2021 Surprise Teams By Conference

Duckboy33 said:
My pick for the PAC 12 is UCLA. Bruins were very close to being a contender last year. Chip Kelly finally seems to have things going. I expect a breakout year for the Bruins and a top 20 finish.
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While it pains me to agree with you, I feel you are correct. Chips bruins were clicking last year on offense. This coming season it may be one of those cases where if their defense makes you settle for a field goal, they’ll win by 4.
 
How is Carolina a “surprise” team in the ACC when they’re gonna be the trendy pick for the division and to challenge Clemson?

Wake, NC St, BC would be more the “surprise” picks
 
NoleKing said:
How is Carolina a “surprise” team in the ACC when they’re gonna be the trendy pick for the division and to challenge Clemson?

Wake, NC St, BC would be more the “surprise” picks
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But would you be "surprised" if they beat Clemson, because I think most would be. For Mack Brown to take over a 2-9 team and, in just 3 years, unseat the winningest team in FBS over the last 5 years.....yeah, I'd say that's pretty "surprising".
 
OldDevilDawg said:
But would you be "surprised" if they beat Clemson, because I think most would be. For Mack Brown to take over a 2-9 team and, in just 3 years, unseat the winningest team in FBS over the last 5 years.....yeah, I'd say that's pretty "surprising".
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2019 was a “surprise” as you mentioned as they went from 2 wins to 6 and pushed Clemson like no one in the league had done for a while.


Now, they’re an established solid program again who will be a top ten-top 15 team. That’s not a surprise. It’s a good team on the cusp of a breakout.

A “surprise” team is someone who comes out of nowhere or has relative mediocre expectations and rises above them to reach big success. Not a team favored to win their division and will be a trendy pick to win their league.
 
NoleKing said:
2019 was a “surprise” as you mentioned as they went from 2 wins to 6 and pushed Clemson like no one in the league had done for a while.


Now, they’re an established solid program again who will be a top ten-top 15 team. That’s not a surprise. It’s a good team on the cusp of a breakout.

A “surprise” team is someone who comes out of nowhere or has relative mediocre expectations and rises above them to reach big success. Not a team favored to win their division and will be a trendy pick to win their league.
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OK, glad to know that your opinion is different than mine. Thanks for answering the question.
 
NoleKing said:
You wanna be a college football writer, people are going to have different opinions.
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I'm perfectly fine with differing opinions. I just try and bring things up that will get a discussion going. Apparently, I succeeded. It's kinda rare for a topic to go 2 pages here. I'm just trying to help one of our old friends build his website. Thank you for adding input.
 
NoleKing said:
How is Carolina a “surprise” team in the ACC when they’re gonna be the trendy pick for the division and to challenge Clemson?

Wake, NC St, BC would be more the “surprise” picks
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I think BC could surprise folks. Not sure if it happens in 2021 but I like their coach and I think he's going to raise the talent level in the program over the next few seasons if he sticks around.
 
Duckboy33 said:
I wouldn't be shocked if they beat LSU early in the year.
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I wouldn't be surprised either. Depending on what Kiffin can do for defense at Ole Miss and how Harsin's first year goes at Auburn, LSU may end up being the 5th place team in the SEC West. Coach O has his work cut out for him this season. He's got talent, but much of it seems to be a bit unhappy.
 
Kentucky is my perennial sleeper pick for the SEC East. That is not based on anything other than my love/respect for what Coach Stoops is able to do with the talent he has. I really hope Gatewood can overcome his season of "QB development" at Auburn.
 
batchaps4me said:
Kentucky is my perennial sleeper pick for the SEC East. That is not based on anything other than my love/respect for what Coach Stoops is able to do with the talent he has. I really hope Gatewood can overcome his season of "QB development" at Auburn.
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Their schedule is favorable except for that trip to Athens. Pull off the upset there and the sky is the limit.
 
Duckboy33 said:
I think BC could surprise folks. Not sure if it happens in 2021 but I like their coach and I think he's going to raise the talent level in the program over the next few seasons if he sticks around.
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Jurk is a dangerous QB who is deceptive in footwork as far as maneuverability. They also
have some big WR’s who can get downfield.

They shocked a little last year as it’s not the standard “Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Pass, Run, Run, Run, Screen Pass, Run” offense that we’ve seen for twenty years now.

The schedule is also reasonable as they get both Techs from the Coastal who are maybe 6 win teams at best. NC State, Wake, and FSU are home games with the last two coming late November.

They gave Clemson and DJ all they wanted and have the advantage of being the only team on the Clemson schedule that has actually played against him.

They would be my surprise pick for the Atlantic.
 
OldDevilDawg said:
Their schedule is favorable except for that trip to Athens. Pull off the upset there and the sky is the limit.
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Their three week stretch of Florida, LSU, and @UGA is going to be brutal. IMHO they do not have the pure talent to pull it out but I love Stoop's ability to get the most from the players he has. If I read the schedule correctly, they could be a trap game for your Dawgs.
 
batchaps4me said:
Their three week stretch of Florida, LSU, and @UGA is going to be brutal. IMHO they do not have the pure talent to pull it out but I love Stoop's ability to get the most from the players he has. If I read the schedule correctly, they could be a trap game for your Dawgs.
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They have both LSU and Florida at home. I think they win both. UGA has Auburn the week before on the road, then a Bye the week after. If Auburn pulls off the upset, UK is primed for taking advantage of the letdown.
 
OldDevilDawg said:
They have both LSU and Florida at home. I think they win both. UGA has Auburn the week before on the road, then a Bye the week after. If Auburn pulls off the upset, UK is primed for taking advantage of the letdown.
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Damn, both UF and LSU back to back? I would like to see it but I just don't know. I am glad I said "IF I read the schedule correctly" because I missed the bye week for UGA after the UK game and that does remove any trap potential for the Dawgs. Auburn is like a box of chocolates ... we could be anywhere from undefeated to a seven loss team. A win @Penn State will be huge, if it's possible.
 
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