Here is the second half to the Big 12 preview. In what’s sure to be one of the most competitive and talented conferences in football, teams like Texas and Baylor will get most of the attention. However, don’t count out teams like Texas Tech and West Virginia as they continue to improve and produce star-quality players. Here is a snap shot of the remaining Big 12 teams as we look at their 2013 schedule, key games, and team outlook.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Record: 8-5 (4-5 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Kliff Kingsbury (First Season)
Returning Starters: 5 Offense – 8 Defense
Schedule
@ SMU (August 30th)
Vs. Stephen F Austin (September 7th)
Vs. TCU (September 12th)
Vs. Texas State (September 21st)
@ Kansas (October 5th)
Vs. Iowa State (October 12th)
@ West Virginia (October 19th)
@ Oklahoma (October 26th)
Vs. Oklahoma State (November 2nd)
Vs. Kansas State (November 9th)
Vs. Baylor (November 16th)
@ Texas (November 28th)
Offensive Preview
The Offense will have a new look under new Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury, who’s ready to get the Red Raiders back to their bread and butter of a pitch and catch mentality. First thing he will have to do is pick his new quarterback. The likely choice is sophomore Michael Brewer who threw four touchdowns and zero interceptions in his limited time playing last year. Plan B would be freshman Davis Webb who is known for having a big-time arm and would fit nicely in their new “spread ‘em out” gameplan. Whoever is chucking the rock will have nice weapons. Tight end Jace Amaro might be the best at his position in the Big 12. Receiver Eric Ward is shifty, agile, and faster than the big bodied target looks. His sure hands helped him pluck 82 balls for 1,053 yards last season and should only get better. This unit will be fun to watch as they get back to the spread offense which is known for being explosive and fast paced. However, the big question is; how long will it take the new head coach to get them clicking on all cylinders?
Defensive Preview
The Red Raiders defense seems to always be cast in the shadows of their high octane and fun-to-watch offense. This year most likely will not be any different. Although they have eight returning starters and should be better than they were last year, they lack a talented and consistent secondary which gets them in trouble in “shoot-out” type games; which for this team is more times than not. They do have star power upfront though. Kerry Hyder is a defensive tackle slash defensive end who had 56 tackles, six sacks, and eight tackles for loss. He plays next to defensive end Delvin Simmons, who paired up with Hyder form one of the better defensive lines in the Big 12. If they can improve their pass defense, this unit will help the team win a lot more games, however, with an average recruiting class for the second year in a row that isn’t likely in this talented conference.
Key Games
1. Oklahoma- Texas Tech stunned most of college football when they upset the Sooners last year. Oklahoma will no doubt be looking for revenge in this meeting at the halfway point of the season.
2. Oklahoma State- The following week the Red Raiders play the Cowboys this time at home. This is good news because the home team is 12-3 in the last 15 matchups.
Top Newcomer: Devin Lauderdale, Wide Receiver- Due to the offensive scheme change the Red Raiders will be throwing the ball more than ever. This all bodes well for top recruit Lauderdale who most likely will see action as a true freshman.
Season Prediction: 6-6, Bowl Eligible
West Virginia Mountaineers
Record: 7-6 (4-5 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen (3rd Season; 17-9)
Returning Starters: 3 Offense – 7 Defense
Schedule
Vs. William & Mary (August 31st)
@ Oklahoma (September 7th)
Vs. Georgia State (September 14th)
Vs. Maryland (September 21st)
Vs. Oklahoma State (September 28th)
@ Baylor (October 5th)
Vs. Texas Tech (October 19th)
@ Kansas State (October 26th)
@ TCU (November 2nd)
Vs. Texas (November 9th)
@ Kansas (November 16th)
Vs. Iowa State (November 29th)
Offensive Preview
This unit might as well be starting from scratch. They lost their “Big Three” in quarterback Geno Smith and wide receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey early in the NFL draft which collectively might be the most any team in college football lost. So the true test for Coach Dana Holgorsen is reloading his offense. Their most consistent weapon now may be tailback Andrew Buie who gained 914 yards on only 179 attempts and also had 318 yards in the passing game. Besides him however, it’s a guessing game. In the end this offense won’t put up the gaudy numbers were used to them seeing but they still should be able to compete on a week to week basis.
Defensive Preview
They have more than twice the returning starters that their offense has but yet they’re still the bigger question mark. This unit gave up nearly 35 points a game and if they want to be competitive that must improve because their offense won’t be able to bail them out like they did in 2012. It’s never a good sign when a defensive back leads your team in tackles as safety Karl Joseph did. The sophomore Joseph is still developing but showed aggressiveness in supporting the run and in most pre-season rankings is challenging for all conference honors. Joseph should be the highlight of the defense again. This team has a soft schedule and if the defense can find a rhythm they should play their best football in the second half of the season.
Key Games
1. Baylor- Didn’t get enough fireworks this past Fourth of July? No worries, there could be more come October 5th. Last year in these schools first meeting the teams combined for 133 points and 19 combined touchdowns! Of the 19 scoring drives 16 were three minutes or under.
