Big 12 Power Poll

We will be continuing our segment of "guest" NFL picks for the week either tomorrow or Friday. We will choose this guest by whoever scores best in AJ's pick'em league. This week yours truly will be giving the picks because I dominated hitting 14/16 games. But for now lets update the Big 12 Power Poll!

1) Texas (4-0, 1-0, Last week: #1)
Even if it's UTEP, dropping 50 in a half is impressive. They only have played one solid team and it was a home game and they struggled. So let's not anoint them just yet. If I had an AP vote they wouldn't be in my top 3.

2) Oklahoma (2-1, 0-0, Last week: #2)
They had a bye last week and have their big Miami game this weekend. We should learn a lot about them on Saturday. Side note: how does USC jump us in both polls? Was their 20 point win at home against Washington State (AWFUL TEAM) really that impressive?

3) Missouri (4-0, 0-0, Last week: #t-4)
Again, tough to choose between Kansas and Mizzou. My deciding factor was that the Tigers had make a comeback on the road, while the Jayhawks struggled at home. I don't think either of the teams would have a chance in the Big 12 title game against OU or Texas but that has been the case for several years.

4) Kansas (4-0, 0-0, Last week: #t-4)
See above. Just unimpressive so far. They may lose 5 conference games... so watch them to slide down this list in the coming weeks.

5) Nebraska (3-1, 0-0, Last week: #7)
The Cornhuskers jump OSU because of their loss. NU has three blow-out wins and a tough tough loss to a top-10 team. We will learn a lot about that Bo defense against Mizzou in two weeks, but for now they look like they could make a run at the north title.

6) Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-0, Last week: #6)
Amazingly the Pokes stay in same slot. Some may argue that they have a better win than Nebraska, and have a pretty good loss. Well, I'm sorry, I don't care how good a Conference-USA team is... you can't lose at home to a non-BCS school. Sorry.

7) Texas Tech (2-2, 0-1, Last week: #3)
The freefall stops here. Poor Red Raiders. I thought you guys could take it to Houston. They were coming off a big high and you could just run up and down the field. But you didn't. And your "improved" defense couldn't stop them when it counted. However, this is my team to watch that could rise in these polls. They have the potential to win every game left on their schedule (including at home against OU). So watch out for the pirates revival! Also, Mike Leech is hilarious. That is all.

8) Texas A&M (3-0, 0-0, Last week: #9)
I will not talk about how good this team is until they play someone. Lets talk after a mediocre SEC team this weekend (Arkansas).

9) Iowa State (3-1, 0-0, Last week: #10)
They beat Army pretty good last week. But Duke beat Army by about the same margin... so that doesn't mean much. Again... I would be hard pressed to find more than one game I think they definitely will win left on their schedule. Not a good sign before we are in October.

10) Baylor (3-1, 0-0, Last week: #8)
The tears are streaming in Waco, Tx. I even thought you guys could make a bowl this year. Unfortunately I didn't forsee your ridiculously athletic QB to go down for the season. I'm not saying you guys were a one-man team... but you were a one-man team. Good luck winning A big 12 game. Side note: Griffin tore part of his ACL on the first drive, then went on to play the rest of the first half and threw 3 TD's. At halftime they realized the severity of the injury and he was done for the season. Kids got heart... no ligament holding his knee together... but at least he has heart.

Others receiving votes (Undeserving of an entire paragraph describing their obismal situation):
Kansas State: Congrats on beating Tennessee Tech... good luck winning two more games.
Colorado: Travelling to the state of West Virginia to get Tim Tebowed...err concussed.

Summary: The Big 12 is not as strong as it was last year. Texas and Oklahoma are the heavy favorites and the North is fairly weak as always. Thinking about the other conferences, I just think its a weak year overall, no one stands out as a great team. Bama and Florida are the best of the SEC. Name a team in the Big 10 or Pac 10 that scares you. The ACC and Big East are just so-so. I think there is a good chance that the Red River Shootout winner plays either Florida or Bama in the title game... again.

B-Dubs

First annual Big 12 Power Poll

I like this idea AJ. I don't know how often this will be updated... but lets go for it.

1) Texas
The Texas offense looked pretty bad against a mediocre (at best) Texas Tech defense. Before Tech, the Longhorns took it to some powerhouses... Wyoming and Louisiana Monroe! I still think they are about even with OU this year, but they are the undefeated team. Watch out for that defense though, they allowed 20 points to Louisiana Monroe... not so good.

2) Oklahoma
Losing Jermaine Gresham for the season and Sam Bradford halfway through the BYU game was not such a good thing. However if there was one game on the schedule that my Sooners could afford to lose it was against BYU. The defense is nasty this year. Shutting out FCS Idaho State is nothing really... but shutting out the high powered offense of Tulsa was truly impressive. With Bradford most likely back for Miami, OU still has a great chance at making a title run. Their strength of schedule should carry them if they were to win out, because I don't see any undefeated teams this year outside of Jesus's team in Florida.

3) Texas Tech
Tough loss at home to Texas, but this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. This team could surprise some people and make a run at 9 wins and a decent bowl bid.

4t) Missouri
4t) Kansas
I couldn't pick between this border war rivalry. Either or both of these teams could end up with more wins than the Red Raiders, but I think Tech is the better team (as of now). Both teams have some impressive wins (points-wise) against far insuperior competition. Lets wait until Big 12 play before we judge either of these north teams.

6) Oklahoma State
Congratulations Pokes for beating an SEC team! But you still have to beat Conference-USA teams. The Cowboys haven't played a road game yet, and that defense doesn't look like its improving. Looks like OSU will struggle to stay ahead of the Red Raiders this season in the Big 12 South (once again). Embrace 4th place Stillwater.... embrace it.

7) Nebraska
Bo is well on his way to bringing back the Blackshirts defense of the past... but where is the O Bo? The Big-12 is much better than the ACC, Nebraska didn't show it, but hopefully OU will against Miami.

8) Baylor
Everybody knows Baylor doesn't have the athletes yet to make a run at a Big 12 title, but can Robert Griffin lead Baylor to a bowl game? I think so. Baylor should enter Big 12 play 3-1. They need at least 3 more wins. Possible wins in the Big 12: @ISU, OSU and Nebraska at home, @Texas A&M, Tech at home??

9) Texas A&M
Narrowly beating Utah State in College Station is not getting anyone excited. I don't care if they use their 12th man, 13th, 14th, 15th... it doesnt matter, they wont finish higher than 5th in the South.

10) Iowa State
The good news: The Cyclones could start the season 4-1!!! The bad news... try finding more than 2 winnable games on the rest of the schedule. Go ahead, try. Come on. Ya, I didn't think so.

11) Colorado
Dan Hawkins last season? I don't know if he finishes the season in Boulder. I see the Buffaloes starting 1-5. A 4-win season at best doesn't scream out "Job security."

12) Kansas State
You can't lose to Louisiana Lafayette. I'm sorry. I thought Bill Snyder was a bad hire, err... rehire. Yes they looked better against UCLA, but I don't see this team winning more than 2 more games. And yes, I am including Tennessee Tech in those two wins. The Wildcats just flat out stink. Nuff said.

Stay classy,

-B-dubs