Colorado

Big 12 Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:38:45 -0500

While Kansas may be too much for the rest of the Big 12 too handle, no league features as many intriguing individual stars (young & old) on a nightly basis. Arguably the best conference in the country.

Conference Rank: 2nd

10 year average: 5th

Big 12 Page

All-BIG 12 Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Sherron Collins	Kansas	Sr
G	Willie Warren	Oklahoma	So
G	James Anderson	Oklahoma St	Jr
F	Craig Brackins	Iowa State	Jr
C	Cole Aldrich	Kansas	Jr
Second Team
G	Denis Clemente	Kansas St	Sr
G	Avery Bradley	Texas	Fr
G	Xavier Henry	Kansas	Fr
F	Damion James	Texas	Sr
C	Bryan Davis	Texas A&M	Sr

Player of the Year - Sherron Collins Freshman of the Year - Avery Bradley
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Cole Aldrich (1st Team) Sherron Collins (1st) Willie Warren (3rd) James Anderson (4th) Craig Brackins (4th) Avery Bradley Denis Clemente Damion James All-Freshman Team Avery Bradley (1st) Xavier Henry (1st) Keith Gallon (2nd) Jordan Hamilton (3rd) Tommy Mason-Griffin (3rd) Wally Judge		Points: Craig Brackins 20.2 Rebounds: Cole Aldrich 11.1 Assists: John Roberson 6.4 Team: Missouri 81.5

Big 12 Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

1	Kansas	Big 12	1	NCAA
5	Texas	Big 12	2	NCAA
25	Kansas State	Big 12	3	NCAA
29	Texas A&M	Big 12	4	NCAA
35	Oklahoma State	Big 12	5	NCAA
37	Oklahoma	Big 12	6	NCAA
49	Missouri	Big 12	7	NCAA
58	Baylor	Big 12	8	NIT
77	Iowa State	Big 12	9	NIT
107	Nebraska	Big 12	10	CBI/CIT
130	Texas Tech	Big 12	11
170	Colorado	Big 12	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Big 12?

Other Big 12 Content

Big 12 Fantasy Stats Preview

Big 12: Top 25 Players

Big 12: Five Year Ranking l

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Big 12 Basketball: Top 25 Players

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:42:19 -0500

Ranking players is more art then science. How do you compare the potential of freshmen with seniors who have already peaked? How much does physical talent come into play versus intangibles and experience? How big a role do numbers play?

In some situations, the bigger challenge is deciding what position to list a player. College basketball is filled with combo guards, wings who can play from the 2 to 4, centers who are really power forwards, and so on.

All of these questions make lists like this fun and debatable.. if you disagree with CHN's rankings, post what you think below.

BIG 12

PG
1. Sherron Collins - Kansas
2. Denis Clemente - Kansas State
3. Tommy Mason-Griffin - Oklahoma
4. Donald Sloan - Texas A&M
5. John Roberson - Texas Tech

SG
1. James Anderson - Oklahoma State
2. Willie Warren - Oklahoma
3. LaceDarius Dunn - Baylor
4. Cory Higgins - Colorado
5. Avery Bradley - Texas

- This is a talented set of guards overall. Warren might be the best pro prospect of the bunch, but he's still improving. Collins is one of the front-runners for national Player of the Year. Higgins is an underrated performer for Colorado.

SF
1. Damion James - Texas
2. Mike Singletary - Texas Tech
3. Obi Muonelo - Oklahoma State
4. Kim English - Missouri
5. Marqus Gilstrap - Iowa State

PF
1. Craig Brackins - Iowa State
2. Marcus Morris - Kansas
3. Gary Johnson - Texas
4. Keith Gallon - OKlahoma
5. Jamar Samuels - Kansas State

C
1. Cole Aldrich - Kansas
2. Dexter Pittman - Texas
3. Bryan Davis - Texas A&M
4. Ekpe Udoh - Baylor
5. Christopher Niemann - Nebraska

- Compared to some other leagues, the Big 12's big man crop is impressive, though the wing position isn't quite as strong. Freshman Jordan Hamilton of Texas might have more pure talent then any other SF in the league, but it might take him time to become a top-level performer.

