Big 12 Predictions

I've been spending a lot of time lately on the NFL, but with College Football starting soon I'll be taking a look at how I believe each of the conferences will play out.

Today I'm looking into the Big 12 and how it will go without Nebraska and Colorado in the conference.

1. Oklahoma Sooners,12-0 (9-0)

The Sooners are my #1 ranked team in my preseason rankings are obviously they are my favorite to win the Big 12. They return two year starting quarterback Landry Jones and a very underrated WR in Ryan Broyles. Add in a pair of talented sophomore running backs and we always know that Bob Stoops will have a good defense and that could spell a conference championship and a possible BCS Championship Game. As long as Oklahoma can get through Florida State in Tallahassee I don't see any other team in the Big 12 beating them. They are hands and feet better than anybody in this conference.

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys, 10-2 (7-2)

Although the Cowboys lose RB Kendall Hunter and OC Dana Holgerson I still expect their offense keep performing at a high level and a lot of that will be because of my #1 WR Justin Blackmon. Blackmon and QB Brandon Weeden expect to pick up where they left off last year and even improve on their numbers. They key to the Cowboys success will be their defense. OSU hasn't been known for great defenses lately, but to contend with Oklahoma they are going to have to get contain opponents offenses. If they can do that then the sky is the limit, but we'll have to wait and see.

3. Texas Longhorns, 9-3 (6-3)

I was surprised last year when the Longhorns missed out on their bowl game. Texas is full of talented HS recruits and UT always gets their pick of the litter. Head Coach Mack Brown had to replace both of his coordinators and I think he found a good one in OC Bryan Harsin who comes from Boise State. The change in philosophy should really help the Longhorns find an identity, which they didn't have last year. Harsin has worked well with Boise State QB Kellen Moore, so if he can mold Garrett Gilbert the Longhorns can get back to the upper echelon where they have been for the past ten years.

4. Texas A&M Aggies, 8-4 (5-4)

The Aggies are every body's preseason darlings, but I'm not seeing it. They had a couple of good games at the end of the season last year and then got blown out against LSU in the Cotton Bowl. They have some good talent on offense in Jeff Fuller, Cyrus Gray, and Christine Michael. But I believe their defense is going to step back. As much as I believe Von Miller is overrated, his absence is going to hurt them. Tim DeRuyter is one heck of a DC, but he is going to have to find some pass rushers to help the Aggies challenge for the Big 12 crown.

5. Missouri Tigers, 8-4 (5-4)

HC Gary Pinkel has done a great job of turning Missouri from a Big 12 doormat into a team that always has a chance to win the conference. However this year might be a little different. Offensively he has to replace three year starter Blaine Gabbert who run their spread offense perfectly. James Franklin will be taking over and he is more Brad Smith than Blaine Gabbert. Brad Smith was a good quarterback for the Tigers, but Pinkel's offenses where much better with pocket QBs like Gabbert and Chase Daniel. But just like every other year, the Tiger defense will be the key. Last year the defense improved and it showed in an upset of #1 Oklahoma. But they loose impact DE Aldon Smith and have to replace his production.

6. Baylor Bears, 6-6 (4-5)

This is a key year for the Bears of Baylor. Robert Griffen is entering his fourth year in their system and their schedule gets easier since they get to play Iowa State, Kansas, and K State all in one year. However this also means that they still have to go against Oklahoma, Texas, A&M, and Oklahoma State. If the Bears can sneak a win out against one of the former Big 12 South powers they could get back to their second straight bowl game.

7. Iowa State Cyclones, 6-6 (4-5)

When the Cyclones hired Gene Chizik I thought they had a great hire. But a couple of bad seasons and he bolts for Auburn. But Chizik's replacement has turned out to be a much better hire. Paul Rhodes is an excellent coach who has Iowa State on the right path. It may not lead to a Big 12 championship but I see Iowa State getting back to the success that Dan McCarney had while here. They'll go to bowl games, knock off a top level team each year (Texas in 2010 Nebraska in 2009), and maybe once every few years contend for a conference championship. This year might not be that year, but they have an improve team with some key starters back. They could surprise some people.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders, 6-6 (4-5)

Firing Mike Leach was the dumbest thing Tech could have every done. Tech was a constant Big 12 title contender under him, but under Tommy Tubberville hasn't had the same success. He isn't getting the same level of players and its showing with them being a Big 12 bottle dweller. I don't see any reason for this to change. Maybe that's why Tubberville has been linked to many other jobs this past off season.

