TOMORROW IS THE DAY EVERYBODY! If you have checked out any of our stuff so far this year, you know we’re excited about all of the storylines and narratives that come with it. We’ve covered a lot of the top teams so far this year on the TNT podcast but just wanna list of some unit groups this year that might be absolute game changers and be able to pull off an upset against some of the top teams in their respected conferences this year.

Mississippi State Linebackers
Everybody, well okay… almost everybody has been absolutely sleeping on Mississippi State. This is a team that finished third in the SEC West last year and is bringing almost everybody back. Let’s focus on two guys that are actually at the position we’ve listed above in Nathanial Watson and Jett Johnson. Mississippi State will line up in a 3-2-6 most of the time which gives both inside linebackers a chance to make plays in a variety of ways. The two combined for 228 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and a couple of turnovers in 2022. Zach Arnett shouldn’t have to worry about too much in the middle with this duo being the only duo across the power five to finish at the 1 and 2 spot as the conference tackles leaders. If LSU or Alabama are having trouble throwing the ball that day you could fully expect these two to shut down the run, make some plays, and try to prove why they should be a force in the SEC West.

Ole Miss Wide Receivers
Obviously the mantra for every defense in the SEC is going to be to shut down Quinshon Judkins and that will definitely set up the pass for the Rebs in 2023. Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weiss are absolutely going to game plan to improve their passing game from their 59th ranking in 2022. Obviously it’s hard to replace a guy like Jonathan Mingo but the portal is Ole Miss’ best friend and they’ve brought in some guys that should be absolute studs. Tre Harris is in from Louisiana Tech and Zakhari Franklin is in from UTSA to join Jordan Watkins who is the top returning receiver from last year. Ole Miss did try to bring in Chris Marshall who was a part of that loaded Texas A&M recruiting class but he was dismissed from the team after arriving in Oxford. Both Franklin and Harris have been named to the Biletnikoff preseason watch list and if this team is rushing the ball the same way they did in 2022 both guys will be able to make some big plays against LSU, Alabama, or maybe even UGA as long as Jaxson Dart can get them the ball.

Miami Safeties
This one’s a little chalk but the team was absolutely horrible last year so I’ll count it. For the first time in over fifteen years the Hurricanes have an All-American returning on defense with Kam Kinchens at free safety. James Williams will also be back at strong safety and has the size of a linebacker with the speed of a defensive back. The front seven should be. Lot better for the Canes and allow these two to do what they do best, forcing some turnovers. They both need to improve on their open field tackling but if the front does their part Kinchens could once again be a ball hawk and Williams could force some fumbles with his athleticism. This team has something to prove this year and if you’re Florida State or Clemson who beat up on Miami pretty bad in 2022, you should be on very high alert.

Duke Defensive Line
The Blue Devils took a huge step forward on the defensive side last year with Mike Elko at the helm. Elko is here to stay and the defensive line quietly is poised for a huge breakout season. The four names you should know are DeWayne Carter (not Lil Wayne), Vincent Anthony Jr., R.J. Oben, and Ja’Mion Franklin. Between the four of them they’re returning 23.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. A defensive line being able to cause that much disruption doesn’t go unnoticed and while they don’t need to force turnovers all the time, they really just need to keep their loaded offense in the game. Offensive lines in the ACC are super strong but maybe they can knock off one of Clemson, FSU, or Notre Dame. THEY WILL BEAT UNC.

West Virginia OL/RBs
Don’t stop reading. I’m not crazy. First things first, you probably don’t realize it unless you paid close attention last year but this teams backfield ran for over 2,000 yards. Graham Harrell is off to Purdue and RB coach Chad Scott has been promoted so you know they’re going to run the damn ball. This line is big, they strong, they fast, and they big, plus the running back group is going to be strong again as well behind CJ Donaldson, Justin Johnson Jr., and Garrett Greene. With the new clock rules WVU might be closer to an upset with a lot of teams than we think this year. Their defense is not going to be very good but this line and running back room is going to have you cursing if you’re cheering for the opposition.

Arizona State Receivers
Kenny Dillingham is going to officially start Jaden Rashada and we’ll see what he can do. Last year the Sun Devils went 3-9 and unless you were paying close attention you probably don’t realize how good their weapons are through the air. The top three targets return with Elijah Badger and Giovanni Sanders out wide and Jalin Conyers at the tight end spot. Rashada has a ton of potential and in the pass heavy Pac-12 the three playmakers should be able to pull off an upset against one or two of the teams in the top tier of the conference.

Illinois Defensive Line
The front four is loaded with talent in Champaign between Johnny Newton, Keith Randolph, and TeRah Edwards. Illinois plays in a 3-4 scheme and these guys hold up their end of the bargain in every way. Newton and Randolph combined for 10 sacks and 27 tackles for loss last year just between the two of them. Edwards will have to step up into his role but has all the skills to show off in 2023 so he’s one to look out for this year. They get a lot of help from the outside linebacker spot with getting to the quarterback but if you’re looking for a team to run on Illinois in a game this year you might as well just not watch because it’s not happening. Penn State in week 3 at home is starting to sound a little bit scary.

Iowa Defensive Backs
Pretty chalk when you think about how amazing the Iowa defense has been in the past couple of years but they did lose Riley Moss and Kaevon Merriweather to the NFL. Oh well, doesn’t matter… Phil Parker is still going to put one of the best defensive secondaries out there year after year. Cooper DeJean and Quinn Schulte are back and have done beyond enough to prove they can get the job done against the pass in the Big 10. I fully expect a couple of the guys that will step in to start this year will hold up their end of the bargain as well. If it’s third down and five and you’re looking for a first down you might as well cash in on a deal with the devil.

Chalk
Miami Offensive Line
Clemson Front 7
Florida State Wide Receivers
Florida State Defensive Line
NC State Defensive Backs
UNC Linebackers
Michigan Running Backs
Michigan Offensive Line
Ohio State Running Backs
Ohio State Wide Receivers
Penn State Offensive Line
Penn State Running Backs
Penn State Linebackers
Kansas Running Backs
Kansas Wide Receivers
Texas Wide Receivers
Texas Defensive Line
Texas Defensive Backs
Oklahoma Defensive Line
Houston Defensive Backs
Washington Wide Receivers
Washington Defensive Line
Washington Offensive Line
Oregon Wide Receivers
Oregon Defensive Line
USC Offensive Line
USC Wide Receivers
USC Defensive Backs
UCLA Defensive Line
Utah Linebackers
Utah Defensive Line
Utah Defensive Backs
Arizona Wide Receivers
Arizona Offensive Line
Oregon State Offensive Line
LSU Wide Receivers
LSU Defensive Line
LSU Offensive Line
GEORGIA EVERYTHING
Alabama Linebackers
Alabama Defensive Backs
Alabama Offensive Line
Texas A&M Defensive Line
Texas A&M Defensive Backs
Texas A&M Wide Receivers
Missouri Linebackers
Missouri Defensive Backs
Tennessee Wide Receivers
Florida Defensive Line