Texas Tech Coach Kliff Kingsbury Texas Tech coaches have staffers pretend to be cute girls to spy on their players’ on-line activities. Really. Coach Kliff Kingsbury, at age 36, isn’t much older than his players. He knows the importance…
10. Kansas (Last year: 0-12, 0-9, no bowl game)When you start at the bottom the only way to go is up. Slight improvement under new Coach David Beaty, but the Jayhawks will be pressed to win two games this season.
9. Iowa State (Last year: 3-9, 2-7, no bowl game)The Cyclones are lacking on defense. They have an underrated QB in Joel Lanning and some good skilled position players. They may win four games this year; but, they get Oklahoma at home on a Thursday night in November.
8. West Virginia (Last year: 8-5, 4-5, beat Arizona State in Cactus Bowl)This will be Dana Holgersen’s last year at WVU. The Mountaineers will score behind a good offensive line; but, inexperience at linebacker and secondary will hurt them.
7. Kansas State (Last year: 6-7, 3-6, lost to Arkansas in Liberty Bowl)We don’t bet against a Bill Snyder team. Never. This year they have QB Jesse Ertz returning after missing last year. Good talent on defense. Lacking some in team speed. Should win six games this year.
The high pre-season ranking given Oklahoma by ESPN and the AP poll might jinx the Sooners, but Kirk Herbstreit won’t be responsible for it. Herbstreit has picked TCU to win the Big 12 title in 2016 — not Oklahoma.
Herbstreit said the addition of former Texas A&M QB Kenny Hill will make the Horned Frogs “pretty dynamic” and will surprise people.
While the Sooners open the season on the road against a highly-ranked Houston Cougars, TCU starts the 2016 campaign at home against South Dakota State (an FCS school).