Once again I sit at a chair next to the Big 12 Roundtable. Matt from The Crimson and Cream Machine challenged us to speak of spring and what hope may or may not spring eternal. Blankman sayeth:
Who are some of the new faces that emerged in the spring who could be serious playmakers for your team this fall?
A good question. I think that Nebraska’s offensive linemen as a whole stepped up large in the spring and made some great strides. I also think that Lance Thorell stepped up, but he could be this year’s Garth Glissman (also known as the guy we don’t hear about after the Spring Game). I loved what I saw out of WR Curenski Gilleylen.
What is your biggest concern following the spring?
The defensive front seven. Injuries and departures not to mention flat out inexperience plagues this bunch. Not to say they will be an entire liability, but they do need to step up. If Ndamukong Suh can come back and regain his former glory, that will help immensely along with the addition of incoming linebacker Will Compton who looks to vie for immediate playing time at MIKE.
Any major changes (philosophy, coaching or personnel) that you are concerned or worried about?
Yeah, Barney Cotton. This guy’s got about as much between the ears as Mr. Potato Head except I think I’d trust Mr. Potato Head more with my offensive line.
Looking over the 2008 which home and away game will be the most difficult?
Home: Missouri
Away: Oklahoma with Texas Tech a close second
Time for your way too early predictions (Yes, you can change them in August). Rank how you see your division finishing up next season.
Most of the story links below are from the official athletic department web sites, because there still aren't a lot of resources that promptly cover college baseball. I'll be linking to blogs and other off-the-beaten-path sites, so if you're running a Big 12 site and covering baseball, please let me know.
Rice owned the Big 12 this week, beating Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech at the Minute Maid College tournament in Houston.
Other Big 12 teams had some nice wins. Missouri went 3-1 in the San Diego tournament while Texas A&M went undefeated for the week. Baylor remains the lone undefeated Big 12 team, while Kansas and Texas Tech were the losers on the week.
Big 12 Baseball Weekly Review
Overall Big 12 win-loss records are updated on the right sidebar. Win-loss for the week is included below.
Big 12 Rankings this Week National Collegiate Baseball Writers - Pre-Season Poll: Texas, 6th; Missouri, 17th; Texas A&M, 20th; Baylor, 26th; Oklahoma State, 27th Baseball America Top 25 - Missouri, 5th; Baylor, 13th; Texas, 14th; Oklahoma State, 21st; Texas A&M, dropped out Collegiate Baseball Top 25 - Texas, 6th; Missouri, 15th; Baylor, 24th; Texas A&M, 28th
When I refer to rankings below, I'll be using Baseball America's ranking.
Baylor showed this week why they're one of the top teams in the Big 12. They easily handle Texas Southern mid-week, then they win their own tournament. Granted, not the greatest competition in Division IA, but they did take care of business.
Baylor is undefeated, and is off to their best start since 1993. Key to Baylor's success is winning one-run games, of which they've won five out of seven. Regardless of the competition, Baylor is finding ways to win. Will they contend for the Big 12?
This week Kansas played a couple of the better teams in the nation in Arkansas and Vanderbilt at Vandy's Music City Classic Tournament. Unfortunately, they were 0-2 against them but had a decent mid-week showing against the Razorbacks, i.e they weren't blown out.
Kansas came into Sunday with the lowest team batting average in the Big 12 at .238. Perhaps the output against Xavier and Iowa is a good sign that things are turning around. Things should brighten up as they face LeMoyne mid-week and North Dakota State in a series next weekend.
Kansas State is another team that's been struggling on offense, although they had decent output against a Sparty team, beating them twice in the Lamar Classic Tournament. Unfortunately, the Wildcats wasted a great eight-inning effort by pitcher Brad Hutt, scoring only one run in their loss to the Arkansas State Indians.
Kansas State has UT-San Antonio mid-week and LeMoyne in a four-game series next weekend. They should pick up some games against these guys in preparing themselves for Big 12 play.
Missouri had a disappointing loss Monday, then went off to San Diego for the USD tourney. They split games with 17th-ranked San Diego. Tiger pitcher Aaron Crow struck out 10 batters for his second win of the year over Cal, allowing three runs on eight hits in five innings. Then Ian Berger pitched brilliantly for 7.1 innings against San Diego, striking out five, not allowing a walk and giving up only one run on six hits.
