The Big 12 had a great 2008 year, highlighted by and incredible league-wide offensive explosion. 6 teams averaged 35+ points per game. Another major story was the emergence of the Big 12 South as one of the nation’s top divisions. In fact, the controversy which surrounded the tie breaking process between Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma atop the division standings brought alot of publicity to the conference. After a controversial rule earned them a berth in the Big 12 Title Game, the Sooners took advantage and beat the Missouri Tigers to claim a spot in the BCS championship game. While Oklahoma fell short in their fifth straight BCS bowl game, the Big XII conference finished with a 4-3 record in bowl games.

This season, the Big XII is expected to be as competitive as ever. The North has not won the Big 12 championship game in five years but there are 3 major contenders lying in wait as the Kansas Jayhawks, Colorado Buffaloes and Nebraska Cornhuskers should all have a legitimate chance to play for the title. While 2x defending division winner Missouri might take a step back this season after losing so much talent, the top 3 teams should fight to the final day of the season to determine a champion.

In the BIG 12 South, Texas Tech is not expected to challenge the big 2 (Texas & Oklahoma) after finishing 2008 as divisional co-champions, However, the Oklahoma State Cowboys enter the season ranked in the top 10 and is a legit threat to break the Sooners and Longhorns’ 10 year hold on the South division title. However, Texas and Oklahoma, they have a score to settle after Texas beat the Sooners head to head last season but was left out of the Big 12 Title Game and subsequent National Championship game while finishing with the same record. But, don’t forget about Baylor, who is more talented than they every have been in the last decade! The Big 12 South will once again be one of the nation’s top competitive divisions.

OUR 2009 BIG 12 STANDINGS PREDICTIONS

NORTH:
1. Kansas Jayhawks
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers
3. Colorado Buffaloes
4. Kansas State Wildcats
5. Missouri Tigers
6. Iowa State Cyclones

SOUTH:
1. Texas Longhorns
2. Oklahoma Sooners
3. Oklahoma State Cowboys
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders
5. Baylor Bears
6. Texas A&M Aggies

BIG 12 – NORTH DIVISION

Kansas Jayhawk

While failing to meet high expectations during the 2008 season, the Jayhawks are again the favorite to win the Big XII North. The return of offensive play makers is why the expectations are high again, but the schedule is tough with South Division opponents Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech on their plate. Not playing Baylor and Texas A&M will most likely give Kansas a worse record than they will deserve, but it could also put them back on the national radar if they can pull off an upset win or two.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 6-2)

Kansas 2009 Season Preview – Kansas 2009 Season Schedule

Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Cornhuskers are beginning to turn things around under head coach Bo Pelini. After one year the D has improved dramatically. That has Husker fans in Lincoln believing things are going to start getting better. Since Nebraska ended the season with a bowl game victory over Clemson, the program is getting back on track. Nebraska will need to build on that winning attitude this season without a majority of their offense play makers.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 5-3)

Nebraska 2009 Season Preview – Nebraska 2009 Season Schedule

Colorado Buffaloes

The Buffaloes were wiped out by injuries last season, so the Colorado faithful should understand why their team missed out on a bowl game & finished 5-7. Although their 3rd season under Coach Dan Hawkins did not go as planned, they have high hopes for year 4, if the Colorado can stay healthy, they may be a contender in the Big XII North.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 4-4)

Colorado 2009 Season Preview – Colorado 2009 Season Schedule

Kansas State Wildcats

Legendary Coach Bill Snyder between 1989 and 2005 turned the Wildcats from a football punching bag into a national power house. When Ron Prince took over the program it was going down hill, but Coach Prince did not help K-State return to power in the Big XII North. With Coach Snyder back he hopes to work his magic again and there is no reason to think that this time around will be any different.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 2-6)

Kansas State 2009 Season Preview – Kansas State 2009 Season Schedule

Missouri Tigers

2008 was supposed to be the year that the Tigers were going to contend for the Big 12 title. All the pieces were in place for success, but Missouri found themselves playing in a bowl game against Northwestern. Newly departed Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, Evander Hood and William Moore are still the talk of the town around Columbia. Which means that there is not much to talk about when it comes to the Tigers in ’09.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 2-6)

Missouri 2009 Season Preview – Missouri 2009 Season Schedule

Iowa State Cyclones

The Cyclones scrambled to find a new coach after Gene Chizik split after two horrible years in Ames. The result was the Coach Paul Rhoads homecoming. Before heading out to Pittsburgh and Auburn to be their defensive coordinators, Rhoads an Iowa native had spent some time as an assistant with Iowa State. Now, he has a tough hill to climb as he try’s to turn around a losing program that needs tons of help.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 1-7)

