In the end there can be only one. We reach the climax of our countdown by anointing Oklahoma as the preseason #1 team in NCAA Football. Al Dannity explains why he has the Sooners at the top of the pile.
The schedule The home opener against Tulsa promised to be exciting but Damaris Johnson’s suspension has ruined that. We won’t have to wait long for the Sooners to face some big tests as a road game at Florida State is immediately followed by a home date with Missouri. October 8 sees the Sooners meet Texas in the Red River Shootout before they hit some big challenges in the second half of the season.
Texas A&M will visit Norman on November 5, having dominated Oklahoma in College Station last year. The regular season concludes with two testing road games. First it’s a tricky trip to Baylor and then it’s time for the Bedlam Bowl against the Cowboys in Stillwater.
The players Landry Jones leads a total of 16 returning starters, including 9 of last year’s offense. Even without DeMarco Murray, this unit promises to deliver consistently with Ryan Broyles providing a big threat at wide receiver. Jones has a shot at the Heisman and College Football betting fans should expect the quarterback to deliver big in 2011.
Defensively the Sooners look solid yet again, with linebacker Travis Lewis poised to have an outstanding senior season. Defensive tackles Stacy McGee and Casey Walker will both deserve plenty of attention this season. Punter Tress Way and kicker Jimmy Stevens are both returning starters.
The forecast This is like the perfect recipe for a #1 team. There’s plenty of meat on the schedule but not so much as to be certain of feeling unwell by season’s end. The talent level on this team is truly elite, with the added bonus of few players being lost to the NFL draft. Quite simply, anyone that the Sooners needed back is back and they have the schedule necessary to charge to the BCS National Championship game. Separating the Sooners from Alabama proved immensely difficult but the tests on Oklahoma’s slate are just that little bit tougher to give them the edge. Before New Orleans, Oklahoma will get more chances to prove their worth as the best team in the nation. If both the Tide and Sooners get there, then we’ll truly know who is the best of the best.
