited to New York for Heisman. Watson is the Heisman favorite heading into 2016 as he tries to lead his Clemson Tigers to a National Championship. Watson was in attendance when Alabama’s Derrick Henry took home the Heisman, many believed the junior should have been the winner, and many believe he’ll hold it up come December. There is a lot on the shoulders of this kid and he could potentially crumble under the pressure.

The Big Ten doesn’t get a team in the College Football Playoff. The Big Ten has been in the ‘big dance’ the last two seasons with Ohio State winning the first College Football Playoff two seasons ago, and Michigan State last season losing to Alabama in one of the semifinals. The conference has two teams that have the potential to make it in the end; (6) Ohio State and (7) Michigan. While one of those teams could win the conference and have 1 loss, other conferences will have better one-loss teams. Whatever that means.

The three Heisman finalists are all running backs. This might not be a bold prediction because of how many great running backs there are but it doesn’t normally happen. In fact, since 2000 there has never been a Heisman finalist without a quarterback finishing in the top 3. Everyone knows Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey but another couple of names that be on the Heisman list as the season goes on, Florida State’s Dalvin Cook and Georgia’s Nick Chubb. Cook is coming off 1,691-yard season while Chubb racked up 747 yards before injuring his knee in the teams sixth game. Both are poised to have big seasons but I expect Cook to have the better season and end up in New York. Fournette holds up the trophy in December.

SEC gets two teams in College Football Playoff, not ACC. Again, this might not be a bold prediction but it seems like not too many people have confidence in the SEC getting more than one team into the College Football Playoff. Nothing is guaranteed, obviously, but if it were, it would be guaranteed that Clemson is going to be in the CFP. Joining them would likely be Alabama and Oklahoma. But who is that fourth team? Could the Big Ten get a team? I’ve answered that question with a no. Could it be another ACC team in Florida State? The ‘Noles have Ole Miss to open up the season and finish up with in-state rival Florida who people shouldn’t sleep on and could lose somewhere in between. On the other hand, you have LSU who could be that team, maybe over Alabama, to be in the CFP. I’m really high on Les Miles this season and think it’s finally his year to claim the throne.