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Big 12 preview: Inside the South
PROJECTED RECORD >> 11-1, 7-1 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | CHATTANOOGA | W |
| Sept. 6 | CINCINNATI | W |
| Sept. 13 | at Washington | W |
| Sept. 27 | TCU | W |
| Oct. 4 | at Baylor | W |
| Oct. 11 | vs. Texas* | W |
| Oct. 18 | KANSAS | W |
| Oct. 25 | at Kansas State | W |
| Nov. 1 | NEBRASKA | W |
| Nov. 8 | at Texas A&M | W |
| Nov. 22 | TEXAS TECH | W |
| Nov. 29 | at Oklahoma State | L |
2007 record: 11-3 overall, 6-2 Big 12 (1st, South)
They’ll win some if: No ifs. They’ll win. The two-time defending Big 12 champs are wired to win — until the bowl game. Quarterback Sam Bradford seeks to avoid a sophomore slump, and he’ll operate behind what might be the nation’s best offensive line.
Or lose some if: There’s some kind of chemistry problem, but that’s unlikely. Oklahoma started slowly in 2005, but it was breaking in a new quarterback. Place-kicking isn’t a certainty now that Garrett Hartley has moved on.
Win one for The Gipper: “Big Game Bob” Stoops, so he can revive the nickname. He’s lost it after losing four bowl games in the last five years, with all the defeats coming in BCS bowl games.
Final analysis: Oklahoma is loaded once again and there seems to be enough distance between the Sooners and Texas that Texas Tech might be the stronger challenger. And wouldn’t you know, Oklahoma gets Tech in Norman this season.
2 TEXAS TECH
PROJECTED RECORD >> 9-3, 5-3 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | E. WASHINGTON | W |
| Sept. 6 | at Nevada | W |
| Sept. 13 | SMU | W |
| Sept. 20 | UMASS | W |
| Oct. 4 | at Kansas State | L |
| Oct. 11 | NEBRASKA | W |
| Oct. 18 | at Texas A&M | W |
| Oct. 25 | at Kansas | L |
| Nov. 1 | TEXAS | W |
| Nov. 8 | OKLAHOMA ST. | W |
| Nov. 22 | at Oklahoma | L |
| Nov. 29 | BAYLOR | W |
They’ll win some if: The Red Raiders keep improving defensively. With eight starters back from a unit that finished a respectable 45th in total defense, they shouldn’t have any problem getting stops and giving the ball back to Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree.
Or lose some if: Texas Tech can’t handle increased expectations. The Red Raiders have flourished as the pesky, pass-happy boys from out west, but now they are getting the most preseason pub in the Mike Leach era. Sports Illustrated ranked them No. 8.
Win one for The Gipper: Wide receiver Eric Morris is 5-feet-8, 177 pounds of muscle and heart. He’s the latest in a long line of Mike Leach receivers who have overachieved catching passes in his spread offense. Morris had 767 yards and nine touchdowns last year in a smaller role. This year, expect those numbers to go up.
Final analysis: The schedule is set so that Texas Tech could start the season 6-0 before making back-to-back trips in late October to Texas A&M and Kansas. The Red Raiders’ season will hinge on their performance right there. Either way, expect Texas Tech to supplant Texas as the second-place team in the South this season.
3 TEXAS
PROJECTED RECORD >> 8-4, 4-4 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | FLA. ATLANTIC | W |
| Sept. 6 | at UTEP | W |
| Sept. 13 | ARKANSAS | W |
| Sept. 20 | RICE | W |
| Oct. 4 | at Colorado | L |
| Oct. 11 | vs. Oklahoma* | L |
| Oct. 18 | MISSOURI | W |
| Oct. 25 | OKLAHOMA ST. | W |
| Nov. 1 | at Texas Tech | L |
| Nov. 8 | BAYLOR | W |
| Nov. 15 | at Kansas | L |
| Nov. 27 | TEXAS A&M | W |
2007 record: 10-3 overall, 5-3 Big 12 (2nd, South)
They’ll win some if: The Longhorns’ defense gets its swagger back under new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who came over from Auburn. Texas was taken apart through the air last year, finishing among the nation’s worst in pass defense.
Or lose some if: Some big-play options don’t develop at the skill positions. At wide receiver, Texas lost Limas Sweed. At running back, they are without Jamaal Charles. Wide receiver Quan Cosby and running backs Foswhitt Whittaker and Vondrell McGee are the best candidates for fireworks in Austin, but they’re largely unproven.
Win one for The Gipper: Quarterback Colt McCoy has taken some abuse in his first two years filling the shoes of Vince Young. Now, it’s time for McCoy to return to the form of his freshman year — before that trip to Manhattan, Kan. He could use some help from his teammates.
