I can't argue too much with this except TCU is too high at #2 (I would put them at #4 and move WVU and K-State up one notch). Summary:
#1 OU - Oklahoma lost a legend in Baker Mayfield and will struggle to match last year’s offensive production.
#2 TCU - The Horned Frogs have bodies up front but very little experience as the offensive line turns over to a new cast of starters. (not mentioned in article but QB is new also)
#3 WVU - The Mountaineers have perhaps the nation’s best quarterback in senior Will Grier, who should be at or near the top of every preseason Heisman Trophy list. WVU also has confidence in the play of its defense, which improved during the second half of last season.
#4 K-State - The Wildcats also bring back one of the league’s most experienced offenses in terms of returning production. There are holes to fill on defense, which explains why Snyder’s team isn’t ranked in the top three.
#5 Oklahoma State - There’s a huge hole at quarterback and wide receiver, and the team as a whole is one of the least experienced in the entire FBS.
#6 Iowa State - The roster is a little deeper and firmly ensconced in Campbell’s system. There are fewer concerns about quarterback play. Running back David Montgomery is an All-America contender. There’s a lot to like about Iowa State.
#7 Texas - Longhorns are young in spots and unproven in others. The defense loses its two most impactful starters in Malik Jefferson and DeShon Elliott. Quarterback play needs to take a significant step forward. This is the boom-or-bust team in the Big 12 in 2018: Texas could explode in Herman’s second year or remain an unpredictable bowl team that fails to crack the league’s top three or four.
#8 Texas Tech - Texas Tech doesn’t seem built to make a real run at a top-three finish in the Big 12. That doesn’t mean the Red Raiders can’t get to eight wins, especially given the program’s internal confidence in the health of a defense long ranked among the nation’s worst.
#9 Baylor - This could even be a six-win season in 2018, which would mark huge progress off last year’s 1-11 finish.
#10 KU - A no-doubter pick
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...09/2018-big-12-prediction-oklahoma/767535002/
#1 OU - Oklahoma lost a legend in Baker Mayfield and will struggle to match last year’s offensive production.
#2 TCU - The Horned Frogs have bodies up front but very little experience as the offensive line turns over to a new cast of starters. (not mentioned in article but QB is new also)
#3 WVU - The Mountaineers have perhaps the nation’s best quarterback in senior Will Grier, who should be at or near the top of every preseason Heisman Trophy list. WVU also has confidence in the play of its defense, which improved during the second half of last season.
#4 K-State - The Wildcats also bring back one of the league’s most experienced offenses in terms of returning production. There are holes to fill on defense, which explains why Snyder’s team isn’t ranked in the top three.
#5 Oklahoma State - There’s a huge hole at quarterback and wide receiver, and the team as a whole is one of the least experienced in the entire FBS.
#6 Iowa State - The roster is a little deeper and firmly ensconced in Campbell’s system. There are fewer concerns about quarterback play. Running back David Montgomery is an All-America contender. There’s a lot to like about Iowa State.
#7 Texas - Longhorns are young in spots and unproven in others. The defense loses its two most impactful starters in Malik Jefferson and DeShon Elliott. Quarterback play needs to take a significant step forward. This is the boom-or-bust team in the Big 12 in 2018: Texas could explode in Herman’s second year or remain an unpredictable bowl team that fails to crack the league’s top three or four.
#8 Texas Tech - Texas Tech doesn’t seem built to make a real run at a top-three finish in the Big 12. That doesn’t mean the Red Raiders can’t get to eight wins, especially given the program’s internal confidence in the health of a defense long ranked among the nation’s worst.
#9 Baylor - This could even be a six-win season in 2018, which would mark huge progress off last year’s 1-11 finish.
#10 KU - A no-doubter pick
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...09/2018-big-12-prediction-oklahoma/767535002/
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