Big 10 - Nebraska
The Cornhuskers will begin their first season in the Big 10 after coming over from the Big 12. After losing to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game, Nebraska looks ready to make their presence felt in the slightly weaker Big 10. The Cornhuskers defense, which ranked 9th in the nation a year ago, will have to move on from the loss of star CB Prince Amukamara. However, Nebraska still has one of the best defensive players in the Big 10, Jared Crick. Crick, a projected 2012 1st Round draft pick, registered 9.5 sacks last season and will look to dominate Big 10 offensive linemen. Nebraska's offense also took a blow, losing seniors Roy Helu Jr. and Niles Paul. Dual-threat QB Taylor Martinez will look to lead the Cornhuskers, after nearly running for 1,000 yards last season. If Martinez can stay healthy all season, the Cornhuskers will be dangerous. Another new feature in the Big 10 this
year is the divisions. Nebraska's main competitor in the Legends division will be Michigan State. The Spartans shocked everyone last year, winning 11 games. Michigan State returns a dynamic RB, QB duo of Kirk Cousins and Edwin Baker. Cousins, a senior, tossed 20 TDs last season. Edwin Baker was a TD machine, racking up 13 of them while rushing for 1,200 yards. Nebraska will win the Legends division because of their incredible defense, one that can't be matched by Michigan State. In the Leaders division, the top two teams will be defending Big 10 Champion Wisconsin, and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been in the center of an NCAA investigation for the entire off season. As a result the team has lost their Head Coach, and their star QB. The team will also have RB Dan Herron and WR DeVier Posey suspended for the first 5 games. Ohio State will compete however because they do have talent and have a rather easy out of conference schedule. Wisconsin also had some losses during the off season too, losing DE J.J. Watt, QB Scott Tolzien, and star RB John Clay. However, the Badgers were able to pick up QB Russell Wilson in a transfer from N.C. State. Wisconsin will win the Leaders division because Ohio State has had too much turmoil during the off season to compete with the best teams in the Big 10. Meaning that Nebraska and Wisconsin will meet in the Big 10 Championship Game. Nebraska wins the Big 10 because the team has better chemistry than Wisconsin, having the same starting QB for the past two seasons, unlike the Badgers.
year is the divisions. Nebraska's main competitor in the Legends division will be Michigan State. The Spartans shocked everyone last year, winning 11 games. Michigan State returns a dynamic RB, QB duo of Kirk Cousins and Edwin Baker. Cousins, a senior, tossed 20 TDs last season. Edwin Baker was a TD machine, racking up 13 of them while rushing for 1,200 yards. Nebraska will win the Legends division because of their incredible defense, one that can't be matched by Michigan State. In the Leaders division, the top two teams will be defending Big 10 Champion Wisconsin, and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been in the center of an NCAA investigation for the entire off season. As a result the team has lost their Head Coach, and their star QB. The team will also have RB Dan Herron and WR DeVier Posey suspended for the first 5 games. Ohio State will compete however because they do have talent and have a rather easy out of conference schedule. Wisconsin also had some losses during the off season too, losing DE J.J. Watt, QB Scott Tolzien, and star RB John Clay. However, the Badgers were able to pick up QB Russell Wilson in a transfer from N.C. State. Wisconsin will win the Leaders division because Ohio State has had too much turmoil during the off season to compete with the best teams in the Big 10. Meaning that Nebraska and Wisconsin will meet in the Big 10 Championship Game. Nebraska wins the Big 10 because the team has better chemistry than Wisconsin, having the same starting QB for the past two seasons, unlike the Badgers.Big 12 - Oklahoma
Oklahoma is currently ranked the #1 team in the country, and it makes sense why. The Sooners feature one of the best QB, WR duos in the country. QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles are two of the best at their respective positions. Broyles hauled in 118 passes last season, while Jones completed 35 passes for TDs. Oklahoma's passing game should not be a problem, however the running game is a question mark. RB DeMarco Murray, the team's leading rusher from a year ago, has departed for the NFL. Oklahoma will be challenged by Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. The Cowboys also have a great QB, WR duo. Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon will look to terrorize defenses for the 2nd straight year. Justin Blackmon was sensational last season totaling about 1,700 yards receiving and 18 TDs. Oklahoma State's passing offense ranked 2nd in the nation last season and will hope to continue that trend. However, like rival Oklahoma, the Cowboys will lose a star RB, Kendall Hunter has departed for the NFL after 4 seasons in Stillwater, OK. The Aggies are coming off a very successful season which resulted in a trip to the Cotton Bowl. Texas A&M will be tested early, facing Oklahoma State in the 3rd week of the season. Whoever wins that match up will likely finish 2nd in the Big 12. Texas A&M is led by senior QB Ryan Tannehill who tossed 13 TDs and only threw 6 interceptions. Oklahoma will win the Big 12 because they have the best defense of these three teams. LB Travis Lewis is currently out with injury, but will return fir the stretch run, and that is when the Sooners will need him most.SEC - Alabama
