2016 Title Chase Preview
(NCAA Football)
The 2016 NCAA title chase will kick off with an unprecedented opening weekend in a day or so.Of course there will be surprises,there will be disappointments, there will be ups and downs as teams vie for spots in the Football Four and ultimately a trip to Tampa to play for the crown in January.
Last season Alabama claimed the crown but a repeat may be harder to accomplish.
Ok, let's have a look
American Athletic Conference
Last season, AAC shocked a few people with the seasons from Houston and Memphis. This year Memphis returns a lot but will not sneak up on people while in some circles, Houston is a trendy surprise pick to crash the Football Four.
East Division
South Florida should edge out Temple to win the division with Cincinnati dangerous as always.
West Division
Houston is easily the top of the class in this division with Memphis looking to make a splash but not as big as last season.The Houston squad gets a chance to make an opening splash against Oklahoma in the season opener.
Memphis will also get their shot later in the season against Ole Miss and could be the spoiler in their season finale against Houston
Division Winners: South Florida, Houston
Bowl Teams: S. Fla, Temple, Cincy, Houston, Memphis, Navy
Conference Champion: Houston
East Division
South Florida should edge out Temple to win the division with Cincinnati dangerous as always.
West Division
Houston is easily the top of the class in this division with Memphis looking to make a splash but not as big as last season.The Houston squad gets a chance to make an opening splash against Oklahoma in the season opener.
Memphis will also get their shot later in the season against Ole Miss and could be the spoiler in their season finale against Houston
Division Winners: South Florida, Houston
Bowl Teams: S. Fla, Temple, Cincy, Houston, Memphis, Navy
Conference Champion: Houston
Atlantic Coast Conference
The ACC may well get two spots in the Football Four this season with Clemson and Florida State serious national contenders. The winner of their regular season matchup should run the table throgh the ACC Championship and the loser could easily manage to do the same through the rest of the season.
Atlantic Division
This division has two of the top five teams in the nation and it will hinge on the Clemson-Florida State meeting in October barring a major upset.
Loisville will be steady, NC State could pull an upset or two and Wake Forest is improved.
Coastal Division
North Carolina should emerge from this half of the ACC again but will be challenged by Miami, Pitt and possibly Virginia Tech in their first season without coaching legend Frank Beamer.
Division Winners: Florida State, UNC
Bowl Teams: FSU, Clemson, Louisville, UNC, Miami, Pitt, Va Tech, Wake Forest
Conference Champion: Florida State
Big 12
In a conference with no championship game, it is paramount that there aren't many upsets at the top. Last season, Oklahoma ran the gambit to put themselves into the national playoffs. This seasons conference winner must do similar and keep the losses to a minimum. With TCU, an improving Texas, Oklahoma State and an always dangerous Baylor squad looming. the conference could well find themselves on the outside looking in at the Football Four in January.
Each contender will have moments to argue their case with Texas who faces Notre Dame and Oklahoma facing Houston in the season's opening weekend giving a national spotlight. Both games may be upsets with some predicting Houston to beat Oklahoma and Texas surprising Notre Dame.
In the end, I'm looking for TCU to be the most consistent team and win the conference but most likely miss the Football Four.
Bowl Teams: Oklahoma, TCU, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor
Conference Champion: TCU
Big 10
This seaon Ohio state may release their grasp on the league and division titles with Michigan surpassing Michigan State as a contender to the throne and National Title. The East Division of the conference is very top heavy while in the west,,,, it seems Nebraska may slip past Wisconsin to get into the championship game.
East Division
Ohio State is fully stocked again but may be a bit stagnate, Michigan State always seems to drop one at in opportune times and Michigan seems poised for a return to glory under Jim Harbaugh. Michigan has recruited well but they may still be slightly behind the Spartans and Buckeyesbut with the Harbaugh Factor could jump to the top.
West Division
This division will be interesting and the winner may have up to three losses. Iowa may surprise again and could be a problem for Wisconsin and Nebraska. In the end though Nebraska nay just get through.
Division Winners: Michigan, Nebraska
Bowl Teams: Ohio St, Michigan, Michigan St, Penn St, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern
Conference Champions: Michigan
Conference USA
While none of these teams will step into national contention, there will be competitive football played and possible upsets of some of the big boys. Marshall, Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss seem to be the creme de la creme here.
