Athlon Magazine Ranks OU #1 in the Nation.

Insiders · May 22, 2006

Athlon Sports website Athlon Sports .com , the Top 25 countdown rolls on.
It eventually leads to Oklahoma, at #1.
That right, the magazine thats been in business of forecasting college football for 39 years is a Big believer in the Sooners for 2006.
And Athlon is giveing us a sneak peak, before no one is revealed wedesday and before the magazine hit the news stands June 1st.
Defending National Champs Texas at #7.
Runner up USC at #3? Who's #2? Notre Dame.
We just felt Oklahoma had alot going for it. Said Mitch Light, the magazines editor.
Like a healthy Adrain Peterson. People forgot how good he was two years ago, Light said. If he 's healthy and gets some coperation from the big boys up front, he goings to have a great year.
Like an improveing Bomar. Late last season, Light said, we saw why Bomar was one of the top recruits from a couple years ago.
Like an impsoeing defense, an a schedule set up for success. It looks like its going to be a one game schedule---Texas, Light said.
The magazine, which provides a schedule breaknow featureing wins, losses, and swing games, has OU winning 11 with the Red River the only swing game.
Texas looks like Oklahoma last year, searching at QB, Light said.
So no worries the Sooners visit to Oregon reputely rowdy Autzen Stadium in week three???
We think Oregon is good team, Light said. We got them in the Top 20. They have some uncertainty at the QB position. A GREAT running back Jonathan Stewart.
But we think that if you are a National Chmponship team, like we do the Sooners, you can into Autzen and win.
The Sooners, who have their own issues at O-Line, for one were not a automatic choice for the Top spot.
But when the gang at Atlons holed up for their annual rankings meeting, where the debate can get rather intense, Oklahoma merged as their #1.
It was my seventh year at Athlon with the picks, Light said, and this was by far the most difficult in picking #1, and there wasnt much debate.
This time, we threw 5 teams on the board and went at it. And to be honest, theres 10-11 you can make a good case for. There is No dominate team like there has been in USC the last few years.

UoweDucks · May 22, 2006

This is the kind of press that I expected would happen for OU.

I believe that it is this kind of pub that will cause the sooners to be favorites at Autzen stadium.

Insiders · May 22, 2006

UoweDucks

I myself dont like it, cause there is only one way to go when you are number 1. Besides if they start the season there, which i dont think they will, everyone an i do mean Everyone will be trying that much harder to beat them. Still think that WV or Ohio State will hold down the top spot.
You know that #1 Always has a Great big target on them.

UoweDucks · May 22, 2006

I agree with you I wouldn't want that Athlon kiss of death on my team...
I can't wait 3 more months....

GoSooners · May 22, 2006

Personally I don't have a high regard for Athlon and their predicitons. I usually wait for Phil Steel's College Football Preview to come out. His 2 BCS championship bowl game teams have come out of his top 5 picks the last few years. OU is rated high. But like they said it was a hard pick to choose the top 5 or 6 teams. They're interchangable because each has their weaknesses. All of these football rags are guilty of trying to make the safe picks by including last year's top 5 teams into their picks like Texas, USC, West Va. and Ohio State. I still believe Ohio State could very well have been in the title game last season. They had the team to do it. The big reason why they weren't was because of their super tough schedule. Not because of their personnel. This year they have an easier schedule but may not have the personnel on defense to get it done. Yet their rated number one. I think the main thing to look for with the teams you think will make it to a BCS title game are:

