Shreveport Scenario
ESPN is kicking up some preseason college football interest.
Hey, it’s that time.
Analyst Mark Schlabach has posted his, admittedly early, bowl projections for the upcoming season.
He has the Cowboys headed back, gulp, to Shreveport, to face Mississippi State in the Independence Bowl.
Headed back and taking a step back.
Shreveport is a desired bowl locale only if you’re looking to get back in the bowl business, not if you’re trying to build on your bowl experiences.
The Cowboys played Shreveport two years ago and took a step up at the Insight Bowl last season.
The potential problem for OSU is this scenario has merit. The conference portion of the schedule is rugged, meaning the Cowboys could be as good or better as a year ago, yet struggle to show it in the win-loss column.
The mid-level bowls that would figure to be in play for OSU will also likely have some intriguing teams to choose from: Nebraska, Kansas, Texas A&M, even Texas.
That could push the Cowboys lower in the pecking order, unless they can surprise and make a push to eight or nine wins, making themselves more appealing to say the Holiday Bowl or the Cotton Bowl or the Alamo Bowl.
Those are much more appealing scenarios for Cowboys fans than Shreveport in December.
– By John Helsley
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True, Shreveport is not a reward for this team at this time.
OSU has greatly improved everthing.
The only problem with this scenario is that just about everyone else in the Big 12 (at least with OSU’s schedule) has improved as well.
OSU must have a defense to win some games this year. Losing heartbreaking, last minute games to aTm and Texas is something you can never heal with a lower tier bowl game.
OSU has the facilities and is winning some great recruits. It’s time for the coaching results to start paying the big dividends, too.
There’s too much money involved in improvements at OSU for Gundy to come up with the same results..and still keep his job.
This isn’t you father’s OSU — this is an OSU that’s serious about competing in the Big 12 — not just happy to be there.
One thing about OSU football predictions from national publications: it’s always less than the actual results. It could be in football or basketball, OSU needs to continue to build it’s reputation amoungst national scribes.
I’d rather fly under the radar than be highly ranked going in (like OU) only to fall flat on my face when the final bowl game and ranking is on the line.