2007 Big 12 Review
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.
Nebraska 2008 Big 12 Schedule
Away - @Kansas State, @ Texas, @Oklahoma State, @Baylor, @Missouri
Home - Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas, Texas A&M
Bad News
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.)