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The LSU Tigers have been one of the most consistent teams in all of college football the past 15 years. They have won two national titles in that time span, those coming in 2003 and 2007, and they are yet again in contention to win an SEC title.

The season started off rough for LSU as they just barely escaped in week one against Wisconsin. They rallied from a double digit deficit in the second half to beat Wisconsin and they have slowly improved ever since week one.

They struggled against Auburn the first week of October, but haven’t loss since that October 4^th game in Auburn, Alabama. The Tigers are one of the hottest teams in all of college football entering November and the difference between a really good season and an average season rides on a battle against Alabama on November 8 in Death Valley.

The Tigers sit at 7-2 with three games remaining in their 2014 regular season schedule and they still have a shot to make a New Year’s Day bowl. Let’s take a look at the remaining three games for LSU and see how they finish out the 2014 season.

The Tigers host Alabama on November 8 in Baton Rouge. In the preseason I felt the Tigers of LSU would defeat Alabama, but as we now sit here early November I’m not so sure about that. I have been very impressed with how well Alabama has rebounded from their final two games in 2013.

The Crimson Tide have slowly gotten better and better this season and a win against LSU and they would be the favorites to represent the SEC West in the SEC title game. As I mentioned previously, the LSU Tigers have also improved the past month behind the improved play of quarterback Anthony Jennings.

I feel the Tide will go on the road and hand LSU their third loss of the season.

The Tigers then have to travel to Arkansas to play a Razorback team that hasn’t won an SEC game since the 2012 season. Arkansas has come so close on a number of occasions this year, but just haven’t been able to overcome that hurdle of winning an SEC game.

This would be a great spot for Arkansas to finally win an SEC game because of the brutal battle LSU will have with Alabama. A loss to Alabama would have LSU on an emotional low and Arkansas playing the Tigers in Fayetteville could take advantage of that.

I still believe LSU will find a way to win, but don’t be shocked at all if the Razorbacks beat LSU on November 15.

Finally, the LSU Tigers close out the 2014 season playing in Kyle Field against the Aggies of Texas A&M. This is a brutal stretch for LSU to end the season with and going to College Station, Texas could be the toughest of all three games.

The Aggies started the season as the hottest team in all of college football, but have cooled off significantly now that their schedule has hit the big boys of the SEC West. The Aggies will also be in a prime position to beat LSU because of the tough final three games the Tigers have to face.

So, overall I feel LSU will finish the 2014 season going 1-2 with that lone win coming against either Arkansas or Texas A&M.

I believe Alabama will defeat LSU and then that loss will lead to yet another loss to most likely Texas A&M to close out the 2014 regular season. The Tigers have had a nice bounce back in October, but their youth will begin to show in November.

The 2015 season will be one with great promise for LSU. I feel the Tigers of LSU will be national title contenders next season once all their youthful talent gets a year of experience under their belt. The Tigers should consider this season a success already and if they manage to win two of these last three games it will only enhance their season.

I have the Tigers finishing the 2014 regular season at 8-4 and losers of two of their last three games. If they can find a way to make some magic in Death Valley and beat Alabama then it’s an entirely different story. The key to a very good season will come down to the Alabama game as it seems to be each year with LSU.

The Tigers are a team on the rise and will be scary to play in 2015. Their youth is only getting better and the SEC will have to contend with the Tigers for the next several years as serious national title challengers. LSU is a powerhouse in the sport of college football and that will only continue in the years to come.

The LSU Tigers have been one of the most consistent teams in all of college football the past 15 years. They have won two national titles in that time span, those coming in 2003 and 2007, and they are yet again in contention to win an SEC title.

The season started off rough for LSU as they just barely escaped in week one against Wisconsin. They rallied from a double digit deficit in the second half to beat Wisconsin and they have slowly improved ever since week one.

They struggled against Auburn the first week of October, but haven’t loss since that October 4^th game in Auburn, Alabama. The Tigers are one of the hottest teams in all of college football entering November and the difference between a really good season and an average season rides on a battle against Alabama on November 8 in Death Valley.

The Tigers sit at 7-2 with three games remaining in their 2014 regular season schedule and they still have a shot to make a New Year’s Day bowl. Let’s take a look at the remaining three games for LSU and see how they finish out the 2014 season.

