2012 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Predictions

Under head coach Kirk Ferentz, Iowa has put together a number of successful seasons. In his first 13 years on the job, he has led the Hawkeyes to at least seven wins in nine of the past 11 seasons. This year, another 7 win season is definitely within reach.

Iowa could just have easily won nine games last year if it wasn't for some very close contests that they let slip away in the form of an Iowa State overtime loss and one point heartbreaker against Minnesota. The schedule once again seems to favor the Hawkeyes, but they need to adjust to new coordinators Greg Davies and Phil Parker.

Nfl 2012

The changes to the coaching staff might just work out well for Iowa since they had gotten stale and predictable on both sides of the ball.

Offense

Senior quarterback, James Vandenberg might very well be the best pure passer in the Big Ten. He threw for 3,032 yards with 25 touchdowns and only seven interceptions in 2011. While he will certainly miss Marvin McNutt's excellent play as the school's all-time leading receiver, the presence of Keenan Davis will still make life easier for Vandenberg. Davis caught 50 passes for 713 yards and four scores last season.

Sophomore wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manly seems to be coming into his own, showing flashes of brilliance last year. Look for him to be even more productive in 2012 in a larger role.

With Iowa being known for having good tight ends, it looks as though C.J. Fiedorowics might just be the latest player to be added on that list and have a bright future with the NFL on the horizon.

Iowa's offensive line might be decimated with the loss of three starters, and they will definitely miss the play of All-Big Ten left tackle Riley Reiff.

Coming into the new season, the running back position seems to be the biggest area of concern for the Hawkeyes. Last year's leading rusher, Marcus Coker, has left the program and the guy that was supposed to replace him, Jordan Canzeri, had a debilitating knee injury that will sideline him for the season. Now it seems as though Damon Bullock, the unproven sophomore, will get the starting job.

Defense

Iowa was a regular fixture among the elite defensive teams in the nation for a number of seasons until they drastically fell off last year. The Hawkeyes finished just eighth in the Big Ten in both total and scoring defense with 378.9 yards and 23.9 points allowed. Their struggles were even more apparent against the pass as they would repeatedly fail to mount much of a pass rush.

Parker is expected to blitz more to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but he'll also be counting on end Dominic Alvis and tackle Steve Bigach to get penetration.

Big Ten Legends Prediction: 4th Place

Iowa has had years where they overachieved and 2012 could prove to be one of those years. The Hawkeyes have very little chance to win the Legends division but they could finish as high as second with a relatively easy schedule.

2012 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

2012 Oklahoma State Cowboys Season Predictions

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are coming off of their most productive season in school history. The only that thing that kept the Cowboys from competing for a national title was their shocking loss to Iowa State. Even so, the team won their first outright conference championship in the post WWII era. They finished with a 12-1 record after narrowly beating Stanford 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl, finishing No. 3 in the final polls.

Mike Gundy has completely turned the OSU around in just seven seasons as the team's head coach. Not only has he turned the Cowboys in a Big 12 contender, but a national contender as well. 2012 will be a tough year for him though as he loses several key players on last year's team. The Cowboys return just 12 starters in all, but they do have a good amount of depth with 50 lettermen coming back.

Nfl 2012

Offense

The Cowboys had a record-setting offense last season that will be tough to replicate in 2012. They averaged 48.7 points and 546 total yards per game last year, and those gaudy numbers are almost certain to drop drastically in the new season. This is because only four starters return on offense, and almost all their best players are gone.

Brandon Weeden is irreplaceable after throwing for 4,277 yards with 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2011. Freshman Wes Lunt will have big shoes to fill as he earned the starting job in the spring. He's a big, strong pocket passer and he does resemble Weeden's lanky frame of 6'4'' and 211 lbs. I still expect their passing numbers to take a big hit in 2012.

