Looking for college football predictions? Try these on for size. Here are the complete regular season conference predictions for the Power Five conferences, plus four of the Group of Five conferences, all in one place. And if that’s not enough, we’ve also got predictions for the College Football Playoff as well. You’re welcome.
Go on ahead and indulge yourself with all the prognostications you can handle. Meanwhile, get up to date with the first AP rankings of the season in our AP Top 25 preseason poll roundup.
Note: the records below are only for regular season games and do not include championship games and bowl games.
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2015-2016 College Football Conference Predictions
Southeastern Conference (SEC)
East
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Georgia – 10-2 (6-2)
Tennessee – 8-4 (5-3)
Missouri – 8-4 (4-4)
Florida – 7-5 (4-4)
South Carolina – 7-5 (3-5)
Kentucky – 6-6 (2-6)
Vanderbilt – 3-9 (0-8)
West
Auburn – 11-1 (7-1)
Alabama – 10-2 (6-2)
Ole Miss – 9-3 (5-3)
Texas A&M – 9-3 (5-3)
Arkansas – 8-4 (4-4)
LSU – 8-4 (4-4)
Mississippi State – 7-5 (3-5)
Writer’s Prediction
The SEC West continues to be the most cut-throat division in college football. Auburn is able to edge out Alabama at home in the Iron Bowl to reclaim the division. Meanwhile, Georgia stamps its class all over the East to reach the SEC championship game. However, the balance of power remains in the West as Auburn (+300) wins the SEC title, and in the process grabs a golden ticket to the College Football Playoff.
Pac-12 Conference
North
Oregon – 10-2 (8-1)
Stanford – 9-3 (6-3)
California – 6-6 (4-5)
Washington – 6-6 (4-5)
Washington State – 4-8 (2-7)
Oregon State – 3-9 (1-8)
South
USC – 10-2 (7-2)
Arizona State – 9-3 (7-2)
UCLA – 8-4 (6-3)
Arizona – 8-4 (5-4)
Utah – 7-5 (4-5)
Colorado – 5-8 (1-8)
Writer’s Prediction
Even without Marcus Mariota, Oregon once again establishes itself as the cream of the crop in the Pac-12 North. And down South, USC finally lives up to its immense potential to return to the Pac-12 title game. The Trojans (+175) go on to beat the Ducks and sneak into the CFP.
Big Ten Conference
East
Ohio State – 12-0 (8-0)
Michigan State – 10-2 (7-1)
Michigan – 7-5 (4-4)
Penn State – 7-5 (4-4)
Maryland – 5-7 (3-5)
Indiana – 6-6 (2-6)
Rutgers – 5-7 (1-7)
West
Wisconsin – 9-3 (6-2)
Minnesota – 8-4 (5-3)
Nebraska – 8-4 (5-3)
Illinois – 7-5 (4-4)
Iowa – 7-5 (4-4)
Northwestern – 6-6 (2-6)
Purdue – 3-9 (1-7)
Writer’s Prediction
No surprises here. Ohio State (-450) is the best team in conference – probably even the country. The Buckeyes run the table with relative ease, and they meet the sacrificial lamb from the much weaker West, which is once again Wisconsin, in the conference title game. An even worse beating than the 59-0 humiliation dealt to the Badgers could be in play for Ohio State, which returns to defend its title in the CFP.
Big 12 Conference
Baylor – 11-1 (8-1)
TCU – 10-2 (7-2)
Oklahoma – 9-3 (6-3)
Oklahoma State – 8-4 (5-4)
Texas – 7-5 (5-4)
Kansas State – 7-5 (4-5)
West Virginia – 6-6 (5-4)
Texas Tech – 5-7 (3-6)
Iowa State – 3-9 (0-9)
Kansas – 2-10 (0-9)
Writer’s Prediction
Unlike last season’s debacle, there will indeed be “One True Champion” in the Big 12 this season, and it’ll be Baylor. The Bears just sneak by TCU on the road in their all-important matchup as the Horned Frogs fall short. After missing out last season, Baylor goes on to represent the Big 12 in the CFP.
