Prediction: Alabama will win highly contested SEC

By Brandon Ferris

Nick Saban exits the field after last year's thrilling national title game.

Year after year we see that the SEC is top heavy. The few heavyweights that dominate the SEC beat each other up each year, which usually leads to only one SEC team getting that prestigious college playoff berth. However, last year was the exception. 

Predictability is not always the most exciting route, but in the SEC, we’ve come to see that predictable is the norm. After winning its fifth national championship in the last nine years, it seems as though Alabama is the team to beat. Indeed, the Crimson Tide lost a lot of players in the NFL draft (as always), but Nick Saban can always rebuild within a few months. Players like Calvin Ridley, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison, and Bo Scarbrough will not be returning this year. A record 12 players were selected from Alabama in the NFL draft, but there are more than enough players for Saban to use. But, all eyes will be on the starting quarterback battle.

Speaking of quarterbacks, two teams that could dethrone Alabama have Heisman candidates leading their team. Jake Fromm of Georgia and Auburn's Jarrett Stidham look to lead their teams to the college football playoff.

Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs should have an easy time winning the East Division of the SEC, similar to last year. Georgia finished 13-2, with a 7-1 conference record. While they lost key contributors like Nick Chubb and Roquan Smith, a healthy Jake Fromm can take Georgia back to the SEC championship and maybe back to the College Football Playoff. Florida and Missouri may present tough challenges, but the Bulldogs should run all over them.

On the East side, look for Auburn and Alabama to take control. An Iron Bowl with huge implications is great for the SEC and college football. Auburn will look to control their games with their tough defense and Gus Malzahn will hope that Stidham can take the next step as an elite QB. Even though Auburn will present a tough challenge, the Tide will meet the Bulldogs in the SEC championship this year. 

With sleepers like Missouri, LSU, and Texas A&M with Jimbo Fisher, the SEC could have more of a level playing field this year. There are a lot of good quarterbacks in the south that can lead their team to many victories. 

However, the Tide will come out of the SEC and will look to win its sixth national title in 10 years. 

Prediction: Ohio State poised to win Big Ten title again

By Mike Santaniello

Urban Meyer's squad, despite heavy competition, win once again win the Big Ten.

The Big Ten is one of the most dominant conferences in all of college football. The conference has five candidates alone that could contend for a playoff spot.

Despite high competition, Urban Meyer’s Ohio State Buckeyes have held control of the the conference the last few years — teams such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State are waiting to dethrone the reigning champs.

Michigan State also has potential to make some noise and be competitive.

Jim Harbaugh has Michigan ready to bounce back. They still have one of the most complete defenses on all three levels, and a very talented wide receiver core with Peoples-Jones predicted for a breakout season. It will be interesting to see Penn State’s team post-Saquon Barkley Era, but they are still a very well-rounded team.

Wisconsin still has a firm control over the weak west division, so they are bound to be in the mix of things. Michigan State was fortunate to win six close games last season, but have the coaching and talent to repeat that this year.

Despite all this I still see the Buckeyes making it back to the Big Ten Championship. I do not think Michigan State and Penn State have the talent to match up the well-rounded Urban Meyer-coached football team.

I do believe Michigan will be highly competitive this year and will be in the mix with Ohio State, but Jim Harbaugh’s inability to win big games will continue to haunt the Wolverines and it will knock them behind Ohio State in the East standings.

The west division is almost a lock with the Wisconsin Badgers destined for their fourth appearance in five years, with Iowa the only team with a chance to be competitive unless the Hawkeyes have a total collapse this year.

So with Wisconsin and Ohio State winning their divisions respectively, we will see a rematch of last year’s championship game. The result will be the same, with the Buckeyes beating the Badgers in dominant fashion with a 35-21 victory. This time, though, Ohio State will actually get into the playoff.

Sophomore J.K. Dobbins will have a repeat of his 174 yard MVP performance, I believe setting the pace on the ground for Ohio State with a 100-plus-yard game, and the pass rush will keep the Badgers quarterbacks running for their lives.