OSU may have to rely heavily on its rushing attack more this season and their top returning playmaker, junior RB Joseph Randle needs to step it up even more. He rushed for 1,248 yards and a whopping 24 touchdowns last season, while also catching 43 balls for 266 yards and two scores to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors. Junior Jeremy Smith (666 yards, nine touchdowns), and sophomore Herschel Sims (244 yards, two touchdowns) will return to help form one of the best backfields in the Big 12.

The receiving corps lost its top two playmakers in Justin Blackmon (122 receptions, 1,522 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Josh Cooper (71 receptions, 715 yards, 3 touchdowns). They lose three of their top four, but do retain senior starter Tracy Moore (45 receptions, 672 yards, 4 touchdowns). Sophomore Josh Stewart (19 receptions, 291 yards, two touchdowns) and Junior Isaiah Anderson (28 receptions, 315 yards, 4 touchdowns) are all expected to have increased roles in the upcoming season. Junior college All-American Blake Jackson should also make significant contributions.

The offensive line loses three starters up front, including first-team All-Big 12 and first-team All-American tackle Levy Adcock and center Grant Garner, the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2011. Despite big losing two of their best linemen, they do return 63 career starts. The returning players they have up front are right guard Lane Tayler and senior left guard Jonathan Rush.

Defense

The Cowboys were able to win the Big 12 last year despite subpar defense. They allowed 26.8 points and 457 total yards per game. Despite giving up so much yardage, this unit was able to come away with many key takeaways throughout the year. OSU finished +21 in turnover margin in 2011.

All-Big 12 DE Jamie Blatnick (50 tackles, 8 sacks) and DE Richetti Jones (33 tackles, 4 sacks) are moving on to the NFL. No defensive lineman had more than two sacks last year. That's unfortunate considering the Cowboys surrendered 185 yards and 4.4 per carry on the ground last year. Senior DE Nigel Nicholas (35 tackles, 2 sacks, 8 tackles for loss) and junior DT Anthony Rogers (21 tackles) are two of their most experienced linemen returning.

Linebacker will definitely be a position of strength for the Cowboys in 2012. This is mainly due to them having five of their top six guys coming back, including their #2, #3 and #6 tacklers. These are Alex Elkins (90 tackles), junior Caleb Lavey (74 tackles) and junior Shaun Lewis (61 tackles, 8 for loss). Gundy has boasted that this is his best linebacker corps yet.

OSU finished #2 in FBS with 24 interceptions a year ago. The secondary loses first-team All-Big 12 strong safety Markelle Martin, but brings back seven of their top eight defensive backs. Three starters return in first-team All-Big 12 corner Brodrick Brown (68 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, five INT), junior corner Justin Gilbert (59 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, five INT) and junior free safety Daytawion Lowe (97 tackles). The talent and depth this team has could make the Cowboys the top secondaries in the country.

Big 12 Prediction - 4th Place

While the defense should be improved, the offense is going to take such a big hit that there's very little chance the Cowboys contend for a repeat at the Big 12 title. QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon are huge losses to their team and they'll have a very hard time to replicate the success they had last year at the offensive end. They also lose two of their top linemen from one of the most underrated front fives in the country last year. OSU does have a manageable road schedule aside from a visit to Oklahoma. They have Texas, TCU and West Virginia at home, but it is highly unlikely that they win all three of those games. That's the reason why the Cowboys will have difficulty in contending for another conference championship.

2012 Oklahoma State Cowboys Season Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

LSU Tigers 2012 Football Predictions

2011 was a great year for LSU. The Tigers finished the regular season with an undefeated 12-0 run, including impressive wins against then No. 3 Oregon, No. 3 Arkansas, and No. 2 Alabama. They would finish with an impressive 13-0 with a 42-10 thrashing of No. 12 Georgia in the SEC Title Game, setting up the much anticipated rematch with Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. It ended up being a cakewalk for Alabama though as they just decimated the Tigers 21-0 in their second meeting. LSU was unable to make it past midfield until the 4th quarter and were outgained 384-92 in total yards.

