Big 12 Preview and Predictions

1. Baylor

            Baylor returns with one of the best offenses in the country led by All-American quarterback Bryce Petty. This offense should be the offense in the country with a great stable of running backs (led by Shock Linwood), receivers (Antwan Goodley). Baylor should have no problem putting up over 30 points a game, but the difference to this Baylor squad maybe the defense. The defensive line is stout to stop Big 12 rushing attacks and linebacker Bryce Hager is one of the best at his position. Each year the Baylor defense allows fewer points and if they continue on that trend, they will be the winners of the Big 12.

2. Texas

            In Texas’s first season under Charlie Strong, the Longhorns should once again make some noise in the Big 12 title chase.  From all reports, there is a lot of positive energy floating out of Austin. However, Charlie Strong keeps trying to lower expectations saying that Texas fans should not expect big things this up and coming year. While I agree that Texas is not a national contender they have more than enough talent to compete for the Big 12 title. The biggest concern for Texas is the quarterback position where David Ash has yet to explode onto the scene and duel threat Tyrone Swoops could provide a change of pace player that Texas has not seen since Vince Young, but has yet to surpass Ash on the depth chart. If Texas can settle the quarterback dilemma, Texas will return to there dominate status. I believe it will take a year for Strong to figure it out, and during that time, Texas will compete.

3. Oklahoma

Many experts have Oklahoma as a serious contender to not only win the Big 12 but to make the final four playoff format for the national title. But “Boomer Sooner” has been known to disappoint time and time again. There is no denying that Oklahoma is a talented bunch and they were a group that lost to only Baylor and Texas from a year ago. Sophomore sensation Trevor Knight looks to lead a very potent Sooner attack and their defense looks to be one of the best in the conference.

       However what hurts the Sooner this year and why I am not a huge fan of their chances this season is the conference looks to be much stronger than a year ago.  TCU and Kansas State are stronger and Texas Tech also looks to take a step forward and nobody is quite sure just how good Oklahoma State is. If the Cowboys can return to their 2012 form, that’s another team Oklahoma has to do battle with. Coupling the stronger Big 12 with Oklahoma ability to drop 2-3 games they are not supposed to I expect Oklahoma to come short once again.

4. TCU

            This could be one of Gary Patterson’s strongest squads since the 2011 season when the Horned Frogs went 11-2 in the Mountain West. While I do not expect the same results in the Big 12, TCU will be a tough team to contend with. TCU has one of the most ferocious defenses in the conference as they are strong up front with Chucky Hunter and Devonte Fields, while secure in the secondary with Sam Carter, Chris Hackett, and Kevin White. While many are praising the defenses of Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, TCU has the strongest group in the bunch. That defense should be able to keep TCU in many games and former Texas A&M quarterback transfer Matt Joeckel can win a handful of games for TCU. The Horned Frogs have 5 home games against their conference foes and if they can beat either Baylor or Texas on the road, they may be able to contend for the title.

5. Texas Tech

            Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury erupted onto the scene a year ago as Texas Tech started the season 7-0 and was ranked as high as number 10 in the country. Then came a close loss to Oklahoma (38-30) and the Red Raiders proceeded to lose their remaining games by an average of 24 ppg. Many attributed the losses to the fact that Texas Tech was most likely, playing above their heads, and that the downfall was inevitable. But when walk-on quarterback Baker Mayfield geot hurt, Cinderella seemed to have lost her glass slipper, destroyed the Red Raider mojo and their season. Now Mayfield is healthy, except now he plays for the Sooners. So sophomore Davis Webb takes over, and he actually had better numbers than Mayfield throughout the season. If Webb and Kingsbury can continue to recreate the magic from a season ago, Texas Tech will finish ahead of most of the pack.

6. Kansas State

            If you look up and down the Kansas State roster you will find that they have playmakers at every position. Defensive end Ryan Mueller was one of the nation’s leaders in sacks, wide receiver Taylor Lockett is one of the nation’s most dynamic receivers and Kansas State’s head coach Bill Snyder is one of the most respected coaches in the country. So what’s not to like? The schedule for one; trips to Oklahoma, TCU and Baylor are daunting considering the strengths of those teams. And while Kansas State seemed to have settled on senior Jake Waters, the running game, Snyder’s specialty, has yet to be settled with no incumbent asserting himself as the guy. They are good enough to finish in the in the middle of the pack and make a bowl game but title aspirations do not seem in the cards.

7. Oklahoma State

            It took a few years for coach Mike Gundy a few seasons to build the defense he needed to not only win the Big 12 but possibly a national title. Gundy now has that defense he can compare to other great programs around the nation. But now the problem is the offense that is littered with inconsistencies. The talent is there, but not realized yet. If Oklahoma State can return to their previous state when they were averaging over 30 points a game, they can be dark horses in the conference.

8. West Virginia

            This is not what West Virginia had in mind when they mad their move to the Big 12 in 2012. West Virginia is 5-12 in their first two years in the Big 12, and there is little on the way to provide any relief. Do you think West Virginia calls up the American Conference in the middle of the night to tell her that the Mountaineers made a mistake?

           

 9. Iowa State

            Iowa State seemed as if they were going in the right direction up until last year when they went 3-9. They would like to get back to .500 mark and returning 15 starters and having 5 Big 12 home games is a start. Iowa State has had this knack of pulling off the occasional upset from time to time (#15 TCU in 12’, #2 Oklahoma State in 11’, #22 Texas in 10’) and if they are able to pull off a couple upsets here and there they can get back to a bowl game. If they do, Rick Santorum better stay away:

10. Kansas

            How does Charlie Weiss not have his own reality show yet? That would be the only way somebody could watch a Kansas football game.

Games to Watch

1. Texas vs. Baylor

Just a season ago Texas had the opportunity to win the Big 12 title and possibly save the job of legendary coach Mack Brown. Texas had an abysmal start in 2013, losing 2 of their first 3, and many thought this would be the end of Texas. But then Texas won 6 straight including their Red River Shootout with Oklahoma and Texas found themselves in the middle of the Big 12 race. On the last game of the season they rolled into Baylor and got romped 30-10. You better believe that Texas has this game circled on their calendar. If Baylor is able to beat the Longhorns again then all roads lead to the playoff. But if Texas wins, and they are able to beat Oklahoma in their annual rivalry game, then those expectations will be raised whether coach Strong likes it or not.

2. Texas vs. Oklahoma

            This game is always intriguing but if Texas is able to Baylor the week before than this game has even higher stakes. This will be Oklahoma’s first true test however, and if the Sooners are able to win perhaps they will be able to live up their own expectations. But if Oklahoma loses this one, is it possible that Bob Stoops will be on the hot seat?

3. Oklahoma vs. Baylor

            In Baylor last big test, a trip to Norman will decide their fate if all goes to plan. If Oklahoma is able to get by Texas and avoid the usual slip up, this game will also decide the Sooner fate. One has to believe that any team from the Big 12 cannot lose more than 1 game to get into the National Title playoff picture. But on November 8^th, if all goes to plan, both the Bears and the Sooners will have that on their mind.