A decent week for Mizzou on the road, especially in going 3-1 over the weekend and picking up some RPI wins against good opponents.
Missouri's home opener comes this next week against Western Illinois.
Nice showing by Nebraska this week end, sweeping UC Riverside. The Huskers held up against UCR's only experienced pitcher and fans got to enjoy some good winter weather Saturday. The Huskers offense hammered the ball and the rest of the pitching staff held UCR's offense in check.
The Cornhuskers get a series against Northern Colorado next weekend. Given their two wins over the Aggies last weekend, Northern Colorado may be a much-improved team.
Oklahoma
4-1
Tue., Feb. 26 Oklahoma 8, Arkansas - Pine Bluff 2
Wed., Feb. 27 Oklahoma 9, Arkansas - Pine Bluff 3
Fri., Feb. 29 Minute Maid College Classic - Rice 7, Oklahoma 2
Sat., Mar. 1 Minute Maid College Classic - Oklahoma 8, Houston 5 (10)
Sun., Mar. 2 Minute Maid College Classic - Oklahoma 2, Tennessee 0
After getting some mid-week work against APB, Oklahoma competed in the Minute Maid tournament at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, along with Rice, Houston, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Tennessee. A good week for the Sooners, getting a win over the Vols and Cougars.
Next up for Oklahoma - a mid-week series against North Dakota State and then a series against Western Illinois next weekend. Lots of wins coming up for the Sooners.
Northwestern handed the Cowboys their first loss of the year over the weekend. The game was tied 10-10 going into the ninth when Northwestern took a two-run lead. The Cowboys fought back, tying the game, but in the top of the 10th inning the Wildcats had a base hit that drove in two RBI's. Okie State's big bats continue to score.
Even with the loss, Oklahoma State is off to their best start since 1995. Things get tough next weekend as they head to San Diego for the San Diego State tournament against Loyola, San Diego State, San Diego and Santa Clara.
Texas got some games in beating UT-Pan-American mid-week. Not a real great weekend for the Longhorns. The Volunteers won the first meeting ever with Texas as Texas committed four errors. Then the Longhorns had five errors against Rice in another loss.
In a late Sunday game, Houston took the Longhorns to 10 innings before losing. The Cougars scored two runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game. Then in the 10th, the Longhorns loaded the bases when Rowe got a single and RBI as Hernandez scored. Texas had two errors in the game, giving them 11 over three games. Not the kind of baseball Augie Garrido wants them playing and they should drop in the rankings this week.
The Longhorns have a two-game series against TAMU-Corpus Christi and then entertain Stanford at home next weekend.
The Aggies won their own tournament and went undefeated for the week, picking up wins against Arkansas, Ohio State and Louisiana Tech.
Next up - a mid-week series against Nicholls State, and then they entertain Rutgers at home.
Texas Tech continues to struggle, although they did pick up a nice win over the SEC in beating Tennessee.
Central Arkansas comes to Lubbock mid-week, and then Illinois plays a series next weekend. Tech needs to win most of these games and pick up some confidence before Big 12 play starts.
Big 12 Baseball Opening Week Review - February 24, 2008
I'll be doing a Big 12 Week Review for college baseball again this season. I am interested in feedback on the format, particularly whether you find the links to articles useful, or if you'd just like the overall summaries with some links to interesting analysis.
I am considering dropping the USA Today/Coaches poll as I think that it's next to useless. The idea that coaches are going to vote in a poll while at the same time playing a condensed scheduled is ridiculous. Taking it's place will be the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. It may not be as popular as saying "ESPN", but it's probably a more accuration prediction of where things are. Feedback on that welcome.
Last season I typically did these on Sunday nights and I will probably do that again this year. This one is behind because I had a lot going on yesterday. Feedback is welcome and appreciated.
Big 12 Baseball Opening Week Review
Overall Big 12 win-loss records are updated on the right sidebar. Win-loss for the week is included below.
