Bad Sports: OSU as the best in the Big 12 South?
It's early in the college football season yet, but we're still far enough along that we can start to make some judgments about which teams might be pretty good (and not).
So, just for fun, let's take a look back at the Big 12 South preseason picks from Terrance Harris, half of the Chron's bumbling duo of Big 12 reporters:
1. Oklahoma State
-Offensive weapons galore and just wait until you see Bobby Reid do his Vince Young impression this season. Look for the Cowboys to stun the Longhorns come Nov. 3.
2. Texas A&M
-Aggies have the toughest road to go in the Big 12 South, but they also arguably have the most talented offensive cast of any of the division opponents. Look for a combination of ball control offense and outstanding defensive play to carry the day in key road games against Tech, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
3. Texas
-Colt McCoy will be a year wiser and with the help of Jamaal Charles and Limas Sweed should take another huge step forward this season. But there could be questions along the offensive line and in some key defensive areas.
4. Oklahoma
-The Sooners are more than able to replace Adrian Peterson in the backfield, but who's at quarterback? Not much was settled this spring between Joey Halzle and redshirt freshman Sam Bradford.
5. Texas Tech
-The Red Raiders will again put up staggering offensive numbers, but one day Mike Leach will learn this game is really about how you play defense.
6. Baylor
-How can we say this? It's been real coach Morriss.
A few weeks into the season, it seems safe to say (as I said weeks ago) that those picks are pretty wack.
Oklahoma State has started the season 1-2, losing last night to tiny Troy State (after a lackluster performance at Georgia). They may come closer to contending with Baylor for last than contending with the big boys of the South. Boone Pickens, who effectively runs OSU athletics after donating millions, will surely fire head coach Mike Gundy after this season.
Texas A&M will not be finishing second in the South. Their schedule pretty much assured that, but nearly losing last weekend to Fresno illustrated all of the weaknesses with A&M football -- including a lackluster offense that is hardly the "most talented" in the South. Coach Fran seems likely to join Mike Gundy on the unemployment line after this season.
Texas has struggled more than some fans would like, and the arrests are becoming a distraction, but Mack Brown still has a team loaded with talent. They'll be around the top of the division as long as Mack Brown's recruiting machine remains intact. Talent wins.
Oklahoma has had a nice early run, and the quarterback play has been stellar, but it's a little too early to anoint them (as some people are doing). Sam Bradford tends to stare down his primary receiver, and good teams will figure that out. Still, like Texas, Oklahoma has too much talent across the board for anyone to pick them lower than second in this division.
Those Big 12 picks from Harris were wack when they came out, as the season is proving.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 09/15/07 12:01 PM | Print | Comments (1)
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