Last Minute Football Notes

I’ll take the south over the north. Iowa State beat A&M (as I predicted last week) but Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma could all win the north and there is not a team in the north who could win the south.

Big 12 Power Rankings
1. Texas – Had a wake-up call against Oklahoma State.
2. Texas Tech – Proved to Baylor that they are not overrated.
3. Colorado – Missouri loss to Kansas puts the Buffs in control of the north.
4. OU – Peterson is back and the defense recorded nine sacks against the Huskers.
5. Iowa State – Knocking on Colorado’s door.
6. Kansas – Two wins away from a bowl game.
7. A&M – Taken behind the woodshed by Iowa State.
8. Missouri – Huge win against Nebraska followed by horrible loss to Kansas.
9. Nebraska – Callahan has got to be an embarrassment to the Huskers.
10. Kansas State – Played Colorado close.
11. Baylor – Getting shut out is never good. Bears suddenly in familiar territory.
12. Oklahoma State – Showed heart and character against Texas.

Big Game
Texas A&M @ Texas Tech

The winner of this game could finish 1st in the south (2nd is most likely) and the loser will probably finish fourth. It’s more than Texas pride on the line here; it’s a quality bowl game. Winner is looking at the Cotton or Holiday Bowl and the loser is looking at the Independence or Houston Bowl.

A&M is in trouble if…
• They are not able to pressure Hodges.
• They can’t keep Tech to third and long situations.
• They can’t run the ball to keep the clock moving.

Tech is in trouble if…
• A&M is controlling the clock.
• They can’t be two dimensional on offence.
• A&M takes the crowd out of the game.

A&M has got to be the biggest disappointment in the Big 12 this season. You have to think that Fran is making his last stand as the Aggies coach with Tech, OU and Texas left on the schedule. I just don’t see A&M winning this game on the road.
Prediction: Tech 35/A&M 21

Possible Upset
Missouri @ Colorado
I’m still trying to figure out how the Tigers lost to the Jayhawks last week. They need to bounce back and beat Colorado to keep hopes alive of winning the north. Look for the Tigers to be extra feisty in Boulder.
Prediction: Missouri 38/Colorado 31

Must Win
Kansas State @ Iowa State
The Cyclones have motion sickness from the roller coaster they have been on this season. A win in College Station last week put them right back in the mix for the north. They have to win again this week to stay in that race.
Prediction: Iowa State 24/Kansas State 10

Game No One Cares About
Nebraska @ Kansas
You get the feeling that the Huskers could tank in their season after last week’s home loss to Oklahoma. Kansas raised a lot of eye brows with a win over the Missouri Tigers. This game had so much potential five weeks ago.
Prediction: No one cares

Other Big 12 Games
Texas @ Baylor
The Longhorns had to wake up in the second half last week to come from behind to beat OSU. Don’t look for that to be the case tomorrow. Not because OSU is better than Baylor but because Texas has already received their wake-up call.
Prediction: Texas 45/Baylor 17

Big 12 teams off this weekend:
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State