The Tigers host Alabama on November 8 in Baton Rouge. In the preseason I felt the Tigers of LSU would defeat Alabama, but as we now sit here early November I’m not so sure about that. I have been very impressed with how well Alabama has rebounded from their final two games in 2013.

The Crimson Tide have slowly gotten better and better this season and a win against LSU and they would be the favorites to represent the SEC West in the SEC title game. As I mentioned previously, the LSU Tigers have also improved the past month behind the improved play of quarterback Anthony Jennings.

I feel the Tide will go on the road and hand LSU their third loss of the season.

The Tigers then have to travel to Arkansas to play a Razorback team that hasn’t won an SEC game since the 2012 season. Arkansas has come so close on a number of occasions this year, but just haven’t been able to overcome that hurdle of winning an SEC game.

This would be a great spot for Arkansas to finally win an SEC game because of the brutal battle LSU will have with Alabama. A loss to Alabama would have LSU on an emotional low and Arkansas playing the Tigers in Fayetteville could take advantage of that.

I still believe LSU will find a way to win, but don’t be shocked at all if the Razorbacks beat LSU on November 15.

Finally, the LSU Tigers close out the 2014 season playing in Kyle Field against the Aggies of Texas A&M. This is a brutal stretch for LSU to end the season with and going to College Station, Texas could be the toughest of all three games.

The Aggies started the season as the hottest team in all of college football, but have cooled off significantly now that their schedule has hit the big boys of the SEC West. The Aggies will also be in a prime position to beat LSU because of the tough final three games the Tigers have to face.

So, overall I feel LSU will finish the 2014 season going 1-2 with that lone win coming against either Arkansas or Texas A&M.

I believe Alabama will defeat LSU and then that loss will lead to yet another loss to most likely Texas A&M to close out the 2014 regular season. The Tigers have had a nice bounce back in October, but their youth will begin to show in November.

The 2015 season will be one with great promise for LSU. I feel the Tigers of LSU will be national title contenders next season once all their youthful talent gets a year of experience under their belt. The Tigers should consider this season a success already and if they manage to win two of these last three games it will only enhance their season.

I have the Tigers finishing the 2014 regular season at 8-4 and losers of two of their last three games. If they can find a way to make some magic in Death Valley and beat Alabama then it’s an entirely different story. The key to a very good season will come down to the Alabama game as it seems to be each year with LSU.

The Tigers are a team on the rise and will be scary to play in 2015. Their youth is only getting better and the SEC will have to contend with the Tigers for the next several years as serious national title challengers. LSU is a powerhouse in the sport of college football and that will only continue in the years to come.

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are one of the most polarizing teams in all of college football and the world of sports as a whole. The Irish are coming off their first loss of the 2014 season in a classic battle with number two Florida State.

The Seminoles defeated Notre Dame 31-27 in a game that went down to the last play. The loss hurt Notre Dame, but didn’t eliminate them from playoff contention because of how competitive they appeared against the defending national champions.

The Irish sit at 6-1 with five games remaining in their 2014 campaign. Notre Dame still has two PAC 12 powers to battle with this season when they face Arizona State and Southern California. The Irish are legit contenders this season and if they find a way to finish the regular season 11-1 they will likely be in the first annual College Football Playoff.

The Irish are a good team this year now that starting quarterback Everett Golson has returned from his year off due to academic issues. The Irish play a respectful schedule every year, but let’s play a hypothetical game and ask what if Notre Dame played in the SEC and more specifically the SEC West?

I have been on record as calling this year’s SEC West division the greatest division in college football history. I feel the depth of this division from top to bottom in terms of competiveness, parity and talent is unmatched. The SEC West has already begun to beat up on each other, but how would Notre Dame stack up in this 2014 SEC West?

If Notre Dame played in the SEC West this season what team would they honestly be better than?

We will start with the Mississippi schools. The Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs are having arguably the greatest years in their program’s history as a football program. I believe both Mississippi State and Ole Miss would defeat Notre Dame.

These games would be tight depending on whether the game was played in Notre Dame or in the home stadiums of Mississippi State and Ole Miss. For argument sake, we will imagine all of these games are played at a neutral site.