1.Their schedule. If it's going to be tough make sure all of those games are at home. And their spread out a little.
2.The majority of their players returning on both sides of the ball.
3.Teams flying under the radar screen with an abundant amount of young unknown blue chippers that can make things happen. West Va. was a good example of that last season. Va.Tech a few years ago with freshman Michael Vick. OU in 2000. But the cats out of the bag with WV now. So they'll have a huge target on their backs. Just like OU was in 2001 when they were picked to repeat but couldn't make it happen.
4.Coaching...This is a big deal. Not only for who is the head coach. But what kind of assistants he has. Was there any major assistant coaching changes over the season? If so was it for the better. A good example of this was defensive coordinator Gene Chizik who not only turned Auburn around a few years ago, but help win the national championship last year for Texas. Michigan made a change at DC and added a couple more defensive assistants this offseason that have some NFL experience. Could it make a difference? Regardless of what you think of Carr, it's probably not much different than what you thought of Mack Brown before he won the NC. This is just an example of course. But coaching can make the difference between a 9-2 season and going undefeated.

I know I'm stating the obvious here. But I think we all need to be refreshed on what it takes for a team to win the mythical BCS national championship. It takes being a great team of course. But it also takes a little luck like favorable scheduling and a minimum amount of injuries during the season. I think this season is going to be the most wide open and interesting year of college football that we've seen in a long time.

AlwaysKeen · May 22, 2006

I'm not real big on Athlon's reviews either...

Conan · May 22, 2006

Personally I think this year could be the biggest nightmare of all time for the BCS. It looks to me like every major conference is represented within striking distance and there will be more than one or 2 sore losers who won't be playing in the BCS championship game at the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, the BCS formula will look different in 2007 like they had to change it every year since they began doing business (except for last season which was their "bye" year for BS).

PS... screw Notre Dame... (let's see how they do at USC near season's end)

UoweDucks · May 22, 2006

pags11 said:
I'm not real big on Athlon's reviews either...

I went over to Athlons site and listened to the podcast on Oregon. My take is that these guys are nothing more than hacks who comb media guides. It continuously amazes me how little real knowledge these magazines offer for insight. Clearly they are meant for the casual fan. I like Phil Steele's rag however and for my money it is worth it...

Conan · May 22, 2006

UoD,

If the Ducks manage to pull the upset and get their revenge when OU goes to Eugene, that would turn the world upside down. Not an impossibility. Considering when the game goes, it has as good a chance to happen as anything. I'd sure like to see Dixon have a good game. That will make things very interesting, especially considering where Stewart's head is at about this game.

GoSooners · May 23, 2006

Anything is possible with the OU-Oregon game. But I still feel that even if OU loses they still have a chance to rebound and make it to the championship game. If their going to lose I much rather it be early so they'll have ample time to creep back up the polls. I just don't think your going to have 2 undefeated teams in the title game like we've had the last couple years. The team with perhaps the best chance to go undefeated is West Virginia. But the other conferences look like they have way too much parity to have an undefeated team. And it's doubly hard for the ACC, SEC and Big 12 because of having to play that extra conference title game on top of what is now a 12 game schedule.

badwater · May 23, 2006

2006 is the most wide open year in some time

it seems.

I will likely have approximately a dozen teams separated by roughly 3 points in my opening power ratings. Typically, my top team starts with a power rating of right at 100, but there is no Southern Cal or Texas this year.

My top team will likely start around 94 this year.

Of the top contenders, everybody has a question mark at a key position (such as quarterback); position area; or maybe even on one side of the ball.

As an example, Ohio State is a lot of people's preseason No. 1 and, while I certainly respect Jim Tressel's ability to recruit top defensive athletes, the Buckeyes only return two defensive starters and none in the back seven.

In the traditional, preseason wire service polls, you could see as many as 10 teams with first-place votes. Obviously, this will drastically change after the first and second weeks, but it all just goes to underscore the wide openness of the coming CFB season.

Good luck to all,
Paul

GoSooners · May 23, 2006

I bet there will be at least 4 or 5 different teams in the number one slot in the polls during the season. Either OU or Ohio State will probably start out at number one. That could change quick after Ohio State visits Texas and OU goes to Oregon. With all of this parity if you get too many 1 or 2 loss teams in there it's going to give opportunities to the weaker conference teams from somewhere like the Mountain West to move up into BCS title game territory if any of those teams should go undefeated. It could get interesting. One thing for sure, it's going to be a BCS mess.

