OSU is getting almost no attention from the national media.
I understand why all the Big 12 talk is about BU and TCU right now. Baylor comes into the season with one big question mark (QB) and Briles has a history of plugging just about anyone into the position and making him successful. TCU comes into the season with 1 big question mark (defense) and Patterson has a history of turning out teams that perform well on that side of the ball. In addition, both teams start the season as top 5 picks.
I understand why OU is getting a lot of play as the darkhorse candidate to unseat one of those two teams. Perine was simply that good last season. He was truly special and is now a year older and, theoretically, bigger and stronger. Throw in a healthy Shepard and a (likely) dynamic Mixon, and there are enough playmakers that it may not matter much who their QB is. In addition, they get the benefit of the doubt (fair or not) because they are OU and Bob Stoops is considered to be an elite coach.
But, no one seems to be expecting much from OSU. OSU is often being picked to finish 5th behind the above 3 and either UT, WVU or KSU. Our weak non-conference schedule is not going to help with the perception of our team. I suspect that we will be 8-0 when TCU comes to town, but it may take a victory over them for OSU to start getting much national respect. Maybe it comes sooner if we are putting up big gaps in margin of victory and people start to appreciate how much we have improved on both offense and defense.
I don't bet on college football, but this would seem like a good year to play heavy money on OSU games. I think it is going to take some time for the nation, and Vegas to catch up and appreciate how good this OSU team is going to be.
I understand why all the Big 12 talk is about BU and TCU right now. Baylor comes into the season with one big question mark (QB) and Briles has a history of plugging just about anyone into the position and making him successful. TCU comes into the season with 1 big question mark (defense) and Patterson has a history of turning out teams that perform well on that side of the ball. In addition, both teams start the season as top 5 picks.
I understand why OU is getting a lot of play as the darkhorse candidate to unseat one of those two teams. Perine was simply that good last season. He was truly special and is now a year older and, theoretically, bigger and stronger. Throw in a healthy Shepard and a (likely) dynamic Mixon, and there are enough playmakers that it may not matter much who their QB is. In addition, they get the benefit of the doubt (fair or not) because they are OU and Bob Stoops is considered to be an elite coach.
But, no one seems to be expecting much from OSU. OSU is often being picked to finish 5th behind the above 3 and either UT, WVU or KSU. Our weak non-conference schedule is not going to help with the perception of our team. I suspect that we will be 8-0 when TCU comes to town, but it may take a victory over them for OSU to start getting much national respect. Maybe it comes sooner if we are putting up big gaps in margin of victory and people start to appreciate how much we have improved on both offense and defense.
I don't bet on college football, but this would seem like a good year to play heavy money on OSU games. I think it is going to take some time for the nation, and Vegas to catch up and appreciate how good this OSU team is going to be.
