You might want to wear both sleeves in Columbus. And Pittsburgh.
You’re not going to believe this, but I’m going to tell you which teams will win EVERY SINGLE GAME in the 2010 College Football season. Every one. Okay, maybe you believe it. But if you’re tired of waiting until your fourth Thanksgiving-leftover turkey sandwich to find out how your club missed that one damn kick or your coach made that amazing headphone dismount seconds before the Gatorade bath, you’re welcome. Enjoy our schedule predictions and projections.
And that’s not all. I’m providing a detailed look at each stanza of the season. The first four, the middle four, and if you’re a scheduling savant like USC, the last five (they play 13 games this season. Thanks a lot, Hawaii). So sit back, stop cursing at your copy of NCAA Football ’10, turn down the shades and dive right into the 2010 College Football season. Game by game. In June.
Miami Hurricanes
9/2 — Florida A&M — W
9/11 — @Ohio State — L
9/23 — @Pitt — L
10/2 — @Clemson — W
Thankfully, there’s a local tuneup before the trip to Ohio State. Don’t expect the score to run away too much, as QB Jacory Harris and anyone else necessary for the Buckeyes game won’t play past the first half in all likelihood. Even in early September, when it won’t be nearly as cold, Ohio State is just too powerful defensively, and should hammer out a win, which spells a 1-1 start. Getting a week off before heading to Pitt is going to make this one interesting. I’m just not sure if Miami’s offensive line can handle two dominant D lines in a row, on the road. For now, I’ll give it to Pitt as the hosts. The final road chance of the month will be a chance for revenge, and Clemson could be in for a beating with another bye week lead-in for Miami.
10/9 — FSU — W
10/16 — @Duke — W
10/23 — UNC — L
10/30 — @Virginia — W
Not an impossible October, but it’s no cakewalk. Hosting FSU after traveling to Clemson makes for a tricky week, but this is a rivalry game, and even after a tough hypothetical win over the Tigers, the Canes should get up just enough to win a home tilt. Playing at Duke should provide an opportunity to rest some players late before the UNC game. But this one’s coming against a defense similar to Ohio State’s and Pitt’s, and might have more talent than both. It’ll be a fight, but I think the Tar Heel defense can hold. Another simple road game closes out the month, and Virginia won’t pose enough of a threat.
11/6 — Maryland — W
11/13 — @Georgia Tech — W
11/20 — Virginia Tech — W
11/27 — USF — W
The schedule never really provides any major breaks after the September byes, but November opens easily enough. Maryland just seems lacking this year, and I think they’ll be a whipping boy for some weary conference opponents. Plus, it’s another home game. Going to Georgia Tech won’t be easy, and while I think the Miami offense should feast on a weakened Tech D, the athleticism and physical nature of Paul Johnson’s team should make for a difficult following game. Getting Virginia Tech and USF at home to close out the season helps, and the Hokies will be coming off of a tough road game at UNC that should leave them just bruised enough to lose to the U. South Florida will be stingier with Skip Holtz at the helm, but they’re a few years back with their program’s recent problems. This one won’t matter for the conference, but Miami will want to make 10 wins a possibility.
FINAL RECORD: 9-3 (7-1) 2nd Place in the ACC Coastal
North Carolina Tar Heels
9/4 — vs. LSU* — L
9/18 — Georgia Tech — W
9/25 — @Rutgers — W
10/2 — ECU — W
The most exciting game of the opening weekend continues a recent matching of SEC and ACC teams in Atlanta. These are two of the most talented defenses in the nation with CB Patrick Peterson of LSU and DE Robert Quinn of UNC both likely top 10 picks in the 2011 NFL Draft. The Tigers’ offense will be much better prepared for an early season game, however, and I think that spells the difference in this one. Hosting Georgia Tech is a nice advantage, and the home team has won each of the last three games in the series. The Rutgers trip won’t be easy, but this defense and this team is too experienced to lose to a young Scarlet Knights squad. I don’t have a lot of faith in East Carolina after losing Skip Holtz and a load of talent along the D line. Ruffin McNeill should be fine eventually, but it’ll take some time to make the program his.
10/9 — Clemson — W
10/16 — @Virginia — W
10/23 — @Miami — W
10/30 — William & Mary — W
This is where UNC has to make a serious run. If they want to utilize this defense and win the 10 regular season games they’re capable of winning, they’ll do it here. Clemson’s offense won’t suffer as badly as some think after losing CJ Spiller and Jacoby Ford, but they’ve got no advantages at any skill spot, and the UNC offense should be coming around by this point. The fact that they catch Miami after a brutal Hurricanes run, and after knocking off Virginia on the road themselves, they should do just enough to contain Jacory Harris and come away with a win. The William & Mary game looks like a glorified practice, and it comes at the perfect time.
11/6 — @FSU — L
11/13 — Virginia Tech — W
11/20 — North Carolina State — W
11/27 — @Duke — W
As talented as this defense will be, FSU has the two ingredients required to frustrate enough points from the Tar Heel defense — the ‘Noles will be playing at home in front of a great crowd, and by this point an offense returning all 11 starters and their coordinator should be hitting on all cylinders. Virginia Tech gets extended time off before visiting, but HC Butch Davis has been very good coming back home after a tough road loss. This defense has the potential to be that good. Shutting the door with a home game against NC State and a trip down the road to Duke is enough of a break to finish strong. This defense might be the best in the country by this point, and they’ll be playing for 10 wins and pride. Davis knows how important this season is, and he’s got the talent to deliver.
FINAL RECORD: 10-2 (7-1) 1st Place in the ACC Coastal
