Teams expected to have most blow out wins in 2016:
1. Oklahoma Sooners
Predicted point differential: 20.4
Oklahoma had the top scoring margin in the FBS last season (21.5 points per game) and is again expected to rank near the top of the FBS in that category. The Sooners are favored by at least a touchdown in each of their games this season, according to FPI, the only team in the FBS that can make that claim. That includes a double-digit margin in each of their first 10 games, including out-of-conference matchups with Houston and Ohio State. Admittedly FPI is higher on OU than most, but the Sooners have the talent, schedule and experience to replicate their dominance at the end of last year's regular season.
2. Clemson Tigers
Predicted point differential: 20.3
Clemson is favored by at least 14 points (via FPI) in an FBS-high nine games this season. The only games in which the Tigers' expected margin of victory is less than two touchdowns are versus Louisville, at Auburn and at Florida State. Clemson has a few tough tests, but don't be surprised if it ranks in the top two of ESPN's game control metric for a second straight season.
3. Florida State Seminoles
Predicted point differential: 18.6
As the No. 1 team in ESPN's FPI, it's not surprising that Florida State ranks near the top of this list. With the third-hardest projected schedule, however, the Seminoles have some harder stretches than the teams above. Florida State is unlikely to blow out Ole Miss in Week 1, Louisville in Week 3 or Clemson in Week 9, but there are a few teams such as Charleston Southern and Wake Forest that could struggle to stay within three touchdowns.
4. Tennessee Volunteers
Predicted point differential: 18.3
Speaking of three-touchdown victories, Tennessee is projected to win by an average of at least 21 points in an FBS-high five games this season -- versus Tennessee Tech, Ohio, Appalachian State, Kentucky and Missouri. All five of those games are at home against teams ranked 50th or worse in FPI. Again, it's unlikely that Tennessee will win all five of those games by 21 or more points, but Vols fans should expect some blowout victories, particularly at the end of the season when Tennessee is set to play one of the easiest stretches in the country.
5. LSU Tigers
Predicted point differential: 18.0
LSU is an FPI favorite in each of its games this season, but a number of its SEC West clashes are expected to be close. In its nonconference games, however, LSU is expected to win by an average of 33 points, which is tied with Tennessee for the biggest differential in out-of-conference games. The Tigers are favored by 45 against South Alabama, 38 against Jacksonville State, 34 against Southern Miss and 14 against Wisconsin in FPI's projections. Leonard Fournette better get his yards early because he may not see the field in the fourth quarter in a number of these matchups.
6. Michigan Wolverines
Predicted point differential: 17.3
Unlike many teams on this list, Michigan does not have the benefit of facing an FCS opponent. Looking only at games against FBS opponents, though, Michigan jumps to second on this list behind Oklahoma. The Wolverines are expected to play the second-easiest schedule of any Power 5 school, so the strength of their opponents certainly plays a part in the projections. But the Wolverines are also in line to be one of the top defenses in the country, and as they showed last season when they allowed 14 total points in five games, they may not need to score 40 points to blow a team out.
7. Boise State Broncos
Predicted point differential: 15.1
In two seasons under Bryan Harsin, Boise State is 21-6 with the seventh-best scoring margin (plus 15.8) in the FBS. FPI expects the Broncos to continue their success; they are one of six FBS teams favored in each of their games this season. The Broncos have a predicted scoring margin of at least nine points in every Mountain West game and are expected to win those games by an average of 17 points. Only Oklahoma has a higher predicted scoring margin in conference games.
8. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Predicted point differential: 15.0
Despite a 10-3 record, Oklahoma State did not blow too many teams out last season. That may change in 2016 with teams such as Southeastern Louisiana, Central Michigan and Kansas on the docket. The Cowboys still have to maneuver a tough road schedule (Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma), but as the eighth-ranked team in FPI, they should have a few dominant wins by season's end.
9. Georgia Bulldogs
Predicted point differential: 13.7
Admittedly, Georgia's predicted scoring margin is skewed by a Sept. 10 meeting with Nicholls State -- a below-average FCS opponent. The Bulldogs are expected to win that game by an average of 59 points, so it is expected to be one of the most lopsided games of the season. After taking out all games against FCS teams, the Bulldogs fall to 15th, but they still are FPI double-digit favorites in seven games this season.
10. Alabama Crimson Tide
Predicted point differential: 13 The Crimson Tide won an FBS-high 11 games by at least 14 points last season en route to their national championship. With a difficult SEC West slate, FPI does not expect them to replicate that dominance, but it does expect a few blowouts against teams such as Chattanooga, Kent State, Western Kentucky and Kentucky. Alabama should again have a dominant defense, but after losing its quarterback and two leading rushers, the Crimson Tide may not have the offense to rack up as many blowouts.
