Announcement

**kbsooner21** · 08-09-2004, 07:15 PM

thanks for the good info.

**Blackbeard** · 08-10-2004, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by kbsooner21
thanks for the good info.

Happy to help, kbsooner21, heres some more big 12 info from marc lawrence for what its worth:

By Marc Lawrence

BIG 12

BAYLOR
Last year local Texas and former Kentucky head coach Guy Morriss rewarded backers in the point spread wars, reversing a 1-10 ATS effort in 2002 to a 7-4 ATS money making campaign last year. True, the offense slipped 57 YPG and the defense declined by 45 YPG, but Morriss got the job done where it counts. The youngest team in the BIG 12 last year, they faced off against eight bowl squads in 2003. Will they lift the monkey of a 32-game conference road-losing streak off their backs, or be able to improve on a pathetic 2-21 SU & 3-20 ATS home log in conference play? We don’t think so. Not until they learn to improve in the stats on both sides of the ball.
PLAY AGAINST: vs Oklahoma

COLORADO
What an ugly mess. After having witnessed no less than nine player suspensions for various team rule violations the last two years, the Buffaloes were called on the NCAA carpet. Player rape allegations have sent head coach Gary Barnett off to a shrink. Interim coach Brian Cabral tried to sound optimistic in his assessment of the situation. “There’s a lot of excitement. They’re very excited about the gains that they’ve made through the winter. Our players feel like they’re farther ahead than they we at this time last year,” he said. Huh? That’s what we’d call a classic case of coach-doublespeak. And speaking of cases, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to view Colorado football on Court TV this season. You know what they say… what happens in Boulder stays in Boulder.
PLAYON: as Dog vs Kansas State

IOWA STATE
Holy Moly. Following stellar bowl seasons each of the previous three years, Iowa State’s numbers literally fell off the map after taking on the 2nd toughest schedule in the nation in 2003. First call to detail was the hiring of Barney Cotton as the new offensive coordinator. To which head coach Dan McCarney commented, “First thing was want to get back to is running the football. Our goal is to be one of the top rushing team’s in the conference.” Defensively, six of the front seven starters return. The killer comes early on, though, as the Cyclones tackle three foes right out of the gate that won 10 games each last year. Toss in three additional opponents who combined for 30-wins and the enthusiasm quells. Remember, ISU is 0-50-2 SU against Top 5 ranked foes. Ouch-ewawa.
PLAY AGAINST: vs Oklahoma State

KANSAS
The 3rd year Mark Mangino project proved a charm when he led his team to its first bowl game in eight years. Sure, it ended on a sour note with a 56-26 wipeout loss in the Tangerine Bowl, but progress is progress however its measured. Sixteen starters and 50 lettermen return, sans star quarterback Bill Whittemore. Replacing him behind center is sophomore Adam Barmann who, when thrown into the fire because of injures last year, responded well, tossing for 564 yards and 4 TD’s in the final three games of the season. He’d better be ready as this year’s schedule borders on brutal, with eight of their eleven opponents having played in a bowl game last year. Unlike the Alamo, Year Four of the Mangino project will likely be one they’d rather not remember.
PLAY AGAINST: vs Missouri

KANSAS STATE
Krispy Kreme King or not, you’ve got to hand it to Bill Snyder. In his 15 years at the helm in Kansas State, Snyder has opposed 56 non-conference foes during the regular season, emerging victorious 49 times. Amazingly only FIVE of the 56 hyphenated-cupcakes had won more than 6 games the previous season! He’ll need to be at his best in 2004 as he inherits a team that graduated a 30-man senior class. Diminutive, quicksilver RB Darren Sproles is back, however, and that is huge as he lead the nation in rushing yardage in 2003. Barry Switzer says, “Snyder isn’t coach of the decade. He’s the coach of the century.” Hard to argue when you take over a team that once rode a 1-36-1 stretch in the 1980’s to one that is 120-38-1 since. Now that’s impressive.
PLAY AGAINST: as Fav vs Texas A&M

MISSOURI
The Tigers knew what they were doing when they hired Gary Pinkel from Toledo three years ago. Thanks to his strong coaching principles and recruiting abilities, he program is certainly on the rise. It should come as no surprise considering disciplinary task master Pinkel was also a 12-year assistant under Don James in his glory years at Washington. Last year he helped the Tigers win eight games for the first time since 1980 (only the 4th time since 1960). Flashy junior QB Brad Smith returns, leading a rushing offense that finished #6 in the nation in 2003. Smith is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate who led an offense that was #1 in the nation in turnovers last year (13 in 13 games), and has himself been intercepted only 13 times in 716 pass attempts. Beware of the Tiger.
PLAY ON: vs Baylor