2012 will be another year where heavy expectations are set in Baton Rouge. Les Miles will have 13 starters (7 offense, 6 defense) back from last year squad. While the expectations may be high, there is plenty to be excited about in the new season. Despite the fact that they will have a new quarterback and will have to replace some big names on the defensive side of the ball, this year's team is arguably better or equally just as talented as the team that went 13-1 in 2011.

Nfl 2012

Offense

The Tigers averaged 35.7 points per game behind a powerful rushing attack that averaged 203 ypg on the ground. The running game looks to be the main focus again in 2012, as they are extremely talented at the running back position and are very experienced up front on the offensive line.

What many fail to realize is that the running back corps were all relatively young last year. Their top four rushers were all freshmen and sophomores. They also boast one of the more balanced attacks in the country. Spencer Ware received 2nd-Team All-SEC honors with 707 yards and eight touchdowns and looks to be the starter heading into 2012. Michael Ford (756 yards, seven touchdowns), Alfred Blue (539 yards, seven touchdowns), and Kenny Hilliard (336 yards, eight touchdowns) will look to help out Ware on the backfield.

All of that talent in the backfield will only benefit from one of the top offensive lines in the country. Despite them losing 2nd-Team All-American guard Will Blackwell, they do have some capable starters returning to fill the void in starting tackles Chris Faulk and Alex Hurst, guard Josh Williford and center P.J. Lonergan. They also get back injured starting guard Josh Dworaczyk. Dworaczyk was the projected starter head into last season, but a season-ending injury thwarted that chance last August. Hurst, Faulk, and Williford are each considered to be one of the top 15 players at their respective positions in the country.

The quarterback position is where there will be a huge change on offense. The Tigers lost their quarterback rotation last year in Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson. It seems that junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger is the projected starting quarterback in 2012. But he will face some stiff competition in a couple of highly recruited red-shirt freshmen in Stephen Rivers (brother of NFL QB Phillip Rivers) and Jerrard Randall.

Passing hasn't been a huge emphasis in the Tiger's offense in recent years despite them sporting a strong core of receivers that have come through the program. They lost 1st Team All-SEC wide out Rueben Randle and his team-best 53 catches for 917 yards and eight touchdowns. But they do have two highly recruited receivers in Odell Beckham (41 catches, 475 yards, two touchdowns) and Russell Shepard (14 catches, 190 yards, four touchdowns) coming back. Sophomore Jarvis Landry is also someone who the Tigers are expecting huge things from over the next three seasons.

Defense

Defensively, the Tigers were superb last year. They help opposing offenses to just 11.3 points/game and 262 yards of total offense. They were outstanding in forcing opposing teams into mistakes, as they finished the year +20 in the turnover department. They were able to capitalize on those mistakes and turn them into scores.

LSU has been widely known for producing NFL talent on the defensive line, as they have had at least one defensive lineman selected in each of the last nine drafts. This year, they lost top defensive tackles in the country in Michael Brockers, who was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round. But despite that, LSU still figures to be one of the top units in the trenches in 2012. Sam Montgomery and Barkevius Mingo, two of the top defensive end in the SEC, are set to return. Starting defensive tackle Bennie Logan and 1st Team Freshman All-American tackle Anthony Johnson round out the team.

There is also a lot to like in the secondary if you are a LSU fan. While the Tigers lose 1st Team All-American corner Morris Claiborne, starting strong safety Brandon Taylor, and backup corner Ron Brooks. They also return 1st Team All-American corner Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu and one of the elite free safeties in the country in Eric Reed. They also add in one of the top safety prospects in junior Craig Loston to fill the void left by Taylor, and will have another great player at corner in Tharold Simon.

Linebacker is the one spot where the Tigers may have problems defensively. They've lost two starters in Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois, but returning middle linebacker can help fill the immeasurable void. Juniors Lamin Barrow and Tahj Jones may take over for the vacant spots, however, one or two of the five talented freshmen can swoop in and win the starting spot.