Top Newcomer: D’Vante Henry, Linebacker- The defense is looking for playmakers on his side of the ball and although he might not start week one, the coaching staff will find a way to get his disruptive style of play on the field.
Season Prediction: 6-6, Bowl Eligible
Kansas Jayhawks
Record: 1-11 (0-9 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Charlie Weis (2nd Season; 1-11)
Returning Starters: 5 Offense – 4 Defense
Schedule
Vs. South Dakota (September 7th)
@ Rice (September 14th)
Vs. Louisiana Tech (September 21st)
Vs. Texas Tech (October 5th)
@ TCU (October 12th)
Vs. Oklahoma (October 19th)
Vs. Baylor (October 26th)
@ Texas (November 2nd)
@ Oklahoma State (November 9th)
Vs. West Virginia (November 16th)
@ Iowa State (November 23rd)
Vs. Kansas State (November 30th)
Offensive Preview
After going 0-18 in the Big 12 the past two seasons and just five returning starters, it’s easy to write the Jayhawks off for another dismal year. However, hold them under the microscope and you will see a better team than you thought. Coach Weis has brought in his recruits that fit his style of play the past two years and the roster in now loaded with players that fit his schemes. While all this is encouraging the offense will still revolve around running back James Sims who averaged more than 100 yards in Big 12 games. Sims bullied his way to a 1,000 yard season despite missing his first three games. He will no doubt be the focal point of the offensive attack, even with Wies’s new emphasis on the passing game.
Defensive Preview
It’s the same theme as the offense. With Weis bringing in more and more immediate impact recruits this unit will be extremely competitive. The goal for Weis is to continue to improve every week and build continuity on his roster. Although they only won one game last year the Kanas was very competitive in its matchups even against the conference’s best opponents. The Jayhawks were in within one play of beating Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State and is now much more improved on the defensive side of the ball.
Key Games
1. Texas Tech- The Jayhawks have lost nine straight Big 12 home games including a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Red Raiders last year. If that wasn’t bad enough their 1-11 against Texas Tech. But with a soft schedule in front of this game they could have some positive steam heading into this homecoming event. With a win here they could have the most momentum they’ve had in years with a lot of happy campers on campus.
2. Baylor- The home team is 9-1 in this matchup. Last year the Jayhawks were down only 20-14 until being shut out in the second half. If they can play all four quarters this time around there is no doubt not only will they keep it competitive but show the rest of the Big 12 that their squad is on the rise.
Top Newcomer: Chris Martin Defensive End- Martin is a former five star recruit who transferred from junior college who will be an immediate impact player on a team desperate for talent.
Season Prediction: 4-8, Not Bowl Eligible
Iowa State Cyclones
Record: 6-7 (3-6 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Paul Rhoads (5th Season 24-27)
Returning Starters: 5 Offense – 4 Defense
Schedule
Vs. Northern Iowa (August 31st)
Vs. Iowa (September 14th)
@ Tulsa (September 26th)
Vs. Texas (October 3rd)
@ Texas Tech (October 12th)
@ Baylor (October 19th)
Vs. Oklahoma State (October 26th)
@ Kansas State (November 2nd)
Vs. TCU (November 9th)
@ Oklahoma (November 16th)
Vs. Kansas (November 23rd)
@ West Virginia (November 29th)
Offensive Preview
Sophomore quarterback Sam Richardson played well over the last quarter of the season in 2012. He threw an impressive eight touchdowns while throwing only one interception. As good as his momentum is heading into this season, the coaching staff seems to be high on red shirt freshman Grant Rohach and his potential in their offense. Although the Cyclones do the all the little things well, they lack star type players in their offensive lineup that makes opposing defenses have to game plan against. They do, however, have the best tight end tandem in the conference with All-American Ernst Brun and newcomer E.J. Bibbs. These two will provide good blocking and a great safety blanket for their quarterback so look for a lot of two tight end sets this year for Iowa State.
Defensive Preview
As stated above, the Cyclones are one of the best at the small details. This dedication to the little things has helped them reach bowl eligibility without having the same talented roster as the top teams in the Big 12. The Cyclones are going to miss stud linebackers A.J. Klein and Jake Knott. They will lean on Jeremiah George and his athletic ability to soften the blow and hope he can step up his leadership and production. George will need his defensive line to eat up blocks up front and make room for him to make plays. This team will continue to play solid fundamental defense and be that annoying fly in the house of the Big 12 as they pester the top teams with tough smash mouth football.
Key Games
1. Baylor- Cyclones are one of only two teams in the country to beat a ranked team on the road in three consecutive years. Baylor better not sleep on Iowa State even though they’re in front of their home crowd and will be favored.
2. Oklahoma- Iowa State has lost an embarrassing 14 straight, however, as stated above; the Cyclones have found a way to upset a ranked team on the road in each of the last three years. The question is: who will it be this year?
Top Newcomer E.J. Bibbs Tight End- Bibbs is walking into a perfect situation being able to be mentored by senior leader Ernst Brun until he is able to take over the full time role. These two will give defenses fits when on the field at the same time in two tight end packages.
Season Prediction- 4-8, Not Bowl Eligible