NEBRASKA
As legendary singer Bob Dylan once said, ‘the times, they are a changing’. It was never made so clear than when Bill Callahan was hired away from the Oakland Raiders to assume the duties at Nebraska. In his three-year tenure the Raiders went from the NFL’s #1 ranked team in rushing to the #1 ranked team in passing. And so it will be in Lincoln. That became evident in the spring game when new QB Joe Daily attempted 16 passes – in the first quarter! (Note: the Huskers averaged 15 pass attempts a game last season). In an interesting sidebar, only four other college coaches have gone back to the college scene winning Super Bowl rings – Bill Walsh, Forrest Gregg, Bobby Ross (this year at Army) and Callahan. Like a rolling stone, this team shall gather no moss.
PLAY ON: vs Kansas State

OKLAHOMA
The most successful team in college football this decade, winners of 48 games since 2000 (two more than the Miami Florida), played as the #1 ranked team in polls all throughout the 2003 season up until the Big 12 championship game. They bring 10 starters back from an offense that ranked #3 in the nation in scoring last year, including Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jason White (granted a 6th year of eligibilty). The loss of defensive coordinator Mark Stoops (head coach Bob’s brother) to Arizona could prove troublesome, though, as they open the season against a string of eight consecutive fellow bowlers. Amazingly, Stoops’ troops are 30-4 SU in head-to-head games against other fellow bowlers this decade. They’ve also held 26 of 31 foes to 17 or less points in home games under his guide. Yeah, we’re impressed.
PLAY ON: vs Kansas State

OKLAHOMA STATE
There’s a new Cowboy on the block n the Big12 and he’s demanding respect. Deservedly so, may we add, as this team has improved each and every year under head coach Les Miles. Two seasons ago he became the first coach in OSU history to defeat both Nebraska and Texas A&M in the same season, while also knocking off Oklahoma. Loaded with no less than 18 returning starters from last year’s nine-win team, OSU now needs to step it up defensively if they are serious about commanding the esteem they crave. If they can’t it will at least help knowing they’ll field an offense that score more than 38 points nine different times last season. Facing only one winning team among their first six opponents affords them such an opportunity. Be there early before the shootouts begin.

TEXAS
Senior RB Cedric Benson, the only running back to rush for 1,000 or more yards each of the last three seasons, QB Vince Young, Big 12 Freshman of the Year and LB Derrick Johnson, Mel Kiper’s pick as the top choice in the 2005 NFL draft, form a solid nucleus. The downer, however, is the loss of 19 seniors from that squad. The Longhorns have really come to appreciate all that Mack Brown has brought to Austin. Despite the fact he is 4-9 in bowl games, Big 12 title games and against Oklahoma, he is 54-9 in all other games. He’s also the only active coach with nine or more wins eight straight seasons. He is 32-3 at Royal-Texas Stadium (average 38-14 score) and his teams have been ranked 60 consecutive weeks. Enough said.
PLAY ON; vs Arkansas (Key if Arkansas off win)

TEXAS A&M
It was a rather rude awakening for Dennis Franchione in his debut season with the Aggies last year. Accustomed of late to winning, Franchione took it on the chops when his troops dropped eight of their final ten games to conclude the season. In the process the defense slipped almost 100 yards from the previous year. A&M’s last winning season (2001) saw the defense yield just 285 YPG, a long cry from last year’s effort. He’ll need to make the shoring up of this unit PRIORITY ONE if they wish to turn the corner any time soon. Good news, though, was the emergence of QB Reggie McNeal, an athletic playmaker. He’ll combine with sophomore Courtney Lewis, the first Aggie running back to gain more than 1,000 yards since 1998. A reversal of last year’s 2-10 ATS log wouldn’t surprise.
PLAY ON: as Dog vs Oklahoma
PLAY ON: vs UCLA

TEXAS TECH
Two years ago head coach Mike Leach lost QB Kliff Kingsbury, who set 17 NCAA records and tied three others. This year he loses QB B.J. Symons hwo shattered Ty Detmer’s NCAA record when he tossed for 5,833 passing yards last year. The fact of the matter is Leach’s ‘system’ will plug in another arm (likely senior Sonny Cumbie) and continue it’s assault on any and all victioms in 2004. They lead the nation in passing and total offense in 2003. More important, though, was the improvement of the defense down the stretch of the season. During the first eight games they ranked 117th in the country, allowing 504 YPG. In the final five games they surrendered just 373 YPG. That, to us, holds more promise than another offensive blitzkrieg. Let’s see how it all shakes out.
PLAY ON: vs Oklahoma State

**Blackbeard** · 08-24-2004, 04:50 PM

just thought i'd bump this thread up for anyone who missed it the first time

Announcement

Big 12 Conference Preview

Big 12 Conference Preview

Comment

Comment

Comment