-- SEC Top 25 Players

-- Pac-10 Top 25 Players

-- Big Ten Top 25 Players

-- Big East Top 25 Players

Big 12 Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:14:50 -0500

BIG 12 FIVE-YEAR STANDINGS

CHN's annual 5-year ranking answers a simple question is in a simple manner: Who has been the best team in the Big 12 over the last five years?

Teams get points for league wins, making the postseason (NIT or NCAA) and winning games in the Big Dance. NIT wins are meaningless here, as are non-conference wins. Also, league tournaments wins are not taken into account. (An original trial-scoring system included points for conference tourney wins. But the flukish nature of these tourney's did more harm than hurt: ie, 2008 Georgia, 2006 Syracuse, and 2004 Maryland ended up getting too much credit despite the reality that they were mediocre to sub-par teams.)

100 total points is set up to be the equivalent of batting .300 in baseball.. anything above and beyond is all-world stuff. 50 points is mediocre and you only start to get bad below 40 points.

Pos.	Was	Team	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	Wins	Gms.	Points

1	1	Kansas	12	13	14	13	14	66	80	83	Win %
			1st Round	1st Round	Elite 8	Champs	Sweet 16			30	Post Pts.
										113

2	2	Texas	9	13	12	13	9	56	80	70	Win %
			1st Round	Elite 8	2nd Round	Elite 8	2nd Round			26	Post Pts.
										96

3	5	Oklahoma	12	11	6	9	13	51	80	64	Win %
			2nd Round	1st Round	X	2nd Round	Elite 8			18	Post Pts.
										82

4	6	Texas A&M	8	10	13	8	9	48	80	60	Win %
			NIT	2nd Round	Sweet 16	2nd Round	2nd Round			19	Post Pts.
										79

5	3	Okla. State	11	6	6	7	9	39	80	49	Win %
			Sweet 16	NIT	NIT	NIT	2nd Round			13	Post Pts.
										62

6	7	Kansas St	6	6	10	10	9	41	80	51	Win %
			X	X	Nit	2nd Round	NIT			6	Post Pts.
										57

7	4	Texas Tech	10	6	9	7	3	35	80	44	Win %
			Sweet 16	2nd Round	1st Round	X	X			12	Post Pts.
										56

8	8	Missouri	7	5	7	6	12	37	80	46	Win %
			NIT	X	X	X	Elite 8			9	Post Pts.
										55

9	10	Nebraska	7	7	6	7	8	35	80	44	Win %
			X	NIT	X	NIT	NIT			3	Post Pts.
										47

10	9	Iowa St	9	6	6	4	4	29	80	36	Win %
			2nd Round	X	X	X	X			4	Post Pts.
										40

11	12	Baylor	1	4	4	9	5	23	80	29	Win %
			X	X	X	1st Round	NIT			3	Post Pts.
										32

12	11	Colorado	4	9	3	3	1	20	80	25	Win %
			X	NIT	X	X	X			1	Post Pts.
										26

Was = Last year's rankig

-Ties are broken by favoring conference winning %

Big 12 Thoughts

- Texas Tech continues to tumble down the ranking after a weak 3-win season.

- Texas A&M is comfortably in 4th. They've made the 2nd round of the tourney 4 years in a row, something that only Texas can also claim.

- Kansas has won 83% of Big 12 games, one of the best rates of any BCS team.

Postseason Points

NIT = 1

NCAA 1st Round = 2

NCAA 2nd Round = 4

Sweet = 6

Elite 8 = 8

Final Four = 10

Final = 11

Champs = 12

Other 5-Year Rankings

ACC

Poll: Who Will Win the Big 12?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:48 -0400

Big 12 Basketball: Fantasy Preview

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:48:34 -0400

This is the 2nd of six fantasy stats projections of BCS conference starters. One of my favorite series of the year, and a helpful guide when drafting for fantasy college basketball leagues. For an idea of whether I know what I'm talking about, check out last year's Big 12 Stats Projection. As always, some teams were nailed better then others.. Baylor & Texas A&M were rock solid, Kansas though was particularly weak (underestimated both Collins & Aldrich.)

