Spring football: over.
Big 12 football media days: completed.
Summer breaks for college: finished.
Preseason fall football camps: in session.
Days until kickoff: 15 (for most).
Yes, this is an exciting time of the year. In about two weeks, football will be on TV every weekend until sometime in February, if you include the NFL.
With the 2010 college football season right around the corner, I thought it was time.
Time for what, you ask? Prediction time.
It’s time to predict the order of finish in the Big 12 North and South.
If you have an opinion (and something tells me you do), post your projected order in the comments section below. We can go back at the end of the year and compare. And maybe brag a little bit.
Below, you’ll find staff predictions with brief analysis accompanying them. Time to debate.
**Eric Sorrentino, KUsports.com Big 12 blogger:**
**Big 12 North**
1. Nebraska
2. Missouri
3. Kansas
4. Kansas State
5. Colorado
6. Iowa State
Analysis: Nebraska is the obvious choice for North champion. NU quaterback Zac Lee is not Blaine Gabbert from Missouri, but he doesn’t really have to be. The Huskers have the best defense in the division, led up front by Jared Crick and Pierre Allen, and cornerback Prince Amukamara is a budding star. Offensively, NU returns four of five starters on the offensive line, tailback Roy Helu Jr. is back, and receiver Niles Paul (below) has big-play potential.
As for the order behind Nebraska and Missouri, it’s all up in the air. There’s a big gap, as I see it, from the Huskers and Tigers to the rest of the division.
Kansas at third could be a bit of a reach, but the Jayhawks’ favorable schedule (easiest in the Big 12, according to Phil Steele) should enable them to entertain the idea of a bowl game.
Kansas and Kansas State are the only North teams that just have to face one of the South’s big four (Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas A&M). KU gets A&M at home, and K-State gets Texas at home. The Wildcats travel to Lawrence this season, a big reason KU is the pick here ahead of K-State.
**Big 12 South**
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas A&M
4. Texas Tech
5. Baylor
6. Oklahoma State
Analysis: Oklahoma better hope Texas loses early. The Longhorns have an early test at Texas Tech on Sept. 18, face Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 2, and travel to Nebraska on Oct. 16. After that, five of UT’s last six games are in Austin, and the Longhorns won’t lose any of them.
The conclusion here is some of UT’s youth — sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert, and a relatively inexperienced offensive line — costs Texas a game, especially given the [Longhorns’ front-heavy schedule][1].
The Sooners were decimated by injuries last season, and coach Bob Stoops is bound for some better luck this season. Quarterback Landry Jones was thrust into early action, and that will pay off in 2010. The Sooners are talented and deep at every position. Picking them to represent the South in the Big 12 Championship — something they’ve done six of the past eight years — seems to be a safe choice.
**Jesse Newell, KUsports.com online editor:**
**North**
1. Nebraska
2. Missouri
3. Kansas
4. Colorado
5. Kansas State
6. Iowa State
Analysis: No surprises with Nebraska and Missouri picked Nos. 1 and 2. Kansas (which won’t lose every close conference game like it did down the stretch last year) takes advantage of a weak conference schedule to slide into the three spot. Kansas State, which appeared to play above its statistics last year, falls to fifth, while [Iowa State’s murderous schedule][2] and unsustainable number of forced fumbles last year (20) makes it an easy pick for last despite a seven-win campaign last year.
**South**
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas Tech
4. Oklahoma State
5. Texas A&M
6. Baylor
Analysis: Mark it down now: Texas Tech will be the surprise team in the Big 12 this year. The Red Raiders have lots of firepower coming back on offense and defense, and coach Tommy Tuberville is a guy that has proven he can get the most out of elite talent. Oklahoma State should be better than people expect with defensive coordinator Bill Young still leading a stingy defense, while Texas A&M will be the league’s biggest disappointment with major issues on the defensive end.
**Matt Tait, KU football beat writer:**
**North**
1. Nebraska
2. Kansas State
3. Kansas
4. Missouri
5. Colorado
6. Iowa State
Analysis: Call me crazy, but there’s just something I like about KSU running back Daniel Thomas and his ability to control games. Nebraska’s clearly the class of the division, but I think K-State’s running game will be enough to win games. KU is the surprise team in the North on the good side of the coin and Missouri is the surprise team on the bad side of it. Not sure what it is, I just sense that a rough season is ahead in Columbia. Colorado will be greatly improved but won’t have much to show for it and Iowa State, though talented in spots, will come back down to earth a little bit.
**South**
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas A&M
4. Oklahoma State
5. Texas Tech
6. Baylor
Analysis: Tough call at the top; all the others just fell into place for me. A&M has a shot to crack the top two with a win over either of the big dogs, and as much as I wanted to pick it to happen, the Aggies probably won’t be able to get it done. As for Tech, I’m expecting a rough transition in year one for Tommy Tuberville.
**Tom Keegan, Journal-World sports editor:**
**North**
1. Nebraska
2. Missouri
3. Kansas State
4. Iowa State
5. Colorado
6. Kansas
Analysis: In two years, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini turned a defense that allowed 76 points against Kansas into the No. 1 scoring defense in the country in 2009. Bo knows football. Mizzou has something KU lacks, an experienced quarterback (Blaine Gabbert), and so does K-State, a dynamic running back (Daniel Thomas).
Nobody should be surprised if KU doesn’t total 76 points in its four Big 12 home games. Its biggest-name offensive player (Toben Opurum) now plays linebacker.
**South**
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas A&M
4. Texas Tech
5. Baylor
6. Oklahoma State
Analysis: Once again, the two best teams in the Big 12 are the teams with the two coolest uniforms in the Big 12. The names of the players can be found on the backs of all the vibrant jerseys in Norman, Okla. and Austin, Texas.
What do you guys think? As always, discuss.
[1]: http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/tex-m-footbl-sched.html
[2]: http://www.cyclones.com/SportSelect.dbml?spid=4653&spsid=48393&db_oem_id=10700
