TulsaHale74
07-08-2008, 11:33 AM
Dallas Morning News (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/cbrown/stories/0708dnspobig12column.3df601e.html)
- Missouri to play in National Championship game
- Tech to lose to both Oklahoma schools
- Texas to lose to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tech.
- Oklahoma to lose to A&M (huh?)
If Oklahoma State goes 8-4,4-4 I think most OSU fans will be content. Might need to beat Colorado to get there if Tech gets lucky.;)
SOUTH
1. OKLAHOMA
Record: 11-1, 7-1
League losses: at Texas A&M
Bottom line: The Sooners have a monster offense and always seem to field a talented defense no matter who moves on. OU has another head-scratching loss – in 2007, it was at Colorado – before going on to lock up the Big 12 South title for the seventh time in 10 seasons under Bob Stoops.
2. TEXAS TECH
Record: 10-2, 6-2
League losses: Oklahoma State, at Oklahoma
Bottom line: Mike Leach, the Captain Jack Sparrow of the South Plains, puts his best team on the field with impressive results. Most impressive of all will be defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill convincing doubters that Tech can do more than play offense.
3. TEXAS
Record: 9-3, 5-3
League losses: Oklahoma, Missouri, at Texas Tech
Bottom line: Too many unproven skill positions on offense need time to get valuable experience. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will get the defense straightened out with some growing pains. All signs point to 2009 for a big run by the Longhorns.
4. OKLAHOMA STATE
Record: 8-4, 4-4
League losses: at Missouri, at Texas, at Colorado, Oklahoma
Bottom line: This is Mike Gundy's best team in four seasons at OSU. Despite the drama around his relationship with Bobby Reid, Gundy made the right decision by switching to Zac Robinson at QB. The offense has a new coordinator, but it's time for the defense to make noise in Stillwater.
5. TEXAS A&M
Record: 8-4, 4-4
League losses: at Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Colorado, at Texas
Bottom line: New coach Mike Sherman brings a swagger to campus that has been sorely lacking. His players pick up on it and collect a couple of key wins, against Miami and my upset special this season: a home win over Oklahoma.
6. BAYLOR
Record: 3-9, 1-7
League losses: Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State, at Nebraska, Missouri, at Texas, Texas A&M, at Texas Tech
Bottom line: The Bears can no longer be penciled in as an automatic victory for opponents now that Art Briles has taken over. The guy is a winner and has just enough talent to shock one or two teams this season. The problem is depth.
NORTH
1. MISSOURI
Record: 12-0, 8-0
League losses: None
Bottom line: If the Tigers can get past Illinois in the opener, they gain nothing but momentum for their two toughest road games – at Nebraska and at Texas. Chase Daniel of Southlake Carroll is on a mission, but it's the Tigers' improved defense that will put them in the BCS national title game.
2. KANSAS
Record: 8-4, 4-4
League losses: at Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas, Missouri
Bottom line: Mark Mangino has to find some new talent at running back, tight end, cornerback and on both lines. He also lost one of the best defensive coordinators in the country in Bill Young to Miami (Fla.). But the Jayhawks still have a strong nucleus from last year's 12-1 run.
3. COLORADO
Record: 7-5, 4-4
League losses: Texas, at Kansas, at Missouri, at Nebraska
Bottom line: No one plays a tougher nonconference schedule than the Buffs, who play at home against West Virginia and at Florida State. Dan Hawkins' sophomore son, Cody, is a year wiser at quarterback, and freshman RB Darrell Scott makes his debut.
4. NEBRASKA
Record: 5-7, 3-5
League losses: Missouri, at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma, Kansas, at Kansas St.
Bottom line: Bo Pelini gets no favors from the schedule with Virginia Tech and road games at Tech and OU. He also must endure the growing pains of a first-year coach while replacing the back seven of his defense.
5. IOWA STATE
Record: 4-8, 1-7
League losses: Kansas, at Baylor, Nebraska, Texas A&M, at Okla. St., at Colorado, Missouri
Bottom line: Coach Gene Chizik is starting over at QB. But the Cyclones battled last year, scaring OU in a 17-7 loss and beating Colorado and K-State. Chizik is still rebuilding, but the attitudes are changing in Ames.
6. KANSAS STATE
Record: 4-8, 1-7
League losses: Texas Tech, at Texas A&M, at Colorado, Oklahoma, at Kansas, at Missouri, Iowa St.
Bottom line: Ron Prince is either panicking or a complete genius by bringing in 19 junior college players. It looks like panic, especially after the defense caved in last year. QB Josh Freeman, WR Deon Murphy, RB Leon Patton and DE Ian Campbell are bright spots.
