Posted by: Pete Roussel on December 29, 2011

Here we go, folks.  My 2012 predictions are as follows:

January: ESPN's Adam Schefter will have his blackberry buzzing during a LIVE SportsCenter interview on January 3rd (Black Monday for NFL coaches). Alabama and LSU fans won't hesitate to pay $8.50 for a Bud Light inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome during the BCS championship game although they will have been marinating all day in pre-game revelry. LSU freshman running back Kenny Hilliard will break two tackles on his way to the end zone to give the Tigers a 14-10 fourth quarter lead.  LSU hangs on to win the title, and Hilliard hoists the MVP trophy.  In the Casino del Sol senior all-star game in Tucson, Houston Nutt's team will defeat Pat Hill's squad 27-21 in a game nobody will ever knew occurred. Todd McShay will start talking about stocks dropping for Quinton Coples and Alshon Jeffery.  Mel Kiper will mention at least once, his concern that Justin Blackmon drops too many balls.  In one of the most exciting games in NFL history, the Saints defeat Green Bay at Lambeau Field to win the NFC championship.

February: Drew Brees hoists the Super Bowl MVP trophy after leading the New Orleans Saints to a 38-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Lucas Oil Stadium.  Alabama edges out LSU for the Rivals #1 final recruiting team rankings.  Crimson Tide assistant coach Jeremy Pruitt edges out Florida State assistant Dameyune Craig as the Rivals National Recruiter of the Year.  Urban Meyer will put the Ohio State players through a winter conditioning program they will remember for the rest of their lives.  Texas A&M receiver Jeff Fuller and Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright will make a splash at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Todd McShay will harp on Vontaze Burfict's character issues.  Kiper will start buying into Clemson defensive end Andre Branch.  Mike Mayock will praise Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd and Temple's Bernard Peirce.

March: Ohio State players will begin fearing how tough spring practice is going to be under new head coach Urban Meyer.  Syracuse head football coach Doug Marrone will visit his friends with the New Orleans Saints before watching Jim Boeheim win the Final Four in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.  Cuse 78 Calipari 70.  (Championship game is actually April 2nd)

April: RG3 will visit with Jon Gruden's QB Camp in Tampa in what will be must-see TV.  The Seattle Seahawks will draft Washington native Kellen Moore in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.

May: ESPN will feature spring practice mic'd up segments with Rich Rodriguez, Jim Mora, and Bob Davie. The worldwide leader will also broadcast the Ohio State spring game, while ESPN 2 broadcasts the Texas A&M spring game.  Arizona State head coach Todd Graham will be playing golf on some incredibly nice course in 87 degree weather in Tempe during a non-practice day while entertaining other, new coaching opportunities.  Norm Chow will start installing his multiple pro-style offense at Hawaii.

June: At the White House, Barack Obama will congratulate Les Miles, the Honey Badger, and all of the LSU Tigers for winning the BCS National Championship.  Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze will travel to Omaha to watch the Ole Miss baseball team compete in the college world series for the first time under Mike Bianco.  Nebraska-Omaha athletic director Trev Alberts will announce he is slashing all intercollegiate sports programs due to cost-cutting measures in favor of a powerful intramural sports program that will take UNO to the top. New Mexico State will enter into contract with ESPN to launch the Aggie Network. Texas, assuming the Aggie Network is affiliated with Texas A&M, will threaten to leave the Big Twelve out of habit.

July: Mike Leach will visit the ESPN campus as part of PAC-12 media days. Those sound bites are going to be awesome. Troy head coach Larry Blakeney will retire, and defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell will be named interim head coach for the season.  Jon Gruden will make another trip to Thibodaux, Louisiana for the Manning Passing Academy.

August: Wazzu fans will be pumped up about August camp.  Meanwhile, Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean apparel will disappear from shelves in state of Washington at an alarming rate.  Jos A. Bank will have an end-of-the-summer SALE...buy 1 get 7 FREE anything.  Tom Hammond and Mike Mayock will fly to Ireland a week early before the Notre Dame vs. Navy season-opener across the pond.

September: Cal will defeat Nevada in the first game in renovated Memorial Stadium.  That's a perfect game for Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore, by the way.  ESPN's College Gameday will be LIVE from outside Cowboys Stadium for the Alabama vs. Michigan season-opener.  One week later, ESPN will have a big decision to make.  Do we setup shop in College Station for Texas A&M vs. Florida, or do we head to Baton Rouge for Sark vs. LSU? The New Orleans Saints will host Tebow on Thursday night to kick-off the NFL season.  Charlie Weis will be 2-0 after dramatic wins over South Dakota State and Rice.  The spotlight will be shining on Randy Edsall when Maryland hosts UCONN on September 15th.

October: Notre Dame will defeat Miami (FL) at Soldier Field in Chicago to move to 5-0.  Matt Barkley and Tyler Wilson will be the two frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy.

November: David Cutcliffe will have Duke bowl eligible for the first time since 1995.  Mike Leach will have Washington State bowl eligible for the first time since 2003. Holgorsen will have one of the all-time great sideline meltdowns during a Thursday night ESPN primetime game.  Rich Rod will land a huge quarterback commitment.

December: Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops will win the Broyles Award for the nation's top assistant coach. USC quarterback Matt Barkley will win the Heisman Trophy, and Lane Kiffin will be recognized as National Coach of the Year.  San Jose State head coach Mike MacIntyre will be named WAC Coach of the Year.  LA Tech head coach Sonny Dykes will be a candidate for several jobs.  Ron Zook will return to the coaching carousel hoping to land a gig.  By this point, Zook will look extremely jacked after concentrating on his bench press for an entire year.  Kirby Smart, Justin Wilcox, and Chad Morris will be names connected to various jobs.  Steve Spurrier retirement speculation will heat up.  UCF head coach George O'Leary will retire.  Notre Dame will send another large check to former head coach Charlie Weis. Florida State and USC will be preparing for the national championship game.

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