SEC Prediction - 1st SEC West

The Tigers can defend their SEC Title and go back to the Championship Game, but it's not going to be easy. While they get Alabama at home, they have to go and face Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas on the road. Most of their success will hinge on the shoulders of their new starting quarterback. With Alabama losing some very important pieces defensively and their star running back Trent Richardson, and Arkansas having to deal with the loss of head coach Bobby Petrino, it's looking like the Tigers will win the SEC West and finish the year with at least 11 wins.

LSU Tigers 2012 Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

2012 Michigan State Spartans Football Predictions

Michigan has been a powerhouse these past two seasons. It earned a share of the Big Ten title in 2010 finishing the year at 11-2, and won the Legends division last year, finishing 11-3.

Michigan State's success has them among elite company, as are one of just seven BCS schools to have won at least 11 games over the past two seasons. The string of 11-win seasons could very well come to an end in 2012 as they must replace a plethora of offensive stars.

Nfl 2012

Offense

Without a doubt, the loss of quarterback Kirk Cousins will sting as the Spartans will miss his play and leadership abilities. He led Michigan State to rank second in the Big Ten in passing offense last season.

Junior Andrew Maxwell is expected to take over under center, but he won't have the same proven playmakers to throw to that Cousins had last season. Wide receivers B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and running back Edwin Baker have all moved on the NFL.

Junior running back Le'Veon Bell is the team's top returning receiver. He hauled in 35 passes for 267 yards last year. He also rushed for 948 yards and 13 scores.

Bell has the opportunity to really show his skill this season with four returning starters on the offensive line. However, Maxwell will need to be able to stretch the field in order to keep defenses from loading the box in an attempt to slow down Bell.

Defense

The Spartans are so good defensively that they will have an opportunity to contend for a second-straight Legends division title.

Michigan State welcomes back eight starters from a unit that led the Big Ten in total defense, run defense, sacks and interceptions.

The defense is led by menacing end William Gholston, who plays the run as well as the pass and imposes his will against opposing offenses.

The Spartans are stacked at linebacker with anchors Denicos Allen and Max Bullough. Allen is the team's primary line of defense against the quarterback, having recorded 11 sacks in 2011. Bullogh is the team's top returning tackler, having recorded 89 stops last year.

The secondary looks to be strong as well with corners Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard and safety Isaiah Lewis showing potential this spring. Lewis is a big time hitter who also picked off four passes a year ago.

Big Ten Legends Prediction: 3rd Place

The defense will carry this team once again as their offense takes a considerable hit heading into 2012. With their suspect offense, it just seems unlikely for them to get another Legends title. They get a difficult stretch in the new season which will make or break their bid to repeat as division champs as they face Michigan and Wisconsin on the road. They'll also face a Nebraska team at home that defeated them 24-3 last year.

2012 Michigan State Spartans Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

2012 Texas Longhorns Football Predictions

The Texas Longhorns have endured back-to-back disappointing seasons and now they feel the pressure to get things turned around. The Longhorns failed to make a bowl in 2010 after 5-7 campaign, and had a mediocre showing with an 8-5 record in 2011. They started out well, winning their first four games before losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State derailed their Big 12 title hopes.

Head coach Mack Brown has tallied a 141-139 record at Texas as he enters his 15th season with the program. The Longhorns will have the most experienced team in the conference with 15 starters and 43 lettermen returning. They do not overwhelming expectations nationally, but they have the ability to sneak up on some teams in 2012.

Nfl 2012

Offense

The Longhorns had a poor offensive showing in 2011. They averaged just 28.3 points and 393 total yards per game last year. Their ground game (203 yards per game) was good, but they struggled on the passing attack (only 190 yards/game). Texas started three quarterbacks last year and they need to find that one guy who gives them the consistency they need.

Sophomore David Ash will get the first crack at quarterback despite being less productive than junior Case McCoy last year. Ash threw for 1,068 yards on 56.6 percent completions with four touchdowns and eight interceptions, while McCoy threw for 1,045 yards on 61.4 percent completions with seven touchdowns and four picks. McCoy committed five turnovers in their season-finale last year against Baylor, which prompted Ash to get all of the snaps in their 21-10 victory over California in the Holiday Bowl.

