Jim Sneeringer's
College Football Preview:
2010 edition
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College Football Preview:
Introduction:
by Best Bet Sports handicapper, Jim Sneeringer
of Jim Sneeringer Sports Service & www.daysbestbet.com
Year after year, in order for me to be successful at my craft, and lets face it; here, we are talking being $uccessful, winning football best bets, I must be in on the ground floor of this year's success stories, and capitalize on those overated programs who will soon find themselves on the decline. That's what the high rollers pay me for, to pull "bandwagons", not to jump on them halfway thru a cinderella season.
You can not order it by mail , or even find the Jim Sneeringer College Football Preview
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You can ony find it here @ www.daysbestbet.com.
And, it is free to read.
The Jim Sneeringer College Football Preview was launched here online four years ago with the birth of www.daysbestbet.com.
Our 2005 edition boldly predicted the "Return to Glory" for Joe Paterno and Penn State. A Orange Bowl victory over Florida State, and a #3 ranking proved I was right about the boys from Happy Valley.
That very same College Football Preview picked the Texas Longhorns to win the BCS Championship in a year when most believed USC was the greatest thing since slice bread.
In the 2006 edition of the Jim Sneeringer College Football Preview, I picked the Arkansas Razorbacks to be one of the big surprise stories of 2006, and projected them to play in a major Bowl game.
Darren McFadden and the Hogs did not disapoint as they finished with a #12 ranking after losing to #6 Wisconsin, 17-14 in the Capital One bowl.
The 2006 Preview also warned about the decline of two very successful football programs in the state of Florida, Miami and Florida State. Both schools were projeced by many "experts" to be the cream of the ACC crop.
How did that predicton work out for them?
Below you find The 2010 Jim Sneeringer College Football Preview.
I believe you will find the 2010 season to be filled wih some very interesting
surprises.
I will give you below my projected order of finish in each conference, and I will focus in on each conference's suprise teams for this coming year.
And just a reminder, anyone can afford our college football and NFL Best Bets.
Call me, Jim Sneeringer @928-757-8097 and we will put together a plan to Build YOUR Bankroll this fall on the gridiron.
Jim Sneeringer~
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Preseason Polls
Associated Press Top 10
1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Boise State
5. Ohio State
6. Tcu
7. Iowa
8. Cincinnati
9. Penn State
10. Viginia Tech
Coaches Poll (Top 10)
1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Boise State
5. Ohio State
6. Tcu
7. Iowa
8. Penn State
9. Cincinnati
10. Virginia Tech
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Conference Projections:
Southeastern Conference
Both preseason polls above as you can see have Alabama ranked #1, Florida rank #3 Nationally entering the 2010 college football season.
With no disrespected intended for both Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, I see the SEC and the National Championship picture in a different light.
While everyone is flashing National Championship rings in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, let me remind everyone that Alabama is only returning two starters from their defense. Now I am sure the Crimson Tide will assemble a strong defensive unit, but there will be growing pains and they will be at their best late in the season.
Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators must replace their on and off the field leader, Tim Tebow. Yes, I know this year's Gator offense will actually pass the ball better down field but Tebow was special. Meyer too has to rebuild Florida's defense as the bring back only five starters from last year.
I really am not selling theseprogram short here in 2010, but the stars are all in line for a change at the top of this , the strongest conference in the land.
SEC West:
| 1. Arkansas Razorbacks
Last year, Bobby Petrino's offense averaged over 29 points per game vs the SEC, and this yea the Hogs return 10 starters from that unit including the SEC top rated passer, Junior Ryan Mallett.
Arkansas Defensive Coach Willie Robinson, now in his third season running the Hogs defense, has seven starters returning this year. You can expect the defensive front, which recorded 29 sacks last year, to reach the quarterback even more in 2010. The secondary this year potentially should show great improvement from 2009. Look for this unit to be extremely quicker to the ball.
With Bama and Florida, who last year dominated the SEC on the defensive side of the ball this year having to rebuild, I am going to tell you right now that their will be joy in Fayetteville,
Arkansas Razorbacks fans are going to celebrate this year as the Hogs will finish the 2010 SEC campaign ~ undefeated , win the SEC crown and most likely play for a National Championship.
2. Alabama
Saban's 2010 Crimson Tide is still one of the best football programs in America, they have QB Greg McElroy , and Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram returning, and overall offensively will be more lethal this year, its just that I will give them no shot at beating Arkansas Sept 25th in Fayetteville..
3. LSU
Improvement is needed on both sides of the ball for the Tigers to finish this high in the West. Coach Miles hinted around on media day that the ground attack will be better in 2010.
Deensively, this unit in 2010 will be much, much quicker on the ends, and that tells me that LSU will put one of the best defenses on the field.
4. Auburn
Manny are picking the Auburn Tigers to contend in the West, but when your defense gives up a average of 20 points per game in conference play in 2009, too much improvement is needed in order for me to take the Tigers serious.
SEC East:
1. South Carolina Gamecocks
In his sixth season coaching @ South Carolina, Steve Spurrier should finally have a vertical downfield passing attack that will keep himself and the Gamecock faithfull happy on Saturday afternoon's this fall.
