Fearless Predictions
I think I'm going to be the first to walk that fine line between bravado and insanity, making some area college football picks. While I haven't studied other national games as of yet, I have a good feel for what will happen with the Hogs, Sooners and Pokes.
First and foremost, I think Arkansas-USC legitimately sets up as being one of those games everybody talks about at the watercooler on Monday. I recall a bit more than a decade ago Brigham Young knocking off Miami, a Hurricane team that had won 20-some-odd straight.
I recall Arizona State shutting out Nebraska, 19-0, in the desert.
The college football season is chock-full of potential early-season statement games, and I think this sets up as being one of them. USC is coming off three brilliant seasons, but they lose not only Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, but they also lose Norm Chow.
Dwyane Jarrett is back, and John David Booty is set to run Pete Carroll's team. USC is a legitimate Top 10 team.
However, the Hogs' offense has undergone a serious makeover in the past year. Darren McFadden is practicing (although it certainly be a decoy, I suppose). Arkansas was embarrassed on national TV last season, 70-17, in a game that was that lopsided but that didn't appropriately reflect the differences between these teams.
Think practically for a second. It's not like USC has probably had ample resources to study a Gus Malzahn offense, although they might have gotten some Springdale tapes. There is a giant unknown here, and I think if the Hogs can hang through 2.5 quarters, they'll win.
Raucous crowd, revenge factor, you name it, and I think folks will be talking about the Hogs on Monday. UA 23, USC 17
As for the Sooners, I've been getting word from people who have been at the closed practices (one of the benefits of working in media) that the offense OU is instilling for Paul Thompson is much more akin to Texas' last season with Vince Young at the helm. Now, PT is no VY, but it's reassuring to know that OU has the right idea in adapting its schemes to the skill and strengths of its quarterback.
UAB is breaking in a new quarterback, but former OU offensive coordinator and current Alabama-Birmingham head coach Watson Brown is quite creative offensively. While the OU defense is reputed to be studly, it's also pretty new at some key nickel- and dime-package positions.
Plus, I've watched a UAB game or two in my past, and they don't play a ton of low-scoring affairs. However, I do like the Sooners to win this game going away. OU 45, UAB 24.
Finally, the Oklahoma State Cowboys once played Southwest Missouri State to overtime. Might have been the first OT game of the Big 12 era, although my memory also might be failing me. Nevertheless, OSU totally outmatches the now Missouri State Bears.
Bobby Reid is looking more comfortable at quarterback, coaches say, after each practice. Offensive Coordinator Larry Fedora has said that while Reid would only run about 5 of 15 plays at a smart, high level last season, he's running upward of 10, 11 out of that many so far in the preseason.
It's imperative for OSU to start strong in its non-conference schedule leading up to their game against the Houston Cougars on Sept. 23. I think they'll do just that. OSU 37, Missouri State 14.
- Ryan
First and foremost, I think Arkansas-USC legitimately sets up as being one of those games everybody talks about at the watercooler on Monday. I recall a bit more than a decade ago Brigham Young knocking off Miami, a Hurricane team that had won 20-some-odd straight.
I recall Arizona State shutting out Nebraska, 19-0, in the desert.
The college football season is chock-full of potential early-season statement games, and I think this sets up as being one of them. USC is coming off three brilliant seasons, but they lose not only Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, but they also lose Norm Chow.
Dwyane Jarrett is back, and John David Booty is set to run Pete Carroll's team. USC is a legitimate Top 10 team.
However, the Hogs' offense has undergone a serious makeover in the past year. Darren McFadden is practicing (although it certainly be a decoy, I suppose). Arkansas was embarrassed on national TV last season, 70-17, in a game that was that lopsided but that didn't appropriately reflect the differences between these teams.
Think practically for a second. It's not like USC has probably had ample resources to study a Gus Malzahn offense, although they might have gotten some Springdale tapes. There is a giant unknown here, and I think if the Hogs can hang through 2.5 quarters, they'll win.
Raucous crowd, revenge factor, you name it, and I think folks will be talking about the Hogs on Monday. UA 23, USC 17
As for the Sooners, I've been getting word from people who have been at the closed practices (one of the benefits of working in media) that the offense OU is instilling for Paul Thompson is much more akin to Texas' last season with Vince Young at the helm. Now, PT is no VY, but it's reassuring to know that OU has the right idea in adapting its schemes to the skill and strengths of its quarterback.
UAB is breaking in a new quarterback, but former OU offensive coordinator and current Alabama-Birmingham head coach Watson Brown is quite creative offensively. While the OU defense is reputed to be studly, it's also pretty new at some key nickel- and dime-package positions.
Plus, I've watched a UAB game or two in my past, and they don't play a ton of low-scoring affairs. However, I do like the Sooners to win this game going away. OU 45, UAB 24.
Finally, the Oklahoma State Cowboys once played Southwest Missouri State to overtime. Might have been the first OT game of the Big 12 era, although my memory also might be failing me. Nevertheless, OSU totally outmatches the now Missouri State Bears.
Bobby Reid is looking more comfortable at quarterback, coaches say, after each practice. Offensive Coordinator Larry Fedora has said that while Reid would only run about 5 of 15 plays at a smart, high level last season, he's running upward of 10, 11 out of that many so far in the preseason.
It's imperative for OSU to start strong in its non-conference schedule leading up to their game against the Houston Cougars on Sept. 23. I think they'll do just that. OSU 37, Missouri State 14.
- Ryan
posted by Ryan Welton at 11:15 PM
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