- Missouri to play in National Championship game
- Tech to lose to both Oklahoma schools
- Texas to lose to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tech.
- Oklahoma to lose to A&M (huh?)
If Oklahoma State goes 8-4,4-4 I think most OSU fans will be content. Might need to beat Colorado to get there if Tech gets lucky.;)
SOUTH
1. OKLAHOMA
Record: 11-1, 7-1
League losses: at Texas A&M
Bottom line: The Sooners have a monster offense and always seem to field a talented defense no matter who moves on. OU has another head-scratching loss – in 2007, it was at Colorado – before going on to lock up the Big 12 South title for the seventh time in 10 seasons under Bob Stoops.
2. TEXAS TECH
Record: 10-2, 6-2
League losses: Oklahoma State, at Oklahoma
Bottom line: Mike Leach, the Captain Jack Sparrow of the South Plains, puts his best team on the field with impressive results. Most impressive of all will be defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill convincing doubters that Tech can do more than play offense.
3. TEXAS
Record: 9-3, 5-3
League losses: Oklahoma, Missouri, at Texas Tech
Bottom line: Too many unproven skill positions on offense need time to get valuable experience. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will get the defense straightened out with some growing pains. All signs point to 2009 for a big run by the Longhorns.
4. OKLAHOMA STATE
Record: 8-4, 4-4
League losses: at Missouri, at Texas, at Colorado, Oklahoma
Bottom line: This is Mike Gundy's best team in four seasons at OSU. Despite the drama around his relationship with Bobby Reid, Gundy made the right decision by switching to Zac Robinson at QB. The offense has a new coordinator, but it's time for the defense to make noise in Stillwater.
5. TEXAS A&M
Record: 8-4, 4-4
League losses: at Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Colorado, at Texas
Bottom line: New coach Mike Sherman brings a swagger to campus that has been sorely lacking. His players pick up on it and collect a couple of key wins, against Miami and my upset special this season: a home win over Oklahoma.
6. BAYLOR
Record: 3-9, 1-7
League losses: Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State, at Nebraska, Missouri, at Texas, Texas A&M, at Texas Tech
Bottom line: The Bears can no longer be penciled in as an automatic victory for opponents now that Art Briles has taken over. The guy is a winner and has just enough talent to shock one or two teams this season. The problem is depth.
NORTH
1. MISSOURI
Record: 12-0, 8-0
League losses: None
Bottom line: If the Tigers can get past Illinois in the opener, they gain nothing but momentum for their two toughest road games – at Nebraska and at Texas. Chase Daniel of Southlake Carroll is on a mission, but it's the Tigers' improved defense that will put them in the BCS national title game.
2. KANSAS
Record: 8-4, 4-4
League losses: at Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas, Missouri
Bottom line: Mark Mangino has to find some new talent at running back, tight end, cornerback and on both lines. He also lost one of the best defensive coordinators in the country in Bill Young to Miami (Fla.). But the Jayhawks still have a strong nucleus from last year's 12-1 run.
3. COLORADO
Record: 7-5, 4-4
League losses: Texas, at Kansas, at Missouri, at Nebraska
Bottom line: No one plays a tougher nonconference schedule than the Buffs, who play at home against West Virginia and at Florida State. Dan Hawkins' sophomore son, Cody, is a year wiser at quarterback, and freshman RB Darrell Scott makes his debut.
4. NEBRASKA
Record: 5-7, 3-5
League losses: Missouri, at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma, Kansas, at Kansas St.
Bottom line: Bo Pelini gets no favors from the schedule with Virginia Tech and road games at Tech and OU. He also must endure the growing pains of a first-year coach while replacing the back seven of his defense.
5. IOWA STATE
Record: 4-8, 1-7
League losses: Kansas, at Baylor, Nebraska, Texas A&M, at Okla. St., at Colorado, Missouri
Bottom line: Coach Gene Chizik is starting over at QB. But the Cyclones battled last year, scaring OU in a 17-7 loss and beating Colorado and K-State. Chizik is still rebuilding, but the attitudes are changing in Ames.
6. KANSAS STATE
Record: 4-8, 1-7
League losses: Texas Tech, at Texas A&M, at Colorado, Oklahoma, at Kansas, at Missouri, Iowa St.
Bottom line: Ron Prince is either panicking or a complete genius by bringing in 19 junior college players. It looks like panic, especially after the defense caved in last year. QB Josh Freeman, WR Deon Murphy, RB Leon Patton and DE Ian Campbell are bright spots.