Keep in mind stats are highly dependent on minutes, and freshmen are obviously the hardest to predict. I try to note places below where other starters not listed may emerge. Stats are listed by ppg, rpg, and then apg.

BIG 12

BAYLOR

G Tweety Carter - 13, 4, 4
G LaceDarius Dunn - 17, 5, 1

G Nolan Dennis - 10, 3, 2
F Quincy Acy - 11, 6, 1

F Ekpe Udoh - 10, 7, 1

Notes: I don't expect Dunn's ppg to rise that much as Baylor should be a more well-rounded team this year. Udoh never averaged more than 6 ppg at Michigan, but should do better than that.

COLORADO

G Cory Higgins - 19, 6, 4
G Nate Tomlinson - 8, 4, 4
G Dwight Thorne II - 12, 4, 3
F Austin Dufault - 12, 5, 1
C Shane Harris-Tunks - 9, 7, 1

Notes: Higgins quietly put up big time numbers last year and could be one of the Big 12's top fantasy guys. Expect Dufault's game to take a step forward.

IOWA STATE

G Diante Garrett - 10, 3, 6
G Lucca Staiger - 12, 3, 3
F Craig Brackins - 19, 11, 1

F Marquis Gilstrap - 13, 6, 2
F Jamie Vanderbeken - 9, 5, 1

Notes: Brackins put up 20 ppg last year, but I expect his scoring to come down a bit as his surrounding cast improves. Gilstrap, a Juco transfer, could put up some of the best numbers from any newcomer.

KANSAS
G Sherron Collins - 18, 4, 7

G Tyshawn Taylor - 11, 3, 3
G Xavier Henry - 14, 5, 3
F Marcus Morris - 9, 6, 1
F Cole Aldrich - 17, 10, 1

Notes: Xavier Henry is the big-time recruit who should help take the pressure off of Collins to score. Markieff Morris should also put up worthwhile numbers off the bench.

KANSAS STATE

G Jacob Pullen - 15, 3, 4
G Denis Clemente - 16, 3, 5

F Dominque Sutton - 9, 6, 1
F Jamar Samuels - 12, 6, 1
F Wally Judge - 9, 6, 1

Notes: Samuels could be the team's most improved fantasy performer from last year. Judge is a heralded freshman, but don't expect him to blow up the stat sheet.

MISSOURI

G Zaire Taylor - 10, 4, 5

G Kim English - 13, 3, 2
G JT Tiller - 11, 3, 4
F Keith Ramsey - 7, 5, 1
F Justin Safford - 9, 6, 2

Notes: English's production could double now that he moves into the starting 5. Safford showed off his range in the post-season, but he'll certainly have his off nights.

NEBRASKA

G Lance Jeter - 7, 4, 3
G Sek Henry - 9, 3, 3
G Ryan Anderson - 11, 4, 3
G Toney McCray - 9, 4, 2
F Christopher Niemann - 11, 6, 1

Notes: Anderson's scoring has actually dropped each year, but I expect a bounce-back senior campaign. Niemann is a newcomer who sat out last season, but will be expected to contribute from day one.

OKLAHOMA

G Tommy Mason-Griffin - 10, 3, 7

G Willie Warren - 17, 4, 4
G Tony Crocker - 12, 4, 2
F Keith Gallon - 10, 7, 2
F Orlando Allen - 7, 5, 1

Notes: Warren should be helped by the addition of Mason-Griffin, a pg who can distribute the ball. "Tiny" Gallon has huge potential, but might not hit his statistical stide until next season.

