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2009 Oklahoma College Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

ou72809 The Sooners won another Big 12 title last season to punch their tickets to the BCS championship game. They came up just short of the national title, losing 14-24 to Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators, but the Sooners look poised to make another run at it in 2009. All that appears to be standing in their way of a fourth straight conference title and more is the Texas Longhorns. Find out where I have the Sooners finishing in the Big 12 South in this 2009 college football betting preview. Oklahoma is listed at +600 to win the 2009 BCS championship at Sportsbook.com.

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Offense – The nation’s no. 1 ranked scoring offense in 2008, averaging 51.1 points per game, should put the fear of God in the opposition once again this season. Quarterback Sam Bradford returns after winning the Heisman Trophy to lead the attack. Bradford was nothing short of otherworldly last year when he threw for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. Tight end Jermaine Gresham said no to the NFL for another year as well. He was sensational last season, hauling in 66 passes for 950 yards and 14 scores. OU already has the best talent in the league at the skill positions and its scheme makes it even more of a juggernaut. Bradford is a rare QB with the skill and the intelligence to make a quick, no-huddle offense work and that scheme will be punishing teams yet again in 2009. The Sooners also boast, perhaps, the best running back duo in the country in Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray. The duo each ran for over 1,000 yards last season. Gresham is a game-changing tight end and wide receiver Ryan Broyles has the speed to be a big play threat also. Only one starter returns on the offensive line, but that won’t keep the Sooners from putting one of the more talented units in the league on the field.

Defense – Eight starters return on a defense that was respectable in 2008 and figures to be even better in 2009. Bob Stoops’ defense is a big play defense, starting up front with All-American tackle Gerald McCoy. McCoy can stuff the run, rush the QB, and force double teams to open up lanes for blitzers and the Sooners’ defensive ends. Most teams have one quality pass rushing defensive end if they’re lucky; the Sooners have three. Frank Alexander, Jeremy Beal, and Auston English combined for 16.5 sacks last season. Beal led the way with 8.5. The coaching staff has to be complimented on the work they’ve done with linebacker Travis Lewis. The sophomore went from being a converted running back to starring at outside linebacker with 144 tackles in his freshman season. According to the numbers, it doesn’t look like any team in the Big 12 fared well against the pass with all the star quarterbacks in the league. But Oklahoma corners Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson more than held their own in their first season as starters.

Prediction: 1st Big 12 South – The Sooners boast the best skill players in the league and an improving defense which returns plenty of starters. An October 17th showdown versus Texas in Dallas likely decides the South Division and more, and I like the Sooners to have their revenge after going down to the Longhorns last season. College football odds makers have listed Oklahoma at +150 to win the Big 12 South Division at BetUS.

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