With less than a week to go now before the college football season kicks off, it’s time for The Dirt to make some predictions. Beginning with conference standings and conference winners, I’ll take a look at all six BCS conferences (ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC). Next up, the Big 12:
Big 12
· Preseason Top 25 Teams
AP Poll Dirt Poll
1. Oklahoma 4. Oklahoma
8. Texas A+M 9. Texas A+M
9. Oklahoma State 13. Oklahoma State
21. Missouri 25. Texas
· Predicted Finish
1. Texas A+M 10-2 (8-1)
2. Oklahoma 10-2 (7-2)
3. Texas 9-3 (6-3)
4. Oklahoma State 8-4 (6-3)
5. Baylor 8-4 (5-4)
6. Missouri 7-5 (5-4)
7. Kansas State 6-6 (3-6)
8. Texas Tech 5-7 (3-6)
9. Iowa State 4-8 (2-7)
10. Kansas 3-9 (1-7)
· Bowl Teams: (7)
o Texas A+M
o Oklahoma
o Texas
o Oklahoma State
o Baylor
o Missouri
o Kansas State
· Big 12 Champion: Texas A+M Aggies
· Key Games
o 9/17: #6 Florida State Vs #1 Oklahoma
o 9/24 #8 Texas A+M Vs #9 Oklahoma State
o 11/5: #1 Oklahoma Vs #8 Texas A+M
o 12/3: #9 Oklahoma State Vs #1 Oklahoma
o 10/8: Texas Vs #1 Oklahoma
o 9/2: Baylor Vs #14 TCU
o 11/24: #8 Texas A+M Vs Texas
· Big 12 Summary:
Could be a big year for the Big 12, or should I say Big 10? Nebraska departed to the actual Big 10; while Colorado left for the new Pac 12, so who’s next? Well, recent news seems that it will be Texas A+M, with reports claiming they’re on their way to the SEC. So let’s begin with those Aggies, who I think will win the conference this year. Oklahoma may be the sexy #1 preseason pick, but Texas A+M seems like the best team to me. With ex-Green Bay Packer head coach Mike Sherman at the helm, they made a large step in the right direction last year – and I think this year they’ll take the next step. Though they will have to play at Oklahoma, the rest of their tough games will come at home.
Oklahoma will most likely finish in one of the top two spots, but everyone will bring their ‘A’ game against the preseason favorite Sooners. Landry Jones is a stud behind center, but the loss of DeMarco Murray will be a big one. Next in line, hopefully not surprisingly, is Texas. Does anyone think the Longhorns will finish below .500 again? I hope not. Oklahoma State and Missouri are both ranked in preseason Top 25 polls, but have the stench of overrated to me.
Baylor could be a surprise, Mr. Everything quarterback Robert Griffin is sure fun to watch. Look for them to have an unexpected season, winning 8 games. Kansas State should limp into a bowl game, and Texas Tech could also challenge to win 6 games. As for Iowa State and Kansas, better luck next year.
A big story line this season for the Big 12 will be an increase in conference games. They will step into Pac 10 (now Pac 12) territory as the only other conference to play 9 conference games in a season. Losing the chance to play one more patsy in nonconference play will hurt the lower teams, as will take a 3-0 out of conference record and 3 conference wins to make a bowl game.
Texas A+M is my pick to win the Big 12, though Oklahoma can easily challenge for the conference title. Both should win 10 games, and the team that finishes second could have a shot at an at-large BCS bid.
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