Link: https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...kely-to-improve-by-at-least-two-wins-in-2018/
Friday Five: The college football teams most likely to improve by at least two wins in 2018
by Tom Fornelli, CBSSports.com
It's early April, and spring practice is going on across the country. Many schools will be holding their spring games this weekend. All of which means that fan bases around the country are a little too optimistic about their team's chances in 2018.
It's a natural phenomenon. You haven't had football to watch in a few months, so your serotonin levels spike just from the thought of pads popping. Mix in the weather warming up a little (emphasis on little this year), and the fact you still need to occupy your time for another four months before the season's here, and suddenly you're talking yourself into your team being a real sleeper this season.
With all that in mind, for this week's Friday Five I'm taking a deeper look into some teams chances in 2018. I want to figure out which fan bases have good reason to expect improvement this year, so I'm ranking the teams most likely to win at least two more games in 2018 than they did in 2017.
Now, obviously, this is easier for some teams to accomplish than others. Alabama went 13-1 en route to a national title last season. Sure, with the College Football Playoff format it's possible Alabama could go 15-0 in 2018, but that's a lot harder to accomplish than improving from 4-8 to 6-6 is. So this list is skewed toward teams with disappointing results last year.
To be clear, this is not a prediction. Just because I have a team on this list doesn't mean I'm saying it's going to happen, I just think that given what we know right now, these are the places we're most likely to see improvement.
We'll start in Tallahassee.
5. Florida State
4. BYU
3. Nebraska
Scott Frost took over a 0-12 UCF team following the 2015 season and immediately went 6-7 with the Knights in his first year. The team he's inheriting at Nebraska is a lot better off, though it faces stiffer competition than UCF had in the AAC. What's concerning is that Nebraska will have to make yet another transition.
Mike Riley replaced Bo Pelini, and Nebraska went from a spread offense to more of a pro-style. Now it must go from pro-style to spread again.
The good news is the non-conference schedule isn't a bear. All three games against Akron, Colorado and Troy are in Lincoln, and all are certainly winnable. Big Ten play provides a swift kick in the teeth, however.
Nebraska will play Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Ohio State and Iowa on the road this year. It's not crazy to think the Huskers could go winless outside of Lincoln with that schedule, which means winning at home will be key.
That would mean a 3-0 start to the season is imperative, as it would allow Nebraska a little more wiggle room in home games against Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State.
2. Baylor
1. Florida
Honorable Mention
Illinois, Michigan, Texas, UCLA
Friday Five: The college football teams most likely to improve by at least two wins in 2018
by Tom Fornelli, CBSSports.com
It's early April, and spring practice is going on across the country. Many schools will be holding their spring games this weekend. All of which means that fan bases around the country are a little too optimistic about their team's chances in 2018.
It's a natural phenomenon. You haven't had football to watch in a few months, so your serotonin levels spike just from the thought of pads popping. Mix in the weather warming up a little (emphasis on little this year), and the fact you still need to occupy your time for another four months before the season's here, and suddenly you're talking yourself into your team being a real sleeper this season.
With all that in mind, for this week's Friday Five I'm taking a deeper look into some teams chances in 2018. I want to figure out which fan bases have good reason to expect improvement this year, so I'm ranking the teams most likely to win at least two more games in 2018 than they did in 2017.
Now, obviously, this is easier for some teams to accomplish than others. Alabama went 13-1 en route to a national title last season. Sure, with the College Football Playoff format it's possible Alabama could go 15-0 in 2018, but that's a lot harder to accomplish than improving from 4-8 to 6-6 is. So this list is skewed toward teams with disappointing results last year.
To be clear, this is not a prediction. Just because I have a team on this list doesn't mean I'm saying it's going to happen, I just think that given what we know right now, these are the places we're most likely to see improvement.
We'll start in Tallahassee.
5. Florida State
4. BYU
3. Nebraska
Scott Frost took over a 0-12 UCF team following the 2015 season and immediately went 6-7 with the Knights in his first year. The team he's inheriting at Nebraska is a lot better off, though it faces stiffer competition than UCF had in the AAC. What's concerning is that Nebraska will have to make yet another transition.
Mike Riley replaced Bo Pelini, and Nebraska went from a spread offense to more of a pro-style. Now it must go from pro-style to spread again.
The good news is the non-conference schedule isn't a bear. All three games against Akron, Colorado and Troy are in Lincoln, and all are certainly winnable. Big Ten play provides a swift kick in the teeth, however.
Nebraska will play Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Ohio State and Iowa on the road this year. It's not crazy to think the Huskers could go winless outside of Lincoln with that schedule, which means winning at home will be key.
That would mean a 3-0 start to the season is imperative, as it would allow Nebraska a little more wiggle room in home games against Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State.
2. Baylor
1. Florida
Honorable Mention
Illinois, Michigan, Texas, UCLA
