With college football kicking off, I figured why not try my hand at predicting this CFB season? From award winners to top 25 predictions, it’s all here. So here we go, a college basketball fan’s attempt at testing his football knowledge.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREDICTION
Semifinals:
Ohio State (1) vs Georgia (4)
Alabama (2) vs Notre Dame (3)
Championship Game:
Ohio State (1) vs Alabama (2)
2022-23 CFB Playoff Winner:
Ohio State
TOP 25 PREDICTION:
1. Ohio State
2. Alabama
3. Notre Dame
4. Georgia
5. Wisconsin
6. Clemson
7. Oklahoma
8. Houston
9. Miami
10. Michigan
11. Oklahoma State
12. Arkansas
13. Texas A&M
14. Utah
15. Penn State
16. NC State
17. Tennessee
18. Ole Miss
19. Baylor
20. Texas
21. Iowa
22. Louisville
23. USC
24. Oregon
25. UCF
AWARD PREDICTIONS
Heisman Trophy:
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Stroud has been improving every year and there’s no reason to think anything will change this season. He’s got an elite OL, the best weapon in the nation with Jaxon Smith-Njigba amongst other elite weapons. The Buckeyes should be contending for a title with their future Heisman-winning top 2023 NFL draft quarterback leading the way
Doak Walker Award:
Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
This one shouldn’t be a shocker at all, the best running back in the country wins the award for the best running back. Allen had a fantastic Freshman season with the Badgers and there’s nobody in the country who can stop him from doing it again, the Badgers are a sneaky College Football Playoff candidate and Allen should be the leading reason for that
Fred Biletnikoff Award:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Ohio State should be taking home a lot of awards if my predictions have any accuracy, JSN is the best WR in football by a wide margin, and the future top NFL draft pick should dominate anyone and everyone this season, helping Stroud claim Heisman and the Buckeyes with their National Championship trophy
Davey O’Brien Award:
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Heisman winner also brings home the award for best QB, rather obvious.
Chuck Bednarik Award:
Will Anderson, LB, Alabama
Will Anderson is one of the most impressive players I have ever seen, I had the opportunity to watch him live last season and the guy is just unfair, he will take home a lot of awards and will be in the running for Heisman, future #1 draft pick, I’d go as far as to say he’ll be an NFL Hall of Famer.
Jim Thorpe Award:
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
As a basketball guy, I will be the first to admit I don’t know a ton about technique, alignments, etc. so forgive me if this is a hot take, but Ringo is the best corner in football based on what I saw with my own eyes, 4.3 speed, super physical, allowed barely anything on the stat sheet last season and ended the year with a pick-six in the championship game, if he can build off last season I don’t see why he wouldn’t be a favorite for the Jim Thorpe Award
The Home Depot Award:
Dana Holgorsen, HC, Houston
For me, coach of the year should always go to a coach at a smaller school who takes their program to new heights, like coach Fickell at Cincinnati last season. Houston has a pretty easy schedule on paper but the roster is stacked, and I could see them potentially going undefeated so the choice of coach Holgorsen was an easy one, other options are Gus Malzahn at UCF and Jeff Tedford at Fresno State
So there it is, my take on this upcoming college football season, let’s revisit this in a few months and see how it ages, probably poorly, but you never know.