Tony's 2017 Predictions

Well, the preseason AP Poll was just released today - and we are just 5 days from the beginning of "Week Zero" (10 days from the start of the season proper). With the season now upon us, it's time for me to make my predictions for the 2017 season.





CONFERENCE CHAMPS

ACC - Florida State over Miami (the long-awaited rematch finally happens)

Big 12 - Oklahoma State over Kansas State (veteran coaching helps)

Big Ten - Wisconsin over Ohio State (both teams with 11+ wins)

PAC-12 - USC over Washington State (upset in the winner-take-all Apple Cup for the North)

SEC - Alabama over Florida (though closer than the last 2 years)

American - South Florida over  Memphis (New Year's Six play-in game)

Conference USA - Southern Miss over Old Dominion

MAC - Ohio over Toledo

Mountain West - Wyoming over Hawaii

Sun Belt - Arkansas State, with Appalachian State coming in 2nd


COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

Rose - Florida State vs Wisconsin [FSU wins]
Sugar - Alabama vs Oklahoma State [Alabama wins]
Championship - Alabama wins


NEW YEAR'S SIX MATCHUPS

Orange - Clemson vs Penn State (Orange Bowl avoiding rematch; otherwise tOSU would go here)
Peach - Ohio State vs USF (could be the Boise/Oklahoma of the New Year's Six era)
Cotton - LSU vs USC (unofficially settling the 2003 debate, 14 years later)
Fiesta - Washington State vs Kansas State (in the most "unexpected" NY6 bowl of the season)


OTHER PREDICTIONS

• The ACC just misses having a 3rd New Year's Six team, but the conference is well-represented in the next wave of bowls with attractive VT/Miami/Louisville teams ranked in the teens. Another strong bowl season awaits the conference.
• Speaking of bowls, look for some interesting storylines. Miami/Georgia (the Richt Bowl) is a distinct possibility, as is Virginia Tech vs TCU or Oklahoma (throwbacks for Fuente).
• Texas and Oklahoma have decent first seasons with their first-year coaches, but both top out in the 8-9 win range.
• Michigan State and Notre Dame return to the side of the ranked, but just barely, as both finish in the 20-25 range.
• The SEC sees Kentucky as a surprise contender for the East, but the Wildcats end up just short of Florida.
• Oregon struggles initially with Willie Taggart, though the Ducks will become a "hot" team near season's end with an epic upset of Washington. USC, meanwhile, wraps up the South by early November.
• The Group of Five teams fall off a little bit from a year ago, with no CFP contenders. USF lives up to expectations, however, and Charlie Strong gets some redemption from his Texas tenure.