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OU Seeks Return to Top Ten
Published: 5/10/2010 4:36 PM
Last Modified: 5/11/2010 2:17 PM

And now for a moment of quiet reflection given this solemn turn of events: OU is not a top ten football team.

According to pre-pre-pre-pre-pre-season polls, OU is in the second ten.

It could be the first time OU has not been overrated since...ever.

A ranking out of the top ten seems logical. Will this team be as good as last year's team? Probably not.

What will it take to get back?

The chief thing wrong is routinely losing to Texas. To get back to an elite level, losing to Texas must stop immediately. Remember when the homers in the media were giggling about how Bob Stoops owned Mack? Talk about a LONG time ago. Texas is attempting to rule the gridiron world and must be challenged.

Next, on the road back to the top ten, the spread offense pretty much stinks. It has been reduced to gimmick status. With all the dinks and dunks, it does take advantage of horrendous cornerback play at the college level. But, like the wishbone, the spread is a negative when it comes to preparing players for the NFL.

Except for a running quarterback, talk about an endangered species, you can't run the football a lick out of the spread.

And spread teams have notoriously lousy defenses. What's to practice against except silly stuff?

Also needed for a top ten return, and finish, is a more consistent pass D.

OU under Stoops has not hit a wall.

But it has hit a treadmill.

How do you know this analysis is on the mark? Great opinion or analysis can only be confirmed by successful picking.

This year we have picked:

1. Bama to defeat Texas while covering the point spread in the college title game.
2. Heavy underdog New Orleans to win outright against Indy in the pro title game.
3. Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby.

Thank you, and good thinking.






Reader Comments 27 Total

Proud Sooner (3 years ago)
You know Picker: Let me say this. You claim TX owns OU but if I recall we're talking 4 of the last five years, and what's their avg margin of victory vs. when OU beat them 5 years in a row?? Plus 6 big 12 titles which is dream world for you're precious OSU cowboys.
Sooner in Ohio (3 years ago)
So how did "Florida" do against Texas anyway?
Marathonman (3 years ago)
Three correct picks in four months - ranks right up there with Blind Dog Finds Bone! By my count, that puts you at about 20% for the year - do you think we forgot all the other bowl games and the NCAA tourney?
M0n3yman (3 years ago)
Um pick.......when did Florida play Texas? Hmmmm??????
Also OU uses the spread, yes. But they don't really use running qb's. Its more role out of the pocket and throw, similar to play action role out under center. Big big difference between role out pass and running qb.
mgsooner (3 years ago)
blah blah blah blah blah blah
Marathonman (3 years ago)
I find it hilarious that "the Picker" can't even name the teams in the national championship game - with four months of hindsight - let alone the winner.
MexiMike (3 years ago)
There is so much wrong with this blog it makes me wonder how the Pick keeps his job.

You can't run out of the spread? OSU has led the Big 12 in rushing the last four years in a row while running the spread. Pick, are you going to try to argue with facts or just ignore them as usual?

Alabama beat Texas, not Florida. Incredible memory you've got there, Pick.

Speaking of selective memory, how about listing the picks you absolutely whiffed on?

TU and OU having a better chance of making the NCAA tourney than OSU (OSU was the ONLY state team to make the Big Dance).

Tiger Woods will not finish within the Top 5 at the Masters (he finished tied for fourth).

The Lakers will win by double digits against the Thunder in Game 4 of the playoffs (the Thunder won by 20+ points).

You know Pick, I used to laugh at some of the absurd things you wrote but now I just find it quite sad. It's like watching a punched out old boxer who keeps trying to make a comback only to be leveled in the first round each time.

It's time for you to hang 'em up, Pick.
thatsaplane08 (3 years ago)
Proud Sooner, learn the difference between your and you're. Also, don't act like the picker is this huge OSU fan, quite far from it. I'm just happy we go to a decent bowl game. Yeah a Big 12 championship is great but it doesn't bother me that we haven't won it the past 13 years. If anytime OU gets called out, they always find a way to turn it around onto OSU.
Live Wire (3 years ago)
I am an OSU fan and can admit that they consistently underperform, and much of the time, flat out stink.

Now, for you OU homers: perhaps you could tell us how OU is not usually over rated since they seem to lose all big games? I won't dispute the fact they are a good program, but if they can't win when it really counts then the point is moot.
The Picker (3 years ago)
Using OSU as an example of great rushing is priceless. It was so good, coach Pickens benched Gundy!

Yessiree, OU and OSU can continue to look forward to rushing the ball like Missouri, which couldn't score from the one given ten tries.

Name a spread team with a great defense: Oh, yeah, forgot.....Houston! Houston couldn't stop traffic in Sun City.

Run the spread, the D suffers because you're practicing against a creampuff offense. Anybody care to debate that?

Here's another response from a parallel universe: Texas has only beaten OU four out of the last five years!

Listen, kids, more of the same will get you more of the same.

Change is needed. Junk the gimmicks. Man up and learn how to rush the football.