Big 12 Rankings this Week National Collegiate Baseball Writers - Pre-Season Poll: Texas, 6th; Missouri, 17th; Texas A&M, 20th; Baylor, 26th; Oklahoma State, 27th Baseball America Top 25 - Updated: Missouri, 5th; Baylor, 13th; Texas, 14th; Oklahoma State, 21st; Texas A&M, dropped out Collegiate Baseball Top 25 - Updated: Texas, 6th; Missouri, 15th; Baylor, 24th; Texas A&M, 28th
Baylor starts the season 3-0 for the third time in the last four seasons. Saturday's game went to 11 innings and all three games in the series with Purdue were one-run games. Pretty exciting stuff for an opening weekend.
I can guarantee you that losing a five-game series to the University of Hawaii-Hilo was not what Kansas had in mind to start the 2008 season. UHH is a perennial bottom dweller in college baseball, finishing 286 out of 293 in last year's RPI.
JQ over at Rock Chalk Talk should have something to say about this disaster, but I haven't seen anything posted yet. Maybe he's still in shock.
Three Big 12 series were affected by California weather, with KSU's Saturday double header game against Santa Clara and the Sunday game against Cal were both cancelled. Thus, KSU comes away from opening weekend without a win at Cal's tournament.
Things should get better for them this week as they play in the Lamar Classic tournament against Arkansas State, Michigan State and Lamar.
Missouri opens at 3-0. Aaron Crow was brilliant against UConn, pitching five innings, giving up six hits and one run. Rick Zagone gave up three runs in four innings before the Tigers went to the bull pen agagainst Michigan State.
Nice offensive output over the weekend, with 30 total runs in three games.
Nebraska lost the series to Stanford, giving up four runs in the seventh inning of the rubber match that started Saturday and finished late Sunday. Stanford took advantage of Husker errors in the final game.
As expected, Johnny Dorn was dominant in the second game of the double header on Friday. The Huskers played very well, nice offense and great defense. The opening game was nasty, but it was the Huskers' first time at playing outdoors for the season, as I stated earlier, it may be that it took them a while to get going as they played much better in the final innings of the first game and then continued into the second game doing well.
Rain cancelled the fourth game, although that's a little weird since they could have yet played it today or possibly gotten it in yesterday.
Oklahoma split a couple games with highly-ranked UCLA, then had two others cancelled due to weather. The second Saturday game went to 12 innings when Oklahoma's Spencer Selby drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Nice opening against a high quality opponent for the Sooners.
The Cowboys sweep Gonzaga, and as they did most of last season, put up a ton of offense. They held Gonzaga to only seven runs in four games while producing 31 themselves. That's dominance against a decent oponent.
Texas swept Virginia Commonwealth, putting up a fair amount of offense in the process. VCU isn't a bad opponent, and Texas pitching pretty much shut them down for the weekend. BTW, if you're looking for some really decent Texas baseball coverage that's off the beaten path, take a look at Joanna's Longhorn Baseball page. She's obviously into Texas baseball, complete with lots of decent pix.
You're at home, you're ranked, and you split a pair of games with Northern Colorado. Not an impressive start to the season for the Aggies. Seventeen runs over four games against an opponent like NC - not impressive either.
Texas Tech was to start the season against Northern Illinois. That series was cancelled due to the recent tragedy at NIU, so the Red Raiders got into the U-Texas-San Antonio Tournament. Giving up four runs against LA-Lafayette isn't a tragedy, especially when you give up two runs in the first two batters, then settle down and hold the Ragin' Cajuns to only four runs after that.
The UTSA tourney continues today with Tech playing UTSA.
Following is your Big 12 schedule for the opening weekend of college baseball:
Baylor opens with a three-game series against Purdue in Waco.
Kansas begins with a five-game series at perennial Division IA bottom dweller Hawaii-Hilo.
Kansas State plays California Friday, then Santa Clara in a double header on Saturday, and then California again on Sunday.
Mizzou opens at the Stetson tournament. They'll play Connecticut, Michigan State, Stetson and Central Florida in that order.
Nebraska opens with a four-game series at Stanford.
Oklahoma opens with a three-games series at #1-ranked UCLA.
Oklahoma State plays Gonzaga in a four-game series at Stillwater.
Texas has a three-games series against Virginia Commonwealth in Austin
Texas A&M gets Northern Colorado in a four-game series in College Station
Texas Tech plays Louisiana-Lafayette at the University of Texas-San Antonio Tourney. They were originally scheduled to play Northern Illinois at home, but that series was cancelled due to the recent tragedy at UNI. The Red Raiders will play Louisian-Lafayette, Oral Roberts, Army, and host UTSA.
