Just when you think the Big 2 (OU and Texas) are their most vulnerable for upset, most of the rest of the division gets hit hard in certain areas by graduation. Here is an early breakdown.
Bob Stoops had a year at OKLAHOMA that he would rather forget. Losing QB Badford right off the bat led to 3 of their 5 losses. The silver lining in all of this is that this years starting QB, Landry Jones, got a lot of experience last season. RB Murray is a key return, along with 5 other starters on offense. The defense loses 6 starters. The schedule is challenging from a non-con point of view, but very doable from a conference point of view. WAGERING NOTES: Last years tie ATS vs Texas is the best that OU has done in their previous 5 meetings (0-4-1 ATS). Despite last years 1-2 regular season Non-con ATS, OU is still 11-4 ATS in their past 4 years.
TEXAS finds themselves in the same boat as OU, losing their starting QB. Unfortunately, new QB Gilbert does not have nearly the experience as OU QB Jones has. His favorite target, WR Shipley also graduates, along with their Center and Left side of the line. On defense, the Horns lose two off the DL and 2 LB's along with the early departure of FS Thomas. Texas has an easier non-con schedule than OU, but must make early trips to Lubbock and Lincoln, with OU sandwiched in between. WAGERING NOTES: Texas is 0-3 ATS vs Nebraska, and 4-0 against Rice. This year, Texas may be a decent proce to win the Big 12 for the first time in years.
Mike Sherman and TEXAS A&M shocked many people last year by winning 6 games and going to a bowl. The offense, which scored 31 or more points in 9 games, returns their entire backfield and WR Corps, but loses their TE and 3 linemen. The defesne, which was a total siv, giving up 31 or more points in 9 games, loses 5 starters, and gets hit very hard in the secondary. Their non-con schedule may be soft enough to get A&M back into another bowl game. WAGERING NOTES: Obviously the Over was the play last year, when 10 or A&M's 13 games went over 60 points, but this has become a 3 year trend now.
TEXAS TECH welcomes the defensive minded Tommy Tuberville as their new HC. Defense is something that T-Tech has lacked for quite some time, and Tubes will have a big challenge ahead of him this season, losing 6 starters, and a lot of edpth, especially along the DL. The offense will be loaded again, returning 8 starters, including the entire backfield and inly losing 1 WR. T-Tech should score, but can Tubes do something with their defense? A very soft non-con schedule should guarantee them another bowl bid. WAGERING NOTES: Look for some value in the total by playing the under. The total will be inflated very high, and Tubes is a very defensive minded HC.
OKLAHOMA STATE was very disappointing last season, and gets deceminated by graduation this year. 8 starters on offense and 9 starters on defense leave, along with a lot of depth. Mike Gundy has a huge rebuilding job staring him in the face, and little experience to start with. Fortunately for Gundy, a very soft non-con schedule to open the season will allow his troops to get some much needed experience before the conference season starts. He is going to need it. WAGERING NOTES: Okie State is 6-15 ATS in their last 3 games of the season in their last 7 years.
BAYLOR's season was cut short by an injury to starting QB Girffin last season. The health of his knee will tell the tale this season. Baylor loses 5 starters on offense, and a some depth, and 6 starters on defense, plus all 4 of their two deep safties. Still, HC Briles is one of the most respected in the Big 12. The schedule sees Baylor opening up at TCU, but having 3 very winnable non-con games. The health of QB Griffin will determine if Baylor can finally get back to a bowl game or not. WAGERING NOTES: Baylor is 7-3 as a road dog in the past two years.
Next Up: Pac 10.
Bob Stoops had a year at OKLAHOMA that he would rather forget. Losing QB Badford right off the bat led to 3 of their 5 losses. The silver lining in all of this is that this years starting QB, Landry Jones, got a lot of experience last season. RB Murray is a key return, along with 5 other starters on offense. The defense loses 6 starters. The schedule is challenging from a non-con point of view, but very doable from a conference point of view. WAGERING NOTES: Last years tie ATS vs Texas is the best that OU has done in their previous 5 meetings (0-4-1 ATS). Despite last years 1-2 regular season Non-con ATS, OU is still 11-4 ATS in their past 4 years.
TEXAS finds themselves in the same boat as OU, losing their starting QB. Unfortunately, new QB Gilbert does not have nearly the experience as OU QB Jones has. His favorite target, WR Shipley also graduates, along with their Center and Left side of the line. On defense, the Horns lose two off the DL and 2 LB's along with the early departure of FS Thomas. Texas has an easier non-con schedule than OU, but must make early trips to Lubbock and Lincoln, with OU sandwiched in between. WAGERING NOTES: Texas is 0-3 ATS vs Nebraska, and 4-0 against Rice. This year, Texas may be a decent proce to win the Big 12 for the first time in years.
Mike Sherman and TEXAS A&M shocked many people last year by winning 6 games and going to a bowl. The offense, which scored 31 or more points in 9 games, returns their entire backfield and WR Corps, but loses their TE and 3 linemen. The defesne, which was a total siv, giving up 31 or more points in 9 games, loses 5 starters, and gets hit very hard in the secondary. Their non-con schedule may be soft enough to get A&M back into another bowl game. WAGERING NOTES: Obviously the Over was the play last year, when 10 or A&M's 13 games went over 60 points, but this has become a 3 year trend now.
TEXAS TECH welcomes the defensive minded Tommy Tuberville as their new HC. Defense is something that T-Tech has lacked for quite some time, and Tubes will have a big challenge ahead of him this season, losing 6 starters, and a lot of edpth, especially along the DL. The offense will be loaded again, returning 8 starters, including the entire backfield and inly losing 1 WR. T-Tech should score, but can Tubes do something with their defense? A very soft non-con schedule should guarantee them another bowl bid. WAGERING NOTES: Look for some value in the total by playing the under. The total will be inflated very high, and Tubes is a very defensive minded HC.
OKLAHOMA STATE was very disappointing last season, and gets deceminated by graduation this year. 8 starters on offense and 9 starters on defense leave, along with a lot of depth. Mike Gundy has a huge rebuilding job staring him in the face, and little experience to start with. Fortunately for Gundy, a very soft non-con schedule to open the season will allow his troops to get some much needed experience before the conference season starts. He is going to need it. WAGERING NOTES: Okie State is 6-15 ATS in their last 3 games of the season in their last 7 years.
BAYLOR's season was cut short by an injury to starting QB Girffin last season. The health of his knee will tell the tale this season. Baylor loses 5 starters on offense, and a some depth, and 6 starters on defense, plus all 4 of their two deep safties. Still, HC Briles is one of the most respected in the Big 12. The schedule sees Baylor opening up at TCU, but having 3 very winnable non-con games. The health of QB Griffin will determine if Baylor can finally get back to a bowl game or not. WAGERING NOTES: Baylor is 7-3 as a road dog in the past two years.
Next Up: Pac 10.