OKLAHOMA STATE

G Ryan Penn - 7, 2, 4
G James Anderson - 20, 6, 3
G Obi Muonelo - 15, 8, 2
F - Marshall Moses - 10, 7, 1

F - Matt Pilgrim - 8, 5, 1

Notes: Eaton's departure leaves a big hole at PG. Penn is not a lock starter, as he'll face competition for those minutes. Without many other options, Anderson could be the Big 12's scoring leader.

TEXAS

G Avery Bradley - 12, 3, 3
G Jai Lucas - 9, 4, 4
F Damion James - 17, 10, 2
F Gary Johnson - 12, 8, 1
C Dexter Pittman - 13, 9, 1

Notes: Justin Mason, who started last year, could return to the starting lineup, relegating Johnson to the 6th man role. Texas has another viable fantasy option off the bench in Jordan Hamilton, a wing who can really score the ball.

TEXAS A&M

G Donald Sloan - 14, 4, 5
G Derrick Roland - 8, 3, 3
G BJ Holmes - 10, 3, 2

F David Loubeau - 10, 7, 1
F Bryan Davis - 13, 8, 1

Notes: Loubeau only played 14 mpg last year, but should see double the time now that Elonu moves on. Davis' numbers should be right there with just about every big-man in the league besides Aldrich.

TEXAS TECH

G John Roberson - 16, 4, 6
G Nick Okorie - 10, 3, 2
F Mike Singletary - 14, 7, 2
F Brad Reese - 11, 4, 2
F Robert Lewandowski - 10, 6, 1

Notes: Reese is a Juco newcomer known for scoring the ball. Despite a lack of notoriety, Roberson's numbers are some of the best you'll find in the backcourt.

Projected Big 12 Leaders

Top PPG
1) James Anderson (20)
2) Craig Brackins (19)
3) Cory Higgins (19)

Top RPG
1) Craig Brackins (11)
2) Cole Aldrich (10)

3) Damion James (10)

Top APG
1) Sherron Collins (7)
2) Tommy Mason-Griffin (7)

3) Diante Garrett/John Roberson (6)

Fantasy Stats Preview Archive

- ACC

Cheerleader of the Day: Colorado

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:43:05 -0400

Each day (just about), CollegeHoops.net features a Cheerleader (or Dancer) of the Day. Today's picture is courtesy of Icon Sports Media. Check out the archive for more

-- COLORADO

More Cheerleaders!
>>		>>		>>

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

- Watch all of CHN's favorite College Basketball Videos!

Big 12 Basketball: High-Low Preview

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:35:36 -0400

Everybody loves a prediction. It's a fact. People that claim to hate sports predictions are just jealous that no one cares what they have to say (or their predictions are never right). But sometimes when making predictions, certain teams or groups of teams are truly to close to call. On CHN or in preview mags, we do our best to slot teams into specific spots, but sometimes you just want to say honestly, teams A, B, and C are virtually the same and luck will determine how they finish. You can't say that in a Top 144 ranking, but I'm saying it here in a series of High-Low predictions, which includes a range for each team's finish and a few reasons why.

(How about the high production values with that picture?..)

BIG 12 HIGH-LOW

While it's hard to see anyone knocking Kansas out of the top spot, there's a ton of parity between teams 3 through 9.

* my projected finish in yellow

BAYLOR
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
On the one hand, Baylor "seems" like a program on the rise that is on pace to finish in the upper half of the league.. on the other hand you have a 5-11 team losing almost 40 ppg worth of scoring. One of the more perplexing teams to project.

COLORADO
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
After winning just 1 game last year, Colorado has to be better. But in a league that's so talented, it's hard to expect much more then 3-4 wins. Next year, the program should finally take a step up.

IOWA STATE
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
With a star player in Craig Brackins and a coach I respect in Greg McDermott, the pieces are in place for Iowa State to surprise some people in 2010. Should be right there with likes of Mizzou and A&M fighting for the final tourney bid.

KANSAS
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
The only team in the series so far without a high-low range.. it's almost impossible to imagine Texas or anyone else taking the top spot barring a horrible injury streak.

