LOVELOCK - With the start of college football tonight and the NFL just a few days later, I am here for all you bettors as I will make a mockery out of the upcoming season. Remember this for entertainment purposes only and you may slam me after the season is over.
Let's start with the Mountain West Conference and the University of Nevada and Nevada Southern (oh I mean UNLV). Nevada is coming off what people thought was another disappointing season, going 7-6 and 4-4 in its first year in the Mountain West.
The Wolf Pack lost a number of games in the final seconds including South Florida and San Diego State at home. Nevada also blew a double-digit advantage to Arizona in the final minutes of the New Mexico Bowl.
Gone is long-time coach Chris Ault and in is newcomer Brian Polian. Polian was last at Texas A&M where he recruited Johnny Manziel. He also recruited former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Teo.
It will be a challenge for Polian to get Nevada back to a ninth consecutive bowl appearance. The schedule is brutal with road trips to UCLA, Florida State, Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State. The Wolf Pack closes out the year with a home game against BYU. That could be six losses right there, meaning Nevada would have to beat UC Davis, Hawaii, Air Force, UNLV, Colorado State and San Jose State to earn a bowl berth. I say Nevada goes 5-7 and stays home for the playoffs.
It's not going to be a pretty year for UNLV and coach Bobby Hauck. The Rebels have been one of the worst college football teams in the nation in the past few years. The only victory that may be a lock is Western Illinois. The Rebels also should beat Central Michigan, but don't expect much after that.
Boise State will beat Fresno State in the Mountain West title game and go to the Fiesta Bowl to play Oklahoma State.
Alabama has won back-to-back BCS championships and may have a better team this year. However, they will not win the national championship. Alabama will lose to South Carolina in the SEC Championship.
Ohio State should dominate a weak Big 10 Conference and could go undefeated for a second consecutive season and reach the national title game. The Buckeyes will face Stanford in the championship after the Cardinal wins the Pac 12. I would have said Oregon in this spot, but the Ducks have to travel to Palo Alto. Stanford is solid in every aspect of the game and it will be Ohio State 27-16 for the BCS championship.
As for my Notre Dame, it will be hard to duplicate what they did a season ago. The schedule is daunting once again, with the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Arizona State, USC, BYU and Stanford. The season finale against Stanford could be one that decides the national championship picture. The Irish will go 10-2 and play in the Orange Bowl.
On the NFL side who knows what will happen. Teams are up and down every year due to injuries and suspensions. The San Francisco 49ers was one play away from winning the Super Bowl last year in New Orleans. If Colin Kaepernick can play like he did a season ago, the 49ers may want to book plane tickets to New York in February. San Francisco has the running game and defense to dominate teams.
The biggest challenge to the 49ers in the NFC will come in the same division. The Seattle Seahawks have built themselves a powerful team in the Northwest. Both teams will make the playoffs but the 49ers win the division.
The Atlanta Falcons will win the NFC South, Green Bay the NFC North and Dallas claims the NFC East. Seattle and New Orleans will win the wild card spots in the playoffs.
San Francisco and Seattle will meet for the third time, with the 49ers winning the NFC Championship 31-27.
I thought Denver was a Super Bowl contender but injuries and now the suspension to Von Miller may change those thoughts. The Broncos have the luxury of being in the worst division in football with Kansas City, San Diego and Oakland. Denver will win the AFC West by default.
The toughest division in football will be the AFC North. It will be a fight every week between Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, the defending Super Bowl champions. All three teams will make the playoffs, with Cincinnati winning the division. Pittsburgh and Baltimore will be the two wild card teams.
New England, despite all the off the field problems over the summer, will lay claim to the AFC East.
Houston should be atop the AFC South once again but have proven to be one the more disappointing teams when it comes to the playoffs. Indianapolis had a special season a year ago but will be tough to duplicate.
The Broncos will beat the Patriots 27-21 in the AFC Championship, with San Francisco knocking off the Broncos 24-23 the Super Bowl in New York (well, technically the Meadowlands in New Jersey).
The high school season gets under way this week as well with Pershing County kicking off against Dayton on Friday night. The Mustangs have won three consecutive state championships and are looking for a fourth.
Unless something changes in the Division III, look for the Mustnags to be in the hunt again.
Winnemucca Publishing sports editor Tony Erquiaga can be reached via email at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net.
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