College Football 2011: Oklahoma or the Field in the Big 12?

When you play at Oklahoma the expectation annually is to win a national championship.

Winning the Big 12 is also part of the picture.

The Sooners enter 2011 as one of the favorites to win both.

History may be on Oklahoma's side for the conference crown, especially as the Big 12 adjusts to having only 10 teams an no championship game at the end of the season.

However, Oklahoma is not a shoo-in for the crown.

Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas are all legitimate contenders. There's also Baylor and Texas Tech, which could have an impact on which team wins it all.

So if you had to pick today, Oklahoma or The Field, who would you go with?

Let's find out.

Oklahoma: Experience

Oklahoma, the defending Big 12 champs, return 29 players who have some level of starting experience.

So the Sooners have the necessary depth to run the table and not only win the Big 12, but potentially a BCS Championship.

Another important factor is many of Oklahoma's experienced players are also NFL-caliber talent. So this bodes well for a special season.

Oklahoma: Coaching

Ask any Oklahoma fan and they are likely to tell you Bob Stoops is worth every penny of his $4.3 million annual salary.

He does have a 129-31 overall record and led the Sooners to a BCS Championship in 2000. He also has seven Big 12 titles since arriving in 1999.

Stoops is one of the best motivators and strategists in college football. With the talent he has amassed in Norman, Stoops is primed for another stellar season.

The only real knock on Stoops is his 6-6 bowl record, which includes a 3-5 mark in BCS Bowls.

Oklahoma: Offense

Oklahoma averaged 37.2 points a game in 2010 and that number could be even bigger this season.

It is not easy to stay under the radar while throwing for 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns in a season, Landry Jones seemed to do it.

Jones' job is made easier with the playmakers he has on his side of the ball.

Ryan Broyles could end 2011 with every Oklahoma and a few NCAA receiving records. Broyles had 1,622 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Sophomore Kenny Stills complements Broyles at the other receiver spot. He had 61 catches for 786 yards last year.

The biggest question mark is who replaces DeMarco Murray at tailback. Maybe it's Roy Finch or even true freshman Brandon Williams.

Oklahoma: Defense

Senior linebacker Travis Lewis was a probably first-round draft pick in April had he left Oklahoma early.

But Lewis believes so much in the Sooners' chances to win it all that he couldn't resist coming back for his final season.

He also makes the defense tick.

Of course, the Oklahoma defense is loaded as well.

Nickel back/linebacker Tony Jefferson was last year's Big 12 co-Defensive Freshman of the Year, and Corey Nelson had a great spring.

There are two big question marks, though.

All-Big 12 cornerback Jamell Fleming's status is still uncertain after he left school because of academic issues. The Sooners also lost a quality linebacker in Austin Box, who died this offseason.

Oklahoma: Weaknesses

Oklahoma doesn't have any real glaring holes, but there are a couple areas that Bob Stoops would like to shore up in 2011.

The Sooners lack experience in the defensive backfield, especially if Jamell Fleming doesn't return.

But the biggest weakness is special teams.

Oklahoma must get better on kick coverage and the Sooners haven't lit up on field goals.

The one strength of the special teams is punter Tress Way.

Now for the Contenders

OK, we've made our case for Oklahoma, but the Sooners aren't perfect.

Which team has a legitimate shot at knocking Oklahoma off the Big 12 perch?

Here we go...

Texas A&M

Once Ryan Tannehill took over at quarterback, Texas A&M fortunes improved greatly.

Now the Aggies are considered a top 10 program and a legitimate contender in the Big 12.

This is the most skilled group at Texas A&M since R.C. Slocum was the coach.

Texas A&M's offense is the strength and could be the key to a Big 12 championship, but the real key could be the defense.

Mike Sherman's unit lost some key talent (Von Miller and Michael Hodges), but the defense is solid up front and in the backfield.

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is going to score points in bunches again this season.

Seriously, who doesn't love watching Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon?

Those two, along with a stout offensive line, averaged 44.2 points a game and 520 yards a game last year.

The Cowboys tasted some serious success last year as Oklahoma State won 11 games, including a huge 36-10 victory over Arizona in the Alamo Bowl.

Maybe this is the year T. Boone Pickens' millions of dollars in donations to the athletic program pay off big time.

Missouri

If anyone could potentially challenge Oklahoma or Oklahoma State for offensive supremacy it may be Missouri.

The biggest difference is the Tigers must replace their All-American caliber quarterback, and that is likely to fall to James Franklin.

Franklin should get plenty of protection from one of the conference's best offensive lines and he has an outstanding receiving corps led by T.J. Moe and tight end Michael Egnew.

Working against Missouri is a tough schedule that includes road games with Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Baylor.

Texas

Texas is coming off its worst season in the Mack Brown era, but the Longhorns are a traditional power that has recruited very well.

So the talent pool in Austin is deep and a major turnaround should not be a shock or unexpected.

The Red River Rivalry is always one of the most anticipated games of the season, and the Longhorns almost always play well.

Texas' coaching staff was overhauled during the offseason and the offensive line is inexperienced and must jell quickly to protect Garrett Gilbert.

Texas Tech

Tommy Tuberville is a proven winner and he believes he can lead Texas Tech to a Big 12 championship.

That talent probably isn't in place to get to the top of the conference just yet.

But confidence always helps.

The Red Raiders should be 4-0 when Texas A&M comes to Lubbock on Oct. 8. If they pull off that upset who knows how far Tuberville could ride the momentum.

And the Winner Is...

Oklahoma edges the field by a nose.

With two potential Top 10 teams in Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, it would be easy to go with the field.

However, the Sooners are loaded and Bob Stoops is one of the best coaches in all of college football.

So as tempting as it is to bet against Oklahoma, the smart move is to stick with the Sooners.