The Big-12 is arguably the toughest conference in college football this season. After last season’s debacle with three teams tying for the conference title, the nation is still questioning if the best team from the conference actually played in the National Championship game. Texas beat Oklahoma and didn’t get a shot at the National Championship game because the Sooners liked to run up the score against inferior competition. The winner of the South Division may just send another representative to the BCS title game again this season.
NORTH DIVISION
- Nebraska 9-3 (5-3)
- Kansas 9-3 (5-3)
- Colorado 8-4 (4-4)
- Missouri 7-5 (4-4)
- Kansas St. 6-6 (3-5)
- Iowa St. 4-8 (1-7)
SOUTH DIVISION
- Oklahoma 11-1 (7-1)
- Texas 11-1 (7-1)
- Oklahoma St. 11-1 (7-1)
- Texas Tech 6-6 (3-5)
- Baylor 5-7 (2-7)
- Texas A&M 2-10 (0-8)
The same mess that happened last year will happen again this season. The South Division winner goes to the team ranked highest in the BCS standings at the end of the regular season. With Oklahoma and Oklahoma State playing in the last game of the year, the winner will have the edge. In this case, the Sooners take it and play Nebraska in a rematch for the conference title. No surprise: Oklahoma repeats as Big-12 champions.
Sam Bradford has already won the Heisman and led the Sooners to back-to-back conference championships. With a loss in the National Championship game still fresh on his mind, Bradford put off the NFL and is back and ready for a third straight Big-12 title. This offense will still be powerful, but the team will have to rely a little more on its defense this season.
The Longhorns are the only team other than Florida to receive first place votes in the AP poll. After beating the team that got “elected” to play in the National Championship game last year, a bitter taste is left in the mouths of many Texas fans. Colt McCoy is the front runner for the preseason Heisman trophy. That is a lot of pressure being placed on this veteran quarterback. The Red River Shootout is going to be a hot ticket. Texas will win this game again and still miss out on the conference championship.
Even though I have Oklahoma winning the three way tie, Oklahoma State is my favorite to win the Big-12. With returning offensive superstars runningback Kendall Hunter, receiver Dez Bryant and quarterback Zac Robinson, this team easily has the most potent offense in a conference that does not play defense. The Cowboys have a legitimate shot at not only taking the conference but winning a National Championship. Okie State may also have a strong defense. Bill Young has joined the team as the defensive coordinator and has a great secondary to work with. This team faces Georgia in the first game of the season. The country will know right where this team belongs after they meet the Dawgs.
Texas Tech, Baylor and Texas A&M will bring up the bottom of the South. Losing Harrell and Crabtree is too much for the Red Raiders to replace to be competitive this year, and Baylor will be back where it belongs after their surprise success last year.
The North is a mess this season. For the first time in over five years, both Nebraska and Colorado will be competitive. Nebraska reclaims the division crown this season by winning the head-to-head tie-breaker over Kansas.
Nebraska will be lead by a prospective top five draft pick, defensive end Ndamukong Suh. This mammoth of a player will be drawing double teams and wreaking havoc for offensive lines all season long. The only thing keeping the Cornhuskers down is their schedule. They travel to Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. However, they do get the Sooners in Omaha.
Kansas has been the surprise team over the last few years. The Jayhawks played in the Orange Bowl two years ago under head coach Mark Mangino, and the expectations are high again this season. Mangino is a combined 0-9 against Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech. The Jayhawks might have the best defense in this school’s history that will give Kansas their best chance of the decade to upset one of these powerhouses.
The Colorado Buffaloes are back and looking to turn some heads in the Big-12 this year. The head coach, Dan Hawkins, is on the hot seat and needs to produce this year. Hawkins has come out publicly saying that this team will win “ten games, no excuses.” Okay, I’ll bite, but I am still only giving you eight wins this season.
Missouri is in trouble after back-to-back North titles. The greatest quarterback in school history, Chase Daniel, is done, and replacing him is no easy task. I like the variation of the Spread offense the Tigers run. This team could upset Texas and lose to Nevada. I don’t see a lot of consistency coming from Missouri this season.
Kansas State and Iowa St. bring up the bottom portion of the North. I would like to see Iowa St. surprise their in-state rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes, but I don’t see it happening.
Well, four major conferences down, two left to cover before my bowl predictions on September 2. Check back tomorrow or the next day and the SEC preview will be up!
Peterson's Prognostics 