Texaswill have two of its top rushers returning in sophomores Malcolm Brown (742 yards, 4.3/carry, five touchdowns) and Joe Bergeron (463 yards, 6.4/carry, five touchdowns). They will also add the top freshman running back recruit in the country in Johnathan Gray. They might still be young, but this team has the potential to have one of the nation's top backfields.

Questionable quarterback play is what forced the receivers to almost be nonexistent last year, but this unit should be much-improved as their top three receivers all return. Junior Mike Davis (45 receptions, 609 yards, one touchdown), sophomore Jaxon Shipley (44, 607, three touchdowns) and senior Marquise Goodwin (33, 421, two touchdowns) are all expected to make major contributions in 2012. Senior Barrett Mathews will start at the tight end position, but he doesn't offer much in the passing game as he is known more for his blocking than pass-catching ability.

The offensive line should become a team strength in 2012 as four starters will return who have 63 career starts together. Mack Brown claims that the improvement in this unit was like "night and day" in the spring compared to 2011. The one lost starter will be replaced by talented junior college transfer Donald Hawkins at left tackle.

Defense

Texashad arguably one of the best defenses in the country last year. This unit gave up just 22.2 points and 306 total yards per game, despite playing in a conference where many of the most potent offenses in the country played. They do lose three of their top four tacklers from that unit, but return six starters, which should help them pick up right where they left off in 2011.

The Longhorns will feature one of the best defensive end tandems in the country in senior Alex Okafor (58 tackles, 7 sacks, 7 tackles for loss) and junior Jackson Jeffcoat (71 tackles, 8 sacks, 13 tackles for loss). Okafor earned first-team All American honors last year, but in a shocking twist, opted to stay and turned down a shot at the NFL. With a very talented defensive tackle rotation in juniors Brandon Moore and Ashton Dorsey, as well as sophomore Desmond Jackson, this looks to be one of the best defensive fronts in all of college football.

The linebacking corps suffers the biggest blow, as the Longhorns lose their top two tacklers. Emmanuel Acho (131 tackles) was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, while Keenan Robinson (106 tackles) was taken in the fourth round by the Washington Redskins. Junior Jordan Hicks (65 tackles) is their only returning starter at linebacker and becomes the leader of this unit. They are loaded with very highly touted recruits, but inexperience might be a recurring issue.

10 very highly touted players will compete for playing time in the secondary heading into 2012. The Longhorns return three starters in the defensive backfield in star FS Kenny Vaccaro (82 tackles, 10 passes defended), sophomore CB Quandre Diggs (51 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, four INT) and junior CB Carrington Byndom (58 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, two INT). Paired up with a very strong defensive line, we could see one of the better pass defenses in the country.

Big 12 Prediction - 2nd Place

Texaswill almost definitely boast one of the best defenses in the country in 2012, but their improvement on the offensive end will be at test of how far they can go. With nine starters back on offense, they will obviously be more productive than they were a year ago. Their rushing attack will once again be very good and they will definitely see some improvement on their quarterback play. Ash and McCoy gained valuable experience last year, and now it's time for one of them to step up and lead this team. They also have a manageable road schedule with Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas Tech and Kansas State.

2012 Texas Longhorns Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

2012 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Predictions

The Arkansas Razorbacks certainly put up a memorable season last year. Despite finishing third in the SEC West behind LSU and Alabama, they earned a trip to their first-ever BCS Bowl after ending the regular season with a 10-2 record. Following a 29-16 win over Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, Arkansas tied the school record with an 11-win season. Thanks to head coach Bobby Petrino, the Razorbacks ended up No. 5 in the country and the expectations coming into 2012 are at an all-time high.

