Oklahoma Football: Power Five projections for 2022

My projections for the Energy 5 convention races in 2022.

ACC

Championship: Clemson (11-2) over Miami (10-3)

*I’ll embrace Notre Dame right here. I put the Combating Irish at 9-3 when all is claimed and completed.

*Clemson appears prone to hit a malaise within the close to future with the mind drain from the Tigers teaching employees. I nonetheless see Dabo Swinney’s staff as the category of the ACC for now. CU could have presumably the very best protection within the nation, and the coaches ought to have a greater deal with on handle the quarterback place.

*I’m not an enormous purchaser on Mario Cristobal, however he’s inheriting a stable roster and a promising QB in Tyler Van Dyke. Let’s roll with the Hurricanes to win the Coastal division.

*When is Florida State going get out of this cul-de-sac?

*Scott Satterfield appears to be strolling on skinny ice in Louisville, however I see the Cardinals outperforming expectations. Add in UL’s shocking energy on the recruiting path in the intervening time, and he ought to get one other yr on the helm.

*Geoff Collins? He’ll make a great defensive coordinator someplace subsequent yr.

*My quantity for North Carolina caught me unexpectedly. I’ll take plus odds on the Tar Heels going over 7.5 wins this season.

Huge Ten

Championship: Ohio State (13-0) over Iowa (9-4)

*New coordinator Jim Knowles in all probability isn’t reworking Ohio State’s protection right into a high unit immediately. It received’t make a distinction in 2022 – the offense is simply that good. Search for the Buckeyes to place a very gnarly beating on Michigan this yr after struggling final yr’s indignity.

*Sparty comes again to earth a bit.

*I’ve obtained Iowa taking down Wisconsin in Iowa Metropolis this season, giving the Hawkeyes the tiebreaker within the West division.

*That’s right: Nebraska goes undefeated out of convention. what meaning.

Huge 12

Championship: Oklahoma (11-2) over Texas (8-5)

*I discussed just a few weeks in the past that I had OU lined at about 9.7 wins this yr, which suggests a 9-3 or 10-2 document. I went with the upper quantity after how the schedule units up – drawing Kansas State, Baylor and Oklahoma State in Norman provides Brent Venables a forgiving introduction as a head coach.

The unhealthy information is that the Sooners will play two groups of their first six video games that desperately want wins over OU. Nebraska’s Scott Frost has among the most tenuous job safety of any coach within the nation. Beating NU’s former rival would ship the Cornhuskers into convention play with the arrogance wanted to get again on observe.

In the meantime, the Purple River rivals have been enjoying such shut video games in recent times that Texas will finally get one other W quickly sufficient. I believe the Longhorns convey house the Golden Hat from Dallas, setting the stage for the Sooners to get revenge on the finish of the season within the convention title sport.

*Unsure how for much longer Neal Brown will get with the Mountaineers if this retains up.

Pac-12

Championship: Utah (12-1) over Oregon (10-2)

*Even with the Pac-12 scrapping their divisions this season, I nonetheless see a North-South matchup for the league crown. The Geese will finish the Utes’ undefeated season on Nov. 19 in Eugene. Similar to the Huge 12, nonetheless, Utah will settle the rating a pair weeks later within the Pac-12 title sport.

*Bookmakers should love the money rolling in on USC futures for the nationwide championship. Frankly, 9-3 for the Trojans truly feels a bit optimistic. The Pac-12 simply isn’t that sturdy, although.

*UCLA, then again… The Bruins could also be my favourite darkish horse in any convention race this yr. Put one other means, if Chip Kelly’s staff doesn’t construct on the success of final yr’s 8-4 marketing campaign, it could by no means occur.

*Washington made a fantastic rent in nabbing Kalen DeBoer from Fresno State. Actually, although, nearly anybody might high Jimmy Lake’s quick stint with the Huskies.

SEC

Championship: Alabama (13-0) over Georgia (12-1)

*The Crimson Tide might be angling for a defensive renaissance this yr. The O will enable Alabama to run most of its opponents off the sector throughout the common season, however getting the D proper might be crucial for the offseason.

*We will formally say Bama and Georgia have reached a wholly completely different stage in school soccer, together with Ohio State. The Bulldogs can’t match the Tide behind heart, which provides Alabama the nod for the convention crown. If UGA will get a second shot on the Tide, the end result could possibly be completely different. (Primarily, a replay of the 2021 season.)

*LSU is the shakiest projection right here, for my part. The Bayou Bengals employed a fantastic coach, even when Brian Kelly stands out like a sore thumb round Baton Rouge. This system has gone by way of a lot upheaval since profitable the nationwide championship {that a} throwaway season shouldn’t shock anybody. Eight wins nonetheless appears doable to me.

*I’d like to not purchase into the hype on Tennessee, a staff everybody appears to be speaking about proper now. The schedule simply feels prefer it units up properly for the Volunteers, together with an open date in early October earlier than taking over an LSU squad getting acclimated to a brand new teaching employees.

Faculty Soccer Playoff

Peach Bowl: No. 1 Alabama over No. 4 Utah

Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State over No. 3 Georgia

Championship: No. 1 Alabama over No. 2 Ohio State

Sure, Utah is one thing a bit completely different. That is nonetheless so, so boring.