The Five: Riskiest predictions for the 2013 college football season
Think back to last season.
College football was dominated by the surprise story.
– A freshman won the Heisman
– Matt Barkley was a bust
– Notre Dame played for the national title
– Manti Te’o’s girlfriend was a dude
– Todd Graham didn’t leave ASU for a better job
We’re talking some stunning items here.
Needless to say, a safe college football forecast is no forecast at all. In the land of the unpredictable, it’s important to go BIG with predictions, to go BOLD.
This week’s “The Five” features my five riskiest predictions for the 2013 college football season…
#5: Jameis Winston is the new Johnny Manziel – These kids today. If they show promise, they’ll get invited to camps hosted by the Mannings, they’ll throw 50 times per game as high school seniors and they’ll report to college early so they can get to work on their Heisman campaigns. Jameis Winston may be a true freshman, but being a freshman isn’t what it used to be. The Florida State rookie is going to be one of the nation’s best quarterbacks.
#4: Johnny Manziel is the new Art Schlichter – OK, so that’s a tad unfair. Manziel hasn’t done anything that could get him thrown in prison. Jail? Yes. But not ten-to-twenty. So, I’m not comparing crimes or criminals here, but I am comparing attitudes. And Johnny Manziel strikes me as someone who is resentful, not remorseful. He has the golden goose right now. He should nurture the bird and be gifted a lifetime of golden eggs, but I get the feeling he’s going to get anxious and make confit. Your choice, dude. Do you want to be Johnny Football or Johnny Footnote?
#3: Play for pay – Every sports season these days is marred by a terrific scandal or dominant topic of conversation. The year 2013 is shaping up to be the year that “Pay for Play” takes center stage. I don’t think it’s a matter of “if” the rules will change for collegiate athletes, but “when.” Schools will likely never directly pay their athletes, but the notion that the athletes aren’t allowed to financially capitalize on their names when others can is about to come to an end.
#2: Nick Saban will return to the NFL – And the trickle-down coaching effect could be massive. Kevin Sumlin to Alabama? Dabo Swinney to A&M? Top assistant Chad Morris promoted at Clemson? Or perhaps Jon Gruden would actually jump to the college ranks if the top program in college football was used as bait.
#1: Georgia versus South Carolina is the game of the year – Sept. 7, the second week of the season, will feature a matchup between this year’s national champs and this year’s Heisman Trophy winner. The Georgia Bulldogs came within a deflected pass of playing for the title last season. They have nine starters returning on offense and won’t confront the grueling trek through the SEC West like ‘Bama will. A win over South Carolina and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Jadeveon Clowney will set the tone for the school’s first national title since Buck Belue.
