Big X I I Picks - Oklahoma Vunerable Early ?

[MeanGreen61]

Dallas Morning News. Hmmm Oklahoma vunerable early for a couple of conference losses ? Interesting ! Former SLC QB to guide Missouri to North title.

HOW THEY'LL FINISH

Here's a look at Chip Brown's Big 12 predictions for 2007, with finish, overall record and Big 12 record:

SOUTH

1. Oklahoma

Record: 10-2, 6-2

League losses: at Colorado, Texas

Bottom line: The Sooners are starting a first-year quarterback, which could make them vulnerable to a couple of early conference losses. But the defending Big 12 champs should be hard to beat by season's end with talent everywhere else. OU wins the South on tiebreakers.

2. Oklahoma State

Record: 10-2, 6-2

League losses: at Nebraska, at OU

Bottom line: This program has serious momentum after pounding Nebraska last season and beating Alabama in the Independence Bowl. Road games at Georgia, Troy, Texas A&M, Nebraska and OU will be daunting, but the Cowboys have lots of fearless, young talent.

3. Texas

Record: 10-2, 6-2

League losses: at Okla. St., at Texas A&M

Bottom line: The passing game and run defense should be among the best in the country, and TCU is the toughest nonconference opponent. But the Longhorns must answer serious questions from last year about their pass defense and inability to run the ball.

4. Texas A&M

Record: 7-5, 4-4

League losses: Okla. St., at Nebraska, at OU, at Mizzou

Bottom line: Quarterback Stephen McGee is a stud on an offense that mauls people. But key losses on defense and a road schedule that includes Miami (Fla.), Texas Tech, Nebraska, OU and Missouri will trip up the Aggies.

5. Texas Tech

Record: 7-5;3-5

League losses: at Okla. St., Texas A&M, at Mizzou, at Texas, OU

Bottom line: Tech has only four starters back on offense and only five back on defense. If Mike Leach hasn't been recruiting well, it will show. A typically soft nonleague schedule should ensure Tech remains the only Big 12 team without a losing season since the conference was formed.

6. Baylor

Record: 3-9, 0-8

League losses: All of them

Bottom line: After manhandling bowl-bound Kansas State last year and beating Colorado on the road, the Bears have lost too much manpower to succeed in 2007. Baylor is starting over at quarterback, receiver and in the secondary. Coach Guy Morriss will need more time.

NORTH

1. Missouri

Record: 10-2, 6-2

League losses: at OU, at Colorado

Bottom line: The Tigers have the most experienced talent in the North, only four road games, and they get Nebraska at home. Quarterback Chase Daniel of Southlake Carroll will help erase any mistakes by coach Gary Pinkel. Mizzou wins the North with a tiebreaker win over the Cornhuskers.

2. Nebraska

Record: 8-4, 6-2

League losses: at Mizzou, at Texas

Bottom line: Coaching blunders cost the Big Red a Cotton Bowl victory against Auburn and tempered enthusiasm about progress made in three seasons under Bill Callahan. If a new defensive line exceeds expectations, Nebraska could return to the Big 12 title game this year.

3. Colorado

Record: 7-5, 5-3

League losses: at Kansas St., at Texas Tech, Nebraska

Bottom line: Dan Hawkins redshirted his son, Cody, at quarterback last season. With Cody on the field, an offense that couldn't score in 2006 will improve dramatically. There's talent on defense, although not much depth anywhere if injuries flare up.

4. Kansas State

Record: 6-6, 4-4

League losses: at Texas, at Okla. St., at Nebraska, Mizzou

Bottom line: There's lots of uncertainty in Manhattan as coach Ron Prince goes to a 3-4 defense and attempts to rebuild on the offensive line. Ian Campbell will move from defensive end to outside linebacker after posting 11 ½ sacks in 2006. Quarterback Josh Freeman is a rising star.

5. Kansas

Record: 6-6, 2-6

League losses: at K-State, at Colorado, at A&M, Nebraska, at Okla. St., Mizzou (in Kansas City)

Bottom line: Last year, KU lost five games in which it led in the second half. Coach Mark Mangino is struggling to find a quarterback, as he has the last four years. Cornerback Aqib Talib is the real deal on a defense with lots of questions.

6. Iowa State

Record: 2-10, 0-8

League losses: All of them

Bottom line: It could be a rough start for new coach Gene Chizik. He must rebuild both lines, has no proven running back and faces a schedule that includes South opponents OU, Texas and Texas Tech. Eleven of his 25-man freshman class are junior college transfers.

BIG 12 TITLE GAME IN SAN ANTONIO: OU over Missouri

ARTICLE

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...wn.242c270.html

[Harry]

The problem we will have at OU is not their quarterback, it is their offensive line. I believe the average around 6-5, 310 pounds with one of them at 6-8, 335! Our defensive line will probably average about 6-2, 270...do the math.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

The problem we will have at OU is not their quarterback, it is their offensive line. I believe the average around 6-5, 310 pounds with one of them at 6-8, 335! Our defensive line will probably average about 6-2, 270...do the math.

---Against a fast pass happy team they could have a problem. The key is throw it and in a hurry, and wear their tails out.... which could work even better in hot weather and these boys are bent over sucking air. Run the devil out of these guys, even sweeps will wear them out some. Later in the game then running the ball occasionally might work well. Be unpredictable One the things is really liked about Gordon Wood in Brownwood ( my hometown) years ago... His offensive plan changed every week to damage what the other team had problems with. Some weeks there would be lots of passing and then the next not very much. Dodge KNOWS HOW TO WIN (79-1) and will not do the same thing every week and will not try to do the game-plan the other team wants NT to play.

---If you look at their losses the past two years, the teams that gave them trouble were teams that could throw the ball well.

---I also hope that we can pressure their inexperienced QB early and force mistakes and get into his head. If he starts doing poorly the OU crowd will not be patient with him since he has no history of winning.

----------

Interesting (first three games of OU past two years)...3-3

2006: defeated (3-9) UAB by 7, defeated (5-7) Washington by 17, lost to (7-6) Oregon by 1.

2005: lost to (11-1) TCU by 7, defeated (9-4) Tulsa by 16, lost to (10-2) UCLA by 17.

Edited June 23, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[good_ken]

---Against a fast pass happy team they could have a problem. The key is throw it and in a hurry, and wear their tails out.... which could work even better in hot weather and these boys are bent over sucking air. Run the devil out of these guys, even sweeps will wear them out some. Later in the game then running the ball occasionally might work well. Be unpredictable One the things is really liked about Gordon Wood in Brownwood ( my hometown) years ago... His offensive plan changed every week to damage what the other team had problems with. Some weeks there would be lots of passing and then the next not very much. Dodge KNOWS HOW TO WIN (79-1) and will not do the same thing every week and will not try to do the game-plan the other team wants NT to play.

---If you look at their losses the past two years, the teams that gave them trouble were teams that could throw the ball well.

---I also hope that we can pressure their inexperienced QB early and force mistakes and get into his head. If he starts doing poorly the OU crowd will not be patient with him since he has no history of winning.

----------

Interesting (first three games of OU past two years)...3-3

2006: defeated (3-9) UAB by 7, defeated (5-7) Washington by 17, lost to (7-6) Oregon by 1.

2005: lost to (11-1) TCU by 7, defeated (9-4) Tulsa by 16, lost to (10-2) UCLA by 17.

That still doens't address the fact that they have mountains for offensive lineman. And that we don't have much depth or size on the D-line.

[Hunter Green]

Also, don't assume Daniel Meager has automatically become a quarterback that can get the ball to a receiver. I hope he has, I hope he has very much.