Hlywood7 (3 years ago)
It might seem that Texas has dominated but if you really need to look at the situations in the last 5 OU-Texas games.

2005.....Texas won the National Championship and had Vince Young while OU was very young and had a RS Freshman QB.

2006.....OU had a wide receiver playing QB

2007 and 2008 were the only years that both teams were about equal and they split.

2009.....OU had another RS Freshman QB and Texas had a 4 year starter who went on to play in the BCS Championship game.
The Picker (3 years ago)
Four of the last five for Texas isn't domination?

No BCS bowl win in ages isn't under-achieving?

Not being able to run isn't sissy-like?

After X-number of years, reasons for losing begin to sound like excuses.



Live Wire (3 years ago)
Hlywood7:

Typical OU fan: always making excuses.
Independent Tulsan (3 years ago)
Again, 6 big 12 titles, OU beat tx in 07, and not to mention 5 years in a row before that. SO PICKER TELL ME WHEN THE LAST TIME TX WON THREE BIG 12 titles in a row? Tell me the last time TX went to four national title games in single decade? Picker tell me when TX beat OU five years in a row? Picker tell me when the last time TX beat OU 65-13 like OU did to them twice in three years 00 and 03. So please answer those analogies!!!
Independent Tulsan (3 years ago)
Again, 6 big 12 titles, OU beat tx in 07, and not to mention 5 years in a row before that. SO PICKER TELL ME WHEN THE LAST TIME TX WON THREE BIG 12 titles in a row? Tell me the last time TX went to four national title games in single decade? Picker tell me when TX beat OU five years in a row? Picker tell me when the last time TX beat OU 65-13 like OU did to them twice in three years 00 and 03. So please answer those analogies!!!
Gene M (3 years ago)
Mr. Independent, your obsession with Texas is eerie. Your knowledge of ancient history is awesome. Would you please tell us about Boise State and West Virginia and things that are relevant in this century?
OSUNDN (3 years ago)
OU fans don't need an excuse for losing because they always seem to have an excuse for NOT WINNING!! Take your lumps chump Gooner fans and face it, you've been overrated for years and this year will not be any different! Regardless of your ranking.
Marathonman (3 years ago)
"Change is needed. Junk the gimmicks."

Couldn't say it better it myself - if only it applied to The Picker.
Hlywood7 (3 years ago)
Live Wire,

There is a difference between stating the facts and making up excuses. All I did was state the facts but then again I guess some people are too narrow minded to look at the whole picture.
Tulsan in Exile (3 years ago)
My reaction to the Picker's points in this column? Same as always: 1) Bingo. 2) Bingo. 3) Bingo. 4) Bingo. 5) Bingo. OU's spread will beat the hell out of numerous cream-puffs (which includes, by the way, nine of the "BIG"-12). Then OU will lose all the big games, because of... "FR QB", "inexperienced CB", "a freakish dropped pass", "bad officiating", "solar flares", "UFOs".... OU's collapse against Texas and then Generic BCS Bowl Opponent # 10 will have absolutely NOTHING whatsoever to do with any mediocrity in coaching or playing.
Tulsan in Exile (3 years ago)
My reaction to the Picker's points in this column? Same as always: 1) Bingo. 2) Bingo. 3) Bingo. 4) Bingo. 5) Bingo. OU's spread will beat the hell out of numerous cream-puffs (which includes, by the way, nine of the "BIG"-12). Then OU will lose all the big games, because of... "FR QB", "inexperienced CB", "a freakish dropped pass", "bad officiating", "solar flares", "UFOs".... OU's collapse against Texas and then Generic BCS Bowl Opponent # 10 will have absolutely NOTHING whatsoever to do with any mediocrity in coaching or playing.
MexiMike (3 years ago)
"Using OSU as an example of great rushing is priceless. It was so good, coach Pickens benched Gundy!"

A Boone Pickens joke? Oh, how clever and imaginitive, Pick! I guess that's why you make the small bucks! Again, you're trying to argue with facts. In 2008, OSU was 6th in the nation in rushing...while running the spread. Reread that sentence until it sinks in.

"Name a spread team with a great defense."

Texas, OU, Florida. Pick, haven't we heard this same broken record theory from you time and time again? And every single time EVERYBODY disproves it. It's time to let it go.

Your delusion is sad and I find it comical that you still refuse to man up and admit your numerous blunders.
willie (3 years ago)
Meximouth, please do not refer to your team until you beat somebody or win another of the lower tier bowls you play in. Your league stinks.
MexiMike (3 years ago)
Oh Willie, you're so cute. Run along now, the grown ups are talking.
MexiMike (3 years ago)
Tattoo, unlike you, I don't have some vendetta against the Picker. I just think that if you're going to brag and boast about your accomplishments then you should also be man enough to admit your mistakes.

Also, although I am an OSU fan, you'll never see me use childish slurs like "gooners" or "Snorman" when referring to OU. It would serve you well to practice that same respect (i.e. Stoolwater).
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Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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