Stephen Garcia Jr will lead the best passing attack in Spurrier's we have seen yet in the six years that Spurrier has been at South Carolina.
With that said, it will all come down to November 13th when the Gamecocks travel to Gainesville to play the Florida Gators in the Swamp to decide the winner of the East division.
I believe the big story on this day will be how a very deep, and talented secondary led by Stephon Gilmore, was too much for the Florida passing game to handle. This secondary with each pratice, s getting better by the minute.
They will win in the Swamp !
Book it!
2. Florida Gators
This is still a very strong football team that Urban Meyer will put on the field in 2010, just not strong enough to contend SEC title or a National Championship.
3. Georgia Bulldogs
Great offesive line, outstanding receivers, a ground game, but a very inexperience trigger man at QB, and that does not bold well in this conference.
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Big 12:
It is my perception that in 2010, the two powerhouses of the Big 12 Conference,
Texas and oklahoma,
both lack what it takes to win a National ChampionshIp. I just don't see either team being that dominant. I believe they both have weakness.
This should give a couple of darkhorses a serious chance to rock the Big 12 world this year!
Big 12 South:
1. Texas A&M Aggies
Here come the Aggies !
Thats right, sure you consider this to be a major upset, but I know better. Texas A&M returns 16 starters, 9 on defense.
Three of the down four upfront return, and they are backed by a solid linebacking corp with plenty of experience. The secondary brings back four who have started in 09. As always in the past when Texas A&M brings a solid defense to the table, expect the defense to create havoc on their opponents and capitalize on turnovers, setting up a very explosive offense that hs 7 starters returning, which incudes Senior QB Jerrod Johnson who is rated as one of, if not the top rated passer in the Big 12. Johnson lead the Big 12 in total yards last season, and expect a even better year in 2010. Look for Christine Michael's explosiveness to come front and center this year while opponents must respect the Aggies ability to throw the ball downfield to gifted receivers lead by Uzoma Nwachukwu, who will be a handfull for opposing DC's to gameplan for expecially when the ground attack must be respected. Its a very well balanced offense for Big 12 opponents to defend, and all I got to say is good luck!
2. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners return 8 starters from 09, icluding Sophomore QB Landry Jones who due to the injury to Bradford, got plenty of experience last year. Their backfield is very talented, led by Senior DeMarco Murray, but its hard to keep the injury prone back on the field.
The defense will see some new faces this year as Oklahoma only returns 5 starters, but make no mistake, this will be a strong unit again.
3. Texas Longhorns
Garrett Gilbert is now the signal caller for the Horns, and based on what I saw out of the young man in the National Championship game I am confident the Sophomore will do well @ Qb, but lets face it, there will be growing pains, especially since the ground game is a big question mark.
The defense for Texas this year will again be outstanding, but consider this a down year should Texas finish as low as third place in the Big 12 South.
Big 12 North:
1. Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers are what I consider in this profession as a upcoming "Hot" team.
I remeber how impressed I was late September last season, game 3 vs a decent Furman team. Now yes, Missouri should have no trouble with Furman, but it was quality of play from 2nd and 3rd string units
that day that made a impression with me. I saw the future that day of this current Missouri program, and let me tell you that the young talent that took Furman out to the woodshed 52-12 now has a full season under theor belts here in 2010 as Missouri returns 8 starters on offense, and 8 starters on defense.
This defense brings back experience up front with a pash rush thats comin' after the Qbs in the Big 12 this year. Putting heat on the quarterback is going to help a talented secondary look real good.
Blaine Gabbert put up great numbers as a Soph. last season, 24 TD's close to 3,600 yards and only 9 picks in 445 pass attempts.
Gabbert's number this year will be off the charts!
With Derrick Washington running the football the Tigers bring a balanced attack to the line of scrimmage.
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska is by some the sexy pick to win the Big 12, not mine, ~ I am picking them for 2nd in the North.
They do bring back nine starters on a offense, including Senior Qb Zach Lee. This offense if it is run right, can rumble in 2010.
Overall Bo Pelini has a football program that will definitely be favored to win the Big 12 North.
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Big Ten:
| 1. Iowa Hawkeyes
In 2010, the Iowa Hawkeyes, feeling good about themselves after a convincing 24-14 upset of Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, are primed to take it to the next level, and win the Big Ten title.
On defense they return eight starters from a outstanding unit last year. In 2010 expect the Hawkeyes to take the field with one of the college football's top ten defenses in the land.
The Hawkeyes return senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi, one of the top Qb's in the Big Ten, who will feel comfortable throwing the ball downfield in 2010 to his top two receivers from a year ago.
Last year @ Columbus, the Hawkeyes lost to Ohio State by the hair of their chnny-chin-chin, this year they get the Buckeyes in Iowa City. They also get Whisky and Penn State @ home.
With this defense, and a savy Qb in Stanzi, Iowa's season will be smelling roses all the way to Pasadena.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
It is true that most college football previews in 2010 consider this football team to be one of the best in the land and play for a National Championship.
