Eric's Annual 100% Inaccurate Preseason Bowl Projections

[Eric]

New Mexico: New Mexico vs. Utah
Las Vegas: Fresno State vs. Oregon State
Idaho Potato: Northern Illinois vs. Colorado State
New Orleans: Rice vs. UL Lafayette
Beef O’Brady’s: UCF vs. Bowling Green*
Hawaii: Tulsa vs. Nevada
Little Caesar’s Pizza: Toledo vs. Arkansas State*
Poinsettia: San Diego State vs. UCLA
Military: Syracuse vs. Marshall
Texas: Baylor vs. Iowa
Kraft Fight Hunger: Washington vs. BYU
Buffalo Wild Wings: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Pinstripe: Rutgers vs. Notre Dame*
Belk: Maryland vs. Temple
Russell Athletic: Florida State vs. Cincinnati
Armed Forces: Navy vs. Utah State
Music City: Vanderbilt vs. Virginia Tech
Alamo: TCU vs. Arizona State
Holiday: Oklahoma State vs. USC
Sun: North Carolina vs. Arizona
Independence: NC State vs. Auburn
Liberty: Missouri vs. ECU
Chick-fil-A: Clemson vs. Ole Miss
Gator: Wisconsin vs. Florida
Capital One: Nebraska vs. South Carolina
Outback: Michigan State vs. Georgia
Heart of Dallas: Louisiana Tech vs. Kansas State
Rose: Oregon vs. Michigan
Sugar: Texas A&M vs. Louisville
Fiesta: Texas vs. Boise State
Orange: Miami vs. Ohio State
Cotton: Oklahoma vs. LSU
BBVA Compass: Ball State* vs. UAB*
GoDaddy: Ohio vs. Western Kentucky
BCS Championship: Stanford vs. Alabama

Well, here it is. This of course is all contingent on whether or not Johnny Manziel plays. If he doesn't, I would assume A&M would fall into the Chick-fil-A range; still a good season, but they won't be BCS material without Manziel. I have Miami winning 8 or 9 regular season games and upsetting Clemson in the ACC title game. I have Michigan winning 10 regular season games and beating undefeated Ohio State in the B1G championship game, probably sending the BCS into chaos. I think Louisville loses one game to Cincinnati at the end of the year, but still retains the conference championship. Boise State I have in undefeated, although they could still get a bid with an 11-1 campaign. The only teams I think might get eligible but get left out in the cold will be San Jose State, Buffalo, and Georgia Tech (2 victories vs. FCS at 6-6).

[Spence]

New Mexico: New Mexico vs. Utah
Las Vegas: Fresno State vs. Oregon State
Idaho Potato: Northern Illinois vs. Colorado State
New Orleans: Rice vs. UL Lafayette
Beef O’Brady’s: UCF vs. Bowling Green*
Hawaii: Tulsa vs. Nevada
Little Caesar’s Pizza: Toledo vs. Arkansas State*
Poinsettia: San Diego State vs. UCLA
Military: Syracuse vs. Marshall
Texas: Baylor vs. Iowa
Kraft Fight Hunger: Washington vs. BYU
Buffalo Wild Wings: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Pinstripe: Rutgers vs. Notre Dame*
Belk: Maryland vs. Temple
Russell Athletic: Florida State vs. Cincinnati
Armed Forces: Navy vs. Utah State
Music City: Vanderbilt vs. Virginia Tech
Alamo: TCU vs. Arizona State
Holiday: Oklahoma State vs. USC
Sun: North Carolina vs. Arizona
Independence: NC State vs. Auburn
Liberty: Missouri vs. ECU
Chick-fil-A: Clemson vs. Ole Miss
Gator: Wisconsin vs. Florida
Capital One: Nebraska vs. South Carolina
Outback: Michigan State vs. Georgia
Heart of Dallas: Louisiana Tech vs. Kansas State
Rose: Oregon vs. Michigan
Sugar: Texas A&M vs. Louisville
Fiesta: Texas vs. Boise State
Orange: Miami vs. Ohio State
Cotton: Oklahoma vs. LSU
BBVA Compass: Ball State* vs. UAB*
GoDaddy: Ohio vs. Western Kentucky
BCS Championship: Stanford vs. Alabama

Well, here it is. This of course is all contingent on whether or not Johnny Manziel plays. If he doesn't, I would assume A&M would fall into the Chick-fil-A range; still a good season, but they won't be BCS material without Manziel. I have Miami winning 8 or 9 regular season games and upsetting Clemson in the ACC title game. I have Michigan winning 10 regular season games and beating undefeated Ohio State in the B1G championship game, probably sending the BCS into chaos. I think Louisville loses one game to Cincinnati at the end of the year, but still retains the conference championship. Boise State I have in undefeated, although they could still get a bid with an 11-1 campaign. The only teams I think might get eligible but get left out in the cold will be San Jose State, Buffalo, and Georgia Tech (2 victories vs. FCS at 6-6).

Not going to happen this year. Ohio State is going to be good. The only issue is linebacker depth and the backers are good, just not deep. The only game that scares me it Northwestern on the road at night. It is a trap game IMO.

[Eric]

I think Northwestern can be dangerous. I just like Michigan a lot this year. As you know, I'm usually a big-time pessimist

Trust me, I'm afraid that one year removed from a ND/Bama title game, we might get an OSU/Bama title game .

[armchairqb]

Eric, your theory on Cincinnati defeating Louisville in the final AAC regular season game has a lot of merit. I was pretty close to picking the Bearcats; both teams have a bye week the week before and it's at Cincinnati.

