Big 12 South Preview

The road to the Big 12 and National championship has always run through the Cotton Bowl on a weekend in October.  This year is a little different in that a couple home games for Oklahoma teams have a big say in how that ends up.

Baylor – With 18 year old Robert Griffin at the helm, the Bears had their 13th consecutive losing season. On the offense Griffin will get help from Jay Finley at RB.  Coach Briles invested in some Juco transfers to shore up the O line which was a big need.  On Defense, the Bears need someone to emerge on the edge as a leader.  They are solid at linebacker and better in the secondary than they look if they could quit playing musical chairs.  Does their 14 year bowl drought come to an end?.  It’ll come down to the wire….but no.

Oklahoma – Offensive line and the secondary are the themes for this year.  The O line is replacing four starters who deserve a chunk of the Heisman trophy with 11 sacks allowed last year.  Williams will come back and anchor the line on Bradford’s weak side.  The O line will get it together by conf play but beware of the U on October 3rd. 

On the Defensive side, the defensive line is solid and as good as we’ve had in a while.  Thank goodness because that will take pressure off of the walking wounded at LB position.  LB’s are pretty solid but with a couple key losses this fall, there are some questions.  The Secondary is returning a couple solid players but they lack good coaching and experience. 

Oklahoma State
All hail the greatest show on turf in the mecca of college football known as rustoleum stadium.  For all of you who have heard “wait until next year” your whole life out of the Pokes, well this is their chance to put Stillwater on the map.  This offense is going to put up some points. The Georgia game next weekend either cranks the hype machine up to 11 or shuts it down. 

The big question is can the D do anything but be a speed bump?  Bill Young will make a difference as the new coordinator.  More depth on the D line and experienced linebackers will help cover for a suspect secondary.  Perrish Cox and Terrence Anderson are the keys.

Texas
And speaking of hype machines, can we talk any more about how poor mack brown was screwed by the Big 12’s rules last year or how Colt McCoy and his life partner Jordan Shipley are back and ready for revenge?  Vondrell McGee and Cody Johnson should anchor the RB corps that suffered from poor run blocking last year.  The line returns 4 starters and should be solid.  “Best team since 2005” some people say.  Maybe.

On the D side of the ball Sergio Kindle is the new Brian Orakpo.  Roddrick Muckelroy leads the linebackers and the secondary has turned from a liability to an asset.  See you in the Cotton Bowl, winner takes all for the Big 12.

Texas A&M – Rebuilding pretty much everywhere.  Jerrod Johnson returns at QB and will have a couple solid targets to pass to in returning receivers Fuller and Tannehill.  Cyrus Gray and Bradley Stevens will make a go at it to replace Goodson and Big Baby Lane in the backfield behind an O line that returns four starters and three reserves.  Someone emerges as a star in the A&M skill positions.  We’ll see who.

On D, Von Miller will be the player to watch at end and anchors the line.  The Aggies are hoping to shake their “Linebacker Who?” status with some returning starters that could make some noise, like Kyle Mangen and Freshman Malcolm Johnson. 

Texas Tech - The dream season that could have been is over and like me, not coming back to Lubbock any time soon.  Mike Leach will say and do some funny things.  The Red Raiders will load up on a powder puff schedule early to get in the top 25 and then make it to a mid-tier bowl game.  Any questions.

Final Big 12 South Rankings
1- Oklahoma  (Beats Texas on the road and Okie Lite at home)
a. Of course if Oklahoma loses in Texas to Texas we are looking at a 3 way tie and the Horns will get the nod from the voters.
2- Oklahoma State (Beats Texas at home)
3- Texas (Really mad this time)
4- Texas Tech
5- Baylor
6- A&M



Mark my words, OSU will poke it's way into the final top 10 rankings.