Things got sour in a hurry in the offseason however, as head coach Bobby Petrino was dismissed from the team after hiding a relationship with a female employee. The Razorbacks got John L. Smith to replace Petrino in after just a 4.5 month stint with Weber St. Smith was previously a linebacker coach and a special team's coordinator with Arkansas the previous three years. Paul Petrino returns as the offensive coordinator and Paul Hayes takes over as the new defensive coordinator after spending the last six seasons with Ohio State.

Nfl 2012

This team definitely has a lot of talent, as the Razorback return 13 starters (7 offense, 6 defense). This season all depends on how well the players will react to the new coach. There might not be a lot of changes made on this team, but they are surely going to miss the play-calling of Bobby Petrino.

Offense:

The Razorbacks are extremely happy that one of the elite quarterbacks in college football, Tyler Wilson, is coming back to the team. What's impressive about Wilson is that he has set numerous school records and became the first Razorback signal caller to receive 1st team All-SEC honors in his first season as a starter. He finished up the year with a whopping 3,638 yards with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. With Wilson behind center, Arkansas averaged 36.8 points/game and 438 yards of total offense. Big things are expected of him coming into his senior year, which has others thinking that this team can still win without Petrino in charge.

It would have been something really spectacular to see had it not been for the injury that sidelined Kniles Davis prior to 2011 season. Davis was coming off a sophomore season where he rushed for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning him First Team All-SEC honors in 2010. Had it not been for Kniles' injury, the offense would have been even more potent for the Razorbacks. Dennis Johnson (670 yards, three touchdowns) and RonnieWingo (458 yards, three touchdowns) were solid as fill ins, but will now be used primary as backups with Davis returning in 2012. This should be one of the most improved units on the entire team.

An area on the offensive end where Arkansas may have to rely on some new faces for production is at the receiver position. Jarius Wright, Joe Adams, and Greg Child were all taken in the 4th round of the NFL Draft. There are still some strong players coming back in senior tight end Chris Gragg (42 catches, 518 yards, two touchdowns) and senior wide out Cobi Hamilton (34 catches, 542 yards, four touchdowns). Sophomore Marquel Wade and red-shirt freshman Quinta Funderburke are also expected to make contributions in the new season.

The offensive line had just two starters back last season and struggled early in the year. They did find their footing and made solid progress as the season went on, and should see a welcome improvement as 2012 rolls along. They bring back two of the top linemen in the conference in left guard Alvin Bailey and center Travis Swanson. Right tackle Jason Peacock is also coming back for the Razorbacks. Two highly touted sophomores in guard Mitch Smothers and tackle Brey Cook are expected to fill the other two spots.

Defense:

The Razorbacks have always had problems on the defensive side of the ball, but they have made some welcome strides since giving up just over 31 points/game in 2008. Last year they held opponents to just 22.2 points/game. The biggest issue for Arkansas was in stopping the run, as they allowed 168 yards/game on the ground. Injuries were a major factor in the struggles this unit faced. It will be interesting to see if Haynes can help this group make even more strides in 2012.

Even though it's hard to replace the production left by 1st team All-SEC defensive end Jake Bequette, they do have six of the top eight defensive linemen back from last season, including starting defensive tackle duo of Bryan Jones and Robert Thomas. There is a chance for the Razorbacks to allow under 4.0 yards/carry for the first time since 2006, but Chris Smith and Trey Flower need to step up.

Middle linebacker is where the Razorbacks may have major problems on the defensive end. They need to find a replacement for Jerry Franklin, who became the first player in school history to lead the team in tackles for four straight seasons. They also lost starting outside linebacker Jerico Nelson and will be moving Ross Rasner to free Safety. While top outside backer Tenarius Wright is returning, there's no doubt that this is their biggest concern heading into the season.

They also have some holes to fill at secondary, as they must fill the voids left by starting corner Greg Gatson and 3rd Team All-SEC safety Tramain Thomas. They do have some potentially great talents coming back, especially if Rasner can make a smooth transition from linebacker. Sophomore corner Tevon Mitchell should get better as he gets more burn in his second season as a starter and safety Eric Bennett is one of the up-and-coming players at his position in the SEC.