If Notre Dame played in the SEC West they would also have to compete against Auburn and Alabama in a year where both are national title worthy. Alabama is coming off a beat down of Texas A&M 59-0 this past weekend. If Alabama played to that level against Notre Dame this season the outcome could be much the same.

Notre Dame against Auburn would also be a challenge because of the speed at which the Tigers play offense. They have athletes all over the field and run Gus Malzahn’s offense at a tempo that is unrivaled by any other team in college football. The Irish would have a tough time keeping up with the speed of Auburn and would likely fall apart in the second half.

So, the top four teams in the SEC west of Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama and Auburn all would have the upper hand against Notre Dame this season. The SEC West is a brutal road this season and for teams like Notre Dame, Florida State and Oregon that are top level teams elsewhere the journey to making the playoff this season would be much more difficult if they played in the SEC West.

The bottom three teams in the SEC West this season appear to be LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M. I feel Notre Dame could win two out of three against these teams, but even that would be tough in my mind.

The Aggies appear to be falling part, but it’s easy to forget their three losses have all come to three teams currently in the top five of the AP Poll. Think about that for a minute, the Aggies have three losses and they are to the number one, three and four team in the country.

I believe the Aggies are better than what they showed this past Saturday against Alabama and would give Notre Dame all they wanted and more. The Aggies pass offense would challenge an Irish secondary that doesn’t get tested often in their schedule this season.

The other two teams in the SEC West, being LSU and Arkansas, would give the Irish problems as well. The LSU Tigers are currently 6-2 and appear to be improving by the week. The Tigers of LSU lost to the Auburn Tigers 41-7 earlier this month, but have vastly improved since then.

I believe LSU would play Notre Dame in a classic battle much like Florida State did this past weekend. If the LSU defense was at their typical top notch level they would defeat Notre Dame easily this season.

Last but not least we have the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Razorbacks haven’t won an SEC game since the 2012 season. They have struggled against SEC competition, but are still a potentially top 25 team in the nation this year because of their running game.

The Razorbacks went on the road to Lubbock, Texas to face Texas Tech and won handily earlier this season thanks to that running game. They physically manhandled Texas Tech on both sides of the ball and proved to be a mismatch for the Red Raiders.

So, I feel Notre Dame would go 4-4 or 5-3 at best if they played in the SEC West this season. I feel this is a combination of an over ranked team in Notre Dame, but more importantly how dominant the SEC West is this season.

I believe other top teams across the country such as Florida State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Baylor, Kansas State and Michigan State would also have the same difficulties in the SEC West this season.

The Irish, I feel, would finish a 12 game schedule of four nonconference games and eight SEC games with a record of 7-5 or 8-4 at best. Notre Dame and all other teams throughout the country this season should be thankful they are not a part of the SEC West this season because of the extreme depth and talent.

Notre Dame is a legit contender in 2014, but if they happen to make the first annual College Football Playoff this year and have to face an SEC West team, the Irish will endure their share of problems.

The SEC West has four of the top five teams in the country and it’s well deserved. They are dominant, strong, aggressive and the best of the best. The SEC is king of college football and the SEC West alone would be the best set of teams in the land. 2014 is the year of the SEC West and it’s not even close.

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are one of the most polarizing teams in all of college football and the world of sports as a whole. The Irish are coming off their first loss of the 2014 season in a classic battle with number two Florida State.

The Seminoles defeated Notre Dame 31-27 in a game that went down to the last play. The loss hurt Notre Dame, but didn’t eliminate them from playoff contention because of how competitive they appeared against the defending national champions.

The Irish sit at 6-1 with five games remaining in their 2014 campaign. Notre Dame still has two PAC 12 powers to battle with this season when they face Arizona State and Southern California. The Irish are legit contenders this season and if they find a way to finish the regular season 11-1 they will likely be in the first annual College Football Playoff.

The Irish are a good team this year now that starting quarterback Everett Golson has returned from his year off due to academic issues. The Irish play a respectful schedule every year, but let’s play a hypothetical game and ask what if Notre Dame played in the SEC and more specifically the SEC West?

I have been on record as calling this year’s SEC West division the greatest division in college football history. I feel the depth of this division from top to bottom in terms of competiveness, parity and talent is unmatched. The SEC West has already begun to beat up on each other, but how would Notre Dame stack up in this 2014 SEC West?

