War Eagle Repeat?

The Auburn Tigers surprised the College Football world last season when they rolled through the SEC West, dominated South Carolina in the SEC Championship game and eventually won their first National Championship since 1957. No team has won back to back national titles in College Football since the Nebraska Cornhuskers did it in 1994 and 1995. This upcoming season the Tigers will try to produce another title but it will be very difficult for Gene Chizik to get them back to the Pinnacle of College Sports.

Michael Dyer looks to have another 1,000 yard season

The team started out ranked 22nd in the nation last season with a struggling defense, an unproven Junior College quarterback, and an incoming freshman at running back. The offense turned into one of the best in College Football, being led by Heisman trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton and freshman running back Michael Dyer. Nick Fairly led the stout defense that shut down offenses and held an Oregon team that averaged almost 50 points a game to a measly 19 points. The loss of Cam Newton and Nick Fairly will weigh heavily on the 2011 Tigers but that wont be all they have to worry about for the upcoming season.

Gene Chizik's 2011 Tigers will struggle in the SEC West and it will be very hard for them to get back to a double digit win season with the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia on the schedule. The loss of All Americans Fairly and Newton hurt but I think the loss of their two best offensive lineman (Lee Ziemba and Ryan Pugh) will hurt even more. Inexperienced quarterback Barrett Trotter will led the troops with star running back Micheal Dyer in the the backfield.

The Tigers have lost too much and don't have enough experience on the team, only 5 returning starters, to make another run at the title in 2011. The national title last season did a lot for future Auburn teams but this year looks like a rebuilding year with a 8-4 record.

Are You Ready for College Football?

We are just under a month and a half away from the kickoff to the College Football season and I've been ready since January 11th. There is no better feeling then that opening kickoff at home and the sold out stadium is on their feet as the new season is about to kick off. Today I'll take a look at some reasons why you should be ready for football.

The Broncos move to the Mountain West

Nebraska in the "Big 10": The longtime Big 12 powerhouse heads east to face off with the likes of Penn St, Ohio St, Michigan and Wisconsin. The Big 10 will now separate into two divisions and it will all culminate with the first ever Big 10 championship game.

Boise St's year? The Broncos will be facing some better competition in their conference this upcoming season as they head to the Mountain West . Boise expected to face the likes of BYU , Utah, and TCU for seasons to come but Utah bolted to become part of the Pac 12 and BYU went independent. They will face TCU for one season before they will then dart for the Big East in 2012. Even without those teams the likes of Air Force, San Diego St and Colorado St are still much improved competition over many teams in the WAC.

Pacific 12: Colorado and Utah will help create the Pac 12. Utah, along with TCU, helped form the Mountain West into an elite conference but when they had the opportunity to ditch out to an AQ conference they took the bait. The Buffalo are also headed into the Pac 12 after an awful season and a possible Big 12 collapse.

Return of three Heisman finalist: Andrew Luck, LaMicheal James, and Kellen Moore will all return for their repective teams this season after their outstanding seasons last year.

War Eagle? The Auburn faithful lost Cam Newton to the NFL, as expected, but will they be able to rebound after losing their star and Heisman winner? Or will it be a one time thing for Gene Chizik and Co.?

Russell Wilson is headed to Madison

Big L(East): The Big East had two teams preseason ranked in the Top 15 last season but failed to have one in the Top 25 at the final poll. Can this conference turn it around and become an equal AQ conference once again?

Russell Wilson to Wisconsin: The star QB back at NC State has decided to pack up and head north to play for the Wisconsin Badgers. Wilson graduated last season from NC State so he is able to transfer without having to sit out a year. Is he the missing piece to a title run in Madison?

Ohio St: The Buckeyes were predicted to be a Top 5 team come August till the bottom fell out from under the program. Their three year starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor left the school, Jim Tressel resigned under loads and loads of pressure and they will also play the first several games without key players. Can this team fight through their off season troubles to continue their dominance in the Big 10?



*longer stories to come later

Top 5 Bowl Games

5. Rose Bowl                           TCU 21 Wisconsin 19

With the win TCU proved that they were a force to be reckoned with and proved that a playoff system is a necessary to insure that the best team wins the National Title. TCU also proved that their offense was good and their defense was even better. They held one of the best offenses in the nation to a measly 19 points. Andy Dalton aired it out for the Horn Frogs with 219 yards and a touchdown. TCU finished the season ranked 2nd in the polls and 13-0 while Wisconsin dropped to 7th.

4. Sugar Bowl                           Ohio St 31 Arkansas 26

Ryan Mallett led the Razorback from 28-7 deficit to a game that they could have easily been won by. Arkansas blocked a Ohio St punt and took over inside the Buckeyes 30 but failed to protect Ryan Mallet so he was sacked then pressured again and threw a forced throw and it was picked off. The five Ohio St suspended players in 2011 were huge in the win. Terrelle Pryor won MVP honors with 336 total yards (221 and 115) and two passing touchdowns, Devier Posey had 70 receiving yards and a touchdown, "Boom" Herron had 87 rushing yards and a touchdown, Solomon Thomas has the game clinching interception and Mike Adams anchored the O-line. Without those five players the Razorbacks would win in a landslide. Ohio St finished the year ranked 5th while Arkansas fell to 12th.

3. New Era Pinestripe Bowl            Syracuse 36 Kansas St 34

This game was a back and fourth battle between Syracuse and Kansas St which had 7 lead changes and was tied three times in the game. It ended when Kansas St scored a touchdown with a minute to go. They needed to go for two to tie up the game but got a celebration penalty, which was a bad call, and failed on the 20 yard two point conversion. Delone Carter led the the Orange with a career high 198 rushing yards and two scores and Ryan Nassib had 239 and three passing yards in the win. Syracuse finished with a a 8-5 compared to Kansas St's 7-6 record.

2. Music City Bowl                    North Carolina 30 Tennessee 27 2OT

The thriller between North Carolina and Tennessee was one that you won't forget for a while. It had overtimes, a questionable call, good offense and good defense. North Carolina ran out of time and the coaches were shaking hands but the officials reviewed it and figured out that their was a second left so North Carolina kicked a field goal as time expired to sent it into overtime. North Carolina eventually got the win in double OT thanks to a interception and a field goal but not without criticism. Shaun Draughn had 160 rushing yards and a touchdown and T.J. Yates had 234 passing yards and a touchdown in the win. North Carolina picked of three passes. North Carolina finished with a 8-5 record while Tennessee was below. 500 again this season with a 6-7 record.

1. National Title Game                               Auburn 22 Oregon 19

This wasn't the high scoring game that we expected it to be but instead two good defenses and a bad field that were playing in this one. The Auburn run defense was amazing while Oregon shutdown Heisman winner Cam Newton. Auburn won their second national title with a game ending 19 yard field goal and a 22-19 win. the game didn't have any points in the first quarter but the fourth quarter was a great one with fake plays, LaMichael James scoring with 2 minutes left the Auburn rolling down the field for the game winner. Michael Dyer was the star for the Tigers with 143 rushing yards and a huge run in the 4th quarter. Oregon was hoping that the highlighter green socks would blind the offense but they couldn't help out much on the final drive. Oregon will look to get their first National Title next season with several key players returning.