9. Kansas Jayhwaks, 3-9 (1-8)

Tunner Gill did wonders for the Buffalo Bulls which many people thought was a lost cause. So when he was hired to take over at Kansas I thought they were in good hands. However Gill struggled mightily last year and this year looks much the same. The Jayhawks are void of any playmakers and it will be a uphill climb with a tougher schedule. Maybe this is the year we see improvement, but I'm holding my breathe.

10. Kansas State Wildcats, 2-10 (0-9)

Going into this season you would think that the Wildcats could make a jump into the middle tier. They have highly touted Bryce Brown at RB (transfer from Tennessee) and his brother Arthur who is also very highly touted LB (transfer from Miami) but word out of Manhattan is that players aren't showing up for off season workouts. This can't be a good sign. That paired up with a shaky QB situation and I definitely see K State settling into the last place spot in the conference.

Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State

Defensive Player of the Year: Travis Lewis LB Oklahoma

Freshman of the Year: Malcolm Brown RB Texas

Coach of the Year: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

NCAA Top 25 (Preseason)

Once the season starts I will be doing a weekly top 25. But until the season starts here is an early look at my Preseason Top 25.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

3. LSU Tigers
4. Oregon Ducks
5. Stanford Cardinal
6. Boise State Broncos
7. Florida State Seminoles
8. Arkansas Razorbacks
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys
11. Wisconsin Badgers
12. South Carolina Gamecocks
13. Texas A&M Aggies
14. Virginia Tech Hokies
15. TCU Horned Frogs
16. Michigan State Spartans
17. Missouri Tigers
18. Mississippi State Bulldogs
19. West Virginia Mountaineers
20. Central Florida Golden Knights
21. Texas Longhorns
22. Florida Gators
23. Ohio State Buckeyes
24. Arizona State Sun Devils
25. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Comments: Oklahoma brings home the top ranking due to all the talent they have returning. They return Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles who are their top two players on offense and the defense returns all their playmakers too. LSU and Alabama should be strong contenders too, but question marks at quarterback for both teams allowed Oklahoma to get the early nod. But I feel that Oregon could return to the National Title game with due to having everybody back on offense. If their defense can rebound from losing valuable players at linebacker and defensive line they should win the Pac 12 for a second straight year.

Player Rankings: Top 5s (Defense)

Defensive End
1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
2. Devin Taylor, South Carolina
3. Andre Branch, Clemson
4. Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh
5. Vince Brown, Northwestern

Sleeper: Cam Johnson, Virginia

Comments: Defensive end has become one of the most important positions on defense. But don't look for this class to break any records for players taken. Coples should be a top 5 pick but Taylor and Branch might not go till the late 1st round.


Defensive Tackle
1. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
2. Marcus Forston, Miami
3. Tydreke Powell, North Carolina
4. Brandon Thompson, Clemson
5. Kawann Short, Purdue

Sleeper: Mike Martin, Michigan

Comments: The past two years have seen a large number of tackles go early, but this year won't be the same. Worthy and Forston are the top two players at the position but neither of them will be confused for Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Nick Fairley, or Marcel Dareus. Mike Martin is a sleeper to watch. He is a smaller compact player that might be the strongest player at the positon.


3-4 Defensive End
1. Jared Crick, Nebraska
2. Kheston Randall, Texas
3. Billy Winn, Boise State
4. Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska
5. Kendall Reyes, UConn

Sleeper: Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

Comments: With so few teams running the 3-4 in college this is the hardest position to project from college to the NFL. Trying to decided if that defensive tackle can move out or that bigger defensive end can slide inside can be a crap shoot. Here Jared Crick is clearly the top player. He plays tackle at Nebraska and is very quick, but he has expereince playing a two gap sytem and taking on blocks so that makes him an ideal fit.