If Notre Dame played in the SEC West this season what team would they honestly be better than?

We will start with the Mississippi schools. The Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs are having arguably the greatest years in their program’s history as a football program. I believe both Mississippi State and Ole Miss would defeat Notre Dame.

These games would be tight depending on whether the game was played in Notre Dame or in the home stadiums of Mississippi State and Ole Miss. For argument sake, we will imagine all of these games are played at a neutral site.

If Notre Dame played in the SEC West they would also have to compete against Auburn and Alabama in a year where both are national title worthy. Alabama is coming off a beat down of Texas A&M 59-0 this past weekend. If Alabama played to that level against Notre Dame this season the outcome could be much the same.

Notre Dame against Auburn would also be a challenge because of the speed at which the Tigers play offense. They have athletes all over the field and run Gus Malzahn’s offense at a tempo that is unrivaled by any other team in college football. The Irish would have a tough time keeping up with the speed of Auburn and would likely fall apart in the second half.

So, the top four teams in the SEC west of Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama and Auburn all would have the upper hand against Notre Dame this season. The SEC West is a brutal road this season and for teams like Notre Dame, Florida State and Oregon that are top level teams elsewhere the journey to making the playoff this season would be much more difficult if they played in the SEC West.

The bottom three teams in the SEC West this season appear to be LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M. I feel Notre Dame could win two out of three against these teams, but even that would be tough in my mind.

The Aggies appear to be falling part, but it’s easy to forget their three losses have all come to three teams currently in the top five of the AP Poll. Think about that for a minute, the Aggies have three losses and they are to the number one, three and four team in the country.

I believe the Aggies are better than what they showed this past Saturday against Alabama and would give Notre Dame all they wanted and more. The Aggies pass offense would challenge an Irish secondary that doesn’t get tested often in their schedule this season.

The other two teams in the SEC West, being LSU and Arkansas, would give the Irish problems as well. The LSU Tigers are currently 6-2 and appear to be improving by the week. The Tigers of LSU lost to the Auburn Tigers 41-7 earlier this month, but have vastly improved since then.

I believe LSU would play Notre Dame in a classic battle much like Florida State did this past weekend. If the LSU defense was at their typical top notch level they would defeat Notre Dame easily this season.

Last but not least we have the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Razorbacks haven’t won an SEC game since the 2012 season. They have struggled against SEC competition, but are still a potentially top 25 team in the nation this year because of their running game.

The Razorbacks went on the road to Lubbock, Texas to face Texas Tech and won handily earlier this season thanks to that running game. They physically manhandled Texas Tech on both sides of the ball and proved to be a mismatch for the Red Raiders.

So, I feel Notre Dame would go 4-4 or 5-3 at best if they played in the SEC West this season. I feel this is a combination of an over ranked team in Notre Dame, but more importantly how dominant the SEC West is this season.

I believe other top teams across the country such as Florida State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Baylor, Kansas State and Michigan State would also have the same difficulties in the SEC West this season.

The Irish, I feel, would finish a 12 game schedule of four nonconference games and eight SEC games with a record of 7-5 or 8-4 at best. Notre Dame and all other teams throughout the country this season should be thankful they are not a part of the SEC West this season because of the extreme depth and talent.

Notre Dame is a legit contender in 2014, but if they happen to make the first annual College Football Playoff this year and have to face an SEC West team, the Irish will endure their share of problems.

The SEC West has four of the top five teams in the country and it’s well deserved. They are dominant, strong, aggressive and the best of the best. The SEC is king of college football and the SEC West alone would be the best set of teams in the land. 2014 is the year of the SEC West and it’s not even close.

This 2014 college football season could be defined early on by a couple letters and they are SEC West. The SEC West, I feel, is the greatest division in the history of college football. Yes I know this is a bold statement, but the depth and quality of these teams is something that you just don’t see.

The leaders of this division are, of course, the big boys of the SEC. The Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide appeared to be the favorites coming into this season, but after a crazy week six the SEC West is a mess.

The Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs had the biggest weekend in their program’s history. As a result it left them tied for third in the latest edition of the AP Poll. Ole Miss is 5-0 for the first time since 1962 and it has been a magical ride to this point.