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
Atlantic
Clemson – 10-2 (7-1)
Florida State – 10-2 (6-2)
Louisville – 8-4 (5-3)
NC State – 8-4 (4-4)
Boston College – 4-8 (2-6)
Wake Forest – 3-9 (2-6)
Syracuse – 2-10 (0-8)
Coastal
Georgia Tech – 10-2 (7-1)
Virginia Tech – 9-3 (7-1)
Pittsburgh – 8-4 (4-4)
Duke – 8-4 (4-4)
North Carolina – 8-4 (4-4)
Miami (FL) – 5-7 (2-6)
Virginia – 3-9 (2-6)
Writer’s Prediction
Clemson takes advantage of Florida State’s gap at quarterback (which isn’t solved by transfer Everett Golson) and takes the Atlantic. Meanwhile, the Ramblin’ Wreck that’s Georgia Tech triple options its way toward the Coastal title. In the end, Deshaun Watson outduels Justin Thomas as Clemson (+200) claims the ACC championship. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to propel an ACC team to the playoff.
American Athletic Conference (AAC)
East
Cincinnati – 10-2 (7-1)
South Florida – 6-6 (5-3)
East Carolina – 6-6 (4-4)
UCF – 7-5 (5-3)
Temple – 4-8 (3-5)
Connecticut – 2-10 (1-7)
West
Memphis – 8-4 (6-2)
Houston – 7-5 (5-3)
SMU – 2-10 (2-6)
Tulane – 2-10 (1-7)
Tulsa – 1-11 (1-7)
Writer’s Prediction
Gunner Kiel is one of, if not the best quarterbacks outside the Power 5 conferences, and he’ll show it by leading Cincinnati (+200) to the very first AAC championship game, where it’ll beat Memphis.
Conference USA
East
Western Kentucky – 10-2 (7-1)
Marshall – 9-3 (7-1)
Middle Tennessee – 7-5 (6-2)
Florida International – 5-7 (4-4)
Florida Atlantic – 4-8 (3-5)
Old Dominion – 4-8 (2-6)
Charlotte – 1-11 (0-8)
West
Louisiana Tech – 8-4 (6-2)
Rice – 7-5 (4-4)
Southern Mississippi – 4-8 (3-5)
UTEP – 4-8 (3-5)
UTSA – 2-10 (2-6)
North Texas – 2-10 (1-7)
Writer’s Prediction
Western Kentucky survives a dogfight with Marshall to come out of the East as champions. The Hilltoppers (+250) then top Louisiana Tech to claim their first ever Conference USA conference title.
Mid-American Conference (MAC)
East
Bowling Green – 9-3 (7-1)
Akron – 6-6 (5-3)
Massachusetts – 6-6 (5-3)
Ohio – 7-5 (5-3)
Buffalo – 6-6 (3-5)
Kent State – 2-10 (2-6)
Miami (OH) – 2-10 (1-7)
West
Toledo – 8-4 (7-1)
Western Michigan – 7-5 (6-2)
Northern Illinois – 8-4 (6-2)
Ball State – 6-6 (4-4)
Central Michigan – 4-8 (3-5)
Eastern Michigan – 2-10 (1-7)
Writer’s Prediction
Toledo emerges from the very competitive West division to play in the MAC title game, where it’ll face undisputed East champ Bowling Green. The battle-tested Rockets (+300) then blow away the Green Falcons for their first MAC title in over a decade.
Mountain West Conference
Mountain
Boise State – 11-1 (8-0)
Utah State – 8-4 (7-1)
Colorado State – 8-4 (6-2)
Air Force – 7-5 (5-3)
Wyoming – 5-7 (3-5)
New Mexico – 4-8 (2-6)
West
San Diego State – 8-4 (6-2)
Fresno State – 6-6 (5-3)
Nevada – 5-7 (4-4)
San Jose State – 3-9 (2-6)
Hawaii – 3-9 (2-6)
UNLV – 1-11 (0-8)
Writer’s Prediction
There’s only going to be one champion in the Mountain West. Boise State (-300) runs the table in the conference to win the Mountain, before beating whomever comes out of the West.
College Football Playoff
National Semifinals
No. 1 Ohio State over No. 4 USC
No. 3 Baylor over No. 2 Auburn
National Championship Game
No. 1 Ohio State over No. 3 Baylor
Writer’s Prediction
Ohio State overwhelms USC in the first national semifinal, while Baylor edges out Auburn in the other. And in the title game, the Buckeyes (+175) have too much for Baylor as they repeat as national champions.
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