Insiders · May 23, 2006

One thing that is a for sure around here, there are lots of opinions on polls, and teams.
Sure the #1 spot will change according to loss by that team, if there is a loss. I think that WV or Ohio State starts the season in the #1 spot, but as GoSooners mentions Ohio State traveling to the "shorthorns" this year will not be an easy task, one would think.
Sooners traveling to Oregon will not be an easy take either, but its the Sooners turn to repay the visit.
This ALL makes for an interesting college football season in the early stages, as i dont remember ALL this discussions last year at this time.
Another thing i think will put $$ in ALL our pokets is the Conference Cappers this year as I for one will NOT be stung out ALL over the sechedule this year without someone from that conference putting me on such teams as Nevada, like Pags!.

UoweDucks · May 23, 2006

Conan said:
UoD,

If the Ducks manage to pull the upset and get their revenge when OU goes to Eugene, that would turn the world upside down. Not an impossibility. Considering when the game goes, it has as good a chance to happen as anything. I'd sure like to see Dixon have a good game. That will make things very interesting, especially considering where Stewart's head is at about this game.

I see it as improbable now but I will reserve final judgement until I see the teams play. I will say that the stadium will be as loud as it has ever been. I have attended every big game in the past 15 years there and the loudest that I have ever heard was Michigan a few years back. This should be as loud or more as expectations for the team are very high. Will it have an effect on OU? Yes at the start. If the ducks can keep it competitive early then it will be earsplitting all the way. I always get a kick out of people who haven't been to Autzen that downplay the noise. I remember talking to a couple of Michigan guys prior to that game and the pooh-poohed the noise factor. My guess is they were wishing for some earplugs sometime in about the first 2 minutes of the game. It is truelly awesome to behold a teams crowd affect the play on the field. In any sport...

GoSooners · May 23, 2006

I think the Sagarin ratings considers the homefield advantage worth 3 points. When I'm capping games, if I think the noise factor is going to be off the Richter scale as in bigtime non conference games or conference rivalries I'll cap it as anywhere from a 4 to 6 point advantage. I've sat in OU's stadium in Norman where if their playing a ho-hum game you could hear a pin drop. But I've also been there when OU was actually a rare underdog. And I can tell you that there's no way I could even have a shouting match conversation with the person beside me. It was THAT loud. So it just depends on the game. I look at crowd noise as not only a deterrent to the other team, I also see it as an adrenaline rush for the homeboys. An angle that is way underplayed in college football IMO.

Insiders · May 23, 2006

Agree crowd noice is a difference maker, sometimes. Teams that are better prepared for the noise seem to function better than others, i guess coaching is the main thing in that factor.
I do know that when the homeboys get behind early NO matter at what filed that takes the crowd out of the game. Defense has ALL the world with an early lead and being able to stop the homeboys if that get something going that gets the crowd back into it.
Second halves Always seem to take on the complexsion of the start of the games as well. If the homeboys struggle on their first time they touch the ball , out goes the crowd once again.
They say that homefield advantage is worth 3 points, in some cases i really believe that, but in some places i dont.
Oregon for sure will have the joint rockin, but if they get behind early, its ALL over for the first half, maybe the contest.
Sooners -3 and 59.5 ! Thats my early line, And i am stickin to it! lol

WCBias · May 23, 2006

Oregon has a strange scheduling quirk this year...they start the season with a conference game at home. The must then go play at Fresno State, which has most of their team returning and puts more emphasis on these games than they do winning games in their own conference.

I think that sandwich spot for Oregon is going to be their first loss. Fresno is no fun in September, it's no fun for visiting teams, and it surely is no fun for visiting teams fans. Combine that with Oklahoma on deck...that is all everyone will be talking about.