Iowa State 2009 Season Preview – Iowa State 2009 Season Schedule

BIG 12 – SOUTH DIVISION

Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns are the 2nd best team heading into ’09. The horns return a slew of talent on both sides of the football. Texas is not a team that will cake walk through the Big XII and grabbing a championship is anything but a sure thing. Especially since one “L” can put a end to that dream as Texas Longhorn fans know all too well after last season.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 8-0)

Texas 2009 Season Preview – Texas 2009 Season Schedule

Oklahoma Sooners

Four Sooner players who decided to stay in school could have been 1st round draft picks. QB Sam Bradford may have been the number one overall pick and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, offensive tackle Trent Williams and tight end Jermaine Gresham would have not been too far behind. But the Oklahoma faithful are glad they are all back and ready to get another shot at the BCS championship.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 6-2)

Oklahoma 2009 Season Preview – Oklahoma 2009 Season Schedule

Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys almost had 500 yards of offense per game last season. 2009 won’t be much different, but Oklahoma State will still struggled against the top teams in the BIG XII South. If OSU expects to take it to the next level they will have to pull off an upset over teams like Oklahoma or Texas.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 6-2)

Oklahoma State 2009 Season Preview – Oklahoma State 2009 Season Schedule

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Was ’08 the best year Texas Tech can have? The Red Raiders posted an 11-1 record and besides a slaughtering at the hands of Oklahoma, Texas Tech may have had a shot at the Big XII Championship and the National Title. And that was with an experienced “D”, an experienced QB and the best receiver the Red Raider fans have ever seen. Now they will have to do it without the majority of that defense, and offensive stars: Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 3-5)

Texas Tech 2009 Season Preview – Texas Tech 2009 Season Schedule

Baylor Bears

The Baylor Bears had a young team and worked their tail off through a very tough schedule during the 2008 season. Baylor only won 4 games and their biggest win was over Texas A&M, but they still surpassed all expectations and could do it again this season since they return 9 starters on both offense and defense.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 3-5)

Baylor Bears 2009 Season Preview – Baylor Bears 2009 Season Schedule

Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies took some knocks during Coach Mike Sherman’s 1st season. Looking at the numbers it is amazing that Texas A&M even won 2 conference games last year. Even though the 2 wins were over Iowa State and Colorado, it is not saying too much, but at least it is something to build around. It could have been worse.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 2-6)

Texas A&M 2009 Season Preview – Texas A&M 2009 Season Schedule

BIG 12 – 2009 Football Season Overview

The Big 12 took a huge step forward last year as they showcased depth and talent in both divisions. The emergence of both OSU and Texas Tech earned the South some new found respect as one of the toughest divisions in all of college football. The once weak North division also took strides towards competing against their more traditionally powerful counterparts down South as their bowl teams went 3-0.

This season, the Big12 will once again host some of the nation’s biggest match ups. While it will be tough to match last ’08’s epic run of exciting games, we think the Big 12 is deeper this year than it was a year ago. We predict that as many as 10 teams could play in bowl games. Sorry A&M and Iowa State.

The North comes down to 3 teams: Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. Colorado is the team on the rise and features a ton of young talent but we think that they are still a year off from making things interesting. That leaves the Cornhuskers and Jayhawks, both of whom should be strong teams this fall. With that said, Nebraska has to visit the Jayhawks and we think Kansas’ high powered “O” will be too much to handle and Kansas is our pick to win the Big XII North and play for the championship.

The Big 12 South is a little bit more interesting. Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are all starting the season ranked in the top 10. All 3 teams have excellent offenses and we would not be surprised if any of them won the division. Moreover, OSU’s secondary is a major concern and we can not pick them to beat 2 of the best passing teams in the nation with questions in the secondary. That leaves Oklahoma and Texas battling it out once again for the South title. Despite a 2-1 record against Oklahoma in the past 3 season, the horns have not won the South since superstar Vince Young was taking the snaps in ’05 and we think this is the time that they break the streak. The Longhorns will be out for revenge in the Red River Shootout and we expect Colt McCoy to lead Texas to victory over Oklahoma, giving him the 1st division championship of his career.

The Big 12 title game will feature Texas vs Kansas only two weeks after a regular season meeting in Austin, TX. However, Kansas’ D will have trouble containing the Longhorn’s high octane offense and we expect Texas to defeat Kansas and win the Big 12 Championship this season. We also think that Texas has a great shot at entering the game undefeated and we are picking Texas to finish the year with a 13-0 record and earn a berth in the BCS National Title game.