5 Burning Questions: Big 12 Style

5 Questions facing the conference leading into the football season.

1)  Why is Oklahoma St. getting no respect?

Almost every college football fan has Oklahoma or Texas winning the Big 12 and playing Florida for the BCS National Championship. While this is not a dumb prediction, people need to realize that Oklahoma St. has a very good chance to make a BCS game and upset one of these two teams. The Cowboys open the season with a home game against Georgia, but they should win every game headed into their big home game against Texas on Oct. 31. We think Mike Gundy will lead his team to a win over Georgia and the Cowboys will be 7-0 headed into the Texas game. If the Cowboys can upset Texas, they have three winnable games against Iowa State, Texas Tech and Colorado before their game against Oklahoma on Nov. 28. The Cowboys won’t win both of these games, but they will upset one of these teams and finish the season with only one loss. Tennessee fans that think safety Eric Berry has a chance of winning the Heisman Trophy need to realize that Berry won’t even finish ahead of Oklahoma St. wide receiver Dez Bryant in the Heisman standings.

2)  Is Colt McCoy a lock for the Heisman?

College football fans are in for a treat this year as there are two returning Heisman Trophy winners in Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy completed more than 76 percent of his passes last season for 3,859 yards and 34 touchdowns. The offensive line should be very strong and Jordan Shipley will have a very good season being McCoy’s favorite target. Many people think McCoy will win the Heisman because ill-informed Heisman voters won’t want to vote for Bradford or Tebow again. Tebow will win the Heisman and cap off one of the best college football careers of all time. McCoy will finish second in the race for the Heisman.

3)  Why did Mike Leach not pull a Costanza and leave on a high note?

You are a college football coach that just completed your best season in your coaching career. The best receiver in the nation just left your school for the NFL. You have multiple schools that want you to coach their school and you go back to a school that has disrespected you in the past. Would this make any sense to you? It doesn’t make any sense to me and that is why I am so confused about Mike Leach coming back to Texas Tech. Texas Tech’s defense returns many starters, but star defensive end McKinner Dixon was suspended for spring drills  for academic reasons. If you are in a college fantasy football league, you are well aware that quarterback Taylor Potts is projected to have a good season under Leach. Tech will not have a better season than last year when the Red Raiders upset Texas 39-33 in one of the best games of the year. Leach should have left Lubbock after last year, because his career at Texas Tech has peaked.

4)  Will Mike Sherman get fired after the season?

Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman was a very underrated NFL coach that should have a job over current NFL coaches like Dick Jauron, Eric Mangini and Gary Kubiak. The problem is that sometimes pro coaches aren’t a good fit in college and Sherman struggled in his first season, finishing 4-8 and losing 49-9 to Texas in the season finale. The Aggies have some of the best fans in college football (Kissing Dates!) and might not want to keep Sherman around if he has another losing season. We see the Aggies winning five games and Sherman getting fired in the offseason. Would the Aggies take a chance at Phillip Fulmer or Tommy Tuberville? Stay tuned for this opening as the Aggies will bring in a high-profile name next season.

5)  Can Robert Griffin lead Baylor to a bowl game?

Baylor hasn’t been to a bowl game since 1994, but there is reason for hope in Waco, Texas. The Bears have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in sophomore Robert Griffin. This duel-threat quarterback rushed for 843 yards and passed for 2,091 yards and threw only three interceptions last season. Griffin might end up with 1,000 yards rushing this season and the Bears open with two out-of-conference games in Wake Forest and Connecticut. The Deamon Deacons are a team on the decline and the Huskies will miss running back Donald Brown, meaning the Bears should open the season with two important victories. I can’t believe I am typing this, but the Bears will be 4-0 when they play Oklahoma on Oct. 10 and will finish with eight wins and will make a bowl game. If the Bears can upset Bo Pelini’s improved Nebraska team on Halloween in Waco, this could be a very successful season for the Bears.