planomateo
Member
Thought this might create some interesting discussion...
Kinda interesting, not that I've overlooked Baylor this year (but they are Baylor for crying out loud), I'm rolling with Oklahoma State to win the Big XII, but think it could be a toss up between a few teams - Texas is the big unknown for me, as they return alot of starters, but I'm just not sold on their coaching for obvious reasons.
On a different note, I'm still kicking myself in the ass for not driving down to watch Baylor beat OU, I had a suspicion this was going to happen and didn't drive a few hours to watch it live. I didn't go simply because, it's Baylor.
http://www.coachingsearch.com/article?a=National-championship-game-prediction
National championship game prediction: Alabama vs. Baylor
Let me start by saying that I really like Georgia. The Bulldogs have a senior quarterback, phenomenal running backs, and will enter year three in the same defensive system under Todd Grantham. But the Bulldogsā depth across the defensive line is concerning, especially with the likes of Clemson, South Carolina, and LSU in the first month of the season. More importantly, in order to play for the national championship, the Bulldogs will have to beat Alabama in the SEC championship game.
At the end of the day, I just think AJ McCarron will play at a more consistent level than Aaron Murray. Alabama and Georgia will meet again the SEC championship game, and the Crimson Tide will prevail once more.
Itās truly remarkable what Nick Saban has formed at Alabama. Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has the luxury of utilizing McCarron, TJ Yeldon, Amari Cooper, terrific tight ends, another talented offensive line, and plenty of depth.
The SEC coaches tabbed three Alabama defensive linemen as second-team preseason All-SEC. Not the mention, the schedule is very favorable, as the Crimson Tide avoids Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina in the regular season.
I expect Nick Saban to lead the Crimson Tide to Pasadena, where he'll face the Baylor Bears.
Baylor is super talented at the offensive skill positions, enters year three under defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, and has a favorable schedule.
Art Briles is 1 of 18 head coaches to return all nine assistant coaches, and they are 1 of 27 programs to have recruited to the same systems on both sides of the ball for at least the last three signing classes.
The Bears start the season as follows: Wofford, Buffalo, OPEN, ULM, OPEN, and West Virginia.
Thatās the type of start that should allow them to really know their identity by the heart of their schedule. It should also help keep the Bears fresh for the tough part of their schedule, which happens in November.
Hereās how it shapes up for the Baylor beginning in November: Oklahoma (Thursday night), Texas Tech (Cowboys Stadium), at Oklahoma State, at TCU, and Texas.
Baylor has defeated each of those teams at least once in the last two years.
In the spring, Art Briles said, "That's the first thing we noticed when we came out this spring is depth of our team. We have Big 12 quality depth. We're not getting there; we're there. We have good people across the board, at least in the two-deep."
He also said, "I don't know if there's any place in America with 2 backs right around a thousand yards (running backs returning). We fully expect them to go over a thousand this year. I think that's a big combination for us. It certainly helps our QB and our defense. We'll run the football."
At Big 12 Media Day, a reporter asked about expectations for new starting quarterback Bryce Petty.
Briles responded, āReally, Bryce, a reasonable expectation, first thing that popped into my mind is break every Baylor record there is offensively, which is what we expect him to do and what he plans to do. I don't know what expectation anyone would have other than doing that, which equates to winning every football game we step on the field with, which needs to be his expectation along with ours. His expectations are to win every game and be the best quarterback in the United States of America.ā
Thatās the type of response you get when the head coach knows that heās got a great one.
And Briles feels like his staff signed āthe best receiver in the United States of Americaā in February when Robbie Rhodes inked with the Bears.
The Bears, 18-8 over the last two seasons, also have enough depth across the defensive line and a couple of highly-touted linebackers.
I think Baylor can finish 11-1 in the regular season.
Itās a gutsy prediction. The Bears have been tabbed fifth in the league and enter the season outside the Top 25, but I think Baylor will win the Big 12 and play Alabama for the national championship game in Pasadena.
