Predicted Order of Finish-
1. Baylor- the reigning Big 12 Champion Bears return plenty of pieces from last year’s 12-2 season including depth and experience on both the offense and defensive lines, sophomore QB Blake Shapen showed great promise in 2 games as a starter but will be working alongside an inexperienced receiving corps and a backfield without departed All-Big 12 performer Abram Smith
2. Oklahoma- junior UCF transfer QB Dillon Gabriel brings instant credibility to the offense after throwing for over 8,000 yards and tossing 70 TD’s in 25 starts, new HC Brent Venables understands the expectations in Norman having worked under Bob Stoops for 13 years, but it will take time for the new staff and players to gel
3. Oklahoma State- the Cowboys defense which recorded 56 sacks last year returns three starters up front in senior DE’s Tyler Lacy and Brock Martin along with senior DT Brendon Evers, senior QB Spencer Sanders is turnover prone with 31 INT’s in three years as a starter and will be without his leading RB and WR from last year
4. Kansas State- the Wildcats offense returns junior RB Deuce Vaughn who rushed for over 1,400 yards along with 18 last year along with dual threat Nebraska senior transfer QB Adrian Martinez who owns 38 career rushing TD’s, Martinez put up impressive stats in 4 years at Lincoln, however, failed to take the Huskers to the postseason
5. Texas- highly touted Ohio State transfer and former Texas commit QB Quinn Ewers will battle Hudson Card for the starting spot alongside junior RB Bijan Robinson who rushed for 1,127 yards and 11 TD’s last season, the defense was woeful in 2021 allowing 201.6 yards on the ground while struggling to generate any kind of pressure on opposing QB’s
6. Iowa State- the Cyclones lost veteran QB Brock Purdy and RB Breece Hall (56 TD’s) but have a pair of 4-star recruits ready to take the helm in Hunter Dekkers and Jirehl Brock, the defense which was amongst the best in college football last season must replace star LB’s Mike Rose and Jake Hummel
7. TCU- quarterback guru Sonny Dykes, who took SMU to 3 bowls in 4 seasons prior to arriving in Fort Worth, inherits 2 capable QB’s in senior Max Duggan and sophomore Chandler Morris, the Horned Frogs must retool up front on both sides of the ball after allowing 28 sacks on offense while only generating 15 sacks on defense in 2021
8. West Virginia- former 5-star recruit and Georgia transfer JT Daniels takes over the offense and will have the benefit of 5 returning starters on the offensive line, star senior DL Dante Stills returns on defense but much of the secondary from last year’s unit must be replaced
9. Kansas- under first year head coach Lance Leipold the Jayhawks made big strides the final 3 games of last season defeating Texas on the road and losing to TCU and West Virginia by a combined 9 points, the schedule doesn’t offer any favors which will make it tough to improve on last year’s 2-10 mark
10. Texas Tech- HC Joey McGuire takes over the Red Raider program and brought in coordinator Zach Kittley who put together record setting offenses both at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky, McGuire lacks head coaching experience at the college level and will be thrown into the fire with September dates against Houston and NC State
Buy- None
Sell- Oklahoma State
Best Bet- Oklahoma State UNDER total wins
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