2019 College Football Landscape
It's August 1st and there is officially college football this month! We got you covered with our own take on the 2019 college football landscape and give our college football playoff predictions! Here are our thoughts on the 2019 season and CFB as a whole...
Top Heavy Landscape
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| SI.com |
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| forbes.com |
Who is ready for Alabama vs. Clemson part 4 in the national championship game yet again? Sadly, this is likely going to be the championship match up.... again. College football is currently top heavy where only a few teams even have a remote chance of knocking off either of these teams (teams such as Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio State, LSU, and Georgia, may be about it). It has gotten kind of boring where Bama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma have dominated the playoff landscape since it was created. Every year there are a surprise team or 2 like Kentucky or Iowa in 2016 that popup, but we know they didn't stand an actual chance against traditional powers due to inexperience in the spotlight. Here's to hoping for some more chaos this season...
2018 Was a Disappointing Season
Overall, the 2018 season was a big disappointment for college football fans. Most big games that included Clemson and Alabama were blow outs, including the national championship game and the semi-finals! There was a lack of upsets, and even big upsets like Purdue over OSU were blow outs and did not make for entertaining games. Luckily, we think the 2019 season is going to be more interesting, leading into our next point...
Some Blue Blood Programs will be BACK!
College Football has recently been top heavy with Clemson, Alabama, OSU, and Oklahoma, and that is in part because some big time programs have been rebuilding. Luckily, this looks like the year where top programs such as Texas, Florida, Auburn, USC, Oregon, and Miami will take a big step in 2019 and provide some competition for those top heavy programs.
Where Pitt Fits In
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| collegefootballnews.com |
If you follow our blog, you know we bleed blue and gold and are huge Pitt fans, so we got to give them some love! Right now, Pitt is fighting for relevance on a national scale as the program has struggled for the past ten seasons, but it seems like Duzz finally has the program on the up-trend and has put Pitt's name back on the map with wins over PSU, Clemson, and Miami... oh yea, making the ACC Championship Game helps too. Pitt is never going to be a blue blood program like a Bama or OSU, but Pitt absolutely can be a program like Stanford or Michigan State where they play in a NY6 bowl every couple years. Pitt and the fanbase are arguably a sleeping giant given the storied history, yet that's a post for another time. But as always, PUT PITT IN!!!!
ACC
Champion Prediction: Clemson
Dark horse Conference Winner: Whoever wins the Coastal...I guess 🤷.. But really, Miami
College Football Playoff Contenders: Clemson
Clemson has run the ACC, and will likely do the same this year as they have a QB who should be in the NFL and they just reload at every position. Clemson has no real threat in the Atlantic division and should easily end up in the title game again... but that ACC Coastal Chaos man.. Miami is our favorite to win the coastal (behind PITT, of course) as long as they can get some decent QB play out of Tate Martell. UVA.. LOL, most overrated team ever. Syracuse? Yeah, also overrated. Virginia Tech? Do they have enough players to field team? Duke? Is Zion playing? Georgia Tech? Can they actually run a real offense? UNC? Can only beat Pitt. Pitt? Oh yeah, watch out for them!
Clemson has run the ACC, and will likely do the same this year as they have a QB who should be in the NFL and they just reload at every position. Clemson has no real threat in the Atlantic division and should easily end up in the title game again... but that ACC Coastal Chaos man.. Miami is our favorite to win the coastal (behind PITT, of course) as long as they can get some decent QB play out of Tate Martell. UVA.. LOL, most overrated team ever. Syracuse? Yeah, also overrated. Virginia Tech? Do they have enough players to field team? Duke? Is Zion playing? Georgia Tech? Can they actually run a real offense? UNC? Can only beat Pitt. Pitt? Oh yeah, watch out for them!
Big Ten
Champion Prediction: Ohio State
Dark Horse Conference Winner: Nebraska
College Football Playoff Contenders: Ohio State, Michigan
As a Michigan fan, it amazes me (Aaron) that most media outlets are picking Big Blue as their champion in the B1G because we all know how the season always ends against a certain team... and we expect that certain team with the Buckeye mascot to win the conference again. PSU lost a lot and will not be as strong of a contender this year and MSU is still searching for an identity as a team but they have a QB with the greatest football name in history, Rocky Lombardi, and that counts for something. The B1G West is up in the air, but Scott Frost has brought in some great talent at Nebraska and has a potential Heisman candidate at QB with Adrian Martinez.
As a Michigan fan, it amazes me (Aaron) that most media outlets are picking Big Blue as their champion in the B1G because we all know how the season always ends against a certain team... and we expect that certain team with the Buckeye mascot to win the conference again. PSU lost a lot and will not be as strong of a contender this year and MSU is still searching for an identity as a team but they have a QB with the greatest football name in history, Rocky Lombardi, and that counts for something. The B1G West is up in the air, but Scott Frost has brought in some great talent at Nebraska and has a potential Heisman candidate at QB with Adrian Martinez.
Big 12
Champion Prediction: Texas
Dark Horse Conference Winner: Iowa State
College Football Playoff Contenders: Texas and Oklahoma.
TEXAS....IS...BACK! Well, at least now they are, or might be. The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma will likely decide this conference yet again, and we are not 100% sold on Oklahoma this year after losing a lot of talent and we do not think Jalen Hurts is as good as Murray or Mayfield. Iowa State has great young talent, especially QB Brock Purdy, and can be a threat in the conference. WVU is going to have itself a tough season and maybe... just maybe... Kansas might be pretty good??? Where this conference will continue to fall short is in defense. Because they don't play it.
