College football guru Phil Steele just released his predictions for the 2012-13 college football bowl games on July 5. It what has to come as a surprise to everyone, including those in Norman, Oklahoma, Steele projects the Oklahoma Sooners to make it to the BCS National Championship game to play the Florida State Seminoles.
Even die-hard Oklahoma Sooners fans have to look at that with some skepticism.
The 2012 Sooners come into the season with only one wide out who has caught a pass for the team. Kenny Stills takes over the leadership position formerly held by Ryan Broyles but finds himself with freshmen and college transfers to surround himself with. Three Sooners’ veteran receivers were suspended and lost their scholarships and there are no tight ends on the team with any Oklahoma experience.
On the defensive side of the ball, Mike Stoops returns to Norman and takes over as defensive coordinator after Brent Venabales left the team, so a new defensive strategy will be implemented for the 2012 season. The defense also lost Travis Lewis, Ronnell Lewis and Jamell Fleming.
The only real stability comes from returning quarterback Landry Jones and a veteran backfield that includes Roy Finch and Dominique Whaley. However, that may not be enough to meet Steele’s expectations.
The Oklahoma Sooners beat the Florida State Seminoles twice the past two seasons, 47-17 in Norman and 23-13 in Tallahassee.
Other Big 12 schools projected into 2012-13 bowl games include the Oklahoma State Cowboys meeting the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl and Texas taking on Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl. The only two Big 12 teams not expected to make a bowl appearance are Iowa State and Kansas.
Of the two recently departed Big 12 teams, Steele projects Texas A&M to make an Independence Bowl (SEC at large) appearance and Missouri to make it to the BBVA Compass Bowl (SEC #8-9).
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