Big 12 South and Big 12 Champion

I do not want this blog to be filled with boring analysis all the time. However, I think it is necessary to make the preseason predictions for a few reasons. One, if they pan out well, I can claim how much of a genius I am. Two, if my predictions are way off, my friends, blog followers, and I can can make fun of me. It also lets people know where I stand as far as opinions on certain teams, players, coaches, etc... I promise, after this prediction post, things will be more entertaining here.

The Big 12 South is a little more interesting to pick. Many preseason rankings have three Big 12 teams (Oklahoma, Texas, and Oklahoma State) ranked in the top 10 nationally. Crazy! I don't think Oklahoma St is that good, but their schedule sets up nicely for the Big 12 season. Well, here goes nothing.

1. Oklahoma: Bob Stoops may choke in major Bowl games, but he dominates the Big 12. In the 10 previous years Stoops was the coach at OU, they won 6 out of 10 Big 12 titles, including the last three in a row. Not to mention they return virtually all of their offensive weapons and defensive playmakers. If their offensive line wasn't so untested, this would have been a no-brainer, but...

2. Texas: Colt McCoy had an incredible season last year. I honestly don't think he can repeat it. I think Texas takes a step back offensively this season. Their defense, however, will be very tough. Obviously the game against OU will be huge. The determining factor will be how much pressure Texas can get on Sam Bradford without blitzing. Remember that inexperienced offensive line at Oklahoma? Could be interesting. I also picked them second to Oklahoma because I still think Mack Brown isn't a very good game coach. Great recruiter, below average coach.

3. Oklahoma State: I don't really like this pick, and I keep trying to convince myself I should put Texas Tech here, but after looking at their schedules I just can't. There is no way Oklahoma State is a top 10 team, but they should finish #3 in the Big 12 South. They have an easier Big 12 schedule than Texas Tech (OSU vs. Tech is in Stillwater), and their "tough" Big 12 North games are at home (Mizzou and Colorado). They obviously have some great talent, I just don't think their supporting cast is good enough to make them a serious BCS contender. Schedule is the main reason they are my #3 pick.

4. Texas Tech: I hate picking Mike Leach this low. The guy is probably the most underrated coach in America. Yes, they lose Graham Harrell (who went undrafted by the way) and Michael Crabtree, but they lose statistic studs every year and Leach's teams never miss an offensive beat. Plus their defense should be improved this year with all three linebackers returning and a solid defensive line. The reason I picked them 4th is because they have to play at Okie State and at Nebraska. Don't be surprised if they finish 3rd.

5. Baylor: The fact that people are even talking about Baylor making a Bowl Game is incredible. I don't think there has ever been a player increase the interest level in a team more than Robert Griffin. But remember, he is just one player and they did have a certain offensive lineman picked #2 overall in the draft last year. That usually helps a QB. They do have some playmakers on defense with Joe Pawelek, Jordan Lake, and the addition of Phil Taylor at DT. Remember when I said Oklahoma State didn't have the supporting cast to "get it done." Well, Okie State's supporting cast is about 10 times better than Baylor's.

6. Texas A&M: Young team with poor coaching=not a very good team. I think Mike Sherman is a terrible fit for the college game. He reminds me so much of Bill Callahan it is scary for Texas A&M. They do have some talent, but so does Texas and Oklahoma. Their young talent is just sitting on the bench because of the studs who are starting. It will be another long year in College Station.

Championship Game:

Oklahoma vs. Nebraska: It will be the second time these teams will have played this season. I predict Oklahoma will win a fairly close (less than 14 points) game in Lincoln on November 7th. However, in friendlier confines (the new Cowboys stadium), and the motivation of getting a chance to play Florida again in the National Championship Game ahead, I predict the Sooners will win easily.

2009 Big 12 Champion: The Oklahoma Sooners

There you have it. Carve it in stone and come back and make fun of me later when Texas smokes OU,Texas Tech wins at Oklahoma State and Nebraska, and Baylor finishes 4th in the Big 12 South.

Preseason Predictions

Generally I think preseason predictions are the dumbest thing in the world. Who really gives a crap? Actually, more people care than we think.

You know the players care. They say they don't, yet if they aren't predicted to finish first they always claim they have been disrespected. I've got news for you players. It's not disrespect, it's called honesty. When I predict Iowa State and Kansas State to finish at the bottom of the Big 12 North, it's because I honestly think they will be the two worst teams in the North. Not because I don't respect you, I just don't think you stack up.

The coaches claim they don't care. I believe some of them, but not all of them.

The fans care. It gives them something to argue about before the season starts. Plus, it generates the desire to come up with their own predictions and think to themselves: "Hey, I should start a blog. I know more than the idiots at (fill in the blank)." Thing is, they are probably right. I will save my rant on national college football "experts" for another day because now it's time for what you have all been waiting for...my predictions.

I was going reveal my Big 12 North predictions with well layed out arguments for each team. Screw that! That's not the purpose of this blog. This is about gut feelings with a some logic mixed in. Not "Well, Kansas returns Todd Reesing and he's pretty good, so they will win the Big 12 North." You will not get that from me. This is what my gut tells me.

1. Nebraska: Pelini is a good coach. They had talent when he took over, the players just didn't know how to work hard because Callahan was such a piece of crap. Their D will be up there with Oklahoma and Texas as the best in the league this year. Helu will emerge as a star. If Zac Lee can perform at a high level, Nebraska could be pretty darn good. Not good enough to beat Texas and OU though.

2. Kansas: Logic would say they should win the North. They get Nebraska at home. But, they play the brutal Big 12 South schedule (Texas, OU, and Texas Tech). Reesing is good (Kansas fans: I did spell that correctly. I didn't accidently add an "o" and forget to capitalize the "g"). Bad 0-line play will be their doom. Breaking in a bunch of new linebackers doesn't help either, even though a solid d-line should soften the blow there. In fact, if Mangino wasn't their coach I would pick them at 4.

3. Colorado: I don't know if Colorado is really going to be that good or if I just think Mizzou is going to fall of that much. Darrell Scott is poised to have a good season. That will provide them with a good 1-2 punch along side Colorado's version of Darren Sproles, Rodney Stewart. Plus their O-line should be pretty good. I think their QB's are well below average, but the previously mentioned running backs and o-line should help with that.

4. Mizzou: Lost a TON. Maclin was the best player Mizzou has had in years...probably since Kellen Winslow. I don't think they will miss Chase Daniel that much. Dude was way overrated. They will miss Maclin, Coffman, Sulak, Hood, and William Moore though. Plus they lost their offensive and defensive coordinators. Derek Washington is just an average back and that will show this year without Maclin and Coffman around.

5. Iowa State: I view this as a similar situation as Nebraska last year. Way under achieved the year before because the coaching staff didn't give a rats ass. At least this year they should play hard and win a conference game or two. There is some talent on offense in Ames, but they will have to out score people in a league with a lot of pretty good offenses. Their defense was terrible last year. It should be a little better, but still not very good.

6. Kansas State: I think they are going to be terrible. Ron Prince ran them WAAAYYY into the ground. Not just with his craziness, but with terrible recruiting. At least Callahan and Chizik brought in some talent. Prince put together some terrible recruiting classes at Kansas State. He got 1 0r 2 good players a year (Josh Freeman, Lamark Brown, etc...) and then a bunch of garbage. Bill Snyder may know a thing or two about coaching (even though everyone seems to forget he was run out of town the last time), but it just isn't going to happen this year in Manhattan.