The Flex's College Football Preview

We know, you're more than ready for some football. Some real football, not that football like substance that is preseason NFL football. Well the wait is just about over and the college season will be here in less than a week and there are plenty of questions headed into the 2013 season and who better to answer than us here at The Flex. So naturally, I enlisted the help of The Flex's own Michael Herrmann to answer the most burning questions before the gridiron opens for business next Saturday. Have another question we didn't answer? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what other knowledge we can impart on the pigskin.

Can Alabama Pull Off The 3-Peat?

Davey: Of course they can. Have they given us any reason to doubt them? As hard as it is to win back-to-back titles in any sport they pulled it off and didn't make it look too hard. Normally I would take the field on a question like this, but with Bama I'm almost inclined to say they will. Nick Saban is either Satan come to reign over college football, or the reincarnation of Bear Bryant on steroids. It wouldn't shock me if they won four in a row honestly. The guy brings in top talent every single year and shows no sign of slowing up. He has an NFL factory running and hitting on all cylinders so who are we to doubt him as mere mortals? All hail Saban and god help us all.

Michael: They can, of course, but I'm not convinced that they will. In the past, Alabama have more than proven a dynastic program and Nick Saban (All hail!) is, far and away, the greatest recruiter in the history of amateur athletics, but a three-peat is a difficult task. Given that only nine collegiate programs, even in the most obscure of sports (yay USC water polo!) have ever collected three consecutive National Titles and only one of those major men's sports post-1950 - USC Baseball, 1970-74 - Alabama faces a difficult task. All said, I think if any football program ever will, it's a Saban-led Alabama squad.

Is Louisville A National Championship Threat?

Davey: Simply put, NO. They are a threat to go undefeated based on their marshmallow soft schedule, but other programs with more on their resume will be placed above the Ville at the end of the year even with a loss or two. Would anyone think an undefeated Louisville squad deserves a title shot more than a one loss Alabama or Georgia team? No chance in hell. They may not even be a threat for a BCS bowl since they lose the automatic bid of the Big East this year that got them there in years past. They could very well beat every orphanage that they have managed to schedule this year, but I think they will slip up and drop a game at some point. They will end the year with one loss and Teddy Bridgewater will begin his career as a Raider and will never be heard from again.

Michael: Any given Saturday, this Chuck Strong-led bunch of great athletes and great men-sans-Michael Dyer can beat any team in the country. I'm never, never, betting against a team featuring the great Ezekiel Pike as a third-string Tight End. Granted, being a fan may sway my vote, but I truly believe Louisville can be worthy adversary to the SEC. Who else can beat an SEC team than a former SEC coach?

Can Johnny Manziel Win Back-To-Back Hesimans?

Davey: Not only can he, Money Manziel will win his second Heisman this year and I hope he accepts it with sparklers dangling out of his mouth and throws money on Mark Ingram on stage. Manziel is still the best player in college football this year and when is comes to quarterbacks it isn't even close. Clowney could give him a run for his money (no pun intended) but I just don't see a defensive player having the season needed to take home the Heisman, even a player of the caliber of Clowney. Johnny is going to have another great year and while he may not top last season, I don't expect any drop off. He may take the field vs. Alabama drunk and wearing a Tebow jersey and STILL manage to slay the Crimson Tide. People allow the off-field "issues" to cloud their memories of just how dynamic Johnny Football was last year and with a year under his belt, he will make sure they don't forget his ability ever again. #TeamManziel

Michael: Nope. Not a chance. If Tim Tebow, the most composed, most professional, most mature athlete to ever grace a field, pitch, court, rink, etc. can't win two, a man who can't stay sober long enough to coach at a QB camp or avoid being thrown out of a frat party certainly cannot. But Michael, you say, Archie Griffin won two! To you, I say, 1975 was quite a different time. Johnny Manziel isn't the special athlete that, say, Jimmie Johnson is. Johnny Manziel is a real talent, but he certainly isn't composed enough to win another Heisman. Be it Tajh Boyd, Jadaveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, or some Jason White type that comes out of nowhere, Johnny Manziel isn't winning the Heisman Trophy again.

Who Is The Dark Horse With a Real Shot To Win It All?

