Sooners Reign Supreme: Big XII Preview

THE FAVORITES

OKLAHOMA

They've got a star quarterback in Sam Bradford, and great receivers in Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson. Sure, they are going to miss NFL-bound Malcolm Kelly, but this offense -- on the passing front -- is going to be potent. DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown will cause people trouble on the turf, too.

MISSOURI

Returning excellent quarterback Chase Daniel and wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Tommy Saunders is a big plus for Mizzou, who should do well if they can get through the monster games at Illinois and Texas, and the border war with Kansas.

THE OUTSIDERS

TEXAS

The problem for Texas is NOT the return of quarterback Colt McCoy, who they hope will return to 2006 form after a frankly poor 2007 - it's the fact that Oklahoma is in their division. Mack Brown's receivers are going to be under pressure with the loss of key player Linas Sweed, but the defense will improve. A couple of late-season visits to KU and Texas Tech won't be fun, either.

KANSAS

2007 was a wonder year for the Jayhawks, who managed to sneak into the BCS -- and then win their Bowl Game -- despite not playing in the Big XII Championship. Last year's sensational quarterback Todd Reesing is back, as are his favourite receiving targets. Having said that, the secondary's looking A LOT weaker now Aqib Talib's in the NFL. We should see how good this KU team is early on in the season when they host South Florida.

WATCH OUT FOR

TEXAS TECH

Possibly the funnest team to watch in all of football, with a powder-keg offence and a leaky 'D', the Red Raiders light averaged second in passing yards throughout the country. Remember - the Raiders beat Oklahoma and Virginia last year. Texas, beware.


GRUDGE MATCHES

TEXAS VS TEXAS A&M (Nov 27)

If the Longhorns lose to the Aggies for the third straight season, then the fans at Varsity may not be sawing horns off coach Mack Brown....it might be something else....

OKLAHOMA VS TEXAS TECH (Nov 22)

A 34-27 loss to the Red Raiders put paid to any National Championship thoughts the Sooners might be having this year, and OU will be looking for revenge.

KANSAS VS MISSOURI (Nov 29)

These two teams never really liked each other anyway, but with the Big XII North Title on the line for the second straight season, this should be a great game.

TEXAS A&M (Any game)

Aren't the Aggies a little tired of being called the "Nearly Men" of the Big XII? Dennis Franchione into disrepute, and Mike Sherman will be anxious to show that his failings at Green Bay don't extend to the college level.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

COLT McCOY (TEXAS)

McCoy may not have been Mr Wonderful in the 2007 season, but there were glimpses of what he could do in the NFL. He led the charge against OU and nearly beat the Sooners - and if he can be more consistent, then the Longhorns may have a prayer of winning the South.

SAM BRADFORD (OU)

Bradford may have been wonderful against Miami, but he wasn't so hot in the losses against Colorado and Texas Tech. The measure of a leader is not how you do when the chips are up, it's when they are down.

JAVORSKIE LANE (A&M)

Seriously though, how could you miss him?

JEREMY MACLIN (MISSOURI)

Pacey and with all-round talent, Maclin terrorised Kansas when Mizzou beat Kansas at Arrowhead last year. Some might think him an NFL prospect. This is his year to prove things.

SO WHO SHOULD I PUT MY MONEY ON TO WIN IT ALL?

Oklahoma (beating Missouri in the Big XII Championship Game) That's not to say that they might not lose a couple - anything's possible in this day and age - but Bradford and his experienced offence could be nigh-on impossible to stop.

And before we leave each other, here's a bit of a musical interlude from "Midnight Yell" at Kyle Field, home of one of college football's greatest underachievers, Texas A&M.