[FreakNasty]

[B][SIZE=5]Big XII South Preview

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Offensive Rankings
[/B]1. Texas (7 returning starters)
2. Texas AM (9 returning starters)
3. Texas Tech (5 returning starters)
4. Oklahoma (8 returning starters)
5. Oklahoma State (8 returning starters)
6. Baylor (4 returning starters)

62 percent return

[B]Defense Rankings
[/B]1. Oklahoma (7 returning starters)
2. Texas (6 returning starters)
3. Texas AM (6 returning starters)
4. Oklahoma State (7 returning starters)
5. Texas Tech (5 returning starters)
6. Baylor (7 returning starters)

57 percent return

[B][SIZE=3]1st team All-Big XII South Offense
[/B][/SIZE]QB Graham Harrell (Texas Tech)
RB Jamaal Charles (Texas)
RB Mike Goodson (Texas AM)
WR Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma)
WR Adarius Bowman (Oklahoma State)
TE Martellus Bennett (Texas AM)
C Cody Wallace (Texas AM)
G Cedric Dockery (Texas)
G Kirk Elder (Texas AM)
T Brandon Braxton (Oklahoma)
T Tony Hills (Texas)

[B][SIZE=3]1st team All-Big XII South Defense
[/B][/SIZE]DL Chris Harrington (Texas AM)
DL Nathan Peterson (Oklahoma State)
DL Frank Okam (Texas)
DL Ray Miller (Texas)
LB Rashad Bobino (Texas)
LB Joe Pawelek (Baylor)
LB Rodrick Johnson (Oklahoma State)
CB Marcus Walker (Oklahoma)
CB Lendy Holmes (Oklahoma)
S Marcus Griffin (Texas)
S Reggie Smith (Oklahoma)

[B]Breakdown by team
[/B]Texas 7
Texas AM 5
Oklahoma 5
Oklahoma State 3
Texas Tech 1
Baylor 1

[B][SIZE=4]Projected Order of Finish

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[SIZE=3]Texas
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 10-3 (beat Iowa in Alamo Bowl)
Head Coach: Mack Brown (10th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Colt McCoy (217-318, 2570 yards, 29 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Jamaal Charles (156 att, 870 yards, 7 TD)
Receiving: Limas Sweed (46 rec, 801 yards, 12 TD)
Tackles: Marcus Griffin (90)
Sacks: Brian Orakpo (4.5)
Interceptions: Palmer/Griffin (1)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Arkansas State (W)
Sept. 8 TCU (W)
Sept. 15 at UCF (W)
Sept. 22 Rice (W)
Sept. 29 Kansas State (W)
Oct. 6 Oklahoma (W)
Oct. 13 at Iowa State (W)
Oct. 20 at Baylor (W)
Oct. 27 Nebraska (W)
Nov. 3 at Oklahoma State (W)
Nov. 10 Texas Tech (W)
Nov. 23 at Texas AM (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 11-1 overall (7-1 Big XII)
5 “swing” games
[B]Notes[/B]: While I don’t have him on my first team, Colt McCoy is a cool customer, who reminds me a lot of former Texas QB Major Applewhite… The Longhorns aren’t littered with as much defensive depth as Oklahoma, but they are very stout led by an athletic defensive line… They will miss defensive coordinator Gene Chizik (left to be head coach at Iowa State). They have a legit chance to run the table with Oklahoma and Texas AM on the road the toughest challenges.

[B][SIZE=3]Oklahoma
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 10-3 (lost to Boise State in Fiesta Bowl)
Head Coach: Bob Stoops (9th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Joey Halzle (1-2, 15 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Allen Patrick (169 att, 789 yards, 4 TD)
Receiving: Malcolm Kelly (62 rec, 993 yards, 10 TD)
Tackles: Nic Harris (68)
Sacks: Steven Coleman (3)
Interceptions: Nic Harris (4)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept.1 North Texas (W)
Sept. 8 Miami (FL) (W)
Sept. 15 Utah State (W)
Sept. 21 at Tulsa (W)
Sept. 29 at Colorado (W)
Oct. 6 Texas (L)
Oct. 13 Missouri (W)
Oct. 20 at Iowa State (W)
Nov. 3 Texas AM (W)
Nov. 10 Baylor (W)
Nov. 17 at Texas Tech (W)
Nov. 24 Oklahoma State (W)

Projected Record: 11-1 overall (7-1 Big XII)
6 “swing” games
Notes: Finding a quarterback will be the first thing Stoops and crew will nee to accomplish. Sam Bradford (redshirt freshman) looks to be the front runner but Keith Nichol and Joey Halzle could also get time… The Sooners have arguably the best defense in the country, and what make them deadly is their depth… OU is the typical high ceiling low basement team, they could go as low as 7-5 with the inexperience at the offensive skill positions, but with Stoops at the helm they could just run the table.