TEXAS....IS...BACK! Well, at least now they are, or might be. The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma will likely decide this conference yet again, and we are not 100% sold on Oklahoma this year after losing a lot of talent and we do not think Jalen Hurts is as good as Murray or Mayfield. Iowa State has great young talent, especially QB Brock Purdy, and can be a threat in the conference. WVU is going to have itself a tough season and maybe... just maybe... Kansas might be pretty good??? Where this conference will continue to fall short is in defense. Because they don't play it.
PAC 12
Champion Prediction: Oregon
Dark Horse Conference Winner: Utah
College Football Playoff Contenders: Oregon, Washington
Admittedly we don't know a lot about the Pac-12 given that we're east-coasters but Justin Herbert may be one, if not the top, QB prospects in the nation and could be in the Heisman race. He'll need to rely on a brand new receiving corp which is a big hurdle for Oregon's hopes against top competition. Washington, finally getting a chance with Georgia-transfer Jacob Eason, who has a big arm and is expected to put up big numbers behind 4 returning starters on the o-line. Utah drew a favorable conference schedule, with a really stout run defense, and a dynamic duo leading the offense in QB Tyler Huntley and RB Zack Moss. UCLA is still a Chip Kelly led program so they're bound to steal a few games. And who could forget Mike Leach at Washington St.? He doesn't have the roster he had in 2018 but he'll be fun to watch nonetheless.
Admittedly we don't know a lot about the Pac-12 given that we're east-coasters but Justin Herbert may be one, if not the top, QB prospects in the nation and could be in the Heisman race. He'll need to rely on a brand new receiving corp which is a big hurdle for Oregon's hopes against top competition. Washington, finally getting a chance with Georgia-transfer Jacob Eason, who has a big arm and is expected to put up big numbers behind 4 returning starters on the o-line. Utah drew a favorable conference schedule, with a really stout run defense, and a dynamic duo leading the offense in QB Tyler Huntley and RB Zack Moss. UCLA is still a Chip Kelly led program so they're bound to steal a few games. And who could forget Mike Leach at Washington St.? He doesn't have the roster he had in 2018 but he'll be fun to watch nonetheless.
SEC
Champion Prediction: Alabama
Dark Horse Conference Winner: Texas A&M
College Football Playoff Contenders: Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida
Bama is locked and loaded.. again, but the SEC should be much stronger this season with teams such as Florida, Auburn, and LSU improving. Georgia is also loaded, but can they finally get over their late game meltdowns against Bama? We love Florida and think they can make some noise and possibly knock off Georgia. Also, do not sleep on Jimbo fisher at College Station as he has built himself a pretty good team. This will easily be the best and most entertaining conference.
Bama is locked and loaded.. again, but the SEC should be much stronger this season with teams such as Florida, Auburn, and LSU improving. Georgia is also loaded, but can they finally get over their late game meltdowns against Bama? We love Florida and think they can make some noise and possibly knock off Georgia. Also, do not sleep on Jimbo fisher at College Station as he has built himself a pretty good team. This will easily be the best and most entertaining conference.
Our College Football Playoff Predictions
Ryan: Clemson is the best team in the nation. Alabama and Georgia both deserve to be in the top 4 and we will run into the issue, again, of one of these teams being 1-loss because of the SEC Championship game. Whoever loses will be the #4 seed barring an undisputed team knocking on the door. I'm drinking the Texas kool-aid to 1) avoid putting OU in the playoffs again 2) they split their 2 games in 2018 3) It's nice to see Texas good again, as mentioned above and Ehlinger is electric. I love Harbaugh for all his antics but I'm leaving out the B1G since they'll all beat up on each other. While we said this National Chamionship rematch would be unfortunate, they're the best teams in the nation and I want to see this Tua-Trevor Grudge Match, much like Ali vs Frazier rematch in '74 (too bad we won't get a Thrilla in Manila).
Aaron: Just like Ryan, I am drinking the Texas kool-aid because I too love Sam Ehlinger and think Tom Herman is building something special in Austin. Clemson and Alabama are no brainers, Tua and Lawrence are NFL QBs who are going to light up opposing teams all season. I am a Michigan fan and despise OSU, but they absolutely own Michigan and there is no other big competition in the conference, making them an easy pick.
Heisman Winner Prediction
This prediction was a really tough one and could change depending how we wake up in the morning. Despite all of the Trevor Lawrence hype, we're going with Tua Tagovailoa. Many forgot what Tua could do since he was injured from the LSU game through the National Championship but we didn't, he lit up college football like few have before. It helps that he has the #1 receiving corp in the country led by Jerry Jeudy. I (Ryan) believe that Lawrence and Etienne could possibly be the other 2 finalists but will ultimately cancel each other; I do not believe this will happen with Tua and Jeudy due to the rest of the receivers on the team. Other names like D'Andre Swift, Jake Fromm, Sam Ehlinger, Just Herbert, Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts, and Johnathan Taylor (with is 1 million yards) may all generate arguments worthy of being a finalist. But, overall Tua just lost out to Kyler in 2018 which helps his chances, plus he will more than likely enter the draft after the season. 2020's race could end up being much more exciting.
Heisman Winner Prediction
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| alabama.rivals.com |
Hit us with your CFP Predictions and any of your thoughts on the 2019 season!
Thanks for reading!
-Aaron and Ryan, TGYK
Thanks for reading!
-Aaron and Ryan, TGYK
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