Link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...tball-playoff-led-clemson-alabama/2118992001/
Bold Predictions for the 2019 College Football Season
by SI.com
Week 1 of the 2019 college football season begins Thursday night, and it's safe to say that Hawaii's Week 0 upset of Arizona isn't the only surprise in store for us this season. After all, this time a year ago, who saw Kyler Murray winning the Heisman or Wisconsin and Auburn both falling out of the Top 25 by Week 10? After locking in our Crystal Ball picks for the season—including Playoff, national champion and breakout candidates, we asked our writers and editors to think broader and give their boldest prediction for what's ahead.
Molly Geary
Iowa State will win the Big 12. The Cyclones make the leap from back-to-back eight-win seasons to serious conference contenders, and it culminates in a Big 12 championship. Led by its defense and QB Brock Purdy, who started as a true freshman in 2018, Iowa State should be favored in most games this year. Its toughest tests are against Iowa (non-conference), at Oklahoma and at home vs. Texas, and if it takes care of business elsewhere, splitting against the Sooners and Longhorns should be enough to get it to Arlington. Winning in Norman may be a bridge too far, but a Texas team replacing a lot on defense could be ripe for a late-season defeat in Ames. Get to the Big 12 title game, and I think the Cyclones’ D makes the difference in the rematch with Oklahoma, with Purdy doing just enough against a still-leaky Sooners defense (despite Alex Grinch’s best efforts).
Bold Predictions for the 2019 College Football Season
by SI.com
Week 1 of the 2019 college football season begins Thursday night, and it's safe to say that Hawaii's Week 0 upset of Arizona isn't the only surprise in store for us this season. After all, this time a year ago, who saw Kyler Murray winning the Heisman or Wisconsin and Auburn both falling out of the Top 25 by Week 10? After locking in our Crystal Ball picks for the season—including Playoff, national champion and breakout candidates, we asked our writers and editors to think broader and give their boldest prediction for what's ahead.
Molly Geary
Iowa State will win the Big 12. The Cyclones make the leap from back-to-back eight-win seasons to serious conference contenders, and it culminates in a Big 12 championship. Led by its defense and QB Brock Purdy, who started as a true freshman in 2018, Iowa State should be favored in most games this year. Its toughest tests are against Iowa (non-conference), at Oklahoma and at home vs. Texas, and if it takes care of business elsewhere, splitting against the Sooners and Longhorns should be enough to get it to Arlington. Winning in Norman may be a bridge too far, but a Texas team replacing a lot on defense could be ripe for a late-season defeat in Ames. Get to the Big 12 title game, and I think the Cyclones’ D makes the difference in the rematch with Oklahoma, with Purdy doing just enough against a still-leaky Sooners defense (despite Alex Grinch’s best efforts).
