The art of making accurate predictions has made a few individuals very wealthy, but it has bankrupt many more.
Thankfully for the writers at Crystal Ball Run, we don’t have any real cash on the line so we can be bold (or crazy).
One of our fearless leaders, Allen Kenney started us off, followed by Jonathan Biles and most recently Andy Coppens.
Tom Perry’s Five Predictions of Varying Boldness:
1. The U is back — sort of.
Since Miami joined the ACC in 2004 the Hurricanes have not won — much less played for — a conference championship.
It’s just Al Golden’s third season in Coral Gables, but Miami has the talent to win the Coastal Division and finally give the conference that Florida State-UM championship game.
This is where the Hurricanes’ comeback season comes crashing down, though, as the Seminoles defeat Miami for a second time in 2013.
2. Washington starts slow and season goes downhill for Huskies, Sarkisian.
It’s Washington’s turn to try to get past BCS nemesis Boise State, and when the Broncos pull out a close win the Huskies season takes a big hit. Of course, UW will rebound and be 2-1 to start conference play.
However, Washington will lose to Arizona, Stanford, Oregon and Arizona State to open Pac-12 play at 0-4. It won’t get much better and the Huskies will lose two more games to finish 5-7 and miss the postseason.
As promising as Steve Sarkisian’s career started in Seattle, it will come crashing down in 2013.
3. West Virginia goes 7-5 again, but this time it’s considered a positive season.
With the huge expectations in 2012 as the Mountaineers joined the Big 12, WVU was a major disappointment and finished 7-6.
A year later and no one is expecting much from Dana Holgorsen’s squad.
But they aren’t looking close enough. WVU’s quarterback dilemma will quickly be erased when FSU-transfer Clint Trickett takes his first snap at Mountaineer Field. Also, adding Houston-transfer Charles Sims at running back will give WVU a dynamic it hasn’t enjoyed in the ground attack since Noel Devine was on the roster.
Of course, the defense must be much better than last year for this to really happen.
4. No conference realignment.
For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the 2013 season will start and finish without any programs announcing they are leaving for a new conference or going independent.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the fans will stop.
5. Heisman Trophy for the ACC.
The Heisman Trophy will go to an ACC player for the first time since 2000 when the 45-year-old Chris Weinke won it for Florida State.
After his performance against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd is ready for a huge season. It’s a huge risk taking anyone from Clemson to win anything, but this is Boyd’s year.
It won’t be easy as I don’t think the Tigers will win the ACC, but a 10-2 record and some gaudy numbers will do the trick and give Clemson its first Heisman winner.
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