2014 Right Wing College Football Preview Edition

Around this time every year, I offer up some preseason thoughts on college football. 

This season offers up something exciting and new for us fans, and I'm not talking about the Love Boat (unless the Minnesota Vikings are involved somehow). This year we enter the era of the College Football Playoff. Finally, the highest level of college football will decide its championship with a playoff instead of allowing computers to make the decision for them.

No, the bowl system is not going away, just the BCS. Many of the bowls are realigning and forming new partnerships with new conferences. It should be fun, to say the least. So let's get the party started with some conference previews.

Conference Preivews:

Preview: This conference raised quite a few eyebrows last year. They stand a shot, albeit an outside shot, at making noise again this year. Cincinnati, Central Florida, and East Carolina are all poised to battle for the top spot. Houston is a team that just cannot be counted out, as they have a strange tendency to play spoiler from time to time. Louisville and Rutgers have fled for greener pastures, but the conference replaced them with Tulsa, Tulane, and East Carolina.

(see this line ↓. I cannot get it to disappear. Sorry.)

Champion: East Carolina

Atlantic Coast Conference:

Preview: While the ACC currently holds the National Champion, they also still have the reputation of being a bit of an also-ran. They end each season with a series of rivalry games against in-state competition from the SEC, and lately Georgia and South Carolina have topped Georgia Tech and Clemson. FSU got the better of Florida last year, but then again, who didn't? The conference should be a bit stronger this year, though Clemson will be a definitive weaker team than last year.

Championship Game (winner in BOLD): Florida State vs Miami

Big 12

Preview: I'm actually kind of surprised that the Big 12 hasn't moved to to expand to 12 teams yet. But no matter, the conference is still pretty good. Texas will begin rebounding under charlie Strong, but I still think they're an 8-win team at best. Oklahoma looks like the best of the bunch, though Baylor will probably be good again, too.

Champion: Oklahoma

Big Ten

Preview: The Big Ten now has 14 teams, thanks to the addition of Maryland and Rutgers. The big story of the Big Ten last year was Ohio State's dream run that was proven to be a nightmare when they finally played a solid defense, as Sparty ran them down. I think Michigan State will repeat as Big Ten champion, though Ohio State will be good this year. The question many Big Ten fans have is when will Michigan return to form. I don't think that happens this year, though the Wolverines should win 8 or 9 games. Anything less and Michigan will be searching for a new head coach.

Championship Game (winner in BOLD): Michigan State vs Wisconsin

PAC-12

Preview: The PAC-12 could challenge the SEC for the role of top overall conference this year. There are at least three teams in the league who can claim legitimate national title contender status, and possibly four. Oregon, Stanford, and UCLA will be the standard-bearers for the conference in 2014. If Stanford can win at Eugene, then the Cardinal could very well win the conference, but that's a big ask. I'm actually more excited about a non-conference match-up between Oregon and Michigan State on September 6. You better believe that'll be one of the marquee games of 2014's Football Future-see.

Championship Game (winner in BOLD): UCLA vs Oregon

Southeastern Conference

Preview: For the first time in the 2010s, the SEC did not claim the national championship. Auburn put up a valiant fight, but FSU was a good team, and just plain won. This year, the SEC is reloading. Alabama, Auburn, and LSU will once again fight for the West, though Ole Miss may finally make some noise in the division. In the East, the old leaders will reclaim their throne, as Georgia, Florida and South carolina look to reassert dominance over upstart Missouri. Florida is the weakest of the bunch on offense, so they'll struggle against the Gamecocks and Bulldogs. I'm going out on a limb and actually picking Georgia to topple 'Bama in the title game. Yeah, it's a homer call, but if Georgia can stay healthy (and statistically speaking, last year was so bad on injuries that this year must be better), then Georgia is a legitimate national championship contender.

Championship Game (winner in BOLD): Georgia vs Alabama

The Other Conferences:

Conference USA: Marshall vs North Texas
Honestly, the way Marshall's schedule is set, they could very well go undefeated.

MAC: Northern Illinois vs Bowling Green
The Huskies once again win the MAC, though it'll be harder without their QB from last year.

Mountain West: Boise State vs Fresno State
Boise State should win the Mountain West this year, but Fresno State (that other FSU) may give them a run.

Sun Belt: South Alabama
The Sun Belt welcomes in some new teams this year, and the South Alabama Jaguars surprise everyone by winning the conference.

(Absurdly Early) Bowl Game Predictions:

College Football Playoff (Sugar Bowl): Georgia vs Michigan State

College Football Playoff (Rose Bowl): Florida State vs Oregon

College Football Playoff (Championship): Florida State vs Georgia (another homer call, so sue me!)

Fiesta Bowl: UCLA vs Alabama

Orange Bowl: Ohio State vs Auburn

Capital One Bowl: Ole Miss vs Nebraska

Cotton Bowl: Baylor vs Wisconsin

Outback Bowl: LSU vs Michigan

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Miami vs South Carolina

(Off-The-Wall & Sure To Be Wrong) Season Predictions & Statements:

More than one head coach will not last the season: Michigan and Florida are the most likely schools to rid themselves of their respective coaches, should things go wrong. If Florida suffers another season like last year, Will Muschamp will be looking for work, probably back in the ranks of the defensive coordinators.

The Heisman Race Will be Between...: Jameis Winston will be in the mix, as will Brett Hundley (UCLA QB) and Marcus Mariota (Oregon QB). But there is another name to remember. If he can stay healthy, and his team now has enough backs to keep him fresh, then Georgia RB Todd Gurley will be a definite Heisman contender...possibly a winner.

The Best Non-Conference Game will be...: September 6, the mighty Spartans of Michigan State cross the country to take on the Oregon Ducks in a clash that will have national championship implications.

The Biggest Controversy will be...: What does the NCAA do to Oklahoma State? The investigation has begun, according to reports. Sports Illustrated dropped a bomb on the Cowboys program. Now we wait and see what Stillwater looks like when the smoke clears.