Kinda interesting, not that I've overlooked Baylor this year (but they are Baylor for crying out loud), I'm rolling with Oklahoma State to win the Big XII, but think it could be a toss up between a few teams - Texas is the big unknown for me, as they return alot of starters, but I'm just not sold on their coaching for obvious reasons.
On a different note, I'm still kicking myself in the ass for not driving down to watch Baylor beat OU, I had a suspicion this was going to happen and didn't drive a few hours to watch it live. I didn't go simply because, it's Baylor.
http://www.coachingsearch.com/article?a=National-championship-game-prediction
National championship game prediction: Alabama vs. Baylor
Let me start by saying that I really like Georgia. The Bulldogs have a senior quarterback, phenomenal running backs, and will enter year three in the same defensive system under Todd Grantham. But the Bulldogsā depth across the defensive line is concerning, especially with the likes of Clemson, South Carolina, and LSU in the first month of the season. More importantly, in order to play for the national championship, the Bulldogs will have to beat Alabama in the SEC championship game.
At the end of the day, I just think AJ McCarron will play at a more consistent level than Aaron Murray. Alabama and Georgia will meet again the SEC championship game, and the Crimson Tide will prevail once more.
Itās truly remarkable what Nick Saban has formed at Alabama. Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has the luxury of utilizing McCarron, TJ Yeldon, Amari Cooper, terrific tight ends, another talented offensive line, and plenty of depth.
The SEC coaches tabbed three Alabama defensive linemen as second-team preseason All-SEC. Not the mention, the schedule is very favorable, as the Crimson Tide avoids Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina in the regular season.
I expect Nick Saban to lead the Crimson Tide to Pasadena, where he'll face the Baylor Bears.
Baylor is super talented at the offensive skill positions, enters year three under defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, and has a favorable schedule.
Art Briles is 1 of 18 head coaches to return all nine assistant coaches, and they are 1 of 27 programs to have recruited to the same systems on both sides of the ball for at least the last three signing classes.
The Bears start the season as follows: Wofford, Buffalo, OPEN, ULM, OPEN, and West Virginia.
Thatās the type of start that should allow them to really know their identity by the heart of their schedule. It should also help keep the Bears fresh for the tough part of their schedule, which happens in November.
Hereās how it shapes up for the Baylor beginning in November: Oklahoma (Thursday night), Texas Tech (Cowboys Stadium), at Oklahoma State, at TCU, and Texas.
Baylor has defeated each of those teams at least once in the last two years.
In the spring, Art Briles said, "That's the first thing we noticed when we came out this spring is depth of our team. We have Big 12 quality depth. We're not getting there; we're there. We have good people across the board, at least in the two-deep."
He also said, "I don't know if there's any place in America with 2 backs right around a thousand yards (running backs returning). We fully expect them to go over a thousand this year. I think that's a big combination for us. It certainly helps our QB and our defense. We'll run the football."
At Big 12 Media Day, a reporter asked about expectations for new starting quarterback Bryce Petty.
Briles responded, āReally, Bryce, a reasonable expectation, first thing that popped into my mind is break every Baylor record there is offensively, which is what we expect him to do and what he plans to do. I don't know what expectation anyone would have other than doing that, which equates to winning every football game we step on the field with, which needs to be his expectation along with ours. His expectations are to win every game and be the best quarterback in the United States of America.ā
Thatās the type of response you get when the head coach knows that heās got a great one.
And Briles feels like his staff signed āthe best receiver in the United States of Americaā in February when Robbie Rhodes inked with the Bears.
The Bears, 18-8 over the last two seasons, also have enough depth across the defensive line and a couple of highly-touted linebackers.
I think Baylor can finish 11-1 in the regular season.
Itās a gutsy prediction. The Bears have been tabbed fifth in the league and enter the season outside the Top 25, but I think Baylor will win the Big 12 and play Alabama for the national championship game in Pasadena.
