#9 Oklahoma Sooners Preview

Fall camps are under way and the regular season will be here soon so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#9 – Oklahoma Sooners 8-4 SU; 6-6 ATS

Fargo’s Take The Sooners were a top five team a month ago but now that starting quarterback Rhett Bomar has been dismissed from the team, they have dropped down in the rankings slightly. The presence of running back Adrian Peterson gives the offense a shot even though most of the pieces from the offense from last season need to be replaced. Bomar struggled last year but Oklahoma was still able to win eight games despite playing the nation’s toughest schedule. That generates hope for 2006 since the offense can’t really get much worse especially with Peterson coming back this season 100 percent healthy after spending a lot of time on the sidelines a year ago. The defense has to, and likely will, carry this team form the start in order for the Sooners to have any chance at winning the Big XII South. Texas is obviously in the way once again but the Longhorns are taking a small step back as well.

Returning Starters on Offense – 4 With the loss of Bomar, converted quarterback turned receiver and now back to quarterback Paul Thompson will need to assert himself behind center. He will be starting the season opener for the second straight season after putting together a below average performance against TCU last year. With Peterson in the backfield, some of the pressure should be taken off. The problem for Thompson, who was a projected starter at wide receiver, is that the depth at wideout has obviously decreased which is not good considering the lack of experience out there to begin with. The other big concern is on the offensive line where four starters need to be replaced and all four of then incumbents are sophomores. The good news is that all have started at least one game but continuity still needs to be worked out.

Returning Starters on Defense – 7 The Sooners have been among the nation’s top 20 in total defense in each of head coach Bob Stoops’ seven seasons in Norman. They finished 13th last season and should be one of the best in the country this year. The defense is ranked right behind Texas in the preseason but there is not a weakness as all three units are ranked second as well. Weakside linebacker Rufus Alexander, the teams leading returning tackler, is a preseason All-American and is one of five seniors on the defense. The defensive line is extremely deep, especially at end where four players will be rotating in and out. The biggest weakness last season was the secondary as Oklahoma finished 56th in the country in passing defense but there will be improvements this year as the depth is much better.

Schedule Facing Texas in Dallas will be the toughest test yet again but this season’s overall schedule is tame compared to the 2005 version. Last year Oklahoma faced six teams that finished with at least nine wins while eight had winning records. Only six bowl teams are on the slate this year which still makes it tough but much more manageable. The toughest non-conference game is a trip to Oregon, who the Sooners defeated in the Holiday Bowl last year. The other three out of conference games are home wins against UAB, Washington and Middle Tennessee. The rest of the Big XII schedule is not overwhelming as the toughest games are a contest at home against Texas Tech and a road game at Texas A&M. Four of the final five games are on the road but that is certainly better than starting the season that way. North Division favorite Nebraska is off the schedule.

You can bet on… There are 24 players on this team with previous experience as a starter for Oklahoma which is up from seven over the same time last season. Last year was considered a rebuilding season for the Sooners yet they closed the season with six wins in their final seven games while giving players some excellent experience along the way. If Thompson can somehow learn and move the offense, the Sooners can contend for the National Championship. The Sooners are 4-9-1 ATS against non-conference foes since 2002 and that is due to the heavy inflation of the lines. They were favored by at least 25 points in 10 of those 14 games so it’s no wonder the record is as bad as it is. With a lackluster season in 2005 and the loss of Bomar, those lines will be much lower, thus easier to cover this time around.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Matt Fargo is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at www.procappers.com/Matt_Fargo.htm.

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