2012 Conference Projections

I hate to distract college football fans from the current hot topic: playoffs;  However, considering we must live through two full seasons (and 2.5 offseasons) until we even get our first glimpse, I thought some might want to read and think about the upcoming 2012 college football season.  We are laying it all out on-the-line.  I recommend you save this link and return to ridicule us after the regular season, as that is what we college football fans do best. 

The Official NDftB 2012 Conference Projections:

Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic		Coastal
Team	Standing	Team	Standing
Florida State	1	North Carolina	1
Clemson	2	Virginia Tech	2
NC State	3	Georgia Tech	3
Boston College	4	Virginia	4
Maryland	5	Miami (FL)	5
Wake Forest	6	Duke	6

Look for the Seminoles to run rampant through a weak ACC.  Also, keep in mind that UNC is banned from all post-season activity; so, FSU will have to beat Virginia Tech twice to win the conference.  Despite it being a weak year, the ACC Title Game could have BCS National Title Game implications, as I expect FSU to be a serious player in the final standings.

Big Ten
Leaders		Legends
Team	Standing	Team	Standing
Ohio State	1	Michigan	1
Wisconsin	2	Michigan State	2
Penn State	3	Nebraska	3
Illinois	4	Iowa	4
Purdue	5	Minnesota	5
Indiana	6	Northwestern	6

I expect the Buckeyes to join the Tar Heels as a division champion not allowed to compete for a conference championship.  Ohio State's postseason ban should clear a path for Wisconsin to make their repeat trip, where I expect Michigan to end the hopes for a third-consecutive BCS game.

Big East
Team	Standing
South Florida	1
Pittsburgh	2
Louisville	3
Cincinnati	4
Rutgers	5
Temple	6
Connecticut	7
Syracuse	8

Most have the Cardinals projected to finish in the poll position; however, I like a resurgent USF team to take the title.  Also, I expect newcomer, Temple, to finish higher than 2010 Conference Champion, UConn, who appears to be trending in the wrong direction.

Big XII
Team	Standing
Oklahoma	1
Oklahoma State	2
TCU	3
Texas	4
West Virginia	4
Kansas State	6
Iowa State	7
Baylor	8
Texas Tech	9
Kansas	10

I expect the Big XII to be tight, again in 2012.  Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and TCU all project to within just a few points of each other in my preseason power & efficiency (P&E) ratings.  Being the new guy, I expect TCU to face more adversity, and Oklahoma gets the Cowboys in Norman.  Ipso facto, the Sooners should take the 2012 Conference Championship.

Conference USA
East		West
Team	Standing	Team	Standing
UCF	1	Houston	1
Southern Miss	2	Tulsa	2
Marshall	3	SMU	3
East Carolina	4	UTEP	4
UAB	5	Rice	5
Memphis	6	Tulane	6

I would be surprised if the conference champion does not come from the East division.  UCF and Southern Miss look to be the class of the conference.

Independents
Team	Standing
Notre Dame	1
BYU	2
Navy	3
Army	4

It is pretty silly to even rank these teams, as there is not a clear way to evaluate all four teams, relative to each other.  That said, based on final P&E ratings, I expect ND to finish above the rest.

Mid-Atlantic Conference
East		West
Team	Standing	Team	Standing
Ohio	1	Northern Illinois	1
Kent State	2	Toledo	2
Bowling Green	3	Western Mich	3
Miami (OH)	4	Central Mich	4
Buffalo	5	Eastern Mich	5
Akron	6	Ball State	6
UMass	7

My darkhorse Non-AQ BCS qualifier, Ohio, should be able to stroll into the conference championship, where they will likely face Northern Illinois, who seems to have a permanent spot in this championship.

Mountain West Conference
Team	Standing
Nevada	1
Fresno State	2
Boise State	3
Wyoming	4
Colorado State	5
San Diego State	6
Air Force	7
Hawai'i	8
UNLV	9
New Mexico	10

Shockingly, I project the Broncos to finish behind two newcomers in 2012: Nevada and Fresno State.  Don't worry, though, some things will stay the same: Bob Davie will surely help New Mexico maintain a firm grasp on the bottom of the conference standings.

Pac 12
North		South
Team	Standing	Team	Standing
Oregon	1	USC	1
Stanford	2	UCLA	2
Washington	3	Utah	3
Oregon State	4	Arizona State	4
California	5	Arizona	5
Washington St	6	Colorado	6

Clearly the class of a down Pac 12, the Ducks and Trojans should face (for a second time of the season) in the Conference Championship.  Like the ACC, however, this game will have significant BCS ramifications.  Oregon will likely be the only thing between USC and an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game. 

Southeastern Conference
East		West
Team	Standing	Team	Standing
Georgia	1	LSU	1
Florida	2	Alabama	2
Vanderbilt	2	Arkansas	3
Missouri	4	Mississippi St	4
South Carolina	5	Auburn	5
Tennessee	6	Texas A&M	5
Kentucky	7	Mississippi	7

My two division champions are probably not a surprise; however, I have already taken some flack for projecting UGA as my National Champ.  My projection for the Gamecocks will also likely draw some scoffs; however, as I alluded in the Top 25 article, the SEC East will be the best division in football, for my money.  Expect many exciting games from that bunch.  Georgia is still the class of the division, in my opinion.  The more battle-tested Bulldogs should fare better against the Fightin' Les's, in 2012.

Sun Belt Conference
Team	Standing
Florida Int	1
LA-Monroe	2
Arkansas State	3
LA-Lafayette	3
North Texas	5
Troy	6
Florida Atlantic	7
Wstrn Kentucky	8
Middle Tenn St	9
South Alabama	10

Welcome to the FBS, Jaguars.  Now take a seat on the floor.  There should be a clear divide between the top four in this league and the remaining members.  I expect FIU to take the title, though.

Western Athletic Conference
Team	Standing
Utah State	1
Louisiana Tech	2
Idaho	3
New Mexico St	4
San Jose State	5
Texas State	6
UTSA	7

This is easily the weakest conference in all of college football.  I am not even sure this would be the best conference in FCS.  Utah State and La Tech should run roughshod through this competition.