KANSAS STATE
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
K-State has finished over .500 in league play for 3 straight seasons, a streak which should continue in 2010. For the team to have a special season, one of transfer Curtis Kelly or freshman Wally Judge will need to emerge as a legit frontcourt force.

MISSOURI
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
After three rather blah years, Mizzou broke out in a big way with an Elite 8 run last year. Now that they've lost their 3 best players, opinion differs across the board about how far the Tigers will fall.

NEBRASKA
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Nebraska usually manages to a) be slightly better then you expect, but b) still not good. On paper, this looks like a last-place contender, but yet you know they'll somehow win 6 or 7 league games.

OKLAHOMA
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
It's not easy overcoming the loss of your leading scorer, top 3 rebounders, and leading assist guy. Helping ease the pain is a top-notch recruiting class, but a slide to 6th is certainly not out of the question.

OKLAHOMA STATE
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
The Coyboys have a lot of talented players, but the big hole at PG following the graduation of Byron Eaton may prevent them from being a serious contender. Will be a bubble tourney team in the mold of A&M & Oklahoma.

TEXAS
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Outside of KU, Texas is the only Big 12 team whose front-court can compete at an elite level. It will be the impact of new guards Avery Bradley, Jai Lucas, and J'Covan Brown that determines if the Horns can make a serious March run.

TEXAS A&M
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Like the two teams above, A&M loses its best player in Josh Carter, but is still in line for a tourney bid. Even without Chinemelu Elonu, the likes of Bryan Davis and David Loubeau should more then hold their own in a league that is guard-heavy.

TEXAS TECH
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
There's no reason to expect much out of Tech this year. Their talent is sub-par and their coach has yet to prove he's capable. 4-5 league wins seems about right.

>> ACC: High-Low Preview

>> Big Ten: High-Low Preview

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Preview Interviews

Cheerleader of the Day: Colorado

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:26:23 -0400

Each day (just about), CollegeHoops.net features a Cheerleader (or Dancer) of the Day. Today's picture is courtesy of Icon Sports Media. Check out the archive for more

-- COLORADO

More Cheerleaders!
>>		>>		>>

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

- Watch all of CHN's favorite College Basketball Videos!

Thursday/Friday Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:47:10 -0400

Thursday night delivers an ACC showdown that could very well be repeated in December. Clemson (1-0) visits Atlanta to take on #15 Georgia Tech (1-0) (7:30 PM on ESPN), and it's fitting that a Yellow Jacket team that rarely gets the national spotlight plays on national television...opposite the NFL season opener. Jonathan Dwyer and company made short work of Jacksonville State last Saturday, but they'll face a defense some think may be the best in the ACC. A stat to watch tonight: turnovers, which played a significant role in last year's meeting.

In the Tigers' first game under Dabo Swinney the two teams combined for eight turnovers (six for Clemson) in the 21-17 Georgia Tech victory. Coach Paul Johnson's option attack will put the ball on the ground, a definite risk for any option offense due to the increased ballhandling responsibilities. If Kyle Parker can't take care of the football Clemson will be in trouble. The sophomore has weapons to get the ball to as well, beginning with senior running back C.J. Spiller. Spiller scored the first time he touched the football in last week's opener, taking back a kickoff 96 yards. He and Dwyer are possibilities for the Heisman and the Doak Walker, and tonight provides a national stage on which to show their wares.

Ten of the last thirteen games in this series have been decided by five points or less, meaning that there's a very good chance that this one won't be decided until late. The Yellow Jackets will likely win the time of possession battle due to their offense, but Clemson will have to do much better than their 2.1 yards per carry showing in last year's meeting. If they can run the ball with some consistency Clemson can steal one in Atlanta. But at the end of the day, Georgia Tech has the look of a better football team.

