2014 Iowa Hawkeyes Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

It seems like Kirk Ferentz has been on the hot seat for a decade. But the Iowa head coach is entering his 16th season at the helm in Iowa City and will once again try to live up to the very modest goals the program has set for itself. Iowa has gone just 27-24 over the past four season and 59-43 over the past eight years.

2014 Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Jerry Kill, despite all of his health issues, has done yeoman’s work with this Gophers program. He has increased his win total in three straight seasons, culminating in a rare eight-win season in 2013, and now the Golden Gophers are trying to break through into the top tier of the Big Ten.

2014 Illinois Fighting Illini Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Given its location and recruiting base, it doesn’t make sense that Illinois is as pathetic at football as it is. But the Illini have gone just 44-77 over the last 10 years and just 6-18 in Tim Beckman’s first two seasons. Beckman strikes me as a guy that is in way over his head and I don’t expect much progress in the crucial third year of his tenure.

2014 Northwestern Wildcats Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

There is a lot going on under the surface with this Northwestern team. They are in the middle of a monumental challenge of the NCAA system and will face increased scrutiny and all kinds of off-field distraction this season. But if they can shrug that off then this Wildcats team has the potential to do some damage in the Big Ten this year.

2014 Boise State Broncos Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Bryan Harsin can only hope that his tenure in Boise will be half as successful as that of his predecessor. Chris Petersen, who went 112-18 over the last 10 years, has taken his game to Washington. Harsin, a former offensive coordinator under Petersen, will take over. And he has a team poised to make noise in the Mountain West.

2014 Fresno State Bulldogs Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Derek Carr finished off one of Fresno State’s all-time great careers, leading the Bulldogs to an 11-2 mark and a slot just outside the Top 25 last year. Coach Tim DeRuyter will try to carry on without his stud quarterback this season and Fresno will try to defend its Mountain West title.

2014 Nevada Wolf Pack Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Cody Fajardo will try to brush off the injury bug and stay healthy for his senior season. Fajardo is the key for this Wolf Pack team as it looks to bounce back from its first losing season in five years and its first non-bowl season in eight years. Fajardo is one of seven offensive starters back for the Pack.

2014 San Diego State Aztecs Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Rocky Long seems to have landed on his feet in San Diego and has guided the Aztecs to three bowl games in his three years at the helm. SDSU does have just 10 returning starters this season, including just four on defense, and this looks like a rebuilding season. But Long is a proven commodity and his team will be tough once again.

2014 Utah State Aggies Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

I was incredibly impressed with how Utah State responded last year despite losing leader Chuckie Keeton – and breaking in a new coach – last season. Keeton is one of the best quarterbacks in the country and he is set for a strong senior season under second-year coach Matt Wells.

2014 Colorado State Rams Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

The Rams will try to carry over the momentum of their stunning New Mexico Bowl upset of Washington State into this season and are hoping for their third bowl trip in the last 10 years. Jim McElwain is entering that crucial third year as the head of this program and all signs point up for Colorado State in the long term.

2014 San Jose State Spartans Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

I really hope that San Jose State fans enjoyed that incredible 11-2 season in 2012. Because it is going to be a long time before the Spartans are threatening to win double-digit games again. The Spartans tumbled to just 6-6 last season and could be even worse off in Year 2 of the Ron Caragher Era.

2014 UNLV Rebels Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

It is impossible for UNLV to add to that bowl resume because they are banned from postseason play due to poor academic standings. That has to be disappointing for the 12 returning starters back this year. The Rebels lost their quarterback, running back and four of their top five tacklers and overall the feeling around this program has to be negative.

2014 Air Force Falcons Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Troy Calhoun’s program has taken a nose dive over the last three years, seeing their win total drop each of those seasons and bottoming out with last year’s 2-10 debacle. Service academies always have a low ceiling. But the Falcons’ is lowering like a lid on Calhoun’s coaching coffin.

2014 Hawaii Warriors Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Norm Chow is basically a confused old man and he should not be a head coach, at any level, heading into the 2014 season. But Hawaii has been so desperate for something positive since June Jones left that they will give Chow another year to try to recapture the magic he may or may not have had over a decade ago.

2014 New Mexico Lobos Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Bob Davie continues to try to push an extraordinarily large rock up an incredibly steep hill down in Albuquerque. Progress has been slow. But he has won seven games the past two seasons, matching its New Mexico’s seven wins from the previous four years.

2014 Wyoming Cowboys Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/22/2014

Dave Christensen couldn’t capitalize on having one of the top quarterbacks in Wyoming history, Brett Smith, and was given his walking paper. New head coach Craig Bohl will try to pick up the pieces and rebuilt a program that has only finished above .500 three times in the last decade.

2014 Alabama Crimson Tide Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/21/2014

The dirty little secret about Alabama football and its recent “dynasty” is that they play an embarrassingly easy schedule each and every season. Alabama gets by on reputation rather than actual performance. And if you don’t believe me simply look back at their schedule over the last four years.

2014 Auburn Tigers Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/21/2014

Gus Malzahn is a proven master. And his outstanding offensive system has a lot to work with again this year despite the loss of Tre Mason. Quarterback Nick Marshall and a host of skill players, along with four starters along an outstanding offensive line, are all back in the fold. The defense, though, needs to improve. Auburn’s defense finished No. 48 in scoring, No. 100 against the pass, and No. 86 overall.

2014 Florida Gators Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/21/2014

The 2013 season must’ve seemed like the nightmare that would never end for the Gators. The team was decimated by injuries and bumbled their way to a 4-8 season that culminated with a humiliating November home loss to FCS foe Georgia Southern. Florida lost its final seven games of the year and missed a bowl game for the first time in almost 30 years.

2014 Georgia Bulldogs Season Win Total NCAA Football Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 7/21/2014

The Georgia Bulldogs were one of the biggest disappointments in college football last year, beginning the season as a consensus Top 5 team only to find themselves unranked by season’s end. They bumbled to an 8-5 overall record that included a 24-19 bowl loss to Nebraska on New Year’s Day.