The 2017/18 Nobody Sports College Football Season Predictions

(Cover photo credit: Emblem Source; Photo above: Tampa Bay Times)

College Football IS HERE!!!

Nobody Sports is proud to bring to you the 2017 Nobody Sports College Football Season Predictions. Your favorite Nobodys will pick their College Football Playoff finalists and their picks for the Heisman Trophy winner. IT’S HERE GUYS! IT’S FINALLY HERE!!! (Sorry, Shawn here, I’m just a little excited about College Football being back. We’ll get on track here momentarily)

College Football Playoff

Shawn: (1) Florida State, (2) Alabama, (3) Oklahoma, (4) Wisconsin

Florida State v Wisconsin

This game is going to be a tough one for me to watch. Solely because of all the trash talk that will lead up to this from my Florida constituency of friends. Look forward to this matchup of a Top-5 offense vs. a Top-5 Defense. In typical Wisconsin sports fashion, the Badgers will end up squandering this opportunity on the national stage, after running the table in the Big Ten and shutting down a very game Ohio State Buckeye team.

Alabama v. Oklahoma

Alabama, after dropping the first game of the season, will obviously run the table in the SEC (the most overrated conference in College sports. Oklahoma will come into this game undefeated with the support of everyone agreeing that they should be the No. 2 team in the country. The Crimson Tide will be trying to shake off the disappointment of last seasons National Championship loss and come out on top.

National Championship Game-FSU v. Alabama

A rematch of each teams first game of the season will seem like deja vu for both fan bases. This one will be the same exact game as Week One. Florida State will find a way to stifle the Alabama running game and put the game in the hands of Jalen Hurts who, for the second year in row, will leave the Crimson Tide faithful scratching their heads as they come up short for the second year in a row against an ACC powerhouse. Jimbo Fisher will be kissing a National Championship trophy thanks to a standout performance from Deondre Francois.

Joe: (1) Florida State, (2) USC, (3) Clemson, (4) Wisconsin

Florida State v Wisconsin

Shawn and I both agree on this game…which means it probably won’t happen.  I think Francois and the Seminoles will pull off the upset this weekend, which will put Florida State in the #1 spot in the college rankings.  I don’t foresee them losing another game.  The same goes for Wisconsin; their season is set up for them to go undefeated.  The Michigan game at home will be the true test, but I think they overcome that AND beat Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship.

USC v. Clemson

Sam Darnold is not the projected #1 overall pick for the 2018 NFL draft for nothing.  He will play out of his mind this year, mostly because this will be his last chance to enjoy winning…because not much of that will be happening with the Jets.  Clemson returns the best Defensive front in all of Division 1.  Kelly Bryant will have one of the best WR groups to work with in the nation, so I have faith he will make the Tiger faithful forget all about Watson…jokes.

National Championship Game-FSU v. USC

I think this will be a great game to end what should be an absolutely entertaining 2017 College football season.  Sam Darnold will get to show everyone why he is the projected #1 pick for the NFL draft.  However, it will not be enough.  I too believe that this is the season for Jimbo Fisher to become a national, household name.  Francois will win the battle of the QBs in this one, in an OT instant classic, and the National Championship trophy will end up in the hands of the Seminoles.

Mike: (1) Alabama, (2) Florida State, (3) Ohio State, (4) Oklahoma

(1) Alabama vs. (4) Oklahoma

Alabama will again find itself as the top seed heading into the playoffs. Nick Saban just reloads every year with top recruits. That probably won’t change until he leaves. They return QB Jalen Hurts, RB Bo Scarbrough, and top WR Calvin Ridley. Their offense should score points. Also, Alabama always has a great defense, so I would be pretty surprised if they didn’t end up back in the playoffs. I think they lose a game along the way. They play #3 Florida State this weekend to open the season, so they could lose there. They also play the always tough SEC schedule which includes top 25 teams like LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, and the SEC championship game which could include Florida or Georgia. No matter what they always seem to finish the season as the favorite.

Oklahoma will find their way into the playoffs this year as the #4 seed. They lost head coach Bob Stoops to retirement in the off season, but promoted offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley to that position. The familiarity is there and they also have Heisman hopeful Baker Mayfield returning to play QB. They play Ohio State week 2 and I think they might lose that game, but I think they win out the rest of the way. Texas, West Virginia and Oklahoma State are all in the top 25 and are teams they play during their Big 12 schedule. They get Texas and WVU at home, which gives them an advantage. The Oklahoma State game in Stillwater will be a huge challenge. Baker Mayfield leads them into the playoffs.

Alabama is just too much to handle as they beat Oklahoma to go to yet another Championship game. Never bet against Alabama.

Final Score: Alabama 35, Oklahoma 24

(2) Florida State vs. (3) Ohio State

After getting shellacked by Clemson in last year’s playoffs, Ohio State returns to right itself this year. They lost some key players to the NFL this past year, but return QB JT Barrett and RB Mike Weber. After an early season game against Oklahoma, they have some easy games until late in the year when they play Penn State, where they will look to exact revenge from last year’s loss. They game is in Columbus, which always helps. Then they play Michigan, which is never easy, and then the Big Ten Championship Game, which will most likely be against Wisconsin. Not an easy road, but Urban Meyer always seems to be there at the end. I say they finish with one loss and make the playoffs as the #2 seed.

