1. Florida vs Florida State - Week 14
As is the nature of both teams, this game will be violent and relentless. Neither side will show an ounce of mercy in the heated rivalry. With the Seminoles sporting James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman as their running back duo and the Gators having Matt Jones and Kelvin Taylor as theirs, it should be an even match up through the ground. Where Florida State gets the advantage is through the air. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston is good enough to shatter anything EJ Manuel ever accomplished. On the other hand, the Gators have speedster Jeff Driskel, who is not good for much more than scrambling and handing the ball off. Defensively, both teams have lost many talented starters. The ‘Noles lost three edge rushers, while the Gators lost their entire linebacker corps and safety tandem. Luckily both have great depth and will recover well and should be even in this aspect.
Prediction: Florida State wins
2. South Carolina vs Clemson - Week 14
The amount of NFL talent in this game is eye popping. Tajh Boyd will be reuniting with his explosive wide receiver Sammy Watkins who should be have interesting battle with Gamecocks cornerback Victor Hampton. Although, that would be assuming that Jadeveon Clowney, the consensus number one player in the nation, allows Boyd enough time to get a pass off. After the loss of Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina) and Andre Ellington (Clemson), both teams will be relying on new starting running backs, both of which are intriguing. The Gamecocks will be leaning on their run game even more so due to Connor Shaw’s inefficiency at quarterback. This matchup will essentially be Clemson’s offense against South Carolina’s defense because both of their counterparts are disappointing.
Prediction: Clemson wins
3. LSU vs TCU - Week 1
This season opener will be incredibly revealing for both teams. Both have a variety of questions surrounding them, primarily in the passing game. For LSU, Zach Mettenberger needs to step up and be a leader for his mediocre receiving corps. TCU’s questions at quarterback are more off-field related with Casey Pachall’s DUI issues. On the field, Pachall is good enough to lead the team to victory, especially with Brandon Carter catching the passes. LSU, being a top SEC team, is unsurprisingly the better defensive team with the likes of Craig Loston and Anthony Johnson, but the Horned Frogs have weapons of their own. Cornerback Jason Verret will neutralize any receiver he lines up against and defensive lineman Devonte Fields will give Mettenberger hell all game long.
Prediction: TCU wins
4. Georgia vs Clemson - Week 1
Senior quarterbacks Tajh Boyd and Aaron Murray will duke it out to start off the season. While Boyd and Watkins are superior to Aaron Murray and Malcolm Mitchell, the Bulldogs have two things that Clemson doesn’t: phenomenal sophomore running backs. Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall lead the nation’s best rushing attack against a questionable Clemson defense that ranked 58th in run defense last season. The duo will run all over the Tigers defense and allow soft coverages for mediocre quarterback Aaron Murray to work with. The Bulldogs are coming back with a ton of fresh faces on defense, but as per usual, it will still be strong and give Clemson issues. Clemson’s only hope is for the young defensive backs to make mental mistakes.
Prediction: Georgia wins
5. Florida vs Miami (FL) - Week 2
Similar to their game against Florida State, the Gators will be evenly matched in the backfield. Hurricanes running back Duke Johnson is bound to cause problems on the ground and as a receiving threat out of the backfield. Florida’s offensive success will lay on the shoulders of redshirt sophomore Matt Jones and true freshman Kelvin Taylor. If they can’t generate yards through the ground, this game will be over before it starts, but it’s unlikely that those two don’t put up a fight. The quarterback duel is in favor of Stephen Morris from Miami. His natural arm talent is superior to Driskel’s, yet Morris is close to or as athletic as Driskel. Defensively, Florida gets the edge, especially considering their incredibly talented defensive back corps. Miami’s defense will still be tough contenders though as a majority of their starters from 2012 are returning.
Prediction: Florida wins
6. Stanford vs Notre Dame - Week 14
Everett Golson will, in fact, be back to play for the Fighting Irish and will face off with Kevin Hogan of Stanford in a sophomore quarterback battle. Both teams have lost their starting running back and starting tight end, leaving even more responsibility on the young gunslingers. On the defensive side of the ball, both competitors are stacked. Notre Dame sports a nasty front four including Prince Shembo, Stephon Tuitt, and Louis Nix III. Offensive lineman David Yankey will be the leader of the group responsible for holding the elite front four at bay. Although, Stanford has weapons of their own, such as Ed Reynolds at safety and Louis Murphy at outside linebacker. As a whole, Stanford’s defense has a slight advantage over Notre Dame.
Prediction: Stanford wins
7. Michigan vs Notre Dame - Week 2
Devin Gardner, arguably the most physically and athletically gifted offensive player in the nation, will be leading the Wolverines with offensive tackle Taylor Lewan covering his blind side. With Jeremy Gallon, Devin Funchess, and Roy Roundtree, Gardner should have no problem abusing Notre Dame through the air. Everett Golson, a more unpolished dual threat quarterback, won’t fare as well as Gardner, partly due to his own skill and partly due to his surrounding talent. Other than TJ Jones, Golson’s options aren’t as talented and well-rounded as what Gardner is equipped with. Defensively, Notre Dame gets the nod as they are lead by their brutal front four. Although, that same front four may struggle containing Devin Gardner.
Prediction: Michigan wins
8. Alabama vs Virginia Tech - Week 1
To put it kindly, Logan Thomas was awful last season and regressed quite a bit. If the Hokies want any sort of offensive success, they need Thomas to return to his old self. The Crimson Tide will be striking quickly and often. Through the air, AJ McCarron has targets such as Amari Cooper, Kenny Bell, Kevin Norwood, and even TJ Yeldon out of the backfield. On the ground, TJ Yeldon will lead the rushing attack with Kenyan Drake and Derrick Henry relieving him on occasion. Defensive end James Gayle will attempt to slow down this talented group, but it would be nearly impossible. Cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum will have their work cut out for them against the talented receiving corps of Alabama. It should be interesting to see how Thomas deals with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, CJ Mosley, and Adrian Hubbard from the Alabama defense.
Prediction: Alabama wins
9. UCLA vs Nebraska - Week 3
As they did last season, Taylor Martinez of Nebraska and Brett Hundley of UCLA will go head to head. Hundley is clearly superior as a passer, but Martinez is a better athlete and has more support from his teammates like Ameer Abdullah and Kenny Bell. Although, don’t count out UCLA wide receiver Devin Fuller. He tore it up as a freshman last season and can only get better. The Cornhuskers defense is questionably talented and may give Hundley enough leniency to shred them to pieces. UCLA’s defense, on the other hand, has Anthony Barr, the nation’s best pass rusher not named Jadeveon Clowney, and Cassius Marsh, a stout 3-tech defensive end/defensive tackle. Martinez will have to show he can handle the pass rushing pressure well.
Prediction: UCLA wins
10. Oklahoma vs Notre Dame - Week 5
With Landry Jones gone, Blake Bell will have to prove his worth against Notre Dame’s feared front four. Jalen Saunders should make Bell’s life a lot easier and give him a reliable receiving option all game long. Although, Bell will be rushed quickly, often, and relentlessly, which may make the young star crumble. TJ Jones will have a challenge when lined up against Oklahoma’s Aaron Colvin, who is likely considered a top ten cornerback in the nation. Luckily for Golson, Oklahoma’s front seven isn’t too much of a threat and should allow him enough time to read the entire field.
Prediction: Notre Dame wins