I can’t classify myself as a bona fide college football expert. In reality, there’s only about ten people alive who really can. When your sport consists of 130 teams and nearly 100 players per team, only those who are paid to study the teams day in and day out can truly claim to know and understand them. However, I definitely know more than the average sports fan. I read up on Phil Steele’s comprehensive preview, Athlon’s team by team record predictions, and check the data provided by Football Outsiders. So I thought I’d give this another try. I wanted to give you, my readers, a bare bones look at what I think college football will look like 2019. And no, there are no lengthy paragraphs or long explanations, just a prediction of every team’s record after I went through each of their schedules game by game. But don’t worry, I’ve been working on a lot of college football stories that will be going up later this week. I just wanted to put this out there so I can hold myself to predictions, accurate or awful. Feel free to let me know what I’m wrong about in the comments. Enjoy!
SEC West Division
Alabama 12-0 (8-0)
LSU 10-2 (6-2)
Texas A&M 8-4 (5-3)
Mississippi State 9-3 (5-3)
Auburn 8-4 (4-4)
Ole Miss 4-8 (2-6)
Arkansas 4-8 (0-8)
SEC East Division
Georgia 12-0 (8-0)
Missouri 10-2 (6-2)
Florida 9-3 (5-3)
South Carolina 6-6 (3-5)
Tennessee 7-5 (3-5)
Kentucky 6-6 (2-6)
Vanderbilt 3-9 (0-9)
SEC Conference Championship
Alabama (13-0) over Georgia (12-1)
Big 10 East Division
Ohio State 11-1 (8-1)
Michigan 10-2 (7-2)
Michigan State 9-3 (6-3)
Penn State 9-3 (6-3)
Indiana 5-7 (2-7)
Maryland 3-9 (1-8)
Rutgers 2-10 (0-9)
Big 10 West Division
Wisconsin 9-3 (6-3)
Nebraska 9-3 (6-3)
Northwestern 8-4 (6-3)
Minnesota 8-4 (5-4)
Iowa 8-4 (5-4)
Purdue 6-6 (4-5)
Illinois 4-8 (1-8)
Big 10 Conference Championship
Ohio State (12-1) over Wisconsin (9-4)
ACC Atlantic Division
Clemson 12-0 (8-0)
Syracuse 10-2 (6-2)
Florida State 7-5 (5-3)
N.C. State 8-4 (4-4)
Boston College 6-6 (3-5)
Wake Forest 6-6 (3-5)
Louisville 2-10 (0-8)
ACC Coastal Division
Virginia Tech 9-3 (6-2)
Virginia 9-3 (6-2)
Pittsburgh 7-5 (5-3)
Miami 7-5 (4-4)
Duke 5-7 (3-5)
North Carolina 3-9 (2-6)
Georgia Tech 3-9 (1-7)
ACC Conference Championship
Clemson (13-0) over Virginia Tech (9-4)
Big 12
Oklahoma 10-2 (7-2)
TCU 9-3 (6-3)
Texas 8-4 (6-3)
Iowa State 8-4 (6-3)
Oklahoma State 8-4 (5-4)
Baylor 8-4 (5-4)
Kansas State 6-6 (4-5)
West Virginia 4-8 (3-6)
Texas Tech 5-7 (3-6)
Kansas 2-10 (0-9)
Big 12 Conference Championship
Oklahoma (11-2) over TCU (9-4)
Pac 12 North
Washington 11-1 (8-1)
Oregon 9-3 (7-2)
Stanford 8-4 (6-3)
Washington State 8-4 (5-4)
California 6-6 (4-5)
Oregon State 2-10 (1-8)
Pac 12 South
Utah 10-2 (7-2)
Arizona State 8-4 (6-3)
USC 6-6 (5-4)
UCLA 5-7 (4-5)
Colorado 3-9 (1-8)
Arizona 3-9 (1-8)
Pac 12 Conference Championship
Washington (12-1) over Utah (10-3)
Independents
Army 11-2
Notre Dame 10-2
BYU 8-4
Liberty 5-7
New Mexico State 3-9
