Big 12 South Preview

By HeadThief, LandThief Press Senior Editor-in-charge

1 – Texas – oh, how it pains me to do this. Why they’ll win: If My Little Pony is healthy, Mack has a top flight QB, his leading rusher and six top receivers returning. Why they won’t win: The D was not good last year, and they lost two of their top four defenders. As a Sooner, I’m hoping Greg Davis reverts to pre-VY play-calling, they lose a couple of receivers to DUI and/or drug charges, and no one steps up on the defensive side of the ball.
2 – LandThieves – Why they will win: Stoops returns 8 starters on O and 7 starters on D. The secondary lost no one to graduation/completion of eligibility. DeMarco Murray will help everyone get over AD getting a pay increase in Minnesota, and the D should be solid. This team will run ALOT and with an experienced O-line they should control the line of scrimmage and the clock. Why they won’t win: No experience at QB, and someone will force the QB to make a play that their inexperience will preclude them from doing. The D-line lost a lot.
3 – Boone State U – I resorted to the RANDBETWEEN function in Excel again, as I really think one can make an effective case for any of Boone State, Cash Machine U and the Pirates to be third. Billy Gates went out on a limb and picked the ‘pokes third. Why they might win: Bobby Reid is a talented QB and they have lots of offensive weapons. Why they won’t win: Questions on D abound, and Gundy may continue to shuffle Zac Robinson and Reid, just to confuse everyone. There’s also a decent chance that the Boone State U administration decides to buy T Boone out. By the time they decide on an acceptable price, the ‘pokes may have to fold up the gridon and sell commemorative bricks from Lewis field so they can keep the women’s golf and tennis teams going. You’ve got to stick at what you’re good at.
4 – Pirates – Why they might win: First time in since 2002 they’ve had a returning QB, and Mike Leach led teams always figure out how to score points. Why they won’t win: Dust University returns only 5 starters on each side of the ball. One of the things that separates the top teams from the close to the top teams is depth, and I think that inexperience and depth will hurt the Pirates this year.
5 – Cash Machine U – If I hadn’t deferred to the Billy Gates / Miss Cleo methods on spots 3-5, there’s no way I pick the maroon and white to be fifth in this division. Why they might win: Aggies return top three rushers (Goodson, Lane and McGree) and Fran do like to run the ball. Overall, nine offensive starters return from 06. Why they won’t win: I’m still not sold on a Gary Darnell led defense. Mike Stoops he ain’t.
6 – Baylor Bears – my apologies to the folks at BearMeat and my daughter, a Bear fan. Why they might win: There's been a lot of talk about pandemic illnesses. With the right plagues in the right places, it could happen. Why they won't win: Baylor lost their QB, top rusher, and three of their top four receivers. I’m a Guy Morris fan, but I think the QB situation is too unproven, and they lost too much to graduation.

Miss Cleo contributed to this report.