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College Football Teams with Something to Prove in 2011 by Jim Feist
Frustration and failure can prove excellent motivating factors in sports. We see quality teams get beaten badly all the time, then bounce back the next game with a terrific performance with an easy win. This can also take place with teams that are off disappointing seasons. Last season Notre Dame had a new coach, a tough schedule and a ton of injuries. Despite this, the Irish rallied around each other and excelled, ending the season on a 4-0 SU/ATS run, including wins as a dog over USC and Miami. When channeled properly, frustration can be focused into positive energy. Here are some college football teams that may have something to prove in 2011.
Texas: No one was a bigger disappointment than the Longhorns in 2010, 15-to-1 to win the national title, a top 10 projection by many, and what followed was a 5-7 SU, 3-9 ATS shocking season. They lost to UCLA (34-12), to rival Oklahoma (28-20), a stunning 28-21 home loss to Iowa State and an even more shocking 39-14 loss at Kansas State, giving up 261 yards rushing and turning it over 5 times.
All of that erased the good karma from a 20-13 upset at Nebraska. The offense was in transition and averaged 23.8 points, 232 yards passing and 150.5 rushing under sophomore QB Garrett Gilbert (10 TDs, 17 INTs, 2,744 yards), who was a turnover machine. Two starters are back in the backfield to help him, along with prize recruit RB Malcolm Brown. The defense led the Big 12 and was sixth in the nation in yardage allowed and looks strong again. Texas is 63-15 SU, 43-33-1 ATS the last six seasons and 8-5 SU/9-4 ATS its last 13 as a dog!
Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson has won everywhere he’s gone, so last season’s injury-marred 6-7 SU, 5-6-1 ATS campaign was a downer. Georgia Tech is a run-oriented team (327 yards rushing per game, No. 1 in the nation), averaging 27.6 ppg. The problem was a key injury, on a 1-5 SU/2-3-1 ATS run to end the season without senior QB Josh Nesbitt (7 TDs, 4 INTs). With Nesbitt out, the keys to the spread-option offense was given to sophomore QB Tevin Washington (2 TDs, 3 INTs), who ran for 514 yards, 4.4 ypc and is back.
A guy to watch in the young backfield is junior RB Orwin Smith, who ran for 516 yards last season and a sizzling 9.7 yards per carry! Georgia Tech installed a 3-4 defense last season under new defensive coordinator Al Groh, one of three new assistants on defense, but allowed 26 ppg. They ended the season on a 7-2 run under the total and on a 7-5 SU/8-4 ATS run on the road.
Georgia: Despite making a bowl, Georgia (6-7 SU/4-8 ATS) had a tough season with a new QB for the third straight season in redshirt freshman Aaron Murray. Murray is back for his sophomore season and put up strong numbers (24 TDs, 8 INTs, 3,049 yards), so for the first time in a while they have QB stability. The offensive line gets three starters back and should look to run the pigskin first with a dynamite one-two backfield punch of junior RB Washain Easley (811 yards, 5.2 ypc) and senior RB Caleb King (430 yards, 5.4 ypc). New defensive coordinator Todd Graham brought in a 3-4 scheme to a unit that allowed 22 ppg and is stocked with returning talent. Georgia is 38-15 SU/29-24 ATS on the road under Mark Richt.
Penn State: Joe Paterno is still here, off a 7-6 SU, 6-7 ATS season, going 0-4 against teams ranked in the Top 20. Finding a reliable QB is imperative, with Robert Bolden (5 TDs, 7 INTs) leaving and junior Matt McGloin (14 TDs, 9 INTs, 1,548 yards) the starter by default. One key is senior RB Stephfon Green (578 yards, 5.5 ypc in 2008; 319 yards in 2009; 188 yards last fall), who has game breaking speed, but hasn’t put it all together since his sophomore season. The defense was 35th in the nation. The secondary looks strong with everyone coming back and the defensive line gets three starters back. The Lions are 39-6 SU, 22-17 ATS their last 45 at home!
Rutgers: Greg Schiano is a terrific coach off a dismal 4-8 SU, 3-6-2 ATS season. Junior QB Tom Savage (2 TDs, 3 picks, 521 yards) was running the show but transferred out, so sophomore QB Chris Dodd (11 TDs, 7 INTs, 1,637 yards) is back after sharing time, plus Rutgers fired Kirk Ciarrocca as offensive coordinator in December. The linebacker corps returns junior Steve Beauharnais and, like the offense, battled too many injuries, so they hope for good health. Rutgers carries a 7-1 over the total run into the new season.
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