Last season the Big 12 finished second to the SEC in conference RPI ratings, but failed to place a single team in the College World Series. Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri hosted their own regionals with Texas A&M being the only team to move on to a super regional where they were swept by Rice. Nebraska was knocked off by Arizona State in the Tempe regional. Oklahoma State won the Arkansas (Fayetteville) regional, moving onto a super regional where they were beaten by Louisville.
Barring the second coming of two Joba Chamberlains, Nebraska isn't going to win the Big 12 this season. That will come down to the winner of the Missouri-Texas series. The Cornhuskers need to finish in the top five to make sure they make the NCAA tourney, given this year's schedule and lack of experience that may be tough to do.
Mike Anderson is excited about this team season, but after last season who can blame him? 2008 is Cornhusker fans first look at pitching coach Eric Newman. We'll see what he can do with so many young arms on the roster. We'll have a look at the baseball team later in the week.
We get the top three teams (Texas, Missouri, Baylor) on the road, and two of the worst teams (Kansas, Texas Tech) at home. If that doesn't suck, I don't know what does.
Good News
We get to start the Big 12 season against Oklahoma and Kansas State. Given the non-conference schedule ahead of Big 12 play, we should have figured out the pitching rotation and starters before we head to Texas.
Bottom Line
Nebraska should win three out of four of their home series with the series against Texas A&M up in the air. The Kansas State series comes early in the season with the Wildcat pitching staff having more experience but without them having a great offense so hopefully the Cornhuskers have solidified their pitching rotation by then. Pick up that series and pull off a win against Oklahoma State (which will be difficult) and the Huskers will be fine.
The Big 12 predicted order of finish is as follows (from Rivals)
Texas
Missouri
Baylor
Texas A&M
Oklahoma State
Nebraska
Kansas State
Oklahoma
Kansas
Texas Tech
(Colorado and Iowa State do not field baseball teams.)
The Big 12 Championship is this evening and I'd like to encourage any Corn Nation fans to visit the SB Nation blogs for Oklahoma and Missouri.
Oklahoma blog is Crimson and Cream Machine, Mizzou is supported by Rock M Nation. Both will be running game day threads this evening, so feel free to join them.
Me? I'm pulling for Mizzou. I know that our rivalry and respect for Oklahoma is long-standing, but I am tired of hearing about how the Big 12 North can't beat this team, and can't win the title. This is for our half of the conference.
Plus, I really don't want Ohio State in another national title game. Whomever plays them will destroy them. You don't want that either, do you?
For the sake of college football as a whole, the state of the nation, and all that is holy, root for Mizzou!
This week's Big 12 roundtable is being hosted by Texas blog Gabriel's Horn. Pretty appropriate title - The End Is Near. You suppose we'll see at least one guy dressed as an apocalyptic monk outside Memorial with a sandwich-board sign this weekend?
1. With only two or three games left, how are you feeling about your season? Disappointed, elated, surprised, a little violated?
Disappointment is when you fumble a ball on a 3rd and 2 play and let Texas come back to beat you at home. It's when your star receiver fumbles a ball on the first play of the Big 12 Championship game and spots Oklahoma a 7-0 lead. No, this season isn't disappointing. This season is embarrassing. It's humiliating.
The only silver lining to this season is that perhaps Nebraskans will have realistic expectations for our next coach. If we don't, we can count on being the next Alabama. I don't want that.
We still have a shot at our next two games. I still have hope. Perhaps I'm a fool for that.
2. I have to ask, how do you feel about the (possible) buyout of Fran at Texas A&M?
He broke the number one rule of staying employed. If things are going badly, don't give them an excuse to get rid of you. I never saw the greatness that others did in Franchione before he got to A&M, but the stunt he pulled with the insider's newsletter was the mark of a fool.
Ralphie's Wild Cousin - Live Free or Die!
3. We’ve picked coaches, players, stadiums and everything else from other teams. Now, we get down to something even more near and dear: mascots. If you could pick another Big 12 mascot other than your own - who would it be and why?
