Well, usually I don't start obsessing about the upcoming season until at least June but the sports void has me looking ahead a bit earlier. Part of that "look ahead" is analyzing each top program's upcoming schedule, judging them for said schedule, and then starting to formulate some predictions for the end of the season. I'd love to hear what everyone else thinks. I'll get it started:
- Ohio State's schedule sets up pretty well, in my opinion. Nice early test followed by a soft September, a jam packed October, and then an ideal November. Details include:
- Week 2 at Oregon
- Iowa at home on October 10th (which is the first game after our bye week)
- At Sparty the following week, Oct 17th
- At PSU the following week, Oct 24th
- Home vs. Nebby the following week on Oct 31st
- Indiana, at MD, at Illinois, then home vs. Michigan to round out the year
- Clemson's schedule is a complete joke (again). Very short list of potential trip up games:
- At Notre Dame on November 7th (but Clemson's coming off a bye week)
- At FSU on October 10th (FSU is ranked 26th in the SP+ preseason rankings)
- South Carolina on November 28th (SCAR is ranked 34th in the SP+ preseason rankings)
- Bama's schedule is pretty solid, actually. Big weeks for them:
- USC in Dallas in Week 1
- Georgia at home in Week 3
- At Tennessee on Oct. 24th (UT should be improved this year)
- At LSU on Nov 7th
- Texas A&M on Nov 21st
- Auburn on Nov 28th
- Texas (one of my sleeper picks this year), has a schedule that sets up well:
- At LSU in Week 2. Nice time to catch LSU and Texas should come in pretty motivated.
- Vs. Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry on October 10th. Cotton Bowl location.
- Iowa State on Nov 21st
- At Okie State on Friday, Nov 27th
- Florida (one of my other sleeper picks this year), also has a pretty manageable schedule:
- At Tennessee in week 4
- LSU at home on October 10th
- UGA on Oct 31st
- At FSU on Nov 28th
