Feb. 15, 2011

Oklahoma edges Texas in Big 12 preseason poll

Oklahoma is a slight favorite over Texas to claim the conference crown in the Big 12, in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

The Sooners received six first-place votes and 78 points to nip the Longhorns, who garnered the other four first-place votes and 76 points.

Texas A&M came in third with 63 points, followed by Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.

Oklahoma, under head coach Sunny Golloway (left), finished second in the regular season in the Big 12 a season ago, but advanced to the College World Series for the 10th time and the first since 1995. The Sooners were 15-10 in league play, 50-18 overall.

Texas dominated during the Big 12 regular season in 2010. The Longhorns posted a 24-3 mark, eight games better than the Sooners. Texas won the Austin Regional, but fell to TCU in the Austin Super Regional. The Longhorns led the nation in ERA a season ago at 2.47. The Texas hurlers were even better in conference play with a 2.30 ERA.

Oklahoma was fifth in our preseason CollegeBaseballInsider.com Composite Poll, with Texas seventh and Texas A&M at No. 14.

The 2011 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 18, with all 10 teams in action. Conference play commences on Friday, March 18, with four series. The 2011 Big 12 Championship will be held May 25-29 at RedHawks Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Big 12 Preseason Poll

Team, Points (First Place) (2010 Big 12, Overall Records)

1. Oklahoma, 78 (6) (15-10, 50-18)

2. Texas, 76 (4) (24-3, 50-13)

3. Texas A&M, 63 (14-12-1, 43-21-1)

4. Baylor, 57 (12-13, 36-24)

5. Kansas State, 49 (14-12, 37-22)

6. Oklahoma State, 37 (8-19, 29-26)

7. Texas Tech, 31 (13-14, 28-29)

8. Nebraska, 22 (10-17, 27-27)

9. Kansas, 20 (11-15-1, 31-27-1)

10. Missouri 17 (10-16, 29-26)

(photos courtesy of OU Media Relations Office)