Predicted point differential: 20.4
Oklahoma had the top scoring margin in the FBS last season (21.5 points per game) and is again expected to rank near the top of the FBS in that category. The Sooners are favored by at least a touchdown in each of their games this season, according to FPI, the only team in the FBS that can make that claim. That includes a double-digit margin in each of their first 10 games, including out-of-conference matchups with Houston and Ohio State. Admittedly FPI is higher on OU than most, but the Sooners have the talent, schedule and experience to replicate their dominance at the end of last year's regular season.
Predicted point differential: 20.3
Clemson is favored by at least 14 points (via FPI) in an FBS-high nine games this season. The only games in which the Tigers' expected margin of victory is less than two touchdowns are versus Louisville, at Auburn and at Florida State. Clemson has a few tough tests, but don't be surprised if it ranks in the top two of ESPN's game control metric for a second straight season.
Predicted point differential: 18.6
As the No. 1 team in ESPN's FPI, it's not surprising that Florida State ranks near the top of this list. With the third-hardest projected schedule, however, the Seminoles have some harder stretches than the teams above. Florida State is unlikely to blow out Ole Miss in Week 1, Louisville in Week 3 or Clemson in Week 9, but there are a few teams such as Charleston Southern and Wake Forest that could struggle to stay within three touchdowns.
Predicted point differential: 18.3
Speaking of three-touchdown victories, Tennessee is projected to win by an average of at least 21 points in an FBS-high five games this season -- versus Tennessee Tech, Ohio, Appalachian State, Kentucky and Missouri. All five of those games are at home against teams ranked 50th or worse in FPI. Again, it's unlikely that Tennessee will win all five of those games by 21 or more points, but Vols fans should expect some blowout victories, particularly at the end of the season when Tennessee is set to play one of the easiest stretches in the country.
Predicted point differential: 18.0
LSU is an FPI favorite in each of its games this season, but a number of its SEC West clashes are expected to be close. In its nonconference games, however, LSU is expected to win by an average of 33 points, which is tied with Tennessee for the biggest differential in out-of-conference games. The Tigers are favored by 45 against South Alabama, 38 against Jacksonville State, 34 against Southern Miss and 14 against Wisconsin in FPI's projections. Leonard Fournette better get his yards early because he may not see the field in the fourth quarter in a number of these matchups.
Predicted point differential: 17.3
Unlike many teams on this list, Michigan does not have the benefit of facing an FCS opponent. Looking only at games against FBS opponents, though, Michigan jumps to second on this list behind Oklahoma. The Wolverines are expected to play the second-easiest schedule of any Power 5 school, so the strength of their opponents certainly plays a part in the projections. But the Wolverines are also in line to be one of the top defenses in the country, and as they showed last season when they allowed 14 total points in five games, they may not need to score 40 points to blow a team out.
Predicted point differential: 15.1
In two seasons under Bryan Harsin, Boise State is 21-6 with the seventh-best scoring margin (plus 15.8) in the FBS. FPI expects the Broncos to continue their success; they are one of six FBS teams favored in each of their games this season. The Broncos have a predicted scoring margin of at least nine points in every Mountain West game and are expected to win those games by an average of 17 points. Only Oklahoma has a higher predicted scoring margin in conference games.
Predicted point differential: 15.0
Despite a 10-3 record, Oklahoma State did not blow too many teams out last season. That may change in 2016 with teams such as Southeastern Louisiana, Central Michigan and Kansas on the docket. The Cowboys still have to maneuver a tough road schedule (Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma), but as the eighth-ranked team in FPI, they should have a few dominant wins by season's end.
Predicted point differential: 13.7
Admittedly, Georgia's predicted scoring margin is skewed by a Sept. 10 meeting with Nicholls State -- a below-average FCS opponent. The Bulldogs are expected to win that game by an average of 59 points, so it is expected to be one of the most lopsided games of the season. After taking out all games against FCS teams, the Bulldogs fall to 15th, but they still are FPI double-digit favorites in seven games this season.
Predicted point differential: 13 The Crimson Tide won an FBS-high 11 games by at least 14 points last season en route to their national championship. With a difficult SEC West slate, FPI does not expect them to replicate that dominance, but it does expect a few blowouts against teams such as Chattanooga, Kent State, Western Kentucky and Kentucky. Alabama should again have a dominant defense, but after losing its quarterback and two leading rushers, the Crimson Tide may not have the offense to rack up as many blowouts.
