Phil Steele's national champion prediction...

[Beyond the Bets]

Florida State.

From Bud Elliott at Tomahawk Nation.

[Wiseguy]

(05-25-2012 09:06 AM)Beyond the Bets Wrote:  Florida State.

That is

I just do not see them not dropping a game they should win. Under Jimbo this has been the case multiple times a year.

[Skating Tripods]

Here's my issue with this pick. FSU doesn't really play a good non-conf opponent (remains to be seen if Florida will be good) and the ACC isn't a conference that should have a team playing for the national title. Look, if they run the table, you can (easily) justify them playing for the title. I just don't see where at VaTech and then winning the ACC champ. on a neutral field is better than beating Alabama/LSU/Arkansas and winning the SEC champ game. At least last year, FSU played Oklahoma.

It's not that Florida State isn't a good team. They're a very strong team. I don't know if Manuel is good enough to take them to the perfect record that I think they need to get in. All I keep thinking about is the team that nearly lost to a watered down Notre Dame bunch in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Not to mention, can they really beat Alabama/LSU or somebody else to win the title?

[Beyond the Bets]

(05-25-2012 09:46 AM)Skating Tripods Wrote:  Not to mention, can they really beat Alabama/LSU or somebody else to win the title?

Nope. They can't.

Phil will come to regret this pick. Should have gone USC.

[adutton6]

Haven't looked at much outside SEC yet, however, I don't mind the pick. It's not who the best team is, just who wins the NCG (I'm a bitter LSU fan). They will have a better team this year. Softer schedule. 19-1 odds. Whatever.

Maybe the better value play out of the ACC is Virginia Tech at around 30-1 as long as QB doesn't play like a dufus again this year..

[RickRude]

(05-25-2012 10:04 AM)adutton6 Wrote:  .

Maybe the better value play out of the ACC is Virginia Tech at around 30-1 as long as QB doesn't play like a dufus again this year..

I think it is. I don't know what makes FSU better than Clemson or VT as of right now. I 'm guessing Steele thinks Manuel makes a leap and their offense line gets in gear, but why should we expect that? I don't think we've seen any proof of FSU's offense being able to turn a corner.

FSU isn't making it out of September undefeated anyways. Clemson then at South Florida. USF has almost everyone back and have been a thorn in the side to the other Florida based schools the last few years.

[Weebay]

How many starters do they return on defense? They played sec style defense towards the end of the season. Honestly not that bad of a pick, easy non conference schedule. Make or break game is in Blacksburg on a Thursday night.

[ChiefZilla]

The problem is, barring a really wacky season, they have to go undefeated to even have a chance. And how many teams go undefeated every year? More importantly, when was the last time Fla St lived up to expectations?

And even then ... if you took them to win the national title and they make it to the champ game, are they really gonna beat an SEC powerhouse or a team like USC in the title game? They'd probably be underdogs by a touchdown. I guess you could hedge out of a futures bet at that point, but I don't really understand what Steele is doing here. Trying to grab some headlines?

[@TracktheBet]

Maybe he's just trying to sell magazines?

[jimmysingh9]

I am not sure how much I believe in VTech right now. They have too many questions surrounding Logan Thomas on the offensive end. Their D is going to be good, but how good? I think they are a little overrated after the perception of how they shutdown Michigan.

The problem with Clemson is which Clemson team do you see. Inconsistency has always been their problem and they always come into the season looking like they will knock on the door of the national championship and always disappoint. I would rather bet on their disappointing us than overachieving.

[Skating Tripods]

(05-25-2012 10:58 AM)Weebay Wrote:  How many starters do they return on defense? They played sec style defense towards the end of the season. Honestly not that bad of a pick, easy non conference schedule. Make or break game is in Blacksburg on a Thursday night.

But that's the problem. Can they sneak into a top BCS spot with a bad non-conf schedule. Florida will probably be a .500 SEC team. South Florida isn't exactly a formidable opponent.

My issue isn't with the pick. It's with the chances FSU has to even show up in the championship game.

[Cafe Latte]

I take whatever Phil Steele says with a grain of salt. He puts out a pretty good college football annual but he can't win as a sports service.