It’s the worst time of year. Yes, summer is right around the corner, but college football feels like it will never return. As I sit in my bunker watching Alabama highlights just waiting for August 24th, I figured I’d make some predictions about who will win each Power Five conference.
The SEC Winner is…
Shocking, I know, the first Power Five winner I pick is Alabama. After a stellar season that ended in disappointment, Alabama is looking to exact their revenge. The biggest question for Alabama is who left. Jalen Hurts is now at Oklahoma, and Alabama lost RB Damien Harris, DT Quinnen Williams, OL Jonah Williams, and RB Josh Jacobs to the draft. With that being said, Alabama’s greatest strength is their ability to reload. Nick Saban is a master recruiter, and with Tua Tagovailoa around for one more year, as well as an electric receiving corps, expect Alabama to run through the SEC.
The Big 10 Winner is…
This pick has just as much to do with Michigan as it does with the rest of the Big 10. Let’s start with what Michigan has done. Shea Patterson returns following a solid first season in Ann Arbor after transferring from Ole Miss, in which he threw for 2,600 yards with 22 TDs and only 7 picks. Another year in the system will be great for Patterson, who also has some great options on the outside. This will also be a weaker year for the Big 10, as the Ryan Day era in Ohio State begins, and Penn State looks for a replacement for Trace McSorley.
The ACC Winner is…
Once again, I’m not exactly reinventing the wheel here. Trevor Lawrence with another season under his belt is a terrifying thought. At the same time, Clemson also has the same benefit as Alabama, and can reload quickly. With Clelin Ferrel, Dexter Lawrence, and Hunter Renfrow (who feels like he was at Clemson since the 1981 National Championship) going to the draft, Clemson has holes to fill. Dabo is up to the job, and expect the team not to miss a beat.
Regardless of how great Clemson is, the ACC is also a relatively weak conference. The only team that might give them a scare is the U. However, Miami is still a few years away from truly competing with Clemson for the ACC.
The Big 12 Winner is…
Oklahoma has won the Big 12 four consecutive times, two of those coming under Lincoln Riley. I have written about the Sooners’ chances before, but I will reiterate. Jalen Hurts has big game experience in a winning program, and expect Lincoln Riley to help him up his game. However, this does not mean he will automatically succeed, especially if his passing does not improve. CeeDee Lamb will help Jalen with that, giving him a go to pass catcher.
Oklahoma’s biggest negative is their defense. However, with the Big 12 being the most offensive oriented of the Power Five, most games tend to be shootouts. If Jalen can properly command the offense, this should not be a concern for Riley and the Sooners.
The Pac-12 Winner is…
The Pac-12, in my mind, is the weakest of the Power Five conferences. This does not mean all of the schools are bad, and Oregon is one of those good programs. Oregon’s biggest advantage is Justin Herbert coming back for his senior year. After throwing for 3,151 yards with 29 TDs and only 8 picks, there is a lot of hype about what Herbert can do in his final season. He has improved every season, and if he can even come close to these numbers, the Oregon Ducks will return to the Pac-12 championship. Once making it there, they will beat whoever comes out of the South Division.
The biggest question mark for Oregon is Mario Cristobal. After leading Oregon to a 9-4 record last year, people are excited. Our college football twitter ran a poll about the DI best coach. A couple of people said Cristobal. I am not convinced. A 9-4 record is not bad, but they went 5-4 in conference play. Herbert and Cristobal have a lot of work to do to improve this record, and if they are not up to the task, expect Washington to win it.
Agree with my picks? Disagree? Let me have it on Twitter @BellyUpKev
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