Ralphie from Colorado. Don't know if you've ever been close to a Buffalo, but they are ginormous beasts. Sounds entirely un-Nebraskan, but it's not. Bison roamed the plains, not the mountains.
Besides it's part of my master plan - the invasion of Colorado. Mass the Nebraska National Guard near Imperial, Nebraska and go across the border. Take out that University in Boulder, take their mascot as a prize. We'd conquer them while they were wondering what neighborhood covenants we'd broken.
We'd be merciful. We'd give Aspen back to the millionaires to whom it belongs while we freeze the assets of the billionaires that live there. We'd allow Colorado State to remain Colorado State and accept them into the Big 12. Rams live in the Mountains.
4. Unexpected Greatness, Unexpected Suckage. Who surprised you this year? Who did you get really excited about, only to be let down? (The first Roundtable asked who was the face of the franchise - do you still feel that way?)
I picked Ndamukong Suh, defensive lineman as the face of the franchise, so blame me for the Huskers being ranked 118th in stopping the run. Clearly I damned them. He's still young and there's still time for him to be a force. Wait, maybe I'm just damning him to mediocrity.
Sam Keller was going to be a NFL-level talent that took the offense to new heights. Didn't happen.
Matt Slauson was the disappointment of the offensive line. I was very high on the line coming into the season. Big disappointment.
The young backs look great. Quentin Castille, Roy Helu. Along with Marlon Lucky, the next coach will have a good corp of backs to start with.
5. I told you there would be booze. Characterize your team by the beverage of your choice.
Skunky beer. You drink some and you think, boy this tastes weird, and then you drink some more. After you've finished a can, you have this sudden bad feeling and the next few hours you spend in the bathroom with fluids coming out of both ends. After that's finished you realize you never want to do that again.
Lightning Round - worth double the points (which will still work out to zero...), and twice the fun!
- Love ‘em.
Maurice Purify. He started this year having legal problems, then had his brother killed in a car-jacking/robbery and his girlfriend killed in a car accident. Then he got to partake in a bad season of Husker football. He hasn't seen the ball as much as we'd like. I hope that Maurice Purify has a good career in whatever he does because he deserves it.
Zack Bowman. As a leader, took off his Blackshirt and no one followed. Said a lot early on.
Courtney Grixby. Played much taller than his size, took a lot of grief for it and never complained.
Ndamukong Suh. I still have faith that he can prove himself in the seasons to come.
- Diss ‘em.
The Big Three - Steve Pederson, Bill Callahan and Kevin Cosgrove. Wherever they go, whatever they do will be forever tied to this, potentially the worst season in Nebraska's 117-year history.
Mike Gundy. Pretty tough in front of young female reporters. Not so tough at home with a lead.
Dennis Franchione. Upperclass Twit of the Year Candidate. There certain to be some car-door slamming in College Station the day after Thanksgiving!
- Pick ‘em.
Colorado @ Iowa State - Colorado Texas A&M @ Mizzou - Mizzou - The Tigers have found an identity in Chase Daniel. KState @ Nebraska - Nebraska - Hope springs eternal. Tech @ Texas - Texas - Tech can't win on the road.
Baylor @ Oklahoma - OU Kansas @ Oklahoma State - Kansas - Fourth quarter against Texas blew their confidence.
In fact, Nebraska was the tops of the entire Big 12, beaten out only by a bunch of smallish North Eastern states like Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire that are inhabited by very white rich people. Minnesota was the only non-Northeastern state above Nebraska on the list.
I think it's obvious to every Nebraskan why it's a darned healthy state. Although we drink a fair amount of beer, we're also a hard-working state, unlike Colorado, that came in at #28. No doubt that's because they don't get much exercise and from of all the sulfur fumes frequently escaping the gateway to hell located in Boulder.
Missouri is at #34. I find that surprising. The only thing I can think of is that there's a fine line between blindness and death when you're adding the anti-freeze to some of that stuff people down there drink and they keep getting it wrong.
Dead last in the Big 12 is Texas at #43. We shouldn't fault them too much for it. Texas is so big and wide and people are constantly getting ran over by enormous pickup trucks. With big appetites, big guns, big beef with big horns to impale you and black widow spiders nesting in big hair, it's amazing anyone makes it past 40 there.
One more reason as to why Nebraska is truly The Good Life!