East Division
Marshall will emerge with Western Kentucky providing the next best option
West Division
Louisiana Tech gets the slight edge over Southern Miss here with Rice looming.
Division Winners: Marshall, La Tech
Bowl Teams: Marshall, Western Kentucky, La Tech, Southern Miss and Rice
Conference Champion: Marshall
Mid-America Conference
As usual, there will be competitive football played in this conference. Northern Illinois has come back to the pack a bit with new contenders Western Michigan looming. Bowling green will most likely be the best of the rest.
East Division
Bowling Green should outlast Ohio and Akron for the division crown.
West Division
There are a few dogs in the hunt to dethrone Northern Illinois here but expected winner Western Michigan has run into a few off field problems. Last season's surprise crew Toledo will again contend and may end up division winners.
Division Winners: Bowling Green, Toledo
Bowl Teams: Bowling Green, Toledo, Ohio, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Akron
Conference Champion: Toledo
Mountain West Conference
There has been a slight power shift in the conference with San Diego State placing themselves ahead of Boise State as the team to possibly shake things up and make a New Year's Day Six bowl.
Mountain Division
Boise State is still the team to beat here with Utah State, Air Force and possibly New Mexico looking to chase them down.
West Division
San Diego State is the class here with Nevada a distant second.
Division Winners: Boise State, San Diego St.
Bowl Teams: Boise State, San Diego State, Utah State, Air Force, Nevada
Conference Champion: San Diego State
Pacific 12
The Pac-12 is looking to survive eating their own in hopes of having a conference team crash the Football Four at season's end. Stanford and UCLA loom as the teams with the best chance of doing that at this stage but things could change if USC were to pull an uber upset over Alabama to start the season.
North Division
Stanford will be hoping to avoid an opening loss like the one suffered to Northwestern at the start of last season. The Cardinal are poised to run the table this season with Oregon a distant second in this division but still dangerous. Additionally, Washington can't be ignored and may surprise some.
South Division
While UCLA is the trendy pick, USC may be just as talented and will get to test that in the opening weekend against Alabama. Arizona and Utah are hoping to jostle into position for national recognition.
Division Winners: Stanford, USC
Bowl Teams: Stanford, USC, Oregon, Washington, Washington State, UCLA, Arizona, Utah
Conference Champion: Stanford
Southeastern Conference
Once again the conference belongs to Alabama it seems. LSU seems to be back on track to compete with the Tide but that remains to be seen. both Mississippi teams will be dangerous also. Auburn will be looking to surprise while building.
In the East Division, Tennessee looks to slip past Georgia for the division crown with Florida lurking.
Division Winners: Tennessee, Alabama
Bowl Teams: Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, LSU, Miss St, Auburn, Arkansas
Conference Champion: Alabama
Sun Belt
Though the Sun Belt is nearly the forgotten conference football wise, their top three should be equal to any Group of Five conference. Throw Louisiana-Lafayette or Georgia State in with Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Arkansas State for bowl ids this season.
Bowl Teams: LA-Lafayette, Ga Southern, App State, Arkansas St
Conference Champion: Appalachian State
Independents
UMass joins Notre Dame, BYU and Army as an Independent this season. BYU and Army should find their way into a bowl with Notre Dame hoping for a Football Four slot. To gain a spot the Irish will need four wins from critical games against Texas, Michigan State, Stanford and USC. There is also a game with hungry rival Miami along the way too.
Bowl Teams: BYU, Notre Dame
With the conferences out of the way...it's time!!
Chuck's Football Four for 2016: Alabama, Florida State, Clemson, Stanford
National Champions: Clemson
Thursday/Friday Night season openers
Charlotte @Louisville (19)
Easy opener/tuneup for Louisville
Louisville 46-14
Appalachian State @ Tennessee (9)
Could be tricky for a half for Tennessee.
Tenn 38-13
Furman @ Michigan State (12)
Michigan State 50-10
Northwestern State @ Baylor (23)
Baylor 51-20
Kansas State @ Stanford (8)
No first game slips for Stanford this year!!
Stanford 35-17
Done for now, back with the rest of this weekend's picks soon.
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