SEC Prediction - 2nd SEC West

Arkansas' only real problem right now is losing their head coach after spring practices concluded. Had it not been for that huge development, Arkansas would have a great chance to finish first in the SEC West and possibly play for a National Championship. That being said, they do get to face Alabama and LSU at home, and have a pretty favorable non-conference schedule. It's still tough to pick them ahead of LSU, despite them being a virtual lock to win double-digit games again in 2012.

2012 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Predictions

Click here for live odds from the reputable BetFirms.com.

Top 5 Social Media Trend Predictions For 2012

In 2011 we witnessed a number of fascinating advances in the world of social media (SM) networking. However, with 2011 come and gone we're now left to wonder just what new trends we'll be able to expect from 2012. A few of the highlights of 2011 came as we realized the full impact of Facebook on the growth of social media, saw the strategic play made by many companies to market their brands across the social media landscape, as well as seeing Google make its own attempt at SM networking with the advent of Google+. By analyzing these past innovations, we can begin to get a glimpse of what may be in store for the future of social media. Here are the top five predictions for where social media trends are headed over the next year.

The Growth of Social Gaming

Super Bowl 2012

Given the broad viral spread and addictive nature social media gaming has developed over the past few years, it isn't hard to see how this trend will steadily grow in the near future. One logical development would be in the introduction of live gaming events hosted by big name developers, such as Zynga, whose substantial fan base could help push this trend to ever greater lengths should companies choose to pursue the idea.

The Spread of the Social Search Engine

One foreseeable trend is the growth of the social search. While Google+ has already taken advantage of social search technology, given the implications of such an advance on not only the social networking world but on business as well, it seems safe to assume that others sites will soon be following Google's lead. The ability to conduct a specialized search focused around the personal preferences given in a user's profile information seems to offer limitless potential to web retailers looking for new ways to draw in consumers.

Content Branding in Social Media

Even people who don't care for football often tune in to the Super Bowl just to watch the commercials, where companies have spent millions and millions of dollars for a few seconds of ad space. Nowadays, however, that same kind of viral advertising can be achieved for next to nothing through the use of social networks. As companies are beginning to realize this fact, more and more are starting to use content branding as a means of self-promotion through social media sites, where content can be rated and circulated freely. This is a trend that will only continue to progress.

Social Media Marketing

Since SM networking has now been shown to offer companies a tremendous return on their investments, companies of all sizes have started jumping on the bandwagon and investing in SM marketing campaigns. With the growth of this trend, the next logical step will be for companies to begin branching out into business-to-business marketing, allowing these companies to gain an even better foothold in the social media world.

Customer Relationship Management Through Social Media

With so many other aspects of the business world spreading into social media, it seems the next practical step would be for companies to begin using these social networking and media outlets as an online extension of their help desk services. This would allow companies to communicate with their customers more freely, as well as giving these companies the ability to identify important trends in their customer base via their customers' social profiles.

Top 5 Social Media Trend Predictions For 2012

J.T. Moore is the founder and Producer of Killer Productions, established in 2001. Killer Productions is a full-service Internet video production company.
We specialize in creating effective web videos and web commercials for any industry, product, or service. In addition, the Killer Productions team are experts in developing and implementing profitable web video marketing strategies and video SEO tactics. It is our goal to bring visibility, thereby increasing Internet sales or leads through the proper use of videos and video SEO marketing strategies. Learn more about us by visiting http://www.killerproductions.net or follow us on Twitter: @killer_video

Oakland Raiders 2010 Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions

The Raiders can't possibly get any worse, right? Oakland finished 5-11 last season for its NFL-record seventh consecutive season with at least 11 losses, and the Raiders are 29-83 since losing to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII.

