There Is Hope

by PB @ BON on Jul 16, 2008 3:45 PM CDT in Football

The Big 12 media have gathered and voted on the Big 12 predicted standings. The result? Near absolute, total consensus.

Big XII North

Missouri (51) 306
Kansas 234
Nebraska 183
Colorado 181
Kansas State 108
Iowa State 59

Big XII South

Oklahoma (49) 304
Texas (2) 230
Texas Tech 227
Oklahoma State 140
Texas A&M 118
Baylor 52

If there's not a corrollary to Murphy's Law about consensus... there should be.

0 recs | Comment 40 comments

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This looks awfully familiar

so I looked at the 2007 final standings. Other than moving Nebraska up a couple of slots, this is exactly the same.
They say generals are always ready to fight the last war. It looks like the Big 12 media are ready to report on last season. Come on, guys, show a little imagination. For example, I boldly predict that Kansas was a one hit wonder, and will not do nearly as well this year. Although, looking at the rest of the Big 12 North, I’m not sure who to pick to replace them at #2. For my second bold prediction, I say Iowa State will jump up in the standings. Likely? Not really, but if it happens I’ll look like a genius.

by Longhorn in Canada on Jul 16, 2008 10:20 PM CDT 0 recs

I’ll take NU over Kansas for second in the North. Like many others I am not sold on the staying power of Kansas.
For Tech this year is put up or shut up. For all the ballyhoo about the spread offense Tech is 36 and 29 in conference play with their basketball on grass. So I will take the writer’s outlook on the South.

by 71grad on Jul 17, 2008 1:47 AM CDT 0 recs

Surprised....

....that TT wasn’t picked 2nd with all the love heaped upon them this offseason.

All of this is just my opinion. If I actually knew anything, I sure as hell wouldn't hang out on message boards.

by Berserker on Jul 17, 2008 7:45 AM CDT 0 recs

F TT

I’m glad some people aren’t ignorant, and picking TT to win the Big 12. Kansas and TT are the two most overrated teams in the country.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 17, 2008 8:15 AM CDT 0 recs

What, exactly,

are these other people “ignoring”? With all the starters Tech is bringing back, they’re going to be a tough.

by SuperHorn on Jul 17, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

TT

People are assuming Tech’s defense is magically going to get better this year. The defense is unproven, and doesn’t deserve the respect given to them. I keep hearing about the defensive coor., and he hasn’t done anything to prove he’s a good defensive coor. Texas ran all over Tech last year, and ou ran all over them with a back-up QB.

Tech will be good with 2-3 losses (not great). Kansas, Texas, and ou will beat them.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 17, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

Are you giving odds?

I’ll take Tech over Kansas all day. Even better if points are involved…

by SuperHorn on Jul 17, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

Kansas

wins 35-28 at home. Everyone knows Tech can’t win on the road. I wouldn’t be shocked if K-State beat them either.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 18, 2008 3:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

starters

Who cares if they have defensive starters coming back, if the defense stinks?

by Longhorns84 on Jul 18, 2008 8:19 AM CDT up 0 recs

Just to play devils advocate

Usually, starters progress to be better and better as they get older. So its a fairly safe assumption on a given team that if many starters return the defense will improve.

How much will be determined on the field.

As to the Tech defenses starting point, over the whole year they were slightly better than Texas (365 per game to 371 per game). Now I’m the first one to say we had a shitty year on D last year, but at the same time, when could you last claim that Tech beat us in overall D?

Both teams did better than their average over the final 9 games of the season, Tech with with harder schedule averaged giving up 348 yards, Texas, gave up 368.

So back to the original question, you care because returning starters usually improve a defense, and if the defense played fairly well against tough competition under the new DC, it didn’t completely stink either. If the returning players manage to bring consistency to their defense, as we hope the new starters at LB will for ours, Tech could be very tough.

Hell I think they are tough every year.

I agree they wont win the big 12 south, and shouldnt be a favorite to until they can put together a few near miss seasons at least. Maybe Mangino should help Leech with juggling his schedule.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jul 18, 2008 8:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

My point

is that people are assuming Tech’s defense is going to be better, but I seriously doubt it. I don’t think they should be ranked high or favored based upon assumption.

