As expected, Mountaineers picked near bottom of the Big 12

Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight (9) and teammates celebrate after the Sooners recovered an onside kick against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

 

IRVING, Texas — Yes, Oklahoma may be dramatically overhyped this season because of that Sugar Bowl shocker over Alabama last season. Still, it’s difficult to dispute the Sooners being preseason favorites in the 10-team Big 12.

My media peers agreed, according to the preseason poll released Thursday morning. They also agreed on an eighth-place finish for West Virginia, a team generating zero hype this offseason outside of the Delaware attorney general’s office.

However, head coach Dana Holgorsen and his staff—and you better believe, the players—are fueling up on the doubts and negativity in hopes of springing a surprise as they look to bury last year’s 4-8 finish.

Here’s a look at the overall poll (with first-place votes swathed in parentheses):

2014 BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL

Media results
  Votes
   Allan Taylor’s ballot
 1.
Oklahoma (47)
  548
   Oklahoma
 2.
Baylor (9)
  508
   Texas
 3.
Kansas State
  377
   Baylor
 4.
Texas
  376
   Kansas State
 5.
Oklahoma State
  312
   Oklahoma State
 6.
Texas Tech
  308
   Texas Tech
 7.
TCU
  297
   TCU
 8.
West Virginia
  170
   West Virginia
 9.
Iowa State
  121
   Iowa State
10.
Kansas
    63
   Kansas

I’m conflicted about Texas and whether Charlie Strong can renovate the mindset of that program immediately. I’m also conflicted about David Ash and that defense that was repeatedly shredded last season.

Still, there’s so much talent on that roster, that if it plays with more confidence and discipline, the Longhorns could win the league. They could also go 7-5. A burnt-orange conundrum.

Oklahoma will compete for a national title only if the true Trevor Knight turns out to be the Sugar Bowl iteration and not the one who was wildly inaccurate early in the season.

My suspicion is that defending champ Baylor comes back to earth a bit. (Oh wait, that already happened in Tempe.) The Bears benefit from five Big 12 home games in their glistening new stadium, but they must travel to Austin and Norman. I also refuse to compliment a team that continues to play a shoddy nonconference schedule.

If I’ve undervalued any team, it’s K-State. Good quarterbacking, potentially great receivers and a solidified line make the offense hard to stop. The defense returns only four starters, however, and the schedule includes only four Big 12 home games. Watch that Thursday night tilt against Auburn on Sept. 18 for a clue as to how far the Wildcats can climb.





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