Massachusetts 2-10
American East
UCF 10-2 (7-1)
Cincinnati 9-3 (6-2)
Temple 6-6 (4-4)
South Florida 5-7 (3-5)
East Carolina 5-7 (2-6)
Connecticut 1-11 (0-8)
American West
Memphis 11-1 (7-1)
Houston 8-4 (6-2)
Navy 5-7 (4-4)
Tulane 5-7 (4-4)
SMU 5-7 (4-4)
Tulsa 3-9 (1-7)
American Conference Championship
Memphis (12-1) over UCF (10-3)
Mountain West Mountain Division
Boise State 11-1 (7-1)
Air Force 7-5 (5-3)
Utah State 8-4 (5-3)
Wyoming 6-6 (4-4)
Colorado State 3-9 (2-6)
New Mexico 4-8 (1-7)
Mountain West West Division
Fresno State 9-3 (7-1)
San Diego State 8-4 (6-2)
Nevada 6-6 (4-4)
Hawaii 8-5 (4-4)
UNLV 2-10 (1-7)
San Jose State 1-11 (0-8)
Mountain West Conference Championship
Boise State (12-1) over Fresno State (9-4)
Conference USA East
Marshall 8-4 (7-1)
Florida Atlantic 8-4 (6-2)
Florida International 9-3 (5-3)
Middle Tennessee State 5-7 (4-4)
Old Dominion 4-8 (3-5)
Western Kentucky 2-10 (1-7)
Charlotte 3-9 (1-7)
Conference USA West
North Texas 9-3 (7-1)
Southern Miss 8-4 (7-1)
UAB 9-3 (5-3)
Louisiana Tech 8-4 (5-3)
UTSA 3-9 (2-6)
UTEP 2-10 (1-7)
Rice 0-12 (0-8)
Conference USA Championship
North Texas (10-3) over Marshall (8-5)
MAC East
Ohio 10-2 (7-1)
Buffalo 7-5 (5-3)
Miami, OH 6-6 (5-3)
Akron 4-8 (3-5)
Kent State 4-8 (3-5)
Bowling Green 3-9 (2-6)
MAC West
Toledo 9-3 (7-1)
Northern Illinois 6-6 (5-3)
Western Michigan 7-5 (5-3)
Eastern Michigan 6-6 (4-4)
Ball State 3-9 (2-6)
Central Michigan 1-11 (0-8)
MAC Conference Championship
Toledo (10-3) over Ohio (10-3)
Sun Belt East
Appalachian State 11-1 (8-0)
Troy 9-3 (6-2)
Georgia Southern 7-5 (5-3)
Coastal Carolina 4-8 (3-5)
Georgia State 2-10 (1-7)
Sun Belt West
Arkansas State 10-2 (7-1)
ULM 5-7 (4-4)
Louisiana 5-7 (3-5)
Texas State 3-9 (2-6)
South Alabama 1-11 (0-8)
Sun Belt Conference Championship
Appalachian State (12-1) over Arkansas State (10-3)
New Year’s Six Bowl Game Matchups
Rose Bowl: Washington (12-1) vs Michigan (10-2)
Sugar Bowl: LSU (10-2) vs Utah (10-3)
Orange Bowl: Syracuse (10-2) vs Notre Dame (10-2)
Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma (11-2) vs Boise State (12-1)
College Football Playoff Semifinal Predictions
1. Alabama (14-0) over 4. Ohio State (12-2)
2. Clemson (14-0) over 3. Georgia (12-2)
College Football National Championship
1. Alabama (15-0) over 2. Clemson (14-1)
Award Predictions:
Coach of the Year: Ryan Day, Ohio State
Doak Walker Award (Best Running Back): Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Bronko Nagurski Award (Best Defensive Player): Grant Delpit, LSU
Biletnikoff Award (Best Receiver): Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
Ted Hendricks Award (Best Defensive End): Chase Young, Ohio State
John Mackey Award (Best Tight End): Alber Okwuegbunam, Missouri
Best Interior Defensive Lineman: Derrick Brown, Auburn
Heisman Trophy: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama QB
Heisman Runner Up(s): Trevor Lawrence (Clemson QB), Jake Fromm (Georgia QB)