The Bulldogs also sit at 5-0 after demolishing Texas A&M in Starkville, Mississippi this past weekend. The Bulldogs haven’t seen this type of success in years as well, but are they real competitors to win the SEC West this season?

The Auburn Tigers have slowly been flying under the radar just taking care of business. That will change this weekend as they take on one of those number three teams the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville. The Tigers will suddenly jump to the forefront of people’s minds for the first time since last year’s national title game.

Auburn’s offense is even better this year than last, thanks to a more explosive passing game. I believe Auburn is the favorite not only in the SEC West, but the entire SEC. They will have their chance to prove it this weekend in what is easily the game of the week in college football.

Finally, there is the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide are coming off a heartbreaking 23-17 loss to Ole Miss in what was a game for the ages. The Tide are 4-3 in their last seven games dating back to last year and that has the Tide faithful scared to say the least.

Alabama has arguably the most favorable schedule remaining of the top contenders in the SEC West because of the fact they get Mississippi State and Auburn in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide still have the most talented roster of probably any team in the country, but putting all the pieces together has seemed to be more difficult than in past years.

So, how will the SEC West play out when all is said and done?

I have went through the schedules and came up with what I feel will be the final standings in the SEC West when the season is all said and done. This could be a complete blind shot when we look back on this because of how competitive this division is.

Here is how we see the final SEC West standings looking in 2014.

1. Auburn Tigers
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Mississippi State Bulldogs
4. Ole Miss Rebels
5. Texas A&M Aggies
6. LSU Tigers
7. Arkansas Razorbacks

That is how I see the final SEC West standings playing out. I believe while the success of the two Mississippi schools is great, it will be short lived and come to an end as early as this coming week seven.

If they are able to repeat success this week and win crucial games then that could change my entire process of thinking. I have more faith in Alabama and Auburn that they can handle success and deal with failure easier than the Mississippi schools.

We are just hitting the grind of these SEC West schedules and if the early signs are any indication of the games we will get this year then it will be a classic season in the SEC West division. The best football is played in the SEC West and with that comes the greatest games. The ride has just begun, so sit back and enjoy it before this great season flashes right before our eyes.

This 2014 college football season could be defined early on by a couple letters and they are SEC West. The SEC West, I feel, is the greatest division in the history of college football. Yes I know this is a bold statement, but the depth and quality of these teams is something that you just don’t see.

The leaders of this division are, of course, the big boys of the SEC. The Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide appeared to be the favorites coming into this season, but after a crazy week six the SEC West is a mess.

The Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs had the biggest weekend in their program’s history. As a result it left them tied for third in the latest edition of the AP Poll. Ole Miss is 5-0 for the first time since 1962 and it has been a magical ride to this point.

The Bulldogs also sit at 5-0 after demolishing Texas A&M in Starkville, Mississippi this past weekend. The Bulldogs haven’t seen this type of success in years as well, but are they real competitors to win the SEC West this season?

The Auburn Tigers have slowly been flying under the radar just taking care of business. That will change this weekend as they take on one of those number three teams the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville. The Tigers will suddenly jump to the forefront of people’s minds for the first time since last year’s national title game.

Auburn’s offense is even better this year than last, thanks to a more explosive passing game. I believe Auburn is the favorite not only in the SEC West, but the entire SEC. They will have their chance to prove it this weekend in what is easily the game of the week in college football.

Finally, there is the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide are coming off a heartbreaking 23-17 loss to Ole Miss in what was a game for the ages. The Tide are 4-3 in their last seven games dating back to last year and that has the Tide faithful scared to say the least.

Alabama has arguably the most favorable schedule remaining of the top contenders in the SEC West because of the fact they get Mississippi State and Auburn in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide still have the most talented roster of probably any team in the country, but putting all the pieces together has seemed to be more difficult than in past years.

So, how will the SEC West play out when all is said and done?

I have went through the schedules and came up with what I feel will be the final standings in the SEC West when the season is all said and done. This could be a complete blind shot when we look back on this because of how competitive this division is.

Here is how we see the final SEC West standings looking in 2014.