But perhaps Oakland will have a little addition by subtraction this season after cutting loose overweight, unmotivated 2007 No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, who could go down as the biggest draft bust ever. Last season Russell completed only 48.8 percent of his passes and had three touchdowns to go with 11 picks and a 50.0 rating. Oakland pulled the plug following a dismal Week 10 game against the Chiefs, although he did get into a few later games because of injuries to Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye. Overall, Russell earned an obscene million and led the team to a 7-18 record as a starter.

Nfl 2012

The Raiders should have at least some stability at the position this year with former Redskin Jason Campbell, who came over from Washington for a 2012 fourth-round pick. Campbell started 52 games for Washington since being a first-round pick in 2005. He has thrown for 55 touchdowns, 38 interceptions and has a career passer rating of 82.3. That is absolutely an upgrade over Russell. The Raiders were second to last in the NFL in scoring with 197 points last season and gained the second-fewest yards.

Oakland should have a solid defense, as the Raiders love 2010 first-round NFL Draft pick Rolando McClain, a linebacker from Alabama who should be in the Defensive Rookie of the Year running. Oakland also acquired former first-round pick Kamerion Wimbley from the Browns, and he had four sacks in the preseason win over the Bears. Plus Nnamdi Asomugha remains the best cornerback in the league not named Revis.

But these are, of course, the Raiders, and 2008 first-rounder Darren McFadden hasn't been able to get on the field much in camp or the preseason because of a hamstring issue, pretty much handing the No. 1 running back job to Michael Bush. Last year's first-rounder, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, also has missed time with fatigue (fatigue?). Neither looks like they will live up to where they were picked. And up-and-coming receiver Chaz Schilens may need arthroscopic surgery on his knee that could put his status for opening day in jeopardy. Schilens had 29 catches for 365 yards and two touchdowns last season after missing the first eight games with a broken foot.

At least Oakland has one of the best kicking games in the NFL!

Many oddsmakers have pegged the Raiders as a potential surprise team this year - not playoff-contention surprise but at least able to not lose double-digit games again. Oakland's 'over/under' for NFL season win totals is 6. Let's break down the 2010 Oakland Raiders schedule (all times Eastern):

Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, St. Louis, 4:05 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Arizona, 4:15 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Houston, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at San Francisco, 4:05 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at Denver, 4:15 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Seattle, 4:15 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Kansas City, 4:15 PM
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, Miami, 4:05 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at San Diego, 4:05 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, Denver, 4:15 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Indianapolis, 4:05 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM

This schedule is rated right in the middle (T16) among NFL teams in opponents' 2009 winning percentage of.500 (128-128). There are only four games against playoff teams.

This may not rank as the easiest schedule in the league it certainly looks like one of them when it comes to NFL picks. As bad as the Rams and Cardinals have looked in the preseason, it's realistic to think Oakland could actually have a 2-1 September, probably losing at Tennessee (which is a 6.5-point favorite). And travel shouldn't be a problem for this team as after playing at Tennessee, the Raiders don't cross the country until Week 11 when they play at Pittsburgh.

The Raiders don't play a divisional rival until Week 5 against the Chargers. And they don't play any back-to-back games against AFC West opponents. Is this the year Oakland finally beats San Diego? The Bolts have won 13 in a row in the series, the longest active NFL winning streak by one team over another.

That Oct. 3 game against Houston likely starts three in a row against 2010 playoff teams, but then the Raiders - believe it or not - could go on a three-game winning streak. The NFL handicapping indicates they should actually be home favorites against the Seahawks and Chiefs and have won in Denver the past two years.

Probably the only legitimate road chance Oakland has after the bye comes in what should be the team's lone cold-weather game, in K.C. But the Raiders have won there the past three years.

I love the 'over' 6 here because I don't think there's a chance that the Raiders do worse than a push. But I expect a 7-9 record and maybe even a second-place finish in the AFC West. Better things may finally be ahead for this team.

Oakland Raiders 2010 Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions

Doc Moseman is one of the pioneers of college football and the NFL Handicapping industry. Check out his Web site for up-to-the-minute NFL Odds and his famous winning college football and NFL picks.