Well I don't.
These experts view Terrelle Pryor as this year's version of Vince Young.
Well I don't.
Vince Young could throw downfield, and I don't see Pryor having that kind of success against quality opponents like Wisconsin and Iowa, who the Buckeyes must play this year on the road.
3. Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin does return Senior Qb Scott Tolzien along with nine other starters from the 09 offense,
plus six return from last years defense.
Whiskeys road schedule will prevent them from winning the Big Ten title this year, but make no mistake about it, this is not a easy week for anyone who has Wisconsin on their schedule.
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Pac Ten:
In 2010 the Pac 10 Conference is your most balanced football conference in the land.
If your looking for outstanding quarterback play, the Pac 10 is the place to be. Here you will find a crop of the Nation's top signal callers that include Usc's Matt Barkley, Washington's Jake Locker, Arizona's Nick Foles, Cal's Kevin Riley, Ucla's Kevin Prince, and Stanford's Oliver Luck, who this handicapper believes is without a doubt the best of this talented bunch.
The Pac 10 in 2010 will see Usc have a drop off on the talent level, and with the flight of Pete Carroll to the Seattle Seahawks, this means the Trogans come back to the pack.
Its all up for grabs this year and that's got everyone excited on campass throughout the Pac 10 with a Rose Bowl birth at stake come January.
1. The Stanford Cardinal
This is Jim Harbaugh's fourth year as HC of the Stanford Cardinal, and after finishing with a 8-5 record in 09, and losing a close 31-27 battle with Oklahoma in the Sun Bowl, The Cardinal brings in Vic Fangio, and his 24 years of experience coaching on the NFL level, to convert the Stanford defence to a 3-4 alignment.
Ths change is tailor made for a Stanford defense that returns seven starters from last season.
The Stanford new defense will be a major factor in Stanford's Rose Bowl quest in 2010.
Even without Toby Gerhart in the backfield, the Stanford offense, led by Oliver Luck, will take a back seat to nobody this year. Luck is the best Qb in a Qb talented conference who can move with his feet to give a receiver enough time to complete his route, and finish the play with the best passing touch the Pac 10 has to offer. And, he will do this behind the best O line in the conference.
Its a well balanced conference, but Jim Harbaugh's Stanford Cardinal are headed for the Rose Bowl.
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ACC:
This conference doesn't feature a stable of All-American quarterbacks, or explosive offense's that can be found on Sportcenter highlights, but you will find excellent defenses from top to bottom. The ACC is well balanced in 2010 making for some great college football viewing.
You will find however, our pick for the best college football program in the land.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Butch Davis, now in his fourth year as HC of the Tar Heels, will take the field with a squad that returns 19 starters from last year.
Offense wins games.....
Defense wins Championships.
North Carolina features by a landslide, the strongest defense in the Nation.
DE-Robert Quinn, DT-Marvin Austin, both will be featured on draft day in next years NFL draft.
LBs- Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant will be among the top linebackers taken in next year's draft also.
This defense is ready for a NFL !
It will be men vs boys when North Carolina puts its defense on the field in 2010.
The offense, which returns 10 starters, well see big improvement from Senior QB T.J. Yates.
North Carolina will go undefeated and win a National Championship.
Remmeber, you heard it here.
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Big East:
A overview of the Big East Conference in 2010 should indicated a drop off overall with several of the power teams in recent years now on a bit of a decline.
New coaches for both South Florida and Cincinnati, so expect growing pains with both, new sysems ake time to prosper. The Rutgers football program under Rich Schiano has taken big strides in the past four years to put themselves in the national spotlight , but again, here in 2010 it looks like a step backwards for the Scarlet Knights.
1. UConn Huskies
With a slight drop off in strength from this conference in 2010, its time for Randy Edsall and the UConn Huskies to take centerstage and win the Big East title.
This football program simply gets better with the start of each fall, and expect UConn who manhandled South Carolina in the PapaJohns.com bowl 20-7, and returns 16 starter from that squad, to win the Big East title, and do so with ease.
The offense is now headed in their second season under OC Joe Moorhead, and Zach Frazier should show much improvement running the Huskie attack. Expect UConn to more much more effecient throwing the ball downfield than they have in the past. The OL is most likely the bes line in the conference, and the attack is extremely balanced running & passing the football.
The UConn defense that stiffled South Carolina in the bowl game returns eight starters and should have a better season in 2010.
In its 10th Big East season, look for UConn to finish this year ranked Nationally.
2. West Virginia Mountaineers
In Bill Stewart's third year @ Morgantown, the Mountaineers return 16 starters, nine on defense.
West Virginia has a very workable schedule with four Big East home games.
A improved West Virginia defense, plus a ground attack led by Noel Devine, and a workabe schedule will keep the Mountaineers in strong contention for a Big East title.
3. Pittsburgh Panthers
Pitt's talent level is strong enough to win the Big East in 2010,
but they do only return 11 starters and must play four Big East games on the road.
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W.A.C.
Mountain West:
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