Florida State returns to the playoffs for the first time since the inaugural season the playoffs started in 2014. I think Florida State runs the table after losing the Alabama this weekend.  Clemson takes a step back after losing QB Deshaun Watson and Louisville will be test with Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson back. Miami and Virginia Tech are both ranked in the top 25, but they don’t play them in the regular season. They would only play them in the ACC Championship game, but they should win that game. They also play Florida, which is never an easy game as well. Led by QB Deondre Francois Florida State should emerge from the ACC to stay in the playoff picture all year.

This should be an entertaining game and Ohio State won’t get shutout and perform better, but I think they lose a hard fought game.

Final Score: Florida State 38, Ohio State 31

National Championship Game: Alabama vs. Florida State

A rematch of this weekend’s game, and if it is a good, close game this weekend, then people will want this to be the outcome. Alabama will rebound from last year’s Championship game loss to Clemson and Nick Saban will win another title, as he will be in the conversation for greatest college coach of all time. Jalen Hurts and the offense, along with a tough defense proves to much as they beat Florida State again. Like I said earlier, I can never bet against Alabama.

Final Score: Alabama 42, Florida State 35

Johnny: (1) Alabama, (2) Ohio State, (3) Florida State, (4) Oklahoma

(1) Alabama vs (4) Oklahoma

This game will be a great offensive battle in my opinion. Both teams will be led by all-pros. Alabama will rely heavily on Heisman hopeful RB Bo Scarbrough while Oklahoma relies on Heisman favorite QB Baker Mayfield. This game comes down to the wire but Alabama’s offense proves to be too much for Mayfield and the Sooners. Will also show that the SEC is still the top conference in all of college football and Nick Saban will reach his fifth national championship game since taking over the program at Alabama.

(2) Ohio State vs (3) Florida State

Another game that features high powered offenses will be another game that does not disappoint. Both teams have Heisman hopefuls at the QB position. Ohio State is led by fifth year senior quarter JT Barrett while Florida State is led byDeondre Francois. Each team is returning a handful of starters from their 2016 roster but in this match-up I give the edge to Jimbo Fisher and Florida State strongly based off the fact they are returning nine defensive starters this season which will be to much for JT Barrett to handle.

National Championship Game – Alabama vs Florida State

Like Shawn, I agree that the National Championship will be a rematch of the very first game of the season. Only difference is I think Alabama and Scarbrough will have what it takes to knock off Florida State. I also believe Saban is a better coach in big games more than Jimbo. It like all the first two playoff games will come down to the wire but at the end of day I think Alabama wins and completes the perfect season.

Heisman Trophy Winner:

Shawn – Sam Darnold (Sophomore, University of Southern California)

Darnold is the complete package you want at quarterback in Southern Cal. The skills. The look. The hair. A season ago, he threw for 31 touchdowns. Expect well over 40 this season. He will carve up Pac-12 defenses all season. The team around him is incredibly skilled, as is commonplace at USC. This will lead to huge things from Darnold.

(Photo credit: Sporting News)

Joe – Lamar Jackson (Junior, University of Louisville)

As Shawn said, Sam Darnold is definitely everything you want in a QB.  However, I personally think it is time for Archie Griffin to have some company.  Lamar Jackson is the defending Heisman Trophy recipient.   Coming off a season in which Jackson threw for 30 TDs and RUSHED for 21 TDs, which was the 5th most rushing touchdowns in all of Division 1.  He rushed for over 100 yards in 8 games.  He only threw 9 INTs, although some came at costly times.  The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding player in all of college football.  While Sam Darnold very well be the best Quarterback, the most outstanding player will, once again, be Lamar Jackson.  I expect similar numbers this season. And those numbers equal Heisman.

(Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated)

Mike – Baker Mayfield (Quarterback, Oklahoma Sooners)

It seems like he has been around forever, and he has been a finalist the last two years. I think he brings home the hardware this year, after he leads Oklahoma to the playoffs. He will have some stiff competition this year since last year’s winner QB Lamar Jackson (LOU) returned to school. QB Jalen Hurts (ALA), QB Deondre Francois (FSU), QB Sam Darnold (USC), RB  Saquon Barkley (PSU), QB JT Barrett (OSU) will all be in the mix as well.

(Photo Credit: USA Today)

Johnny – Baker Mayfield (Quarterback, Oklahoma Sooners)

As long as Mayfield can stay healthy he will be relied on heavily to carry the Sooners offense. An offense that lost both running backs (Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon) in this year’s NFL draft turns to Mayfield and an aerial attack. Jeffery Mead and Jeff Badet will be the top two targets and should put up big numbers that will help senior quarterback win the 2017 Heisman trophy.

(Photo Credit: USA Today)

Let us know what you think, in the comments below!!!!

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