Big 12 Rankings and Predictions

Ok, so now that the preseason is over, we all have a better idea of how the teams will play in the future. We have actual games to help us understand the strengths and weaknesses of each team. Right now in the Big 12, here is how I rank the teams:

1. Oklahoma (4-0/0-0). Fast and athletic, great offense, solid defense. Crushes everyone. By far the most complete team in the Big 12 conference, even with a red-shirt freshman quarterback. It's really Oklahoma and the little 11 right now.
2. Missouri (4-0/0-0). Missouri has weaknesses on defense, but solid road and neutral site wins. Missouri has an oustanding offense led by Chase Daniel and Martin Rucker.
3. Texas (4-0/0-0). Solid road win over better-than-you-might-think Central Florida. Players coming back to the team were a spark in a huge win over a terrible Rice squad.
4. Kansas (4-0/0-0). Yes, Kansas has played one of the worst Big 12 non-conference schedules ever. Central Michigan (1-3, its only win was versus Toledo), Division 1A Southeast Louisiana (1-3, its only win was versus Kentucky Weslyan), Toledo (1-3, its only win was a gift versus lowly Iowa State), and Florida International (0-4). Its hard to put together that bad of a schedule. On the other hand, Kansas did what they were supposed to do, crushing the four teams by a combined score of 214-23. That alone earns a spot in the Big 12 top 4.
5. Kansas State (2-1/0-0). Kansas State has warts. They aren't a great team, but the Big 12 has few great teams. The road loss to Auburn is not as bad as people are trying to make it out to be. This just in, South Florida is pretty good and went to overtime with Auburn. Mississippi State is better than people make them out to be, and that was a bit of a fluky game. K-State did what they were supposed to do versus San Jose State and Missouri State. But there are holes in the secondary, the running game and offensive line are suspect, and Josh Freeman has not proven he can consistently throw downfield.
6. Texas Tech (3-1/0-1). I know they lost their Big 12 opener. But Ruffin McNeil will help the defense, and Graham Harrell will throw for around 5,000 yards this year. Texas Tech is going to be a handful.
7. Nebraska (3-1/0-0). The beating of Nevada was good. Barely escaping Wake Forest at Wake Forest was good. Giving up over 300 yards on the ground to Southern California was bad. Giving up over 600 yards and 40 points to a middle of the road MAC Ball State team was unforgiveable.
8. Texas A&M (3-1/0-0). Texas A&M was taken to the woodshed by a pedestrian Miami (FL) team, one that was mauled by Oklahoma. Texas A&M looks slow, has very little offensive imagination, and does not tackle very well. Oh, and Fresno State took Texas A&M to overtime in College Station. That's not good.
9. Colorado (2-2/0-0). Colorado is working its way back to respectability. After gutting out an opening day win versus Colorado State, CU lost two tough games to Arizona State and Florida State. The Buffaloes (Bison really) then went on to crush middle of the road MAC team Miami (OH). Colorado's defense is for real, and if CU figures out how to play offense, they could surprise someone. In fact, I predict they will surprise someone this season.
10. Oklahoma State (2-2/1-0). Yes, Oklahoma State won the Big 12 opener last week, but only because Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree was so exhausted after running open on every single offensive play, he was too tired to catch the winning touchdown pass. Oklahoma State was manhandled by Georgia and Troy State. Yes, that Troy State.
11. Baylor (3-1/0-0). Baylor quarterback Blake Szymanski is playing pretty well, and after an opening season whitewash versus TCU, Baylor has played better.
12. Iowa State (1-3/0-0). I almost feel bad for Iowa State. Of course, I want to know what they did to Iowa's Wheaties, since they had absolutely no business beating Iowa. Of course, if Big 10/11 football moved out of the stone age, they might be able to beat lowly Iowa State.

On to the games:

Baylor at Texas A&M (-16.5) Baylor's offense will give Texas A&M fits, Baylor won't be able to consistently stop the Texas A&M running game. Dennis Franchione sells injury information to Baylor's coaching staff, but it doesn't make a difference. Texas A&M wins the battle for the Texas Hill Country, but it's closer than expected.

Oklahoma at Colorado (+23) Oklahoma's offense gets a true test today against a pretty good Colorado defense. Unforfortunately for the Buffaloes, their offense is no match for OU's defense. Oklahoma wins, but not in PlayStation fashion. In fact, look for Colorado to score late and get a backdoor cover.

Iowa State at Nebraska (-21) Nebraska's defense better look good against Iowa State, or Kevin Cosgrove better start brushing up that resume. Nebraska covers, but it won't be pretty.

Northwestern State at Texas Tech (NL) Texas Tech will score half a hundred. In the first half.

Sam Houston State at Oklahoma State (NL) The real story of this game is Rhett Bomar coming back to Oklahoma, where he was involved in the pay-for-play scandal at the University of Oklahoma. Sam Houston has offensive talent, but their defense is no match for OSU.

Kansas State at Texas (-14.5) Texas rolls, covering the spread.