Thoughts on…The Top Four Of 2013
By Rich Lynch
Apr 13, 2013; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Charlie Strong looks toward the sideline during the spring game at Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Thoughts on Three returns for the 2013 NCAA football season with three weekly installments: Monday are Thought’s Top Four ranking based on the results from the previous week. Wednesday night is a prediction of the showcase Thursday evening match-up. Finally, Saturday mornings feature analysis of the marquee contests later in the day.
This first installment of Thoughts is a 2013 pre-season Top Four ranking. These rankings are a prediction of where we will be at the end of the season. Despite getting ransacked by the NFL draft, the best four teams in the nation are all in the Southeastern Conference. However, my Thoughts project where we will be at the end of the season. The SEC is good, but won’t occupy the top four spots in the rankings. Thoughts are as follows:
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama lost Offensive linemen: Chance Warmack, D.J. Flucker and the obstinate Barrett Jones to the Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams in the 2013 NFL Draft respectively. Defensive back Dee Millner was the highest pick out of Alabama in the NFL draft going to the New York Jets at No. 9. However, the biggest loss was defensive tackle Jesse Williams to the Seattle Seahawks. Williams was the backbone of the defense at nose tackle and will be a sure fire All Pro for Seattle despite being picked in the fourth round.
Coming back for 2012 national champion Alabama are quarterback A.J. McCarron, running back T.J Yeldon and wide receiver Amari Cooper. Supporting them is the highest ranked recruiting class in the country. Say thank you, Alabama faithful to the legendary Tide salesman Nick Saban. Roll Tide.
2. Louisville Cardinals
Head-coach Charlie Strong decided to comeback to Louisville despite several offers to skip town. The Tennessee Volunteers courted the former Florida Gators defensive coordinator the most. However, they were ultimately rebuffed.
Strong came back because his team is loaded and their schedule is, to paraphrase Dick Vitale, cupcake central baaaaby.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will win the Heisman Trophy. He has transfer running back Michael Dyer, who washed out of Auburn, helping in the running game. Receiver Devante Parker is coming off a season where he averaged 19 yards a catch and had 10 touchdown receptions. On defense the Cardinal have 12 players on the depth chart that started games last season. Look for the Cardinals to double-up the score on every team they play in 2013.
3. South Carolina Gamecocks
The Ol’ Ball Coach is back and looking to do some damage in a more competitive SEC. In the off-season, Spurrier called out Notre Dame and pontificated that college athletes should be compensated financially.
On the field, Spurrier might have his best team since arriving in Columbia in 2005. He is counting on end Jadeveon Clowney to anchor his defense and cover up some of the soft spots at linebacker with his pass rush ability.
Not surprisingly, Spurrier is planning to use two quarterbacks: last seasons’ starter, the scrappy Connor Shaw and junior Dylan Thompson, who threw for 10-touchdowns in back-up duty for the oft injured Shaw.
The Gamecocks have a reasonable schedule. If they can get by Georgia in Week Two, which will be an awesome game,South Carolina should be undefeated going into November when they play rivals Florida and Clemson. Both are home games.
4. Texas Longhorns
The Big 12 is wide open as much this season as any. The Longhorns have 19 starters back from last season’s 9-4 squad. Junior quarterback David Ash is going into his third season as starter under iconic head coach Mack Brown and former Texas quarterback-turned-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite. On defense, Texas will be fast to the ball, with defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat setting the tone.
Experience from the- top-down and on both sides of the ball will give the Longhorns the edge against most of their competition, particularly in a Big 12 Conference undergoing change. The toughest games on paper are against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. UT gets the Cowboys at home in Austin, and face OU in the annual Red River Shootout at the Cotton Bowl. The stars look aligned for the Longhorns this season.
Outside Looking In:
Georgia Bulldogs
Clemson Tigers