CNNSI: Tech to play for MNC

All fans have gut feelings about some games (not all games), and its amazing how often those feelings area correct. A gut feeling isn't based on statistics, or numbers of 4 star recruits, etc. Its pure intuition.
My "gut" says the following about select games in 08:

UTEP - ain't going to be pretty, but a win is a win.
Colorado - This is a big time problem game for us
Missouri - We kick their ***
Tech - We own these guys, we will utterly wreck their season.
 
Can anyone imagine what Lubbock would be like if the Horns went into the Tech game undefeated and Tech was also undefeated.
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Something tells me this is one of those WTF picks that sportswriters sometimes make in order to grab attention and generate traffic to their website. And of course, if Tech manages to win it all, this guy can proclaim himself as the next great sports genius.

I'm not saying Tech isn't capable of pulling it off, but I am not expecting it. Congrats to them if they manage to do so, though. I have to agree that the resulting texags meltdown of epic proportions would be a treat to read.
 
All the media fawning over Tech and their "genius" coach Leach conveniently ignore one fact: their preseason expectations hinge on the production of two players ... two.

What happens if Crabtree and/or Harrell get hurt (shudder)? It's been known to happen to other teams, losing a key player to injury (McCoy, Charles, Sweed, et al.). Leach has been very lucky the past few years WRT injuries. But those things have a way of evening out over time.
 
the loss of crabtree, as good as he is, would not be insurmountable imo.

the loss of harrell is another story it seems to me.
 
Well geez...I guess if CNNSI says it's so, the rest of us had better be making travel arrangements to lesser bowl games. Why even bother with the season if it's already been decided that sand aggy wins.
 
Crabtree, Harrell, whoever they have I'm going to make a BOLD prediction of my own. I don't think Tech finishes in the Top half of the Big 12 South.
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I hope the media talk this up all summer and into the season. Lots of t.v. time, lots of interviews, give them a lot of opportunities to hear how badass they are and to start believing it and shooting their mouths off... Best thing that could happen, to the rest of the B12 south. If Tech isn't playing the role of the underdog spoiler, then they will not know how to act. It's been Leach's shtick since he's been there. They'll drop at least 1 game they shouldn't and we and ou will beat them too.
 
Tech's recruiting since 04:

122 commitments: (Wow - that is a lot of attrition!)

5 Star Recruits: 1
4 Star Recruits: 13 (we had 16 in 07 alone)
3 Star Recruits: 67
2 Star Recruits: 41

Avg Star Rating: 2.79

They don't have enough talent to win a MNC.
 
Love to beat a dead horse. Tech's improvements on defense last year can be traced to the fact that the former DC was concentrating on his wife's deadly illness (cancer I think). He wasn't spending any time scouting ther defenses, pouring over his squad's weaknesses or tweaking the existing defense. The new DC was able to invest the time to push his squad to be better. Better, but as the statistics against top caliber opponents shows, still mediocre. I remember the news release when the old DC was replaced. Leach gave his sympathies to the old DC and his wife but it was clear the old DC couldn't be there for his wife and there for the defense at the same time.
 
As a Texas Tech fan, I think that guys article is ridiculous. The media seems to be jumping on the Tech bandwagon primarily because of all of the starters that are returning. Some of the hype makes sense, some is over the top. Bear in mind that last year Tech was the 2nd youngest team in the nation. I'll say that my prediction for the season is 9 wins.

For a team that usually ranks around 25th in the nation, it makes sense that Tech would be ranked a little higher this year. I expect the offense to be as efficient as it was last season.

The defense "appears" to have improved, not only because of the DC. Now, a school like Texas Tech has decent talent (certainly not top-caliber, but not bad players) to begin with. Returning 8 starters can only help the defense.

Also, the addition of DE McKinner Dixon and DE Brandon SeSay should help the D-line. Dixon came to Tech as a highly recruited DE (UT, OU, Florida, others recruited him) in 2005, before academic problems. He'll make his return to Tech after a stint at a junior college. Sesay is a top 10ish junior college prospect. These two figure to (at least) improve what was a less-than-great D-line.

The LB's may be the key to the defense this year. Brian Duncan and Marlon WIlliams will really need to help stuff the run to keep the defense out of 2nd and short type situations (which Tech was in all too often last season).

The secondary has been solid in previous years and should remain that way this season.

With all of that being said, the defense may slightly improve this season. However, it's still not up to par with UT/OU level talent. I wouldn't be suprised if Tech drops a couple big games and has another where the offense does nothing (hence my 9-win prediction).
 
I think the MNC talk is a little over the top, but:

Whoever wins the B12 South will have a shot at a MNC-if Tech wins then the Raiders will have beat OU (in Norman this year), UT, probably Nebraska and KU (from the north rotation) and A&M(not that big a deal anymore).

The Raiders would then play whoever comes out of the North. If Tech was able to win that game then they are in the BCS--and I think that they would have a shot at the MNC.

Just like if Texas won the Big12 South then the horns would have a shot aat the MNC as well after beating OU, Tech (in Lubbock) etc.

That is the beauty of the Big 12-and especially the Big 12 South. You win a division that includes Texas, OU, Tech-heck even OSU and A&M and you are guaranteed to have a BCS invite. Depending on who has a 'down' year the above argument could put any Big 12 chamption in the MNC game.

I am worried about Tech in Lubbock---strange things happen on the South Plains.
 
Ok here's the deal....I work for SI and it's si.com not cnnsi. That went away about 5 years ago. I also know Austin Murphy and he's a great guy with a sense of humor. Do I really think he believes Tech will play for the MNC, hell no. Does he think Leach is entertaining? Absolutely. Also, SI will be doing a piece on Tech and Leach in the College Football Preview issue so I'm sure they are pumping it up a bit.

Hook 'Em
 
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