BIG 12 Conference:

Conference Rating: #2

Predicted Order of Finish:

1. Oklahoma (9-0): Many of you have seen that we have already projected Landry Jones to be the Heisman Trophy winner for 2011 as he leads the nation’s most explosive offense. While Jones will get most of the pub this year, let’s not forget about WR Ryan Boyles, who will be a 1^st round pick next year. Oklahoma can come at you in waves and with 16 returning starters back (8 offense and 8 defense) they have an excellent chance at going to the BCS Title game. The Sooners also luck out this year because they don’t have to play in the BIG 12 Championship game. The only team in conference that could upset the Sooners may be Texas A&M. However, that game is in Norman. Sooners go undefeated in conference.
2. Texas A&M (8-1): This is Mike Sherman’s best team on paper since he took over as the HC. A&M has 18 returning starters back (10 offense and 8 defense) along with 61 returning players. They are extremely deep and are led by QB Ryan Tannehill who has emerged as a top QB in the Big 12. Aggies avg 31.2 ppg in ’10 and look for that number to increase in ’11. The defense made drastic improvements last year only allowing 21.9 ppg as opposed to 33.5 and 37.4 in ’09 and ’08 respectively. They do have some tough road conference games this year (at Oklahoma and Texas Tech) but do get Okie St, Missouri and Texas at home. This is an explosive team on both sides of the ball and a few upsets could land the Aggies in the national title game but let’s not get too excited about that just yet.
3. Texas (7-2): Texas needs to redeem itself this year after a horrific 2010 season. We fully expect for them to do so. 12 starters back (6 offense and 6 defense) with 49 returning players. Look for QB Gilbert ti improve his numbers from 2010. Defense will be solid once again but Texas needs to score where they had major problems doing so last year avg only 23.8 ppg. We like this Texas team this year because they have too much talent to have back-to-back losing seasons.
4. Missouri (6-3): One thing we have learned over the years is don’t sleep on Missouri and HC Gary Pinkel. 12-2 in ’07, 10-4 in ’08, 8-5 in ’09 and 10-3 in ’10. The systems works and even with 1st rd draft pick Blaine Gabbart to the NFL, look for the next big QB to come out of Missouri in sophomore James Franklin. Missouri has 9 returning starters back on offense and 6 on defense. The D is underrated and will continue to get better. We like this team this year but they travel to Oklahoma and Texas A&M, the two beasts of the Big 12.
5. Oklahoma St (5-4): Everyone is expecting Okie St to be a force in the Big 12 and they very well could. However, they will need to stop teams from scoring this year. The offense will be one of the most explosive in the country with 9 returning starters including QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blachmon back. However, let’s not overlook offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen leaving for West Virginia. That guy is a genius and that could affect the Cowboys performance. The Cowboys have an extremely difficult road schedule as they go to A&M, Texas, Missouri and Texas Tech. They will be explosive but we question if they can stop anyone.
6. Baylor (4-5): Baylor is very talented on the offensive side of the ball with Robert Griffin. However, he doesn’t play defense and they are terrible on that side of the ball. Art Briles is an eccentric coach and goes outside the box. Baylor will take a step back this year because their defense will cost them several games. They should be fun to watch but their schedule is just to tough and they don’t have enough talent to compete with the big boys.
7. Kansas St (4-5): 13 starters back (6 on offense and 7 on defense). The Wildcats have the potential on offense with transfer Bryce Brown at RB and QB Justin Tuggle. They will need to count on their special team play to keep them in games as well. Defense is let by 2^nd Team All Big 12 selection Ty Zimmerman at SS. Snyder has done a good job since coming back to Manhattan, KS but the Big 12 is just too tough. They will make strides with year and will be bowl eligible. They only start 7 seniors on offense and defense and will be tough to beat 2012.
8. Texas Tech (2-7): My on my, where did you go Mike Leach. The offense dropped a little bit last year from 37.0 ppg in ’09 to 33.1 ppg in ’10. Look for the same to happen this year. The Red Raiders are changing schemes on defense and that could take a while to get used. The offensive numbers will be skewed a bit after the first 4 games but we won’t let that affect our true evaluation of the offense. 14 starters return (7 on offense and 7 on defense). We will call for 2 wins in conference (at Kansas and home Iowa St). They will struggle this year and look to 2011.
9. Iowa St (1-8): Not much we can say on the positive side about ISU but except the fact that they won’t finish last in the Big 12. 12 starters back with only 5 on the offensive side of the ball. The offense will struggle big time but the defense should be better. They just don’t have the talent and are a long ways away.
10. Kansas (0-9): This team is horrible. Offensively, defensively and special teams. We hate to say it but look for just one win this year. The schedule is tough enough in conference but then out of conference they play at Georgia Tech and home vs Northern Illinois. It’s going to be a long year in Lawrence, KS.

Big 12 Champion: Oklahoma