2018 PICKS
TOP 25
• Three teams in the AP preseason poll that will not finish the season ranked: No. 16 TCU, No. 20 Virginia Tech, No. 25 LSU.
• Three teams not in the AP preseason poll that will finish the season ranked: Boston College, Memphis, Utah. CONFERENCE WINNERS American Athletic Conference: Memphis (West) over Temple (East). The last two teams to win the American lost their coaches soon after. So where’s Mike Norvell going?
Atlantic Coast Conference: Clemson (Atlantic) over Miami (Coastal). The Tigers are stacked and freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence could give the offense an explosiveness it was missing last year.
Big Ten: Michigan (East) over Wisconsin (West). Jim Harbaugh finally quiets his critics.
Big 12: Oklahoma (No. 1) over (West Virginia No. 2). The Big
12 is the most likely Power Five conference to provide an unexpected champion. There is little separation among the top six or seven teams but when in doubt, pick the Sooners.
Conference USA: Florida Atlantic (East) over Louisiana Tech (West). Lane Kiffin brings a second straight C-USA title
Mid-American Conference: Ohio (East) over Northern Illinois (West). Ohio wins its first MAC title since 1968.
Mountain West: Boise State (Mountain) over San Diego State (West). Could be the Broncos best post-Chris Petersen team.
Pac-12: Washington (North) over Utah (South). The Huskies win their second Pac-12 title in three seasons, but the opener against Auburn could determine playoff hopes.
SEC: Alabama (West) over Georgia (East). This time only the SEC champion makes the playoff. Sun Belt: Arkansas State (West) over Troy (East). Red Wolves win the first Sun Belt championship game.
HEISMAN TROPHY
The favorites are running backs Bryce Love of Stanford and Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin, but the Heisman has become a quarterback’s award. Fifteen of the last 18 winners have been QBs. Feels like a season where a not-so-obvious player makes a run. Top five vote-getters:
• 1. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
• 2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin.
• 3. Will Grier, QB, West Virginia.
• 4. Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan.
COACHING CAROUSEL
There seems to be no such thing as a slow season when it comes to coaching moves. Almost inevitably a few jobs that seemed safe in September open up by December. Florida, for example, just last year. What job will unexpectedly open this season? How about Oklahoma, when Jerry Jones decides to hire another Sooners coach and brings Lincoln Riley to the Cowboys. NEW YEAR’S SIX/COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF Cotton Bowl: Alabama (1) vs. Washington (4).
Orange Bowl: Michigan (2) vs. Clemson (3).
Sugar Bowl: Georgia (SEC) vs. Oklahoma (Big 12)
Rose Bowl: Wisconsin (Big Ten) vs Oregon (Pac-12)
Fiesta Bowl: Boise State (Group of Five) vs. Ohio State (at-large) Peach Bowl: West Virginia (atlarge) vs. Miami (at-large) NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Clemson and Alabama make it four straight seasons meeting in the playoff. The Tigers even the series at two and win another national title.