The Crimson Tide come in ranked #2 in most polls, but many people believe that Alabama is the best team in College Football. Based on recent history, the winner of the SEC is the favorite to win the National Championship. Alabama lost three star players in the off season due to the NFL Draft. Julio Jones, Marcell Dareus, and Heisman Trophy Winner Mark Ingram all departed after their Junior seasons. The team also lost starting QB Greg McElroy. So how can Alabama be the best team in the country if they have lost this many stars? The Crimson Tide has the best defense in the SEC, and the best RB in the SEC. Alabama placed four defensive players on the First-Team All SEC List, one on the 2nd Team, and two on the 3rd Team. The mighty 
Alabama D is led by their LBs. Senior Courtney Upshaw lived in the backfield last season, recording 14.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Dont'a Hightower record 70 total tackles, 30 of them were solo. The last remaining star of the Alabama D is CB Dre Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick made 53 tackles last season and picked off 3 passes. All three players are expected to be 1st Round draft picks next year. The West division features two other title contenders. #4 LSU will be battling Alabama all season for the SEC crown, the two will square off on November 5th, a match up which will likely determine the winner of the SEC. Also in the West is Arkansas and defending National Champion Auburn. Don't expect Auburn to repeat as champions, the team only has six returning starters. Arkansas shouldn't have a tough time replacing star QB Ryan Mallet, Tyler Wilson showed in limited time last season that he has all of the tools to be a great QB, against the Auburn defense. Alabama wins the West because of their defense and because LSU will have no chance at stopping RB Trent Richardson. In the East division, the clear favorite is South Carolina. The Gamecocks will be challenged by Florida and Georgia, both teams are considered to be "middle of the pack". The Gators, a usual powerhouse, have QB questions and have a first time Head Coach in Will Muschamp. Georgia lost their top offensive weapon, A.J. Green to the NFL and will have a hard time replacing him. South Carolina has one of the best offensive weapons in the SEC, star WR Alshon Jeffery showed last season that him and QB Stephen Garcia have a lot of chemistry. Jeffery is big receiver who can leap over smaller CBs, getting him the ball shouldn't be an issue. The Gamecocks also made noise in the off season by signing the top recruit in the country, DE Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney will look to make an immediate impact for South Carolina. I believe that Alabama will defeat South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game because they are the most balanced team in the country and will take advantage of Steve Spurrier's young defense.
Alabama D is led by their LBs. Senior Courtney Upshaw lived in the backfield last season, recording 14.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Dont'a Hightower record 70 total tackles, 30 of them were solo. The last remaining star of the Alabama D is CB Dre Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick made 53 tackles last season and picked off 3 passes. All three players are expected to be 1st Round draft picks next year. The West division features two other title contenders. #4 LSU will be battling Alabama all season for the SEC crown, the two will square off on November 5th, a match up which will likely determine the winner of the SEC. Also in the West is Arkansas and defending National Champion Auburn. Don't expect Auburn to repeat as champions, the team only has six returning starters. Arkansas shouldn't have a tough time replacing star QB Ryan Mallet, Tyler Wilson showed in limited time last season that he has all of the tools to be a great QB, against the Auburn defense. Alabama wins the West because of their defense and because LSU will have no chance at stopping RB Trent Richardson. In the East division, the clear favorite is South Carolina. The Gamecocks will be challenged by Florida and Georgia, both teams are considered to be "middle of the pack". The Gators, a usual powerhouse, have QB questions and have a first time Head Coach in Will Muschamp. Georgia lost their top offensive weapon, A.J. Green to the NFL and will have a hard time replacing him. South Carolina has one of the best offensive weapons in the SEC, star WR Alshon Jeffery showed last season that him and QB Stephen Garcia have a lot of chemistry. Jeffery is big receiver who can leap over smaller CBs, getting him the ball shouldn't be an issue. The Gamecocks also made noise in the off season by signing the top recruit in the country, DE Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney will look to make an immediate impact for South Carolina. I believe that Alabama will defeat South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game because they are the most balanced team in the country and will take advantage of Steve Spurrier's young defense.
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