FOOTBALL: More Cotton aftermath
January 5th, 2009 ║ Posted By: MrSEC.com ║ Permalink
Content provided by DJRebel.
Interesting take on the game from Lubbock here. Texas Tech defensive coordinator, after the question was asked to him, suggests that Tech might have worn down defensively at season’s end, because the Big 12 teams always beat up on each other.
Seems to me that happens in the SEC too.
I saw where the Dallas Morning News said the game exposed the Big 12 as a “flag football” league while the SEC plays “tackle” football.
The Cotton Bowl is just one game, but it did bring Big 12 defenses into question.
Ole Miss would have ranked ninth in the Big 12 in total offense, but the Rebels were playing quite successfully against better defenses.
There are some some really stout offensive teams in the Big 12, and I give the league’s defenses some wiggle room, but the total defense leader, Texas, ranked No. 50 in the nation at the conclusion of the regular season. After bowl-game shuffling Texas has moved up a spot, but nine Big 12 teams rank No. 77 or lower right now.
That counts for something.
Two of the top Big 12 defenses have yet to play their bowl game — Texas, which faces Ohio State tomorrow night and Oklahoma. The No. 1-ranked Sooners have the Big 12’s No. 3 defense, a unit that ranks 63rd national in total defense.
They face the SEC’s No. 1 offense Thursday in the national championship game.
– PA