Tech will never play in the Big 12 championship as long as they play in the south.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 18, 2008 10:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

Never? We're talking about college football right?

For someone who doesn’t want to base a ranking “upon assumptions” seems you’re making a rather large one- that Texas and OU are the only teams capable of competing. That narrow thinking led to the hiring of the Mc and the Mac before Mack, and helped usher A&M to a kind of relevancy they hadn’t seen since Bear Bryant left.

Tech is realistically one Sam Bradford injury and one UT suspension/injury away from being a Big 12 favorite in even the most doubtful corners. We’re a more talented team than Tech every year, but it’s not as if they’re not competitive, especially at home. And any sport in which Stanford, Boise State and Appalachia State can knock off a power program, a relatively advantaged program like Tech is always a threat, especially when they only need to win two tough games to seal the South. Add to that one of the best QB’s in college football and a Heisman candidate at receiver and they’re very, very dangerous.

by learned hand on Jul 18, 2008 12:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

Who would have thought

10 years ago, or hell even 5 years ago that it was possible for Nebraska to finish 5th in the north.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jul 18, 2008 12:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Seriously overrated at SI.com

I wouldn’t pick TT to win the Big 12 either, but Austin Murphy is willing to go out on a limb and put them in the BCS title game. It’s one of these “fearless prediction” pieces, but it’s a little “senseless.” He goes on to say that undefeated Mizzou will beat us, stating how the horns “turned up their noses” to Daniel. Enjoy??!??

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/austin_murphy/07/08/2008-2009-fearless-football-predictions/index.html

by horns129 on Jul 17, 2008 3:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

wow...

I think predictions like this is why people don’t listen to predictions!

by Longhorns84 on Jul 18, 2008 3:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

One of the 51 “voters” picked Baylor to finish 5th (as opposed to last). I’m a little curious as to who that is.

For all the supposed “hype” of this being Tech’s year, nobody picked them to win the South which tells me the hype doesn’t seem to be set into the mainstream media.

by DoubleB on Jul 17, 2008 9:07 AM CDT 0 recs

I think that has more to do with OU looking to be a beast this year. ntwhillllls

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jul 17, 2008 9:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

Tech is a "home team",

almost to the point of absurdity. Since Leach took over, they win about 72% of their in conference slate at home (3rd in the conference behind us and OU), but lose about 62% of their conference away games.

They are playing OU in Norman, which doesn’t mean they will lose, but going from the numbers it’s a lot easier to pick OU to win that game and finish ahead of Tech. Plus, like BiC said, OU looks poised for another MNC run….until Stoops manages to be blown out by BYU in a bowl game.

by learned hand on Jul 17, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

White's Law

It’s not Murphy, but White has a Law about consensus:

“A meeting cannot be productive unless certain premises are so shared that they do not need to be discussed, and the argument can be confined to areas of disagreement. But while this kind of consensus makes a group more effective in its legitimate functions, it does not make the group a creative vehicle - it would not be a new idea if it didn’t - and the group, impelled as it is to agree, is instinctively hostile to that which is divisive.”

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Jul 17, 2008 9:36 AM CDT 0 recs

Tech

Tech has to prove something first – like beat Texas or OU. They have done nothing player wise to improve their defense over last year. Texas and OU both should score 60+ on them.

by airhog111 on Jul 17, 2008 9:37 AM CDT 0 recs

OU

They beat OU 2 of the last 3 years, ya know.

by jw4425 on Jul 17, 2008 10:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

Just let him go...

... he’s on a roll.

by Horn Brain on Jul 17, 2008 10:39 AM CDT up 1 recs

he's right

Psychotic, but absolutely right.

by billb on Jul 17, 2008 11:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

I agree

Its like people are assuming their defense is going to better. There really isn’t any proof to say that it is. The defense played better in the second half of the season, minus Texas and ou (two important teams if contending in the Big 12).

by Longhorns84 on Jul 17, 2008 12:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

as far as meetings go...

