Okay, I've shown you how the 2009 college football preseason magazines picked the Big 12 South teams to finish. Now it's time to chuck 'em. Now you get mine, and my reasons to back 'em up.
1) Oklahoma. So, you "bummer sooner" homers can shut your pie-holes about me being an OSU homer. Look, professionally, I don't care who wins. My job is to COVER the Big 12, not SUPPORT it. So, I do the adult thing and put my emotion and personal allegiance(s) aside, and call it as I see it with 21-years experience of covering college football. And, one of the first rules is: defense wins titles, and OU's defense will be the league's best this season. And I'm counting on that to trump the now relatively inexperience on the offensive line--one that last season gave Heisman winner Sam Bradford Secret Service-like protection.
2) Texas. It'll be close, and it'll probably come down to the "Red River Rivalry" in Dallas come the 3rd-Saturday in October. Yes, the Longhorns offense will be formidible with the return of Colt McCoy and a more experienced stable of running backs and Jordan Shipley out wide--along with a more experienced o-line. But defensively, I don't see them being as strong as a year ago, and they're still young in the secondary--something that doesn't bode well with the gunslingers that walk the planks of the league (Bradford, Zac Robinson, Todd Reesing to name just 3).
3) Oklahoma State. Yes, the Pokes 3rd, thanks to the 3-headed monster of QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and WR Dez Bryant. Offensive numbers could be Texas Tech like. It's the lack of a defense that keeps them from contending. If the "d" develops, the Pokes could be the darkhorse, and they do have UT at home, and OU in Norman--they seem to do better against the Sooners there.
T4) Texas Tech & Baylor. Yes, my "out on the limb" prediction--Baylor ties Tech for 4th and could very well pass the Red Raiders. Tech has a new QB in Taylor Potts, and he'll put up gaudy numbers, as will his stable of receivers--minus Michael Crabtree this season, though. Sorry, but they still have to prove to me they can play more consistent defense before I give them any kind of a nod.
T4) Baylor. Yes, the bad news bears--who look poised to finally make a bowl game after a 15-year absence. QB Robert Griffin is the real deal--you already know that. The thing is, are a lot more "real deals" than just Griffin. The Bears linebacker corps rivals any in the Big 12. Nobody wants to go over the middle on safety Jordan Lake. If the Bears can come up with a big win to open the season at Wake Forest and enter conference play at 4-0, they'll be in business. The daunting task will be a grueling Oct. 24 to Nov. 14 stretch--hosting OSU & Nebraska, at Missouri and then host Texas)--go .500 in that stretch? Wham. Bowl game. And they'll probably throw head coach Art Briles a ticker tape parade down Valley Mills Drive in Waco--that's how desperate they are for a winner. And this could be the year they get one.
6) Texas A&M. Sorry, still no "Wrecking Crew" resurrection in Aggieland, and that means life in the Big 12 South tomb.
There you go. Discuss.
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Can't disagree with much, however I think UT will beat OU again. Just like OU had the mental edge on UT in the early 2000's, UT has that same edge over OU right now.
ReplyDeleteI think that will allow UT to beat OU this year- which gives them a leg up to win the South.
No disrespect to OSU, but I think they are overrated. I don't think their offense gets that much better next year, while their defense is very much a huge question mark. OSU will be around top 25, but the top 10 predictions I see are a bit lofty.
OU-Texas could go either way, but I disagree about OSU being overrated. Just look at history when you have a "3-headed monster". Does Nebraska 1983 come to mind--"The Triplets", in Gill, Rozier and Fryar? Look at OSU in the mid-'80s, with Hilger, Thurman Thomas and Hart Lee Dykes? Fast-forward back to 2009, and throw in kick returner Perrish Cox and you have some firepower. I do agree that the defense is the ultimate question mark.
ReplyDeleteOSU has always been too up and down for me to see them finish top 10-15 as predicted by many. They will need to beat OU or UT to cancel out the annual random "wtf?" loss that they seem to get a year.
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