Final analysis: If the last two seasons haven’t been up to snuff, wait until the Longhorn faithful see this one. Texas has Oklahoma in Dallas and Kansas, Texas Tech and Colorado on the road. Throw in Missouri at home, and this is by far the league’s toughest schedule. The Longhorns will have fared well if they equal last year’s 5-3 league record.
4 OKLA. STATE
PROJECTED RECORD >> 8-4, 4-4 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | vs. Washington State* | W |
| Sept. 6 | HOUSTON | W |
| Sept. 13 | MISSOURI STATE | W |
| Sept. 27 | TROY | W |
| Oct. 4 | TEXAS A&M | W |
| Oct. 11 | at Missouri | L |
| Oct. 18 | BAYLOR | W |
| Oct. 25 | at Texas | L |
| Nov. 1 | IOWA STATE | W |
| Nov. 8 | at Texas Tech | L |
| Nov. 15 | at Colorado | L |
| Nov. 29 | OKLAHOMA | W |
2007 record: 7-6 overall, 4-4 Big 12 (T-3rd, South)
They’ll win some if: Only because the schedule brings some relief from a year ago, when Oklahoma State’s slate ranked fifth toughest in the nation. Offense is a given with quarterback Zac Robinson coming off a school-record 3,671 yards total offense.
Or lose some if: An anticipated 5-0 start could be all but wiped out by a second half schedule that sends the Cowboys to Missouri, Texas, Texas Tech and Colorado.
Win one for The Gipper: Coach Mike Gundy stood behind his players with the infamous “I’m a man! I’m 40!” rant after the Texas Tech game a year ago. Don’t know how much more passionate a coach can be. Time for this team to put up or Gundy to shut up.
Final analysis: Oklahoma State has a good football program. But the Cowboys aren’t great, yet. And that won’t change this season. A quick start but stumbling finish, with losses at Missouri, Texas, Texas Tech and Colorado. An upset of Oklahoma in Stillwater still gives Cowboys a nice bowl.
5 TEXAS A&M
PROJECTED RECORD >> 5-7, 3-5 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | ARKANSAS STATE | W |
| Sept. 6 | at New Mexico | L |
| Sept. 20 | MIAMI, FLA. | W |
| Sept. 27 | ARMY | L |
| Oct. 4 | at Oklahoma State | L |
| Oct. 11 | KANSAS STATE | W |
| Oct. 18 | TEXAS TECH | L |
| Oct. 25 | at Iowa State | L |
| Nov. 1 | COLORADO | W |
| Nov. 8 | OKLAHOMA | L |
| Nov. 15 | at Baylor | W |
| Nov. 27 | at Texas | L |
They’ll win some if: New coach Mike Sherman decides to rely heavily on speedy tailback Mike Goodson, which seems likely now that the mountainous Jorvorskie Lane has been shifted to fullback. And if the Aggies take care of business at home, it should be a successful season.
Or lose some if: The transition from Dennis Franchione’s option-style offense to Sherman’s pro-style, run-based attack is difficult. And if they can’t score enough to keep up with the rest of the league’s offensive juggernauts, even though A&M’s defense should be solid.
Win one for The Gipper: Stephen McGee, the two-year starter at quarterback who was fiercely devoted to the fired Franchione and was rewarded this offseason for his loyalty by being forced to compete for the starting job.
Final analysis: It looks like a brutal start to the Sherman Era in College Station. The offensive line has some holes, and McGee could struggle in a new scheme. The road games are manageable, but the contests at Kyle Field are treacherous.
6 BAYLOR
PROJECTED FINISH >> 3-9, 1-7 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 28 | WAKE FOREST | L |
| Sept. 6 | N’WESTERN ST. | W |
| Sept. 13 | WASHINGTON ST. | W |
| Sept. 19 | at Connecticut | L |
| Oct. 4 | OKLAHOMA | L |
| Oct. 11 | IOWA STATE | W |
| Oct. 18 | at Oklahoma State | L |
| Oct. 25 | at Nebraska | L |
| Nov. 1 | MISSOURI | L |
| Nov. 8 | at Texas | L |
| Nov. 15 | TEXAS A&M | L |
| Nov. 29 | at Texas Tech | L |
They’ll win some if: Opponents don’t respect the Bears, which is entirely possible after Baylor posted an 0-8 Big 12 record that cost Guy Morriss his job. Art Briles left a pretty good gig at Houston. Hope he knows what he’s getting into.
Or lose some if: They’re going to lose, maybe big. It’s a transition year in a floundering program. Not much hope for success this season.
Win one for The Gipper: Every Baylor fan. No group in the Big 12 has witnessed more football futility than this group. It deserves some fortune.
Final analysis: There’s a sense that if Briles can’t get it done, nobody can. We’ll see. The Bears likely are a few recruiting classes away from making a dent in the conference. But they can show some toughness in the opener by challenging Atlantic Coast Conference contender Wake Forest.