1. If you could steal another coach at any level (head, assistant, etc.) from another school, who would it be and why?
That's a two million dollar a year question, isn't it?
I was going to say Jim Leavitt, but after watching South Florida spike the ball with 1:21 left and bring up a 3rd and 22, I'm convinced he's a complete idiot. I'm sure someone else straps on his velcro shoes for him in the morning. He scowls really well. Nebraska hasn't had a coach that scowls well since Danny Nee left basketball. I think that's what's missing from the program.
I would take Bo Pelini from LSU so that LSU would lose two of their coaches at the end of the season. Not only that, but when we beat Kansas State at home, he and Ron Prince could meet at midfield and get it on. Nebraska is so needing a real rival right now, and there's nothing like two coaches going after each other to establish a rivalry.
I'll probably put some serious thought into this after this weekend. After we win or lose against Texas A&M.
2. What two teams will play for the Big XII Championship and why?
Kansas and Oklahoma. Oklahoma because they're the best in the conference and the rest of the Big 12 South other than Texas Tech is dysfunctional.
Kansas because they have a great schedule to get there. Not only that but they have the fourth-ranked defense in the nation, and the seventh-ranked offense. They have built these stats against inferior opponents, but they have pounded everyone to dust but their rival Kansas State whom they only beat by six points. They're not going to experience a let-down because they'll always feel like they have something to prove, all the way up to their last game against much-hated Mizzou on a neutral field.
3. What is the best bowl game your team has a realistic shot at and, if your team has a shot, who would you like to play in said bowl?
Bowl game? I can't think past Texas A&M at this point. It's day-to-day from here on out, man!
4. If given the opportunity, would you keep the Big XII status quo or kick out a team and go to a Big 10-style conference play?
Having lived in Big Tenelevenland for 20 years, I'm not so enamored by it. You could make the point that Nebraska could go back to playing an annual rivalry game against Oklahoma. Unfortunately more often than that you end up with a fake conference champion because the top teams in a given year may not play each other.
Conference title games represent what is basically a playoff system in college football. They generate a gob of money for the conference, and many of them are good games. If you don't like the idea that a good team could get upset and miss a BCS bowl, then if you're the good team, win the conference title game.
Kick out a team? Everyone will say Baylor.
5. Rank the Big XII teams
Volleyball:
Yes, I'm in denial.
Oh, hell. Why not.
Football:
Oklahoma
...
...
Kansas
Texas Tech
Missouri
Kansas State
Texas
Colorado
Oklahoma State
Texas A&M
Nebraska
Baylor
Iowa State
It's past time to be looking ahead to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, although it's hard to put the ass-kicking by Pinkel's boys of your mind. I certainly hope that's not the case for the Huskers this week. Still, we're playing an opponent whose biggest claim to fame is their coach's tirade about a newspaper article, and we're playing them at home. Bottom line - if we can't win this one, we won't have much choice but to be looking forward to basketball season. That's not saying much, is it?
Still, some compelling stories around the nation. Can Mizzou prove themselves against Oklahoma? Do the uConn Huskies play real football? Who's less lethargic on offense - Wisconsin or Penn State? Can Bo's defense withstand the Wildcats offensive onslaught?
Big 12 Games
Oklahoma State @ Nebraska
Line: Huskers by 4
Husker Mike: Both teams have had their moments.
corn blight: Both teams are seeking manhood.
Husker Mike: It's in Lincoln.
corn blight: Okie State sucks on the road.
