The 2012 college football season is the rearview mirror, but it's never too early to look ahead to 2013.

My predictions have largely been hit or (really) miss over the last few seasons. This past season, I predicted Alabama would play for the BCS National Championship again.

But I had the Crimson Tide losing to USC.

Here's what else I got right: Florida State playing in the Discover Orange Bowl, Oklahoma playing in the Cotton Bowl, and Wisconsin and Louisville playing in BCS bowl games (I had the Badgers in the Fiesta Bowl and the Cardinals in the Orange Bowl).

Here's what else I got wrong: Northern Illinois playing in the GoDaddy.com Bowl, Michigan State playing in the Rose Bowl, Texas playing in the Sugar Bowl and Notre Dame playing in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

Well, it never hurts to keep trying, so here are 10 bold predictions for 2013:

1. An SEC team will win the BCS National Championship for the eighth consecutive season.

AJ McCarron and Alabama will be back next season. That's bad news for the rest of the country. AP Photo/Dave Martin

I know -- I'm really going out on a limb with my first prediction. As they say: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. After predicting USC would win a BCS National Championship this past season, I've decided I'm going to pick an SEC team to win it every season until a team from another conference actually does it.

Two-time defending national champion Alabama will once again be the team to beat, but the Crimson Tide will have to replace three starters on their offensive line, including All-America guard Chance Warmack and Rimington Trophy winner Barrett Jones. But with quarterback AJ McCarron coming back for his senior season, along with tailback T.J. Yeldon and receiver Amari Cooper, it's hard to imagine Alabama won't simply reload. Alabama's defense should be even better in 2013 after starting so many younger players this past season.

If Alabama doesn't win three BCS National Championships in a row, Texas A&M might be the second-best bet out of the SEC West. Florida, Georgia and South Carolina also are more than capable of making a BCS championship run in the SEC East.

2. McCarron will be a Heisman Trophy finalist, and might even win it.

What more does McCarron have to do to be considered one of the country's most elite quarterbacks? Over the last two seasons, he has guided the Crimson Tide to a 25-2 record and two BCS National Championships. This past season, he led the country in passing efficiency and threw 30 touchdowns with only three interceptions in 314 pass attempts.

More importantly, McCarron has played his best in Alabama's two biggest games. In the last two BCS national championship games, McCarron has completed 43 of 62 passes for 498 yards and hasn't thrown an interception.

Along with McCarron, these players might have the best chances at being invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation: Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (the reigning Heisman winner), South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd and USC wide receiver Marqise Lee.

3. Atlanta and Dallas will be the biggest winners in the new playoff chase.