2011 Predictions

5. A 2^nd year coach will be fired. There were plenty of dud hires last year.  Turner Gill had a rough year at KU, Rob Ianello barely got a single victory at Akron, Derek Dooley’s Volunteer squad was no match the the good SEC teams, Dan Enos didn’t live up to the lofty expectations that Butch Jones and Brian Kelly set, Bobby Hauck really tanked at UNLV and Brian Kelly put himself, and a student videographer, in harm’s way with a horrific accident at a ND practice last year.

4. The trophy case won’t be bare.  The Gophers are gonna beat somebody they aren’t supposed to.  My guess is that it will be Iowa, but seizing the Axe or LBJ would be even sweeter.  The Governor’s Victory Bell would just mean we beat PSU, which is much cooler than having possession of the Governor’s Victory Bell.

3. Expansion isn’t over. It starts with the Big East looking to convince Villanova to become a FBS program.  Then they set their sights on B12 North programs that are still feeling mighty exposed even though Texas is allowing them to be a part of their conference.If the B12 programs don’t bite then UCF would jump at the chance.  If KU, KSU, ISU or Mizzou do jump on a Big East offer then it’s open game on the rest of the non-Longhorn programs.  The SEC could revisit their interest in Texas A&M and Oklahoma.  The BX could cherry pick two more schools (although it would probably have to include ND)  You have to feel uneasy if you are a fan of a program not in the SEC, BX or P12.

2. Red Reign.  Nebraska suddenly has access to BX type cash and their football program becomes even more powerful.  Add in the fact that they have been invited to enter homes nationwide due to the BX ESPN  / BTN contracts and will not be overshadowed by Texas and Oklahoma.  Factor in the problems occurring in Columbus and I think Nebraska will enjoy a decade long romp through the BX (ala tOSU in the 00’s) starting in 2011.

1. Paralysis by Overanalysis.  I can’t speak for anyone else but I tend to get swept up in the April / August media positivity towards the Gophers.  There have always been plenty of articles stating what the problem was last year and now we have taken the steps to fix those problems.  When Gopher fans refer to the media negativity from the local fish wraps, it is geared towards the columnists who really don’t opine on the Gophers until the season starts.  Until then it’s a healthy dose of Marcus Fuller and Phil Miller with their daily feel good story about the Gophers.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to read nice things about the Gophers but I think it alters my prediction of how I think the Gophers are going to do.  So I’m going to project the 2011 BX Standings now and then do it again this fall and see if they vary much and if they do which one is more accurate, the one with more info or the one with less.

Projected Standings

Nebraska 12-1 (7-1) Fiesta Bowl

Penn State 9-4 (6-2) Rose Bowl

Ohio State 9-3 (6-2) Outback Bowl

Michigan State 9-3 (5-3) Gator Bowl

Illinois 9-3 (5-3) Texas Bowl

Wisconsin 8-4 (5-3) Capital One Bowl

Northwestern 6-6 (5-3) TicketCity Bowl

Iowa 8-4 (4-4) Insight Bowl

Michigan 5-7 (2-6)

Minnesota 5-7 (2-6)

Indiana 5-7 (1-7)

Purdue 4-8 (1-7)