The Oklahoma State Cowboys went 9-4 in College Football Picks in 2009. Oklahoma State is not only an afterthought in the Big 12 conference, but is also considered second team in the state. The Cowboys are on their way after posting nine straight winning seasons, but coach Mike Gundy has his work cut out for him this season with 8 losses on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Oklahoma State went 5-6-1 against the spread in 2009, topping the betting pick total 5 times and under 8 times. The Cowboys clearly underperformed last season and aren’t about to slip back into mediocrity. Dana Holgorsen, who oversaw the best offense in college football last season while at the University of Houston, was brought in to set up the offense. Oklahoma State went downhill when wide receiver Dez Bryant was declared ineligible for the season.
Oklahoma State scored a total of 21 points in losses to Texas, Oklahoma and Ole Miss, the offense ranked 70th in college football with 367.8 yards per game in total offense, 99th in the nation in passing offense with just 179.5 yards per game, but the rushing offense was much better averaging over 188 yards per game and ranked 22nd in land. On the other side of football, Oklahoma State was ranked 31st in the nation and allowed 332.4 yards per game. The pass defense was suspected of allowing 236.6 yards per game through the air, but the run defense was stingy, allowing only 95.8 yards per game. the land that ranked 11th in the country.
Zack Robinson is no longer around to lead the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the new sheriff in town is Brandon Weeden, a 26-year-old former baseball player in the New York Yankees farm system. Weeden had limited playing time last season, but he did throw a pair of touchdowns against the Colorado Buffaloes. Weeden will have a good trio of receivers to throw to headlined by Hubert Anyiam, who led the team with 42 receptions. Running back Kendall Hunter remains the top offensive threat, this sports pundit thinks this guy will get some Big 12 player of the year votes. Four starters have left the offensive line and that could spell trouble for the aerial and terrestrial game.
A torn ACL sidelined linebacker Orie Lemon last season, but he’s fully recovered and poised to be one of the best in the nation. The rest of the Cowboys’ defense will be a bit clunky, with linebackers James Thomas and Justin Gent each having fewer than 30 tackles last season. Strong safety Markelle Martin is the only returning starter in the defensive backfield, Malcolm Murry will replace Parrish Fox, who was the best defensive back last season. Defensive end Ugo Chinasa had 6-foot sacks last season, but no other player on the defensive line had more than 3 sacks. Richetti Jones was highly touted coming out of high school, but he has yet to produce at the college level, it’s about time he did.
