Conference Rankings

I just realized that these will probably be going backwards, but that is okay....

2. Big 12

Although I bashed the Big12 in the SEC post, and feel that some teams in their conference are over-rated, I still feel they are the 2nd best conference. First, let me get in the bad news for Big 12 fans:

They were embarassed in last years bowl games. Mizzou barely held its own against Northwestern (a loss against the spread), favored Texas Tech lost to Ole Miss, Oklahoma lost to Florida, Texas won a good game against Ohio State (another loss vs the spread), and favored Oklahoma State lost to Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. The best performances turned in were by Kansas, routing Minnesota, and Nebraska beating Clemson. Still, nothing to write home about.

So the good. Well thats obvious...the big 3: Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State. This is also the league of quarterbacks. McCoy, Bradford, and perhaps just as good, are Reesing and Robinson. Add in Baylor QB Robert Griffin, Cody Hawkins, and Daniel replacement Blaine Gabbert, and expect Big12 scoreboards to light up once again in 2009.

Expect Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State to all compete for the Big12 South and National Title. Question marks remain on Oklahoma State's defense, but this is the season that those affiliated with the team have circled years ago. Robinson is a Senior. WR Bryant and RB Hunter are JRs. Future top 10 draft pick OL Russell Okung is a Senior. The offense is simply loaded. That being said, they host Georgia the first week of the season in one of the nation's marquee non-conference matchups. If they do not come prepared to play, they will lose, and eliminate themselves from National Title contention immediately.

The Big12 North should be better this year than it was last year. Kansas seems to be the favorite in the division, with Nebraska showing great strides last year in year one of the Bo Pellini era. Future top 10 pick Ndamukong Suh (you see a pattern here?) anchors the middle of the Blackshirts Defense. Missouri will be down but not forgotten. Losing Maclin, Daniel, Hood, and Moore all hurts, but theres reason to be optimistic with a new 6'5" QB coming in, and LB Sean Weatherspoon still roaming on your defense. Colorado has to improve this year, or Dan Hawkins will be in big trouble, but I think they will do just that. They will need to find a way to win on the road; they were 0-5 last year (1-0 vs Colorado State in a neutral Mile High Field). They travel to Austin, Stillwater, and Morgantown this year. Welcome back Daniel Snyder. It was like you never left, (and KSU fans prob wish you never did). Unfortunately, his return didnt stop Josh Freeman from leaving for the NFL. Fortunately, KSU plays 2 Division II (FCS, whatever theyre calling it), in UMass and Tennessee Tech. The schedule is managable; they dont play Texas, and they get Kansas, Colorado and Mizzou in Manhattan. Iowa State is Iowa State. They lost coach Gene Chizik, which might have been the best news in Ames since Seneca Wallace played there.

Well talk about the big3 in the south another time, so lets focus on the not so big3. Texas Tech will put in another QB for Mike Leach's system. This appears to be Taylor Potts. More concerning to TT fans should be the loss of Crabtree, but if the system works, it works. It might finally be time to trust Leach and the talent he recruits. Dont be surprised if Texas Tech runs the ball more this year...okay be surprised, but RB Baron Batch can be special (he averaged 6.7 yds per carry last year). The rebuilt offensive line will have to pave holes for Batch, and keep Potts upright. Texas A&M went from a perenial top25 team to Bolivian (if Tyson were writing this) in a few short years. Gone is about everyone on the defense (which may be a good thing). Gone is QB McGee. Gone are players like Martellus Bennett (2 yrs ago), Mike Goodson, and Javorski Lane. The team was loaded with so much talent just a few years ago, its hard to believe they have fallen so far. Mike Sherman will begin his 2nd year in AggieLand, and the natives might be getting restless. Youre probably thinking im saving the worst for last right? This is the time for me to mercilessly make fun of Baylor, right? Wrong. I love Baylor this year. QB Robert Griffin passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for another 800 last season, all against superior competition. The team can score, and really put a scare into Texas Tech late last season. The defense needs to improve. The Bears had a +16 turnover margin last year, good for 4th in the nation. Beating UConn at home could be big for them; they would have a realistic chance of being 3-1 entering the Big12 if this happens. The Bears were not far away from making a bowl game last year, something I expect them to accomplish this year. Let me specify when I say 'love', I mean, I think theyll make a bowl game.

The talent pool in the big12 is loaded. Expect McCoy, Bradford, Suh, Okung to all be top 10 picks in the NFL next year. Dont be surprised if Robinson, Bryant, Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma OT Trent Williams and Sean Weatherspoon to be first rounders. Anotherwords, the NFL draft could have a huge Big12 flavor next fall. This doesnt include sophomore quarterbacks Griffin or Gabbert.

Predicted order of finish:

SOUTH NORTH
1. Texas 1. Kansas
2. Oklahoma 2. Nebraska
3. Ok. State 3. Colorado
4. Texas Tech 4. Mizzou
5. Baylor 5. Kansas State
6. Texas A&M 6. Iowa St.