Colorado @ Toledo (Friday at 9 PM, ESPN)

Out of necessity (Miami University pulled out of a home-and-home deal to play Kentucky in Cincinnati, losing said game 42-0) the Buffaloes make the voyage east to the Glass Bowl in hopes of rebounding from their loss to in-state rival Colorado State. The two have never met on the football field, and given what Purdue was able to do against the Rockets Colorado QB Cody Hawkins could be in for a good night. Colorado also has options in the backfield thanks to the presence of backs Demetrius Sumler, and Rodney Stewart.

Purdue did whatever they wanted on the ground last weekend, rushing for 315 yards (8.1 yards per carry) in beating Toledo by three touchdowns. The yardage total had been reached just twice in the 12-year tenure of the retired Joe Tiller. The Buffs were a major disappointment last weekend, rushing for just twenty-nine yards on twenty-one attempts against CSU. Falling behind 14-0 early may have had something to do with that, but truth be told there's no excuse given the talent in the Colorado backfield. If CU comes out lethargic against Toledo they'll be in trouble once again.

Tim Beckman's Rockets can put some points up on the board and QB Aaron Opelt threw for 435 yards last weekend, so Colorado should be on notice. Toledo has the ability to get things done through the air, and the rushing game may prove to be better than it showed last week provided they not fall behind 21-0. Colorado won't be as explosive through the air, making it imperative that they run the ball effectively. Look for Coach Hawkins' team to survive a tough road test. If they don't, the heat under his chair gets turned up a bit.

The Ultimate Schedule: Big 12 North

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:00:31 -0400

Big 12 Schedule “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (three against the South Division)

- Big 12 Championship Game

Week 1: Missouri vs. Illinois (September 5^th in St. Louis)

These two rivals will once again get together in St. Louis, but there’s a little more urgency for both fan bases since next year’s meeting will signal the end of the series for the time being. The Tigers have won the last two, but some of the key offensive figures in those wins are now out of eligibility. Blaine Gabbert will make his first start as a Tiger against an Illinois team looking to redeem itself following a disappointing 5-7 2008. Both teams will step onto the field with something to prove; it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Other Game Considered: Colorado State @ Colorado (9/6)

Week 2: Iowa @ Iowa State (September 12^th)

Despite how poorly the Cyclones have played the last two seasons the battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy is usually a spirited one. But despite a dismal 5-19 overall record the departed Gene Chizik did leave with a split of two games with the Hawkeyes. New head coach Paul Rhoads takes over the rebuilding project with ISU back in the familiar role of underdog. In this series the Cyclones have won seven of the last eleven with the most recent triumph coming in Ames on a last-second field goal in 2007. Not much is expected of Austen Arnaud and company while Iowa is expected by many to finish in the top half of the Big Ten. Another upset? In rivalry games you never know.

Other Game Considered: Kansas @ UTEP (9/12)

Week 3: Nebraska @ Virginia Tech (September 19^th)

Last season’s meeting was a barnburner in Lincoln, with the eventual ACC champions leaving with a 35-30 victory. Unfortunately for Nebraska the defeat was the first of three straight losses (Missouri and Texas Tech), but in closing their season 6-1 the Cornhuskers have shown that they’re close to turning the corner under Bo Pelini. A win in Blacksburg, one of the nation’s toughest places to play as a visitor, would be a sure sign that Nebraska is well on their way “back”.

Zac Lee will be facing his first significant road test, but I-backs Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille have the talent needed to take some of the pressure off of the signal-caller. Defense and special teams will also be important if the Huskers are to prevail; if Tech QB Tyrod Taylor is allowed to run roughshod it will be a long day for Nebraska. All in all this is a very good test for a team hoping to win the North Division.

Other Games Considered: Kansas State @ UCLA (9/19), Duke @ Kansas (9/19)

Week 4: Bye Week (September 26^th)

Southern Miss visiting Kansas and Missouri visiting Nevada would be good games to take in, but will either be as tough a test as Colorado visiting West Virginia on October 1^st? No other matchups on the slate for this weekend have as much appeal, so it’s a good time to take a week to recharge the batteries.