Nose Tackle
1. Alameda Ta'amu, Washington
2. Josh Chapman, Alabama
3. Kerry Murphy, Alabama

Sleeper: DeAngleo McCray, Memphis

Comments: This year doesn't have a large (pun intended) amount of players that profile to be the big 3-4 space eater that we have had in previous years. Ta'amu and Chapman are clearly the only elite players. Ta'amu could become a late 1st rounder, but previous history suggests that he'll probably be a early 2nd rounder.


Rush Linebacker
1. Brandon Jenkins, Florida State
2. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
3. Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina
4. Vinny Curry, Marshall
5. Shayne Skov, Stanford

Sleeper: Nick Perry, USC

Comments: Jenkins, Upshaw, and Paige-Moss are all top notch rush linebackers who will be coveted for their passing rushing abilities. But watch out ofr Vinny Curry and Shayne Skov who are very talented also but not as well know yet. If Nick Perry can stay healthy he could find himself shooting up draft boards.


Outside Linebacker
1. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
2. Zach Brown, North Carolina
3. Lavonte David, Nebraska
4. Nico Johnson, Alabama
5. Ronnell Johnson, Oklahoma

Sleeper: Demario Davis, Arkansas State

Comments: With the emergence of the 3-4 defense players who once were 1st or 2nd rounders are finding themselves drop because don't only fit with half of the defenses. But those teams should be happy becuase there are four elite outside linebackers. Travis Lewis is a playmaker thats is always around the ball. Zach Brown is much like Bruce Carter in that he is a great athlete, and Lavonte David is a tackling machine with great instincts.


Inside Linebacker
1. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
2. Manti Te'o, North Carolina
3. Luke Keachly, Boston College
4. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
5. Chris Marve, Vanderbilt

Sleeper: Chris Galippo, USC

Comments: Middle linebackers like Vontaze Burfict don't come around too often. Manti Te'o has can play any linebacker spot in any scheme so that will make him attractive. Keachly is a tackling machine, and Hightower should be a great fit in a 3-4 defense. Galippo is my sleeper because he has a ton of talent, but also comes in with a ton of experience playing in the Tampa 2 under one of the best defensive minds in Monte Kiffen.


Cornerback
1. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
2. Alphonzo Dennard, Nebraska
3. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
4. Jayron Hosey, Virginia Tech
5. Chase Minnifeild, Virginia

Sleeper: Shaun Prater, Iowa

Comments: The cornerback position is clearly the deepest position of any of the other defensive spots. All five of these players should go in the first round and we could see a couple more too. The NFL is a passing league and lock down corners are in demand. Kirkpatrick is the cream of the crop with size, speed, and the ability to change directions. Dennard out peformed teammate Prince Amukamara last year at times, but his lack of size hurts his chances of being a top 10 pick. I'm a little higher on Janoris Jenkins that most, but he would have been the 2nd or 3rd corner last year if he came out. He does have some baggage but some team will take a chance on him.


Safety
1. Robert Lester, Alabama
2. Kenny Tate, Maryland
3. Mark Barron, Alabama
4. Ray Ray Armstrong, Miami
5. TJ McDonald, USC

Sleeper: Blake Gideon, Texas

Comments: A quality group of safeties in this draft class where all five have shots to be taken in the first round. Lester is the only true free safety in the group while Tate, Barron, Armstrong, and McDonald are all in the box type of safeties. Kenny Tate is getting a lot of hype but he has been moved to weakside linebacker at Maryland and he might be a better fit there for a Cover 2 team. My sleeper is Blake Gideon from Texas. He isn't a flashy player, but he always seems to be around the ball. He could play both safety spots and maybe some nickle corner. Add in special teams play and he could be a steal in the 3rd or 4th rounds.