Arguably the strongest single division this side of the SEC East the Big 12 South once again features legit title contenders in Texas and Oklahoma. What makes this year different is that Dennis Francione is finally fielding a team worth a damn (he's got to feel guilty about stealing all of that money) not to mention Oklahoma State's revival as well as Texas Tech bringing back a starting QB and you can see just how difficult the season will be for whomever manages to take the division. While the Big 12 North still sucks a fat one the South is packed will quality talent across the board (no, I am not talking about you Baylor) and looks to be a very competitive group. Without further adieu here is your Big 12 South preview..
Oklahoma: The Sooners look to be the most talented team in the Big 12 at every position except for one teensy, tiny spot: QB. Rs. Freshman Sam Bradford has been named the starter after his impressive scrimmage this week and if he can simply hold down the fort and hand the ball off to the best trio of RB's in the country the Sooners look to be national contenders once again. Super Frosh DeMarco Murray is being hyped as Reggie Bush-lite and gives OU a dynamic change of pace in the backfield. Bradford will also have the help of All-Big 12 WR Malcolm Kelly to throw to as well as young stud TE Jermaine Gresham. Featuring the best O-line in the Big 12 OU looks to have the best, most effective ground game in the conference (sorry A&M). On the defensive side the Sooners will field the best secondary in the conference (maybe the nation) with Reggie Smith (Jr.) and Marcus Walker (Sr.) at DB and D.J. Wolfe (Sr.) and Darien Williams (Sr.) at the safety spots. While there are holes to fill in the front seven one that Bob Stoops has proved time and time again it is that he can develop defensive players. Assuming OU fields a defense on par with their standards OU should take the Red River Shootout...I mean rivalry thus winning the South title going 11-1 with a loss to either A&M or Oklahoma State and I think OU will take down NEB in the conference title game in a repeat of last years final.
Texas: Colt McCoy was the surprise of the Big 12 last season and looks to emerge as one of the top QB's in the country this year. With WR's like Limas Sweed and Billy Pittman (currently injured) Colt McCoy would have a hard time not succeeding this year in Austin. If Jamaal Charles plays more like he did when he was a freshman as opposed to last season UT will make a run at a national title. With three sophomores starting on the O-line this may be the reason (will be in my opinion) UT drops the Red River shootout...I mean rivalry this year. The defense loses 3 NFL draft picks from their secondary but seeing as how Texas could not stop anyone passing the ball last year that may not be a bad thing. Stud DT Frank Okam is the anchor of a stout D-line and the LB's are composed of two Jr's and one Sr. making this a very experienced front seven. While I do think Texas will avenge their loss to in-state rival Texas A&M I like OU just a tad more to win the South (as well as the Big 12 title game). When it is all said and done I see Texas going 11-1 with a loss to OU..
Texas A&M: Dennis Francione has been legally stealing money from A&M ever since he spurned Alabama however this year he may give something back. Featuring the best running backfield in the Big 12 with second year starting QB Stephen McGee as well as the best RB duo in the conference featuring Javorski Lane and speedy Michael Goodson (my lawyers tell me I am contractually obligated to call them "Thunder and Lightning"). The only problem with A&M's offense, and it is a small one really, is that they cannot throw the damn ball. While McGee may be fleet of foot he has yet to find his groove throwing the ball. This is a shame seeing as how the Aggies have the best TE in the nation in Martellus Bennett. Should McGee learn how to throw the ball the Aggies' chances of winning the Big 12 will skyrocket. With a defense running the funky 4-2-5 formation Texas A&M's defense was a little hit or miss last season. With four senior starters Texas A&M may be a little young on defense but they should be athletic enough to keep them in every game. With road games at Miami, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri the Aggies very well may be a better team with more losses. Look for A&M to upset either the Huskers or the Sooners but drop games to Oklahoma State, Texas and Miami giving them 4 losses on the year and finishing at 8-4..
Oklahoma State: The best offense in the Big 12 does not live in Austin or Columbia but in a little piece of paradise known as Stillwater, Oklahoma. With a dynamic QB (Bobby Reid) as well as arguably the best WR in the nation (Adarius Bowman) the Pokes have the scariest deep threat in the Big 12. With an offensive line returning 4 starters this looks like the best offense Oklahoma State has had in years. The only problem is that, while OSU returns their entire back seven, they must replace their entire front 4 and they have very little quality depth at any position. What they do have is a stud return man in Perish Cox a the most underrated RB in the conference in Dantrell Savage. If the Pokes can get only a half-assed effort out of their defense this could be the biggest surprise of the conference...too bad their D will get shredded by Georgia, Texas Tech, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri. Out of those 7 games I see OSU winning only 2, maybe 3 of them thus giving them an 8-4 record on the year..
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders have something they have not had since Mike Leech took over in Lubbock, a returning starting QB. Graham Harrell threw for 10,000 yards last season (only joking...but he threw for a lot...like Colt Brennen numbers) and he returns to continue putting up video game stats. While Tech loses its stud WR's from last year new starter Michael Crabtree is rumored to be better than any WR Leech has had at Tech. Like every year at Texas Tech the season will come down to whether they can stop anyone or not. But, like every other year, this does not appear feasible meaning Tech will once again finish around the bottom of the Big 12 South. While I think they Texas Tech will give the top Big 12 teams some trouble, I do not forsee any major upsets I do think they will beat either OSU or Missouri on the road in what will undoubtedly be some crazy shootouts. Another recurrent similarity in this years Tech team with previous squads is that Mike Leech and his AD continue to schedule an embarrassing non-conference slate. This year Tech will face the powerhouses of UTEP, SMU, Rice and perennially underrated Northwestern State. Sweet Jesus!!! This makes the SEC look like a cakewalk...what is this the Big East? I forsee an 8-4 season for Tech due to the fact that they have one of the easier schedules in the entire conference..
Baylor: Oh Baylor...why are you in this conference? Once again Baylor will be the laughing stock of the Big 12 albeit a more competitive one. Head coach Guy Morris is improving his team (slowly) and has installed a pass happy offense to try and keep up with the other offenses found throughout the Big 12. While Baylor has had some minimal recruiting success with a decent player here and there but overall the talent level is so bad Baylor really has no chance this year. I see losses to TCU, Texas A&M, Colorado, Texas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State which leaves tossups with Rice, Texas State, Buffalo, and Kansas which translates to a 3-9 season filled with futility.
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