2018 Big XII football predictions

[BIGXIIfan 2017]

Since we have a few grad transfers and recruiting is finished I will do my second round of predictions

Round 3 will be after spring football in April
Round 4 will be in August

At the current time we are awaiting the decision of grad transfer OT Calvin Anderson as three Big XII schools are in the running: Texas, Oklahoma and TCU.

It looks like it is a Texas/Michigan battle with the decision coming the 20th of March


1. Oklahoma
2. Kansas State
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma State
5. West Virginia
6. TCU
7. Iowa State
8. Baylor
9 Kansas
10 Texas Tech

Tech moved down
Oklahoma State moved up with their Grad Transfer QB Dru Brown
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dru-brown-1.html

Can he comprehend Oklahoma State’s Offense in six months is the question.

Iowa State’s QB Kyle Kempt is coming back for his sixth year so ISU was moved ahead of Baylor.

Looks like 8 bowl eligible teams again.

 

[TheHighPriestofTexasFootball]

WVU if they can get past Tennessee and NC State could have a great year.
Maybe 11-1 or 10-2

The problem is Tennessee and NC State will not be easy games.
6-6 could happen just as easy


Regarding Texas’ OL.
I am not totally down on them as some. Experience is the key. Herb Hand has already made the difference.

Would love to see more big play potential. Only had a handful last year.

 

[TheHighPriestofTexasFootball]

Texas can run a lot more of the multiple fronts next year.
Just using the returning players and the players who have enrolled early Texas can now run 4 linemen if needed 3 linebackers or dime packages.

What is dangerous is when Texas can bring out their 3 pass rushers.


WVU and Gibson want to do this we well but....They don’t have the NT.

DH needs to be on the grad transfers looking for a NT. They need someone that can clog in the middle to play a 3-3-5

Poona Ford for Texas was good but not great. Nelson is the same but by November Coburn will be playing a lot.
Coburn has All American written all over him.

Plus th Guy is nasty mean. Perfect for a NT.

 

[BIGXIIfan 2017]

WVU issue is more than just their run defense it is their inability to run the ball without the long pass.
Meaning before the spread took over teams would live and die with the run.
If you couldn’t run the ball you would lose because your pass was based off the run.

The Mike Leach branch of the spread has the polar opposite issue. If you can’t pass you can’t run.
WVU needs to be able to find a run game that is not dependent on the pass
Maybe the reason why the Big XII is moving back to mobile QBs again.


This is why.
Texas did it to the entire conference not just WVU

In Herman’s first season, the Longhorns showed they can play defense at an elite level in the Big 12, the nation’s most prolific offensive conference. With Todd Orlando making the change early in the conference schedule to the 3-2-6 dime defense (the Longhorns called it their ‘Lightning’ package) to match up better against spread offenses, Texas finished eighth nationally against the run (106.8 yards per game allowed), ranked 29th in scoring defense (21.2 points per game allowed), were No. 3 nationally on third down (27.1 percent opponent conversion rate) and allowed only 21 touchdowns on 43 opponent possessions in the red zone.

Plus Texas was first in Non Offensive TDS so they made the QB either break his finger, break his confidence or made him throw interceptions.