1. Auburn Tigers
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Mississippi State Bulldogs
4. Ole Miss Rebels
5. Texas A&M Aggies
6. LSU Tigers
7. Arkansas Razorbacks

That is how I see the final SEC West standings playing out. I believe while the success of the two Mississippi schools is great, it will be short lived and come to an end as early as this coming week seven.

If they are able to repeat success this week and win crucial games then that could change my entire process of thinking. I have more faith in Alabama and Auburn that they can handle success and deal with failure easier than the Mississippi schools.

We are just hitting the grind of these SEC West schedules and if the early signs are any indication of the games we will get this year then it will be a classic season in the SEC West division. The best football is played in the SEC West and with that comes the greatest games. The ride has just begun, so sit back and enjoy it before this great season flashes right before our eyes.

The Virginia Tech Hokies, from the ACC, are coming off of two down seasons for their standards. The Hokies went 7-6 in 2012 and followed that up with an 8-5 season last year. The Hokies will now have to bounce back and return to their winning standards that Head Coach Frank Beamer has built the past couple decades.

Virginia Tech will have to replace quarterback Logan Thomas this year, but will return a majority of their starting offensive unit. The Hokies return nine starters on offense, including standout running back Trey Edmunds. Edmunds averaged 4.1 yards per carry as a freshman last year and accounted for ten rushing touchdowns.

As the Hokies try to plug in a new starting quarterback, Edmunds will be asked to carry a majority of the load to get the offense off to a good start in 2014. Along with an explosive running game, the Hokies will return their top three receivers from last year.

Virginia Tech returns Willie Byrn, Demitri Knowles and Joshua Stanford in 2014. These three combined for over 1,800 yards receiving last year and accounted for six touchdowns.  This receiving core will be vital in helping out the new quarterback in Blacksburg this fall.

The schedule for Virginia Tech is very manageable in 2014, but they have a tough out of conference game in week two against Ohio State. The Buckeyes are a preseason top ten team in both the coaches’ and AP Poll, but with the loss of Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller that game becomes much more winnable for Virginia Tech. If the Hokies can somehow pull the upset over Ohio State then Virginia Tech could be a sleeper in the national picture.

Here is a look at the 2014 regular season schedule for the Hokies. I will predict how I see them doing in each of their 12 games. This year could be a very successful one for Virginia Tech if they are able to work out their quarterback issue and provide the supporting cast alongside this season.

August 30- William & Mary Tribe @ Virginia Tech Hokies- Virginia Tech Hokies win 38-14

September 6- Virginia Tech Hokies @ Ohio State Buckeyes- Ohio State Buckeyes win 37-23

September 13- East Carolina Pirates @ Virginia Tech Hokies- Virginia Tech Hokies win 31-20

September 20- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Virginia Tech Hokies- Virginia Tech Hokies win 28-21

September 27- Western Michigan Broncos @ Virginia Tech Hokies- Virginia Tech Hokies win 34-13

October 4- Virginia Tech Hokies @ North Carolina Tar Heels- North Carolina Tar Heels win 27-20

October 11- Bye Week

October 16- Virginia Tech Hokies @ Pittsburgh Panthers- Pittsburgh Panthers win 24-17

October 23- Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Tech Hokies- Virginia Tech Hokies win 26-20

November 1- Boston College Eagles @ Virginia Tech Hokies- Virginia Tech Hokies win 34-17

November 8- Bye Week

November 15- Virginia Tech Hokies @ Duke Blue Devils- Virginia Tech Hokies win 27-13

November 22- Virginia Tech Hokies @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons- Virginia Tech Hokies win 30-13

November 28- Virginia Cavaliers @ Virginia Tech Hokies- Virginia Tech Hokies win 34-23

So, after going through the 2014 Virginia Tech schedule we have them finishing at 9-3. I feel this will put them right in the hunt to win the ACC Coastal division and play in this year’s ACC Championship game.

The defense will be the catalyst for Virginia Tech this year as the offense tries to work through some early troubles. The Hokies have nearly half of their defense returning from last year’s team and I believe that will be the strength of this team just like so many years in the past.

The Hokies will be close to returning to their usual ten win season marks as they have done so many times under Head Coach Frank Beamer. 2014 will have some troubling moments, but when all is said and done it will be a successful season after two down seasons for the Hokies.

