Give me your BIG XII predictions. There will be some really good games this year. I am interested to see what others think. Here are my guestimated results. . . .
NORTH
1. Missouri - I see the tigers winning the North. Possible losses to Texas, maybe Kansas, and maybe, just maybe Ok State. Other than those games. Mizzou has it made.
2. Kansas - The Jayhawks might not finish this high. Possible losses to OU, Texas Tech, Texas, & Missouri. The schedule is opposite of last years for the Jayhawks.
2. Colorado - The Buffs will be hard to figure out. Possible losses to Ok State, Nebraska, Texas, Kansas, & Texas A&M.
2. Nebraska - Not sure if the D will be there or not. Possible losses to Mizzou, Tech, OU, Kansas, & Colorado
5. Kansas St. - Depending on which KSU team shows up. It could be a long season. Possible losses to OU, Kansas, Mizzou, Tech, A&M, & maybe Nebraska or Colorado.
6. Iowa St. - I just dont see them winning to many games.
SOUTH
1. Oklahoma - The south will be very competitive this year imo. Some have OU going all the way. It will be very tough. Possible losses to Texas, maybe Tech & ya never know about O-State when they are in Stillwater.
1. Texas - Texas has a very tough road this year. October looks brutal with games @ Colorado, @ OU, home for Mizzou and Ok State and then Nov. 1 @ Tech. Possible losses to OU, Mizzou, Tech, and maybe @ colorado.
3. Texas Tech - Tech brings basically everyone back. Might just be the best team Leach has had. Possible losses to Texas, OU, OSU, & Kansas.
3. Oklahoma State - O State looks to be more like men this year. Possible losses to OU, Texas, Tech, Mizzou, & maybe Colorado.
5. Texas A&M - I think the Aggies will make some strides in the right direction. Will still need time to get Sherman's recruits in. Possible losses to Ok State, Tech, Texas, OU, & Colorado.
6. Baylor - Baylor might surprise one team, but dont expect much. I see one maybe 2 wins for the bears.
Don't sell Oklahoma State short. Aside from the great entertainment the meltdown gave the nation, Oklahoma State could be the "Kansas" of last season. They have the tools to do it. Defense maybe be suspect. Just a feeling.
And the only way Baylor will surprise anyone is by actually not finishing last in the South. That's their home. There they will sit.
The Big 12 will be good this year... I can't wait. My preseason prediction would be:
NORTH:
1. Mizzou - lotta returning talent. Loss of Rucker, Temple, Franklin, Pig, and some others will hurt, but Mizzou will still beat Illinois and every other team in the Big 12 except OU.
2. Nebraska - possible losses to Va Tech, Mizzou, OU, and Tx Tech
t3. Kansas - key losses of Collins, Talib, and their running back. Reesing and solid D will make the competitive, but their tough schedule takes a toll. Possible losses to USF, OU, TX, Tx Tech, and Mizzou.
t3. Colorado - they will be better, but they have a tough OOC with WVU and FSU on the schedule.
5. ISU - I usually pick them last, but I'll put them here. Chizik is making this a better team.
6. K.State- I don't think JUCOs are the answer. If Freeman steps up KState could have a good year.
SOUTH:
1.OU
2. Tx Tech: D wasn't that bad last year. It'll be better this year. Offense will be good.
3. Texas: I would have A&M here instead, but Texas has an easier schedule.
4. Tx A&M: I think Sherman is a good coach, but will have some
5. OSU: The team will still be inconsistent. I think maintaining a consistent high level of play is a reflection of coaching. And your coach seems immature... even though he's "a man!" hahahaha... you that was coming :)
6. Baylor
Big 12 will be interesting. I think the South will far outshine the North:
North:
1)Mizzou...they have the players back and they have the games that could sneak up on them...at home. Easily win the North.
2)Nebraska...I don't care who they got coming back...they will probably finish second by default. They're one of the lucky ones that get Baylor on their schedule. They get Colorado and Kansas at home so probably have to just go 1/3 from the away games (not counting Iowa St...which I've already counted as a win) of Kansas St., Texas Tech, and Oklahoma to secure second for sure.
3)I guess I'll go with Kansas here although I hate their schedule and think they will suffer this year. But the remaining North teams either suck or have just as hard a schedule. By default they land here but games @ Ok, Neb, and Mizzou...as well as still getting to play Texas and Texas Tech at home means they will be lucky to stay at no. 3. Had Colorado had the schedule that Nebraska gets I'd put them here for sure.
4-6) Kansas St., Iowa St., Colorado. I think the Buffs are the better team but their schedule will probably keep them behind one of these. Iowa St gets all the tough ones at home and still get Baylor.
South:
1) OU...the North will be decided early after the Texas/Ok game. Winner gets the North. They get Kansas, Neb, Texas Tech at home. If they can even split the A&M and Ok. St. games they will win the North.
2) This is a tricky pick because if Texas loses to Ok and already has that one loss (two depending on Colorado the week before ) in conference, then I think another team could sneak in this year for second. Oh well I guess I have to put Texas...dang it.
Again if Texas loses to Ok early, then they still have away games @Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech. Then they still get to play Mizzou and Ok. St. and that pesky A&M team at the end of the season. If the Horns somehow slip up at Colorado they could find themselves 0-3 in conference really,really, really fast. 2-3 losses is probable....4-5 IS possible if things get out of hand early.
3) I'll go with Texas A&M as a sleeper. New coach usually brings new excitement and hope. They get the nod over Texas Tech because of the schedule of the North teams they get to play. They get Iowa St. away but get Kansas St. and Colorado at home. They also get Texas Tech and Ok at home and usually play Texas very tough in Austin. A win against the Horns late probably gets them to No. 2.
4)Texas Tech...Tech gets Neb, Texas, Baylor, and Ok St at home. They will need to go at least 3-1 in these home games to think about moving up to that #3 spot because they may only win on of their away games. If they beat Texas this could mean a major decline for Texas in this order, as well as a major push for Tech.
5)Ok. ST....may move up but away games @ Mizzou, Texas, Texas Tech, and Colorado may prove devastating considering they still have to play Ok and A&M.
6) Baylor
This is JMO and basically looking at the matchups and schedules.
Like your choices but I'll take exception to one. I like the way Mack Brown got his team ready for the Holiday Bowl last year. If he keeps the same mentality/discipline going into this season, he could easily take the Big 12.
i dont think ok state can do that greek they have the offense to do it but the reason kansas nearly ran the table was because of their d and their easy schedule, ok state has a much harder schedule and no d, it could get ugly or they could suprise and get 8 or 9 wins
Tech has the most returning starters and I think they will do well (unfortunately!)
TX A&M has the least amount of returning starters, but the distractions from last season will be gone. I think Sherman will breathe some fresh life in this team, but he still needs to build this team with new recruits. The 12th Man will be ought in full force.
Oklahoma will once again do well under Stoops. I think he is a great coach.
Thanks for the posts. I am really excited about BIG 12 football this upcoming year. Last year the BIG 12 had 7 of the top 18 QBs which also led to having 7 teams in the top 20 in total offense.
North - Mizzou, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, K-St, ISU
South - OU, Tech, UT, OSU, A&M, Baylor
Mizzou has figured it out, and although they will miss Rucker, Franklin and Temple I think they will win the North. This is Tech's only real shot at finishing 2nd in the South. If they don't then I will never pick them to do anything other than go 4-4 in the Big 12.
