Big 12 North Predictions and Power Rankings (Week Eight)

Iowa State really isn't that bad. In fact, they looked really good against Kansas and even snatched a win at home against Baylor.

Then again, who doesn't these days?

This week, though, they face a Nebraska team that plays as well as any in the country when rebounding from a loss. Don't forget, they have to travel to Lincoln to do so.

I don't like Robinson and Co.'s chances against such a dominant front four, and think this one ends 16-35 in Nebraska's favor, if not a little worse.

Poor Missouri has faced as tough a schedule as there is so far in Big 12 play.

Losing at Stillwater is not something to be ashamed of, and Nebraska is obviously very talented as well.

Still, the lack of performance in second halves has to concern Gary Pinkel a lot.

Unfortunately for Missouri, things don't get any better this week. Texas has to come to Columbia, but I'm not sure that makes much difference.

However, maybe the recent schedule has toughened the Tigers up a bit, because I have a strange feeling that they'll at least play close in this one, losing something like 21-28.

It's difficult to put the Hawks here. Last week their defense played better, they made a valiant comeback, and they still have the best record in the North.

However, they still have yet to string together a complete game against a quality opponent and are currently tied in Big 12 play with Colorado, and lost the head-to-head tie-breaker with the Buffaloes.

I have a great feeling about the Jayhawks this week, though. They stayed close to OU in Norman last year and are playing the Sooners at the right time this season.

I expect Mangino's defensive changes to show through (just enough) in a 38-34 overtime thriller.

Congratulations, Dan Hawkins. You may not have saved your entire season, but your quarterback (the one who is not your son) has essentially put it in the right direction.

At the beginning of the season, I felt this team was capable of winning games, and I still believe so. In fact, this team has an outside shot at a bowl bid, believe it or not.

They need to get through this week, though, and KSU has been no pushover.

Maybe I'm in KU denial, but I think the Buffs take this one 24-17 in Manhattan.

Congratulations to Bill Snyder as well. I still have very little faith in this under-manned team, but the Wildcats are playing scrappy football and sneaking up on people, which is probably exactly what Snyder had in mind.

The best part? That loss to a very underrated Texas Tech team is starting to look a little less nasty, and may have been the perfect treatment for the Cats.

Then again, maybe not. Texas A&M is not nearly as good as I thought they were, and I expect that to become evident when Colorado does, in fact, beat Bill Snyder and Co. at home.

Nebraska has done what nearly every team in the Big 12 North has done or will do at some point this season...

Badly disappointed everyone.

I realize that Tech is underrated, and that match-ups weren't in Bo Pelini's favor.

However, great teams find a way to compensate and overcome, and I'm no longer convinced that Nebraska is a great team; at the very least, they are certainly not "back." (Sorry, Josh Klein.)

This being said, they are still the best team in the North, and the best thing they can do for themselves right now is take care of business at home, then move on to next week.

Ndamukong Suh, Barry Turner, Jared Crick, and Pierre Allen will make sure there are no surprises this weekend.