Week 5: Colorado @ West Virginia (October 1^st)

The 17-14 overtime win for the Buffs last September was thought by some to be a sign that head coach Dan Hawkins had Colorado headed back towards the top of the Big 12 North. But CU was plagued by inconsistent play in just about every phase of the game and was unable to mount a serious challenge within the division. Now they hit the road to take on a team that’s undergoing a bit of a transformation.

Noel Devine is still in Morgantown but Pat White isn’t, leaving the quarterbacking duties to Jarrett Brown. Brown is 2-0 as a starter and saw time in other games due to the occasional injuries suffered by White. In front of a wild crowd the Buffaloes will need a big game from their triumvirate of running backs (Demetrius Sumler, Darrell Scott and Rodney Stewart) along with some big plays from a receiving corps that currently lacks a proven big play threat.

Other Game Considered: Iowa State vs. Kansas State (10/3 in Kansas City)

Week 6: Nebraska @ Missouri (October 8^th)

Despite the fact that the North Division race looks to be wide-open among the top three, Nebraska’s trip to Columbia could be an eliminator for the loser. The Tigers embarrassed the Huskers in Lincoln last season, picking up their first win at Nebraska since 1978. But Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman are all gone, as is then-offensive coordinator Dave Christiansen. The Tigers will need to have some playmakers emerge, and the hope for head coach Gary Pinkel is that he will have found some answers by this point in the season.

Nebraska will look to improve defensively, having given up more than four hundred yards of total offense in just three quarters in last season’s meeting. The winner goes a long way in cementing its spot in the divisional race, while the loser finds itself in an uphill battle.

Other Games Considered: Colorado @ Texas (10/10), Kansas State @ Texas Tech (10/10)

Week 7: Texas Tech @ Nebraska (October 17^th)

Last season’s meeting ended up being much closer than many expected it to be, with the Red Raiders having to squeak out a 37-31 overtime victory in Lubbock. New quarterback Taylor Potts should be well-tested by the time the trip to Lincoln rolls around, having already faced Texas in Austin in mid-September. Head coach Mike Leach has the ability to simply plug in someone at quarterback and they throw up a 4,000 yard season. If Nebraska’s front four can get to Potts in a fashion similar to what Ole Miss and Oklahoma were able to do last season their chances at a win improve substantially. If you allow Potts to sit back and find guys at his own pace you’re in for a long afternoon, so the onus is on Ndamukong Suh and company to make sure he’s rushed.

Other Games Considered: Missouri @ Oklahoma State (10/17), Kansas @ Colorado (10/17)

Week 8: Texas @ Missouri (October 24^th)

Let’s just say that there won’t be many teams happier to see the end of October than the Missouri Tigers. Their schedule is brutal, with a visit from Nebraska followed by Oklahoma State, Texas and a trip to Boulder on Halloween. But back to the Longhorns, who visit Columbia hoping to have the same level of success that they experienced in last year’s meeting. Chase Daniel was harassed constantly and when the game ended Texas had rolled to a 56-31 triumph.

With Colt McCoy, Jordan Shipley and a host of other key contributors back on the Forty Acres 2009 could be a national championship season for head coach Mack Brown. But it’s tough to go on the road, especially when you’ve got a bull’s eye on your back, so Texas had better be ready for Missouri’s best shot. One area to watch: Missouri’s running game. Three times last season the Tigers failed to reach the 100-yard mark as a team, and they lost all three (Oklahoma State, Texas and Oklahoma).

Other Game Considered: Oklahoma @ Kansas (10/24)

Week 9: Kansas @ Texas Tech (October 31^st)

Last season’s meeting got out of hand quickly, as Graham Harrell and company steamrolled the Jayhawks 63-21 in Lawrence. Kansas should have the firepower necessary to keep up with the Red Raiders this time around, but a shootout would not be in their best interest. Defensively the Jayhawks had better show some improvement leading up to their trip to Lubbock; Texas Tech racked up twenty-nine first downs and more than four hundred yards passing in the win. What also didn’t help Kansas were five turnovers, miscues that helped spark a 49-0 run for the Red Raiders. Mark Mangino’s team knows exactly what they cannot afford to do in Lubbock if they don’t want to get embarrassed for the second consecutive season; let’s see if they can get the job done.

