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Welcome to the first roundtable of the 2016 football season. We are quite excited to get this season going, and we know you are too. Whet your appetite with some musings from our staff:
Biggest trap game on the Cowboy’s schedule:
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Cade
It’s got to be Kansas State. Road game in November, in Manhattan... That has 7 P.M. kick written all over it, and the Little Apple will be juiced. OSU should be the better team by a wide margin, but this game worries me. Shades of Iowa State in 2011.
Gallagher
I'd say Texas. Right after Baylor and before Iowa State. Plus we haven't beat texas at home in a while
Phillip
Kansas State. Manhattan is a dangerous place.
Josh Elias
I agree with Phillip. A November game in Manhattan, Kansas can be dangerous. The weather may play a factor and K-State sure knows how to keep the opposition uncomfortable with the worst visiting locker rooms in the Big XII. We're talking 70+ grown men in a room this small. #RIP
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Christopher
Texas Tech. The Red Raiders come to Stillwater, but the timing worries me. I expect the two preceding games, West Virginia and K-State, to be tough but winnable, which is how I'd classify Tech as well. A slip-up somewhere in that three-game span is definitely possible. I think Tech is the most likely trap because it comes right before what we all hope is a massive trip to Ft. Worth.
Joel
I think it's K State. They always play OSU tough, and it being in the Little Apple this year doesn't make it any easier.
Dustin
I don't know if I will ever fully recover from that Iowa State game in 2011. I remember where I was, who I was with and what I started heavily drinking after Quinn Sharp “missed” that kick. So, I'm going to go with Iowa State. They have a new young coach that led Toledo to a 9-2 record last year. In addition, having a dual-threat quarterback like Joel Lanning always makes things interesting for opposing defenses. If the Cowboys get through Pitt, Baylor and Texas, I feel that they may over look Iowa State on the way to their brutal second half of the schedule.
Robert
The next one.
Biggest surprise from the recently released depth chart:
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Cade
For me, it was definitely the addition of Justice Hill in the Kick Return two-deep. Him and Barry J. Sanders will be returning kicks, and you don’t get a redshirt for just returning kicks. If this is actually what ends up happening, then the effect is two-fold. One, he returns kicks (obviously), and two, he gets valuable snaps at running back. I’m pumped to find out.
Gallagher
Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but it's a little unnerving to see there are 4 running backs still in contention to be the starting guy. Maybe it's a good thing, but it wasn't last year.
Phillip
6 freshmen on the depth chart. For a team that was already pretty talented, that's a lot. I knew this was our best recruiting class in a while, but that's a good sign for the future.
Elias
I'm most surprised, and pumped, to see Barry J. returning kick offs.
Christopher
The offensive line looking so similar to last season is what surprised me the most. With some new pieces and talk of different alignments in practice, I expected a little more of a shakeup.
Joel
No starting running back has been named it's Carson OR Childs OR Sanders. I don't know if that means each will be used in different packages and they will all play with no set "starter" or they aren't confident enough in any of the three to say they are the starter.
Dustin
I agree with Phillip on the six freshman being a little bit of a surprise. Especially after Gundy only mentioned four the week before the depth chart was released. But, I'm going to go with the kick returners being listed as Barry J and Justice Hill. Although, it's definitely more excited than surprised to see these two guys back there. The hype surrounding Hill and the pedigree that goes along with Sanders makes for an interesting combo back deep for the Cowboys. However, I was expecting to see Jeff Carr back there because I thought he did a pretty good job last year.
Robert
In this day an age of technology, how can you run out of "or's?"
Just for fun, give us your prediction for Saturday’s game.
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Cade
If OSU doesn’t score 50+ it will be a disappointment. I’ll go 51-7 good guys. Satisfying enough.
Gallagher
56-10 Pokes
Phillip
46-10
Elias
70-9 Pokes! To The Strip!
Christopher
45-13.
Joel
55-7
Dustin
63 - 13, Cowboys. Bullet is going to have a long day.
Robert
Gundy sitting in a lawn chair, Savannah State style, by the 3rd quarter.
Do you have the Gundy app yet?
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Cade
If I told you, I’d have to kill you.
Gallagher
Why yes I do.
Phillip
Hell yes!
Elias
No, I don't. If they come out with a snapchat-like "Gullet filter", then you can be sure I'll download it in a heartbeat.
Christopher
Of course I do.
Joel
No not yet ... and I feel like it's probably blasphemy that I don't have it.
Dustin
Duh.
Robert
Only those will a real OSU football "problem" would ever download that crap... insert screenshot of Robert in the beta Gundy Mullet filter.
We’re psyched for football season, and hope you are too! As always, give us your answers to these questions in the comments below!
Go Pokes!