Alabama, Oregon teams to beat next season
Tide's dominating defense, Ducks' explosive offense on collision course
No. 8 TCU
SN says: For the fourth time in five years, TCU's defense will rank among the nation's top three.
TCU coach Gary Patterson says: "We take fast guys who like contact and put them in places to succeed. There is a lot of talk about our scheme, but it comes back to the players. Offensive coaches have a good receiver and try to get him into the routes he runs the best so he can get the ball. We look at it the same way on defense. We want to create opportunities for our guys, so we tailor what we do to who we have. We've blitzed 5 percent of the time, we've blitzed 45 percent of the time. We've zone blitzed. This year, we've played a lot of base 4-2-5. That versatility is probably one of the secrets to our success."
SN says: Running back Matthew Tucker and quarterback Andy Dalton will form the Mountain West's most dangerous duo.
Wyoming DT John Fletcher says: "It's almost difficult to pick out one guy in that system. You look at this year, and they had three backs that all got some carries and all did a great job. (But) Tucker is one of their bigger guys size wise (6-1, 210), and he was really tough for us to tackle. ... It helps that Andy Dalton, the quarterback, doesn't make any mistakes and that their offensive line is great. I can't remember hitting the quarterback or one of the backs in the backfield one time when we played them."
SN says: The Horned Frogs will roll through the Mountain West but fall short of a BCS bowl.
The Mtn. analyst and former Pro Bowl tight end Todd Christensen says: "If you're asking me this second to take TCU next year, I'd say that makes a lot of sense. Given the people coming back, and what other people are losing, particularly BYU with a three-year starting quarterback in Max Hall, then yeah, TCU looks good. The one variable that I see is the play of (quarterback) Jordan Wynn at Utah. But they lose a big receiver and a lot of linemen."
Schedule rating: 1. The Horned Frogs are still two games shy of completing their schedule, and there aren't many takers. If TCU can nail down a game with Oregon State — it's in the works — it will improve an awful Non-conference schedule that includes SMU and Baylor.
No. 9 Nebraska
SN says: Cody Green will win the starting quarterback job from Zac Lee in spring practice.
Nebraska athletic director and former coach Tom Osborne says: "We're trying to evolve more toward a team that has a strong running game as well as a good passing game, a little bit more option football. It all came together better in the bowl game for us. Cody has a good deal of potential. He's 6-4, about 220 and has good speed and a good arm. We don't know — I don't think anybody knows — what the future holds ."
SN says: The Huskers will win their first Big 12 title since 1999.
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads says: "Even without Ndamukong Suh, that (defensive) unit was so dominant late in the season that I think they won't skip a beat next season. One of the things great teams do is elevate their play in the biggest games, and there is no doubt that Nebraska did that against Texas and Arizona. The shutout of Arizona was extremely impressive and bodes well for them next season. I think they will be the favorites to win the Big 12 North next season and will have a realistic shot at winning the entire league."
SN says: DT Jared Crick will follow the lead of Ndamukong Suh and become the most dominant player in the Big 12.
Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini says: "If it wasn't for Suh and the notoriety he received, which kind of overshadowed Jared, I think Jared — with the statistics and what he was able to do this year — would have gotten a lot more recognition. He's strong as a moose now — he won our lifter of the year award — and he's a beast in the weight room in terms of his work ethic. He's as fast as heck for a defensive tackle; he still runs like a D-end. ... I think he's going to continue to get faster, too."
Schedule rating: 1. It all sets up for a Big Red revival: Texas visits Lincoln, and Oklahoma is off the schedule. The Huskers' toughest nonconference test is a trip to Washington.
No. 10 Wisconsin
SN says: The Badgers will make power football cool again.
Wisconsin athletic director and former coach Barry Alvarez says: "We know where we are and what type of player we can recruit. We can get big kids consistently and guys who are physical, and so we build around them. And we know what we do is what you see if you watch football on Sundays. Most people want to go to the spread, and the ones that do are pretty committed to it. But think of this — we can dabble in the spread. We've got (quarterback) Curt Phillips on our campus, who ran the spread in high school. And we can split out our tight ends. But a spread team can't just jump in and become a power-type team."
Indianapolis Colts and former Wisconsin QB Jim Sorgi says: "I just like the way he plays the game. To manage a game is to know when to do certain things. It's to know when to run the ball, when to take a shot deep, know how to play the game and put the ball in the end zone. There is no better example of him doing that than the bowl game. He took a couple of shots, and he's back up, ready to go. He doesn't get upset after an interception or when a ball gets batted."
SN says: Chris Borland is the Big Ten's next star linebacker.
Indiana coach Bill Lynch says: "Nobody knew that this guy was going to be as good as he was that soon. Later in his career, he'd be really good. But for him to play like that and handle all the things they asked him to do as a true freshman, he's got a heck of a future. He definitely deserved (Big Ten) freshman of the year. He's one of those high-motor guys. He's got a lot of toughness, and he runs really well, especially for a guy who plays inside. Against us, he was all over the field."
Schedule rating: 2. Bret Bielema's best team yet gets UNLV, San Jose State, Arizona State and Austin Peay in nonconference play and a Big Ten schedule with no game against Penn State.
© 2012 Sporting News
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