[B][SIZE=3]Texas AM
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 9-3 (lost to Cal in Holiday Bowl)
Head Coach: Dennis Franchione (5th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Stephen McGee (194-313, 2295 yards, 12 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: Mike Goodson (127 att, 929 yards, 4 TD)
Receiving: Martuellus Bennett (38 rec, 497 yards, 3 TD)
Tackles: Devin Gregg (64)
Sacks: Chris Harrington (7.5)
Interceptions: 4 tied with 2

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Montana State (W)
Sept. 8 Fresno State (W)
Sept. 15 ULM (W)
Sept. 22 at Miami (FL) (L)
Sept. 29 Baylor (W)
Oct. 6 Oklahoma State (W)
Oct. 13 at Texas Tech (W)
Oct. 20 at Nebraska (L)
Oct. 27 Kansas (W)
Nov. 3 at Oklahoma (L)
Nov. 10 at Missouri (W)
Nov. 23 Texas (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 9-3 overall (6-2 Big XII)
7 “swing” games
Notes: The Aggies had a very successful regular season, but it was soared in the bowl game against Cal (45-10 loss). They have one of the best running back tandems in the NCAA. Goodson is very quick and reminds me of a Reggie Bush hybrid. Jovarski Lane is a complete load at 270 pounds and will give a nice change of pace… The would be a dark horse title contender if not for a tough schedule, with all their road game against probable bowl teams.

[B][SIZE=3]Oklahoma State
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 7-6 (beat Alabama in Independence Bowl)
Head Coach: Mike Gundy (3rd season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Bobby Reid (148-267, 2266 yards, 24 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: Dantrell Savage (126 att, 843 yards, 8 TD)
Receiving: Adarius Bowman (60 rec, 1181 yards, 12 TD)
Tackles: Andre Sexson (79)
Sacks: Nathan Peterson (8)
Interceptions: Cox/Van Zant/Woods (2)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept.1 at Georgia (L)
Sept. 8 Florida Atlantic (W)
Sept. 14 at Troy (W)
Sept. 22 Texas Tech (W)
Sept. 29 Sam Houston State (W)
Oct. 6 at Texas AM (L)
Oct. 13 at Nebraska (L)
Oct. 20 Kansas State (W)
Nov. 3 Texas (L)
Nov. 10 Kansas (W)
Nov. 17 at Baylor (W)
Nov. 24 at Oklahoma (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 7-5 overall (4-4 Big XII)
6 “swing” games
Notes: In all reality, they are better than my 7-5 projection, but a difficult road and conference slate lowers their win total… Mike Gundy is doing a solid job recruiting, and with an outstanding set of skill position talent (Reid, Savage, Bowman) could spring an upset of one of the projected top 15 team on their schedule… Bowman could easily be a 1st team All-American, a huge 6’4 220 pound target with enough talent to succeed at the next level.

[B][SIZE=3]Texas Tech
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 8-5 (beat Minnesota in Insight Bowl)
Head Coach: Mike Leach (8th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Graham Harrell (412-617, 4555 yards, 38 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: Shannon Woods (152 att, 958 yards, 10 TD)
Receiving: Shannon Woods (75 rec, 572 yards, 2 TD)
Tackles: Joe Garcia (87)
Sacks: Williams/Ratliff (3.5)
Interceptions: Darcel McBath (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 3 at SMU (W)
Sept. 8 UTEP (W)
Sept. 15 at Rice (W)
Sept. 22 at Oklahoma State (L)
Sept. 29 Northwestern State (W)
Oct. 6 Iowa State (W)
Oct. 13 Texas AM (L)
Oct. 20 at Missouri (L)
Oct. 27 Colorado (W)
Nov. 3 at Baylor (W)
Nov. 10 at Texas (L)
Nov. 17 Oklahoma (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 7-5 overall (3-5 Big XII)
4 “swing” games
Notes: Texas Tech has slowly started to rely more on a running game in the past five seasons. Since Klingsberry’s last season (5833 yards), the QB’s have been in the 4500-5000 yard range… The main reason for the reduction in passing yards has been improvement in running back play. Shannon Woods was a 1st team Big-XII selection last season with his versatile abilities… While I don’t think they are as talented as previous seasons, an easier conference schedule (no Nebraska or K-State from the North) will allow them bowl eligibility.

[B][SIZE=3]Baylor
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 4-8 (no bowl)
Head Coach: Guy Morriss (5th season)

[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Blake Szymanski (64-121, 689 yards, 4 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Brandon Whitaker (41 att, 188 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving: Thomas White (26 rec, 372 yards, 2 TD)
Tackles: Joe Pawelek (86)
Sacks: Geoff Nelson (2.5)
Interceptions: Dwain Crawford (2)

[B]Schedule/Projected Record
[/B]Sept. 1 at TCU (L)
Sept. 8 Rice (W)
Sept. 15 Texas State (W)
Sept. 22 at Buffalo (W)
Sept. 29 at Texas AM (L)
Oct. 6 Colorado (L)
Oct. 13 at Kansas (L)
Oct. 20 Texas (L)
Oct. 27 at Kansas State (L)
Nov. 3 Texas Tech (L)
Nov. 10 at Oklahoma (L)
Nov. 17 Oklahoma State (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 3-9 overall (0-8 Big XII)
4 “swing” games
Notes: Baylor’s defense and running attack were awful last season. They finished last in the country in rushing and let up nearly 33 points per game (Oklahoma State and Texas scored over 60). Baylor had a good chance to go to a bowl in 2005, finishing 5-6, but they will not come close to a bowl this season with only 11 returning starters. It’ll be another long season in Waco.