Although it seems that some of the KU love has attenuated since last year, I still think that they’re getting too much credit for their performance last year. I know that Reesing is a great quarterback and I appreciate the Jayhawks’ success last year (my wife is a Jayhawk), but I can’t see Lawrence as more than a basketball town (and football success is probably tough when everyone’s focused on the basketball program – which likely hasn’t changed with the recent championship) and I really do think that last year was an aberration. Maybe KU will be able to maintain some momentum from last season, but I suspect that this season will be as successful as some of Mangino’s diets (okay… maybe not that bad). If KU does well this year, then I’ll concede that there’s a pattern of success and may sidle up to the KU Kool-aid. Until then, I anticipate a typically mediocre season for the Jayhawks.

As for the Longhorns, I maintain ignorant (ignorant because I haven’t gone through the rigor of identifying supporting data for this – it’s just a feeling I have) optimism that Colt was experiencing a second-year lull and should settle into his role a bit more this year.

......so accepting of this young, inexperienced defensive backfield? We’re going to start 2 freshman safeties and 3 inexperienced DBs. Even Thorpe winner M.Huff was toasted his freshman season. I’m not sure if he’s caught Wes Welker yet…........

These young guys have a ton of initial talent and abilities, but the same can be said of the Gators’ young D-backfield last season. They took 4 losses in a run-oriented SEC. We’re playing in the pass-happy Big-XII with a number of the country’s finest QBs.

These 4 bandwagons now carry too many people and threaten to topple.

Kansas – A great feel good story but the offense melted down against Mizzou in Kansas City. The offense lacks the guns for another 12 win season.

Texas Tech – A cupcake OOC schedule will push the hype beyond all proportions. Watch the fourth quarter of last year’s OU-Tech game. See the Red Raiders find themselves in a very awkward position: holding a fourth quarter lead. Tech folds against Texas, OU, and a North division opponent assuming Harrell does not get hurt. Big, big assumption.

Mizzou – Most people have already forgotten the dead brain coaching effort against Illinois. Zook will not get Zook-ed again. Look for CU or K-State to knock off Mizzou. Plus the Tigers have the Horns in Austin. Pull out any preseason write up from the Brad Smith era. Yup, Mizzou reverts to type.

OU – Mark it down. The Sooners will loose to K-State on Oct. 25. Sam Bradford appears disoriented by the black hole of sanity known as Manhattan. Need proof of OU’s mortality? Watch the loss in Lubbock to Texas Tech.

These bandwagons need people.
CU will win the North Division. Nebraska lacks the offensive talent. K-State remains inconsistent.
Texas will win the South Division. The improved defense will knock OU in the mouth on the first defensive series. The Sooners will never recover because they have gotten progressively softer during the Bob Stoops era (see TCU loss). The Texas-Tech will game will be close but but the Red Raiders cannot stop a team that can rip off 3 yards a carry. Harrell still makes terrible decisions (see losses to Mizzou and CU).

Darkhorse, out of nowhere team- Colorado. They are always tough at home, where they play Texas this year, they don’t play Oklahoma, Cody Hawkins is experienced, and Darrell Scott will be the real deal by October. The whole team is much farther up the learning curve than last year.

Runner up darkhorse- Oklahoma State. If they weren’t in the Big 12 South and have to play Texas and Oklahoma

Kansas returns to at least the earth’s atmosphere with 2 conference losses, but don’t underestimate Mangino.

Colt’s superbowl is Tech – he always steps up his game against Tech

I don’t want to get too cock y, but I think I have my head on straight when I say that a healthy Orakpo will give Chase Daniels a run for his money. Without Mizzou’s departing star center and clear leader of their O-line, Adam Spieker, I think Daniels will be having more trouble than he’s used to, giving up an int. or two and receiving some weighty hits. The strong side returns two one-year vets and the weak side is good, although I’m not sure if Monte Wyrick and Ryan Madison are still splitting time at left guard. All this to say, their line better be gelling by October 18th. I’m calling it now. Hook ‘em!
-Evan

1. Colt’s INT total isn’t the only thing that is important. Try having someone other than a DB lead the team in tackles. Try being in the top half of pass defenses in the country. Try having an offense that doesn’t depend on passing on 3rd and short, instead of moving the chains with a punishing RB. Try having a RB without fumbling issues. If Colt throws his 18 picks and we do these things last year we would have beaten OU and played for the Big 12 title.
2. Missouri, not OU, is the best team in the conference. Daniel and Maclin will go nuts again, and the defense steadily improved throughout the season. Missouri will be motivated for three reasons (1) they had a decent shot to win the Big 12 title last year save for an untimely fumble in the 4th quarter just as they were taking momentum back (2) they got stiffed in the BCS and demolished Arkansas (3) they have a motivated leader at QB. On the other hand, OU has a solid, solid offense but the defense is shaky. They break in a new secondary and have to replace Chris Lofton. Even having two standouts on the DL will not be enough, and I expect them to have trouble against teams that can protect the QB and exploit coverage downfield. OU’s defense slides slightly, but enough for them to drop a game in conference to K-State or OSU as well as the conference title game.

ad