Again, we have Virginia Tech going 9-3 in 2014 and being a top contender to win the 2014 ACC title. This is a very crucial year for Coach Beamer as he tries to prove he still has what it takes to win at a high level in the ACC and nationally. The pressure could start ramping up on Beamer and his coaching staff if they have another average season because of all the success Florida State has experienced lately.

I believe they will answer the call and get back on the winning track in 2014. This season will be exciting for Hokie fans and could be magical if they somehow find their way to the ACC title game in December. Beamer and the Hokies are primed to return to the elite in the ACC, but it will be a challenge that they have to be ready to take on each and every week.

One of the surprise teams in all of college football last year were the Duke Blue Devils from the ACC. The Blue Devils went 10-4 in 2013 and were on the verge of upsetting Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. The Blue Devils let a double digit lead slip away in the second half against Texas A&M in what would have been a program defining type of win over the Aggies from the SEC.

As we turn the page to 2014 for Duke the issue of being the hunted instead of the hunter will be a big adjustment for the entire program. The Blue Devils return eight starters on offense and could possibly be even better this year because of that experience.

Duke returns senior starting quarterback Anthony Boone. Boone threw for 2,260 yards last year and was a 64 percent passer. He will look to improve on those numbers in 2014 thanks to a veteran led receiving core that will be returning. The offensive improvement Duke has experienced over the past several seasons has been nothing short of incredible, but now they must learn to deal with success.

Duke lost offensive coordinator and quarterbacks’ coach Kurt Roper off of last year’s team. Roper was hired by the Florida Gators in the offseason to help improve a horrible Florida offense. The loss will be felt by Duke because of all the hard work he put into this offense and how he helped improve Boone’s game over the past couple seasons.

The loss of Roper will be tough, but the engine that has got Duke’s football program back on track is the mastermind that is Head Coach David Cutcliffe. Cutcliffe has been well documented for his time working with great quarterbacks like Eli Manning and Peyton Manning. Cutcliffe has now done what seemed to be the impossible and turned Duke football into a respectable team on the national stage.

The 2014 season will be a challenge as I mentioned earlier because Duke will now be on everyone’s radar and not a sleeper team on opposing team’s schedules. The challenge to maintain success has been said to be harder than reaching success and Duke is about to find out if that is true first hand.

We will take a look at the 2014 Duke schedule and go game by game predicting how they will do in each of their 12 regular season games. Last year was magical for Duke as they made it all the way to the ACC Championship Game, but how will they follow up that great season is to be determined.

August 30- Elon @ Duke Blue Devils- Duke Blue Devils win 38-10

September 6- Duke Blue Devils @ Troy Trojans- Duke Blue Devils win 34-27

September 13- Kansas Jayhawks @ Duke Blue Devils- Duke Blue Devils win 31-17

September 20- Tulane Green Wave @ Duke Blue Devils- Duke Blue Devils win 35-21

September 27- Duke Blue Devils @ Miami Hurricanes- Miami Hurricanes win 38-21

October 4- Bye Week

October 11- Duke Blue Devils @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets win 41-27

October 18- Virginia Cavaliers @ Duke Blue Devils- Duke Blue Devils win 31-23

October 25- Bye Week

November 1- Duke Blue Devils @ Pittsburgh Panthers- Pittsburgh Panthers win 31-21

November 8- Duke Blue Devils @ Syracuse Orange- Duke Blue Devils win 28-24

November 15- Virginia Tech Hokies @ Duke Blue Devils- Virginia Tech Hokies win 27-13

November 20- North Carolina Tar Heels @ Duke Blue Devils- North Carolina Tar Heels win 34-24

November 29- Wake Forest Demon Deacons @ Duke Blue Devils- Duke Blue Devils win 38-20

After examining the 2014 Duke Blue Devils’ schedule, I have them finishing the regular season with a record of 7-5. This year’s schedule for Duke is much tougher than last year and I believe the idea of being the hunted instead of the hunter will be a tough challenge for Duke.

I feel if Duke were able to finish 7-5 that would be a successful 2014 season following how they did last year. Yes, it would be a decrease in the win column by three, but considering where this football program has came the past five years this is certainly a successful run for Duke.