Davey: I'm not sure that there is a dark horse with a real shot, simply because of the nature of college football. The heavy favorites (Bama, Ohio State, Georgia) are heavy favorites for a reason and there is a big gap between them and the rest of the nation. However, one team to keep an eye on is Clemson. Led by Tajh Boyd who is the best NFL quarterback prospect that will grace the gridiron this year they could have a case to make if they run the table. It will all depend on the play of Boyd and will be up to him to vault the Tigers into that upper echelon of teams in the 2013 season and that will be no easy task. Simply because of Tajh I give Clemson the best shot of any dark horse to hoist the crystal football, but lets be real here, one of the favorites will be the kings of college football at the end of the year. There's no avoiding it.

Michael: Naturally, I want to say Boise State. I think Chris Petersen is an admirable coach with a bright future. I don't, however, think Boise State makes a real push this season. Clemson will make a title run, but they're hardly a dark horse with a Heisman front-runner at the helm. Northwestern is a team that could make a great run, but they're a year, at least, away from making any true BCS run. Michigan State, based solely on their locker room pranks, are a team to look out for, as are that husking bunch led by Taylor Martinez (who have the potential to be the greatest Nebraskan anything since Elliott Smith or Bright Eyes), but I can't really pin any true dark horse contenders. Nebraska is my bet, if necessary, but I'll stick to the top-10 for now.

What Top 10 Team Will Disappoint?

Davey: The Fighting Brian Kellys barely missed the top ten or they would surely be the pick here, but since they were on the outside of the top 10 looking in, my pick has to be South Carolina. Clowney is the big story coming out of the Gamecocks' preseason hype as he should be, but as good as he is and that defense is they just wont be able to compete in the SEC. They have an offense that I believe will self destruct at times especially against top level competition and will cost them at least one game if not more. They are a solid team despite Steve Spurrier being a certified crazy person but they aren't an SEC top tier caliber team and they will fall down the rankings throughout the season and wont be in the BCS conversation once it gets cold outside. Sorry Steve.

Michael: Texas A&M. Texas A&M. Texas A&M. I know, I know, Johnny Football this, Johnny Football that, but I don't think Texas A&M are nearly as good as they were. Losing Luke Joekel will hurt far more than expected and I think A&M are lacking too much talent outside of the offensive skill positions. The tl;dr version: Texas A&M.

Will Oregon Struggle Without Chip Kelly?

Davey: In the short term we will still see the same swagged out, faster than hell Oregon team that we have seen under the command of Chip. This year will go smoothly with the return of Marcus Mariota and of course De'Anthony Thomas, but in the coming years there bee some drop off in the elite play in Eugene as we see the effect of Chip's recruiting prowess leaving for the NFL. They will still be good with the extreme influence they receive from Nike but they will no longer be competing for national titles without Chip once his guys make the jump to the next level. So this year, rest easy Duck fans, just enjoy it while it lasts because it is very much fleeting right in from of your eyes.

Michael: Nope. Offense. By promoting the offensive coordinator, I think Oregon won't miss a beat in their offensive attack, which, well, is their entire game plan. Marcus Mariota and De'Anthony Thomas are superstars, and their high-paced attack will allow for plenty of ransacking in the Pac-10 - until Stanford. Stanford, I believe give the Nikes a run for their money, even if the green uniforms are still allowed (see Boise State uniform ban).

The Cincinnati Bengals X-Factor: Giovani Bernard

For years Bengals fans have clamored for a dynamic running back. Through years of Rudi Johnson, Cedric Benson, and even Benjarvis Green-Ellis, fans have dreamed of a running back ho can break a tackle and get to the next level of the defense. A back who could come out of the backfield and catch passes and add a wrinkle to the offense this team has been missing since the days of James Brooks. We have been waiting for a home run hitting who we could watch sprint down the sidelines on Sundays.

Enter Giovani Bernard.

You know when you make a super quick running back on Madden? A guy who is crazy elusive and breaks every arm tackle thrown his way? A guy who has speed that Usain Bolt could relate to and returns kicks so well that he should be high-stepping down the field like Deion Sanders? Yeah, Gio Bernard is that guy. He is basically a cheat code, and when added to this offense could be the missing piece in a Super Bowl run that we all dream of. Gone will be the days of a three yard run by a bulky back who is dragged down quickly in a cloud of dust. Now you'll see Gio line up out wide and streaking down field after Dalton hits him over the middle coming out of the backfield. Think Reggie Bush at USC if he was a little bit smaller. After doing some scouting on Gio and really understanding how much he is capable of, I'm convinced he will be the steal of the 2013 draft. Teams will be asking how they let this guy fall to the second round. You can keep Eddie Lacy, I'm with Gio.

