College Football
Previews - NCAA Football Handicapping - Preview 2006 Betting
Oklahoma
Sooners 2006 Preview
Online
Predictions By:
Matt Fargo Oklahoma Sooners Football
Preview Matt Fargo remains the NUMBER
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Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be
here before you know it so that means getting
an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season.
Knowing the teams now will save you time in August
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.
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.
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