Head Coach Cutcliffe has been doing very well on the recruiting trails and it is showing by their success in the past few seasons. He will continue to make Duke a school that will be proud of not only their basketball team, but their football team as well.

2014 will be a down season in comparison to 2013, but overall still a great season in Durham. They just have to keep recruiting well and success will continue to follow Coach Cutcliffe and this Duke program. So, we have them finishing 2014 at 7-5 and making a bowl game for a third consecutive year. Duke is still on the rise and 2014 will be another step in the right direction for the Blue Devils.

No one said this would be easy. The Gator renovation is still underway. But to say this team belongs to Will Muschamp would be a lie. This team, this offense belongs to Kurt Roper. Can Roper do what he did at Duke – change the offense into a high-powered machine – in Gainesville, where the offense has not been on fire since some guy named Tebow?

The schedule is easy at the beginning, wicked in the middle and daunting at the end. Here is how I predict the season will unravel for the Florida Gators.

Sat, Aug 30 vs. IDAHO

The Vandals come to town to kick off the 2014 season. After being abused last season as one of the worst in the land, can this team recover from traveling across country to beat a hungry Florida team? Not likely. Gators roll, 54-10.

Sat, Sept 6 vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN

Another cream puff on the Gators schedule. The offense and defense dominate and prepare for their SEC schedule. Gators easily, 43-6.

Sat, Sept 13 vs. KENTUCKY

The start of the SEC schedule has the Gators facing Kentucky in a game usually set for the end of the season. Florida has Alabama on the horizon, but remains focused on the game this week and wins, but not as easily as you would think. Florida, 31-20.

Sat, Sept 20 @ ALABAMA

We aren’t even going to sugar coat this one. Alabama is the better team. The Gators must travel and the defense puts up a good fight for one half. In the end, the running game of TJ Yeldon and Derrick Henry proves to be too much. Roll Tide, 28-17.

Sat, Oct 4 @ TENNESSEE

This is one of those games that will either make or break the Gators’ season. Tennessee is considered one of the rising teams in the SEC, so it would not surprise me if they win. It also will not surprise me if they lose. Overall, I think Florida has more talent. Florida, 18-14.

Sat, Oct 11 vs. LSU

The great thing about this game will have played more than half a season and everyone is raving about Leonard Fournette. The Gators passing game torches the Tigers’ defense, but in the end, the running game for the Tigers is better. LSU, 20-17.

Sat, Oct 18 vs. MISSOURI

There is something about this game that leaves me a little on edge. Maty Mauck and the Tigers come to town in a HUGE SEC game. Florida has two losses – both to SEC teams. I give the Gators the edge this time at home in SEC play. Gators, 24-14.

Sat, Nov 1 vs.  GEORGIA* (In Jacksonville)

Believe it or not, this is the game that could cost Will Muschamp his job. Nothing is more important to the alumni than beating Georgia and FSU. The Bulldogs are better than last season and will challenge for an SEC title, but I like the upset special. Florida, 31-30.

Sat, Nov 8 @ VANDERBILT

Revenge game! Last year, the Gators lost to Vanderbilt. YES, lost. This season will be different. No James Franklin and a confident Jeff Driskel running on all cylinders. Florida and Muschamp run the score up a bit for good measure. Gators, 45-3.

Sat, Nov 15 vs. SOUTH CAROLINA

No Jadeveon Clowney. No Connor Shaw. But there is Steve Spurrier, Mike Davis and Dylan Thompson. Funny how the fates take a turn. South Carolina is in Gainesville and can spoil the Gators dreams. This time, he comes crashing down on the Florida faithful.  Gamecocks, 19-17.

Sat, Nov 22 vs. EASTERN KENTUCKY

Seriously? The Gators will be mad as hell, just losing their third SEC game of the season and looking at the Music City Bowl. Eastern Kentucky is just the right elixir for a loss to a rival like Spurrier. Gators pile it on for three quarters, then let the scout team play. Florida wins, 56-7.

Sat, Nov 29 @ FLORIDA STATE

This is a huge game, but in reality, the Gator Nation knows playing in Tallahassee with the best team in the country is a tough task to handle. Every time these teams get together, it gets ugly. This year, FSU is just a bit prettier, winning at home Florida turns a 4-8 season last year into 8-4 this season. FSU, 34-28.