Spence, I agree that Northwestern is a trap game for Ohio State. It is a road game and the Buckeyes first bye week will be the week after whereas Northwestern's will be the week before. I see Ohio State losing at Michigan in the final regular season game, but getting payback the week after in the B1G Ten Championship Game.

[Derek]

100%

Enjoy the posts though.

[Spence]

Eric, your theory on Cincinnati defeating Louisville in the final AAC regular season game has a lot of merit. I was pretty close to picking the Bearcats; both teams have a bye week the week before and it's at Cincinnati.

Spence, I agree that Northwestern is a trap game for Ohio State. It is a road game and the Buckeyes first bye week will be the week after whereas Northwestern's will be the week before. I see Ohio State losing at Michigan in the final regular season game, but getting payback the week after in the B1G Ten Championship Game.

Michigan should be good. The key for Ohio State in getting out of the regular season undefeated is the defense. If the defense stays healthy - they are thin- then look out. If they lose a couple linbackers it will be tough to beat teams that can move the ball. Ohio State's offense is loaded. Really, really loaded. If Miller has improved as much as they say, they are going to be a national championship caliber offense.

[donovan]

Eric, your theory on Cincinnati defeating Louisville in the final AAC regular season game has a lot of merit. I was pretty close to picking the Bearcats; both teams have a bye week the week before and it's at Cincinnati.

Spence, I agree that Northwestern is a trap game for Ohio State. It is a road game and the Buckeyes first bye week will be the week after whereas Northwestern's will be the week before. I see Ohio State losing at Michigan in the final regular season game, but getting payback the week after in the B1G Ten Championship Game.

Michigan should be good. The key for Ohio State in getting out of the regular season undefeated is the defense. If the defense stays healthy - they are thin- then look out. If they lose a couple linbackers it will be tough to beat teams that can move the ball. Ohio State's offense is loaded. Really, really loaded. If Miller has improved as much as they say, they are going to be a national championship caliber offense.

This is the most excited I have seen Spence since I have been on the board.

[Cane from the Bend]

The problem is, 'they' say a lot of things.

I don't doubt the Buckeyes' offensive prowess. They look stout, and Meyer recruited heavily in that area (as usual).

I think the Wolverines have a bunch going for them, too. But I'm not yet sold that they've gotten quite over that hump, yet.

Michigan has not been Big Blue for a while. But Ohio State hasn't fallen out of things as TTUN, so they never had really as far to climb, in order to get back into things.

I like how Hoke has been hitting the recruiting trail. If these recruits turn out good from the start, or need experience to develop their talent, is yet to be seen. I do not think it will be long before Michigan is again the football power they once were. Presently sitting at 19-7 since Rich Rodriguez's stay, the team is clearly responding to the changes that have been made --- having typed all of that --- Michigan should be good enough to beat Ohio State, at least once this year. It all boils down to game time preparation, mental readiness, and who plays like they want it more.

The games aren't as interesting to watch if you know who's going to win.
This season ... I do not believe you can go into this game with that mentality.

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[Cane from the Bend]

This is the most excited I have seen Spence since I have been on the board.

Too bad you didn't get to see him on the old board.

He would really get going for the Michigan game, refusing to post the word Michigan for the entire week out of superstition, and refering to them as TTUP & TSUP. Trying to rally the other Buckeye fans, by posting "This is Meeeshagan week", and starting the O-H-I-O chant (each one of the Ohio State fans would post the letters in successive replies, one after the other).

He could get pretty riled back then ... what, 8-9 years ago.

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[Spence]

It got less fun win Michigan couldn't win. They can now, but this is probably the best team Ohio State has had since 2002. Offensively they will pie better. They aren't nearly as good defensively, but still should be good. I think this will be a fun season no matter what. If the defense can play well and stay healthy, the Buckeyes can go a long way.

[Dossenator]

I have never seen Spence this optimistic about the Buckeyes either. Just make sure Urban Meyer does not put one of his blonde employees on the back of a Harley, crash it, then lie about it, then hire John L Smith, and the Buckeyes should be fine. Arkansas fans found out that is a sure fire way for a disaster....even with a top 5 team.

[Spence]

I have never seen Spence this optimistic about the Buckeyes either. Just make sure Urban Meyer does not put one of his blonde employees on the back of a Harley, crash it, then lie about it, then hire John L Smith, and the Buckeyes should be fine. Arkansas fans found out that is a sure fire way for a disaster....even with a top 5 team.

I'm not a Urban follower. I do like the talent on this team. I still need to see the defense in action to be really optimistic. I really like the talent on both lines. IMO that is the key to a good football team. Skill players make headlines but the team is only as good as the O and D lines.

[Cane from the Bend]

Last time Spence got this optimistic about the Buckeyes, was early in 2005.

It was after Ohio St lost to Texas that Spence said, "I'm surprised, I really thought that this was our year. Well that's that".

Even when the Buckeyes got smashed by florida in the championship game, Spence said he didn't think Ohio State was good enough --- saying they had overachieved, and the only reason they played in the National Championship, is because they finished undefeated, and nobody else did.

One thing I've learned about Spence over the years, is his penchant for honesty with regard to the subject of his team . . . whether what he is expressing is true or not, Spence sincerely believes it to be true.

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[Spence]

There is no sense in trying to look past the weaknesses and think no one else will notice. I'm not nearly smart enough to believe I am the only one who can see it.