Husker Mike: It's more a must win for Billy C than Mikey G... NU 38, Pokes 35
corn blight: Who knows the Okie State defensive coordinator's name? Huskers 27, Cowpokes 24
Colorado @ Kansas Sate
Line: KSU by 5.5
Husker Mike: CU is improved...but I still think KSU is 'mo bettah. No way they lose 2 in a row, KSU 27, CU 17
corn blight: KSU will probably win, it's their week to play well. KSU 27, CU 23
Baylor @ Kansas
Line: KSU by 25
Husker Mike: Mangino eats the whole bear... KU 56, Baylor 3
corn blight: Kansas has a letdown and still wins by 21, KU 35, Baylor 14
Mizzou @ Oklahoma
Line: Oklahoma by 10.5
Husker Mike: I smell letdown, Sooners 38, Tigers 17
corn blight: Win this game, and the Chase Daniel Heisman talk begins. Lose, and they're the same old Missouri. So long Pinkel Factor! Mizzou 24, OU 21
Texas A&M @ Texas Tech
Line: Tech by 8.5
Husker Mike: Leach's Arm 38, Fran's Newsletter 10
corn blight: Dennis Franchione's idiotic idea to sell insider information continues to be a distraction, while Tech plays to honor Mike Leach's broken arm. This game determines whether the Aggies are lost or not. Tech 31, A&M 14
Husker Mike: Young Whippersnapper 21, Old Fart 17
corn blight: Anthony Morellli plays one of those ol' wooden cigar-store Indians and gets splintered. Wisconsin 23, Penn State 20
LSU @ Kentucky
Line: LSU by 9
Husker Mike: LSU 31, Kentucky 17
corn blight: LSU will be all over Kentucky's Woodson. LSU 28, Kentucky 14
uConn @ Virginia
Line: Virginia by 3.5
Husker Mike: Eenie meanine minie mo. Va 24, UConn 20
corn blight: Both bad offenses, Virginia at home, Virginia 21, uConn 17
This week's roundtable is being hosted by KSU blog Bring on the Cats.
The Aftermath, apparently the title of a post-apocalyptic nightmare in which we're currently living. Who can fix this thing?
We really want a happy Husker family, don't we? Source:(Supporting Kidds)
1. Some teams are coming off a big win or wins (Oklahoma, Colorado, KU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Missouri), while others are dealing with the sting of a tough loss or losses (K-State, Texas, Nebraska, Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma State). Tell us where your team is headed in the wake of the first two weeks of conference play.
My team is collectively headed to therapy. No one knows what is wrong with the Huskers, not even Bill Callahan. I suggest the whole team (coaches, players, staff, video guys, you name it) go to counseling. Like a marriage counseling weekend where you go to a secluded place and have it out, then pray and cry and then scream at each other some more. I can only imagine what the offense and defense have to say to each other.
If that doesn't work, then they'll have tried their best and they can cry themselves to sleep at night wondering about what might have been. They can break up and some go their separate ways at the end of the season.
2. Colorado and Texas A&M have emerged as unlikely conference leaders at 2-0 (give yourself a cookie if you predicted that), while preseason darlings Texas (0-2) and Nebraska (1-1 and not playing well) are floundering. Do the current leaders have the wherewithal to make it to San Antonio, or will somebody from elsewhere in the pack overtake them?
There's nothing like your coach being discovered as unethical boob to galvanize a team and make them come together against a common foe - that foe being everyone else on the planet. It's a strategy that shows the genius of Coach Fran.
Colorado on the other hand, will not be overtaken. They will win the Big 12 North, proceed to the Big 12 Championship game where they will be beaten 70-3 by someone from the Big 12 South. It doesn't matter who, just that the pain will continue.
3. A few weeks ago we did a ranking of the six BCS conferences, with most bloggers picking the Big 12 in the middle of the pack, which would be a big improvement over the last couple years. Have the middle and bottom teams of the conference improved significantly, or have the teams at the top declined significantly? Or is it something else?
I blame Iowa State and Baylor. Their blackhole of suckage is so dark and powerful that it's pulled the rest of us down to their level. Sooner or later we will all be consumed.
Where the hell is Al Gore on this issue?
4. Getting waaaaay ahead of ourselves: What if Missouri or KU goes undefeated and wins the Big 12 Championship Game? Would they get a shot at the national championship game?
Kansas' schedule will stop them from getting anywhere unless everyone else loses. I guess that could happen this season. Missouri could get there and then implode. They may have kicked our ass, but in the long run, they're still the Minnesota Vikings. There isn't a season in which they haven't disappointed their fans in some way, shape or form.
5. Rank the conference teams
Okay, fine. I'll just copy this one from Husker Mike so I don't have to think about it. It hurts too much.
Lots of action in the the Big 12 this week. You've got:
The Red River Rivalry with both teams worrying about who's going to start 0-2 in conference.
Undefeated Kansas against rival Kansas State to see who wins the battle of Kansas
Nebraska vs Missouri - the two teams who were crowned the only pre-season contenders in the Big 12 North.