Now don't get it twisted, I don't think Gio will be the starter in Week 1. The coaching staff has made it clear The Law Firm will be the starter, but that wont last long. By next year I doubt Green-Ellis will be in Cincinnati and the young'n from Carolina will be the star of the running game, and honestly I wouldn't be shocked if Benjarvis is riding the pine by week 8 or 9 in favor of Bernard. Once he learns his blocking assignments and gets used to the nuances of transitioning from the college game to the NFL, Gio will be one of the most dynamic backs in the league.

Now, to focus on what Gio can do this year. He will be given an opportunity to shine in the passing game and will for sure be the third down back out of the gate. Like I said depending on how his blocking improves in the passing game (he has struggled in camp early but has improved significantly) he will be given an opportunity in the running game on first and second down as well. The Law Firm will be the starter but he struggled late last season with coughing up the ball and if those problems continue into this season, it will be Gio who will need to step up and fill the void at running back. Another skill in the bag of tricks Bernard posses is his knack for returning punts. He is as quick as anyone in the game and can hit the corner and be off to the races before you can locate him on the field. (Just ask NC State) He could be the explosive north-to-south runner that fans have wanted ever since Peter Warrick and there's no doubt he could excel if given the job. Now whether he will be given the chance is a different story. The coaches seem dead set on letting Brandon Tate return kicks for some insane reason, so Gio may have to wait to shine in the return role.

Bengals fans, I'm going on record now saying Giovani Bernard will be the most explosive weapon on the Bengals roster outside of A.J. Green once he develops, whether that is this year or next. Remember who told you first who the X-factor was this year for your Cincinnati Bengals.

Don't believe me? Just watch.

Who Dey.

But What About Jermaine?

For Bengals fans the upcoming season is littered with high expectations. Super Bowl predictions, AFC North favorites and more than a handful of pro bowl players which fans expect to take the next step into being stars of the NFL. Of course that group includes the young quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton will have plenty of weapons on offense to spread the ball to even excluding A.J. Green. Green is the centerpiece of the offense and new additions Tyler Eifert and Giovanni Bernard have been highly touted and for good reason. Fans and media alike have shown tons of love for the Cincinnati offense and talked about every weapon and the impact they could have this year. We've heard about the potential of Sanu, and Marvin Jones and the X-factor that is Andrew Hawkins.

But what about Jermaine?

The forgotten player in the Bengals hype is tight end Jermaine Gresham. Still a young player, Gresham has shown many flashes of play making ability that is as good as any tight end in the league not named Jimmy Graham. Yes, Gresh has his moments where he may not be the most likable player on the field and he drops a pass on occasion, but lets not forget the spectacular catches he goes up to get over defenders. Not to mention he is the tailor made red zone target that Andy Dalton needs coming off the line. One thing that Gresham never gets credit for and that's the way he plays. On the field he is mean as a snake and when he gets the ball in his hands he is looking to punish defenders who try to bring him down. Ask Desmond Trufant how that feels.

A lot of Bengals fan point to the drafting of Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert as leading to the downfall of Gresham in Cincinnati. The opposite is true. The drafting of Eifert has lit a fire under Jermaine that the coaching staff says they have never seen before. Eifert will run two TE sets with Gresh which will be reminiscent of the Gronk & Hernandez show in recent years. Eifert wont push Jermaine out of Cincinnati, he will push him to be better than ever which should be a scary thought for every other team in the league, and should put a smile on the face of every Bengals fan that reads this.

Don't forget about Jermaine, Just because Dalton has a few new toys this year, doesn't mean his pro bowl tight end is going anywhere. Gresh will have a better year than Eifert, Marvin Jones and I think even better than Mohamed Sanu. He will be Dalton's main red zone target outside of A.J. Green and don't forget his one handed grabs over top of outmatched defensive backs. You'll be seeing a lot of Jermaine dunking on the goalposts this year so keep an eye on the big guy.

Who Dey.