Of course Oregon will say we are focused on Fresno State. They should be because that is going to be a tough game. But how could you not be looking forward to Oklahoma at home?

I really like Oregon's chances getting Oklahoma in Autzen...that's not a good spot for OK that early in the season.

GoSooners · May 23, 2006

Insiders said:
Agree crowd noice is a difference maker, sometimes. Teams that are better prepared for the noise seem to function better than others, i guess coaching is the main thing in that factor.
I do know that when the homeboys get behind early NO matter at what filed that takes the crowd out of the game. Defense has ALL the world with an early lead and being able to stop the homeboys if that get something going that gets the crowd back into it.
Second halves Always seem to take on the complexsion of the start of the games as well. If the homeboys struggle on their first time they touch the ball , out goes the crowd once again.
They say that homefield advantage is worth 3 points, in some cases i really believe that, but in some places i dont.
Oregon for sure will have the joint rockin, but if they get behind early, its ALL over for the first half, maybe the contest.
Sooners -3 and 59.5 ! Thats my early line, And i am stickin to it! lol

Insiders...I completely disagree with you about an early score and getting behind shuts the crowd noise down. OU were the dogs at home against Nebraska in 2000 and we had two early TD's scored against us in the first quarter and were down 14-0. The crowd noise never let up. In fact it got louder. I know, I was there making the noise. And it had a lot to do with OU winning. Nebraska had numerous offensive line mistakes that day because of the noise factor.. In a big game like Oregon-OU I guarantee you unless OU is up 35-0 at halftime (very unlikely) the noise facor will not let up. You only get a handful of non conference games like this in college football every year. And the crowd is going to take full advantage of it. And if like WC says and Oregon should possibly lose to Fresno the week before, it's going to make it doubly hard on OU to get out of there with a win. We'll just have to wait for the circumstances surrounding the game before we really know. But I hope both of these teams are 2-0 when they meet each other.

Insiders · May 23, 2006

GoSooners

Well that is your right to agree to disagree.
In my lifetime i have seen sooo many of those places that went quiet when the road team took a 14-0 17-0 or 21-0 lead early, usually do to turnovers is how that comes about also.
This season you and i will have many places that we agree to disagree as thats just normal sometimes.
You maybe right about the noise in Oregon, but you and i Both know that Stoops will be ready for that, as it is a Well documented fact about that place being noisey. But then again on the other hand, how many home fields are not? They ALL are, and i doubt very seriously that that is the deceiding factor that wins or looses the game.
I hope you are right about Both teams being 2-0 for this meeting, as that will make the hype that much more interesting for sure.
I feel more that assured that one of these teams will in fact be 2-0, the other, sure doesnt have to be.
Whenever one of the Pac-10 guys give Fresno a chance of knocking off the Ducks, that could very well happen.
Both Sooner games the line could be in excess of -21 to -28 maybe even more in the second game of the season.
We will have a Much better look and idea of Both teams after those 2 games are under their belts as well.

BOL TO ALL
:toast:

UoweDucks · May 23, 2006

I think that the ducks get to 2-0. While Fresno has many returning starters they are missing the most important one. Paul Pinegar.

While I think that the fresno game will be a VERY physical game I don't think that they can beat Oregon without a proven QB (they still haven't decided on a starter yet). IMO that will be the difference maker.

As for Oregon looking ahead I think that there is merit to that. The only good news is that most of these kids were on the team 2 years ago when they were looking ahead to Oklahoma and they threw out a stinker and lost to Indiana. I have a hard time thinking that Belloti would allow the focus to not be there.

Crowd noise definitely dies down if the ducks go down early I have seen it happen enough times to think that Oklahoma would be different. It is too hard to sustain a noise level when your team is getting its ass kicked. I hope that doesn't happen.

I don't care who the coach is Autzen eats young qb's for lunch. The best qb performances at Autzen happen from senior qb's who have experienced the noise before.