Oh, hell, we should have been keeping track of these from the start of the season, shouldn't we? I'm certain I'm crushing Mike, but if you take a look at In the Bleachers, I'm not exactly inspiring confidence, although last week was pretty rough on everybody.
TV listings are available at In the Bleachers also so you can plan your weekend. All times are Eastern.
Who knows what this week holds! Let chaos reign!
Big 12 Games
Nebraska @ Missouri
Line: Missouri by 7
Husker Mike: The WAC lives again, with 2 sucky defenses and two quarterbacks who like to throw... It's there and the home crowd will be especially violent: Mizzou 52, Huskers 49
corn blight: I noticed that even Adrian Fiala picked Mizzou in this one. There is an amazing lack of confidence in Nebraska fans this week. Missouri at night isn't that scary. Huskers: 31, Tigers 28
Colorado @ Baylor
Line: Colorado by 8
Husker Mike: Vegas must be expecting a CU letdown... only 8 pts? Buffies 27, Bears 10
corn blight: Well, it is in Waco. Can the Buffs win on the road? After one game do we believe in Colorado? Yes, against Baylor. Buffaloes 23, Bears 17
Kansas @ Kansas State
Line: KSU by 3
Husker Mike: Last week, we learned KSU was for real. KU, we don't know since they've blown out 4 nobodies. KSU 35, Kansas 24
corn blight: Letdown for KSU. The Jayhawks are for real. KU 31, KSU 24
Oklahoma vs Texas (Dallas)
Line: Oklahoma by 11
Husker Mike: No way Sooners & Stoops start Big XII play 0-2. Sooners 42, ut 13
corn blight: Texas has way too many issues. Oklahoma's only issue was not showing up for a weekend. OU 38, Texas 27
Oklahoma State @ Texas A&M
Line: Aggies by 6.5
Husker Mike: The Meltdown vs. Fran's Newsletter... OSU 38, A&M 33
corn blight: But the Aggies players support Fran! Dollar Bill Byrne - not so much. It is at Kyle Field. Aggies 28, Cowboys 24
Iowa State @ Texas Tech
Line: Texas Tech by 25
Husker Mike: Tech's new defensive coordinator gets another tuneup game... TT 42, Clones 14
corn blight: Tech goes wild. Red Raiders 51, Cyclones 20
<big>Games of the Week</big>
Wisconsin @ Illinois
Line: Illini by 2.5
Husker Mike: Vegas thinks they know something football coaches and writers don't. Bucky 23, Chief Illiniwek 20
corn blight: The Badgers know how to win close, ugly games. Good thing for them because that'll be their entire season. Wisconsin 24, Illinois 20
Georgia @ Tennessee
Line: Volunteers by 2
Husker Mike: Again, I'm not sure what's up in Vegas. Dawgs 28, Rocky Top 20
corn blight: Tennessee's defense isn't so good, ranked 95th. Ouch! Georgia 34, Volunteers 23
Virginia Tech @ Clemson
Line: Clemson by 5
Husker Mike: Clemson 28, VT 21
corn blight: Virginia Tech, no offense, good defense. You have to score some points, right? Clemson 23, Virginia Tech 13
Florida @ LSU
Line: LSU by 9
Husker Mike: What a matchup: Florida's wide open offense vs. LSU's stingy Beauxshirts. My pick: Bo Knows Defense. LSU 34, Florida 17
corn blight: A night game in Baton Rouge? Too bad for Urban. I'll be crying for him. LSU 31, Gators 17
Ohio State @ Purdue
Line: Ohio State by 7
Husker Mike: Ohio State 28, Purdue 17
corn blight: Purdue finally faces a real defense. Ohio State
Cincinnati @ Rutgers
Line: Rutgers by 3
Husker Mike: Cincy 31, Rutgers 24
corn blight: Two Big East teams not named Louisville or West Virginia in a big game. Who'da thunk it? Cincy 31, Rutgers 27.
Husker Heritage Bowl - Ohio @ Buffalo
Line: Ohio by 4.5
Husker Mike: Frank 24, Turner 21
corn blight: Turner Gill had a lot of guts in taking over one of the worst programs in college football. Buffalo has no offense. Bobcats 28, Bulls 14
Baylor
Kansas
Kansas State
Missouri
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
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