Other Games Considered: Nebraska @ Baylor (10/31), Missouri @ Colorado (10/31)

Week 10: Kansas @ Kansas State (November 7^th)

The battle for the Sunflower State welcomes back a familiar face in Bill Snyder, who returned to his head coaching role following a couple of disappointing seasons under Ron Prince. Last season’s meeting got off to a dreadful start for the Wildcats, falling behind 31-0 by halftime in a game that was never in doubt. Kansas State turned the ball over five times and racked up nearly one hundred yards in penalties. Discipline and attention to detail are two areas in which the Wildcats must improve if they’re to challenge the Jayhawks, much less fight for North Division supremacy.

Other Games Considered: Oklahoma @ Nebraska (11/7), Texas A&M @ Colorado (11/7)

Week 11: Nebraska @ Kansas (November 14^th)

This hasn’t been the kindest series to the Jayhawks in regards to history, but they have won each of the last two meetings in Lawrence. Two seasons ago Mark Mangino and company hung seventy-six on the Huskers, leaving many to wonder whether or not the Jayhawks took their foot off the pedal at all despite the blowout nature of the game. But that was during the disappointing Bill Callahan era; Bo Pelini’s first meeting with the Jayhawks resulted in a 45-35 Nebraska win in Lincoln last year.

Nebraska’s defense is expected to be one of the best units in the conference, thus earning their “Blackshirt” status. As for Kansas, a defense that ranked seventh in the Big 12 in total defense (and tenth against the pass) will have to buckle down in order to slow the tandem of Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille. Unlike the last two meetings in Lawrence, expect these two to go right down to the wire.

Other Games Considered: Missouri @ Kansas State (11/14), Colorado @ Iowa State (11/14)

Week 12: Kansas State @ Nebraska (November 21^st)

Had the quota for interdivisional games not been reached this would be Kansas visiting Texas in what could be a Big 12 Championship Game preview. As a result, it’s time to turn back the clock to the mid- to late-90s when the Wildcats were looking to reach the top of the Big 12. The only thing was that in Bill Snyder’s way was none other than Dr. Tom Osborne and his Nebraska Cornhuskers. Neither team has gotten back to that level as of yet, but both are working in that direction. After winning three straight in the series K-State has lost four in a row to Nebraska with the last three all being by double digit margins. Will this be a repeat of the 73-31 debacle in Lincoln two seasons ago? Wildcat fans hope not.

Other Games Considered: Kansas @ Texas (11/21), Colorado @ Oklahoma State (11/19)

Week 13: Missouri vs. Kansas (November 28^th in Kansas City)

This is one of the more heated rivalries in the nation despite the fact that it didn’t get much national attention prior to their much-ballyhooed meeting two seasons ago. Two schools that haven’t liked each other dating all the way back to the Civil War will once again meet at Arrowhead Stadium, a switch that while the designated home team isn’t happy with losing a home game cannot be argued with in terms of the boost in popularity. There wasn’t anything on the line last season besides bragging right, with the Tigers having already clinched the division.

But that didn’t stop the Jayhawks from snatching victory from the jaws of defeat late in the fourth quarter, winning 40-37. Kansas will likely come in favored thanks to the presence of offensive threats Reesing and Briscoe. A trip to the Big 12 Championship Game could be riding on the result, no matter what happens on that Friday between Nebraska and Colorado.

Other Game Considered: Nebraska @ Colorado (11/27)

Week 14: Big 12 Championship Game (December 5^th in Arlington, TX)

The pick here is that Texas will beat Nebraska and punch their ticket to the BCS National Championship Game in front of a pro-Texas crowd.