...i’ve always believed that none of us are as dumb as all of us. especially when it comes to media predictions. can’t wait til september. i was thinking about getting one of the college football packages on my direct tv. anyone have any advice on that? oh, and i have a better chance of finishing second in the north than kansas.

...and ou still sucks.

by UTHomeSearch on Jul 17, 2008 11:34 AM CDT 0 recs

Can you add a corollary...

... to your consensus-related Murphy’s Law that makes it only applicable to the Big 12 South? Because that’d be great....

http://www.RockMNation.com
Chance McDanielson for Heisman

by rptgwb on Jul 17, 2008 2:05 PM CDT 0 recs

I like...

......Colorado to take the #2 spot in the north.

TexasTech should take the #2 spot in the south.

The Big-XII CCG will a game of unbeatens – OU and Missouri.

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Jul 17, 2008 6:28 PM CDT 0 recs

so u have us finishing 3rd in the south....

at the very highest?

Don’t fall into media hype man. Texas will be good this year, and has the potential to be very good. we MIGHT lose to OU. But I think that would be our only loss of the season.

We’re Texas. And this season, the rest of the nation will remember to NEVER count us out again!

by texasfan05 on Jul 17, 2008 10:20 PM CDT 0 recs

I still remember...

.....that Greg Davis smoked Will Muschamp (20-35) in 2002 and Muschamp lost 5 games his first season under Saban.

Four Fr/RSFr on the 2-deep at safety is less than comforting. Even M.Huff was torched his first 2 seasons. While our O-Line has a lot of initial talent, they have very little experience and haven’t played together. A mandatory requirement for really solid O-Lines. Mack wouldn’t be panicking with Brown and Chiles to WR if some of the young players had stepped up their game. Kelson to RB comes to mind.

Don’t act as if Arizona State was much of an opponent. Tney defeated only 2 teams with winning records – (7-6)Cal and (9-4)Oregon State. The 3 good teams they played – USC, Oregon and Texas – beat them by a collective 50 points. It was a nice finish and made everyone feel good after getting whipped by the sorriest HC of the Big-XII – Dennis Franchione. It was good to see Mack make some much needed changes to the game preparation, but it was not a huge victory.

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Jul 18, 2008 8:40 AM CDT up 1 recs

Arizona State

was favored to win the game, and they were co-Pac 10 champs. Arizona State is expected to do big things this year too. Texas took care of business. Texas was on a roll until the a&m game. . They destroyed Tech’s defense the game before a&m.

Our line has played together, and will be pretty good when Big 12 play starts.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 18, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up 0 recs

You obviously....

....have no idea how betting lines are determined.

Arizona State wouldn’t finish in the top half of the Big-XII. ASU still has a crappy O-Line and a stick figure for a QB. You obviously haven’t seen their schedule. There is no way they’ll finish the season with fewer than 5 losses. In consecutive weeks, they play Georgia, Cal, USC, Oregon, OregonSt. and Washington. After a week off vs. WashSt., they finish against UCLA and @ Arizona.

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Jul 18, 2008 7:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yikes!

You have the Beergut bug!

by Horn Brain on Jul 20, 2008 3:25 PM CDT up 1 recs

how the hell did he do that?

by Beergut on Jul 24, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

It requires

great skill and knowledge.

by horndude on Jul 25, 2008 2:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

I agree

I think Texas is going to suprise A LOT of people this year.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 18, 2008 3:33 AM CDT 0 recs

I'm afraid so.

Five losses would be just that.

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Jul 18, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

5 losses?

no more than 3. I think they will only lose 2 this year.

by Longhorns84 on Jul 18, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

We'll see

I’m a bit of a contrarian by nature and the wishful thinking around here is starting to suffocate me. Don’t get me wrong. I’d like nothing more than to see the team win them all, but I can’t overlook the very real possibility that this team will be one of the worst we’ve seen lately. We have an offense that depends on big plays and no playmakers. We have an inexperienced defense and a new system. And we have some good teams on the schedule. If the stars align and all the pieces come together, we could do well. But if not, five losses is a possibility.

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Jul 19, 2008 1:55 AM CDT up 2 recs