College Football 2013 Predictions: Better, Worse or the Same for Top 50 Teams By Carl Stine(Featured Columnist) on January 8, 2013 37,956 reads
Whatever the verdict, read on for some analysis of each top 50 team going into next season and whether they will be better, worse or the same as the 2012 campaign.
48. TCU Horned Frogs (7-6)
The strength of Gary Patterson's TCU teams has been the defense.
That's going to be the case in 2013, as the Horned Frogs are returning 10 defensive starters to a unit that can bring the pain.
Stud defensive lineman Stansly Maponga is returning for his senior year and will make a bid to be the best lineman in the Big 12.
On offense, quarterback is full of questions.
Casey Pachall has filed to be reinstated after being suspended from the team earlier in the season, but Trevone Boykin has shown some potential at the position as well.
Expect a battle at the position if Pachall is reinstated.
Prediction: Better
37. Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-5)
Tommy Tuberville decided to leave for the greener pastures of Cincinnati, but this offense is not going to skip a beat.
Kliff Kingsbury has been excellent as the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, helping produce the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner.
And now he takes the reins as the head coach of the Red Raiders.
Quarterback Seth Doege is gone, but Michael Brewer will likely take over the offense.
He completed 70 percent of his 48 attempts this season and is ready to take over and lead this offense, which is loaded with plenty of talent to catch the ball, including leading receiver Eric Ward.
Prediction: Better
30. Baylor Bears (8-5)
When Baylor enters a conversation, the word "defense" does not come up often, unless in reference to the Bears' deficiencies on that side of the ball.
The team is all about offense, and it shows in their stats, finishing the 2012 season fourth in the nation in passing yards and scoring and torching opponents for a ridiculous 44.5 points per game.
Here's the issue:
Quarterback Nick Florence is going to be gone, so there are obvious questions at the position.
But Lache Seastrunk returns, and if he continues to produce at the level he did in 2012, he will be a Heisman dark horse in 2013.
Art Briles knows how to make his teams productive on offense, but until they shore up the defense, the Bears are not going to make the jump from mediocre to very good.
Prediction: Same
24. Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-5)
Oklahoma State is not known for its defense.
That's not going to change in 2013.
But the offense, if anything, could be scarier than this season, when the team scored 45.7 points per contest.
If running back Joseph Randle returns, he has the potential to be one of the best backs in the country.
Both Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh return at quarterback and have experience, while the team's leading receiver, Josh Stewart, is back as well.
Mike Gundy has been excellent at getting his team to score, and this team will do the same in 2013, hanging a ton of points on opponents.
Prediction: Better
14. Texas Longhorns (9-4)
Texas may finally break through next season.
David Ash will be back at quarterback, and if he progresses as much from 2012 to 2013 as he did in the previous offseason, the Longhorns are going to have a very capable quarterback at the helm.
Joe Bergeron and Johnathan Gray are back at running back and will power an extremely effective rushing attack that will help keep the offense balanced.
On defense, if Jackson Jeffcoat gets healthy, we will see a run defense that finished 100th in the nation in yards allowed find its way back into the upper echelons of run defenses.
Prediction: Better
12. Oklahoma Sooners (10-3)
Oklahoma's going to have an incredible offensive line, loaded with all kinds of experience and depth.
The wide receivers are talented and will be ready to produce.
It's behind that line where things are a problem.
Landry Jones is gone, and the quarterback position is up in the air.
Blake Bell appears to be the guy who will be tabbed to take over, but is he ready to throw the ball 500-plus times next season?
And then there is the defensive line.
It's atrocious, and if they play like the inexperienced line that they are, it's going to be a very difficult season for Bob Stoops' team.
Prediction: Worse
7. Kansas State Wildcats (11-2)
Running back John Hubert will be back next season, as will receiver Tyler Lockett.
But the heart and soul of both the offense and defense are leaving.
Arthur Brown and Meshak Williams have been the stars of the defense and will be extremely difficult to replace.
On top of that, Collin Klein, who finished third in Heisman voting this season and has had a stellar collegiate career, will not be around to carry the offense.
The Big 12 is up for grabs this in 2013, and K-State is going to find some tough sledding.
OH MY, WHAT"S THIS... BIG BAD KSU ON TOP OF THE BIG 12!
