Ohio State – Can you score with them, because that’s the key to beating them. Playing in the Big 10, most can’t.
25 of their last 27 games they have scored 30+ points. That includes 13 straight games dating back to their loss at home to Virginia Tech last season.
Cardale Jones makes them a power running team. JT Barrett makes them versatile. Either way, the Buckeyes averaged 5.8 yards per rush last season. That’s good enough for 9th in the country. They were 7th overall in rushing yards per game. They simply run you over.
Critical games: Plays Penn State and Michigan State at home. At Michigan to end the year.
Georgia – The development of their defense, coupled with a strong running game will be the difference.
Georgia’s defense improved by nearly 40 yards per game last season under defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. The 2014 version of the defense gave up 9 points less a game than they did under Todd Grantham in 2013. Pruitt has more of his guys in his system, which includes making over the size of their defensive lineman over the last year.
The Georgia offense averaged the most points in the SEC last year at 40.2, good enough for 8th in the country. Georgia was 7th in the country averaging 6 yards per rushing attempt, and where 11th overall in the country in rushing yards per game. HERE is the fun part: Georgia was 3rd overall in the country in 4th quarter points because they wear you down. 4 of their 5 starters on the offensive line are back. Nick Chubb is okay too.
The Bulldogs play South Carolina, Alabama and Missouri at home in 2015. The Tennessee game falls the week after the Bama game, which should provide a challenge. If the Bulldogs take care of their business they’ll conclude conference play with a key matchup on November 14th at Auburn. They beat Auburn last year 34-7.
Baylor – The Big 12 features two of the best offenses in the country in Baylor and TCU. But the schedule this year favors a Baylor team that was the number 1 offense in the country last year. Quarterbacks thrive in this offense that has been a model of consistency.
In 2014, Baylor was 4th overall in the country in passing yards per game with 358 yards per game. In 2013, they were 4th as well with 354 yards passing per game.
The Bears have lost two Big 12 games over the past two seasons. Both were on the road, losing to West Virginia last season and Oklahoma State in 2013.
The big difference in Baylor vs TCU this year is that Baylor has a much more favorable home vs road schedule. Baylor gets West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas at home. They’re road game vs TCU should be their most difficult which includes K-State and Oklahoma State.
Florida State – This is not a view that FSU or the ACC are better than the Pac-12. They are not. This is a view that Florida State will be this year’s Ohio State. Despite questions at quarterback and running back, there’s just far too much talent at FSU for the ACC to put two losses on the Seminoles.
- The Seminoles have the benefit of time. While the schedule features home matchups against Miami and Louisville in October, the team should not have to face a difficult road opponent until their October 24th matchup against Georgia Tech. That will be the Noles 7th game of the season. Plenty of time to figure out who is the starting quarterback, running back, and playmaker at receiver before their November 7th matchup at Clemson.
- Florida State should be closer defensively to the 2013 version of themselves than the 2014 version. Last year the Noles were 64th in the country defensively, giving up over 400 yards per game. In 2013 they were 4th. The Noles have one of the finest secondary in the country that will allow them to be defensively aggressive this season and see if a 1 loss ACC champion can get a spot in the playoffs.