Big 12 North Predictions and Power Rankings (Week 10)

Kansas really did look better last week despite dropping a third consecutive, very disappointing home game to Tech.

The offense is putty, while the defense keeps looking better and better, but it cannot be expected to hold on for entire games while the backfield limps around and the wideouts drop passes.

The prediction here? Give me a few more slides to think about it; I don't want to ruin it for you...

It's hard to put the Buffalo above the Hawks, but I promised myself I'd look at Big 12 play only from here on out, and Colorado still sports the bigger win of the two.

However, Colorado still looks as nasty as ever right now. Tyler Hansen doesn't throw picks like Cody Hawkins, but mobile quarterbacks are supposed to relieve pressure, aren't they?

The running game isn't producing for them right now either, which I still think is their strongest weapon.

Things won't get any better this week as A&M comes to town. In fact, give me a 34-20 win for Jerrod Johnson and his surging Aggies.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Missouri's rough early Big 12 schedule might prepare them for the stretch, and it looks like they may have picked the perfect time to start playing better football.

Sure, it was only a victory against Colorado, but Missouri played well enough to show me that they're not quite done yet.

Gary Pinkel and company have a great opportunity to keep things rolling this week as a reeling Baylor squad comes to town, and they could still give themselves an outside shot at the North title too.

Give me the Tigers 38-17 in a bad one for the Baylor Bears.

Paul Rhoads' team has looked surprisingly respectable this season, but last week showed me that Iowa State just isn't quite ready to contend for much in the Big 12.

Missouri is playing better football right now, but I'll give the Cyclones a break, as this may be the last time they see this half of the rankings.

This week, an fiery Zac Robinson brings his Oklahoma State Cowboys to Ames, Iowa, and I don't like the outlook for the young Cyclones. Give me OSU in another rout, 41-21.

Nebraska should be the best team in the Big 12 North right now, but a win by 10 points, even in Waco, just isn't what I expected as a rebound from that nasty Iowa State game.

The defense has still looked very solid in recent weeks. However, it will take an entire team effort to beat the Sooners, who, for the first time in what seems like ever, may just be a little underrated.

Landry Jones is looking more and more comfortable under center, and even though the defense didn't play well against Kansas State, they gave Jones the only opportunities he needed.

I expect a very similar victory for the Sooners in their venture to Lincoln this Saturday, 38-31.

Bill Snyder should be proud of his team's efforts against what is still a very good Oklahoma football team. I'm sure he is, too, but Snyder has taken well to losing.

This week, Snyder and Daniel Thomas welcome the Jayhawks in the Sunflower Showdown. I know I've already said it, but this game should be a doozy.

If Kansas wins, they get back on track and remain in the Big 12 North title hunt, while Kansas State would find themselves in a sticky situation with only five wins while Mizzou and Nebraska remain on the schedule.

On the other hand, if Kansas State wins, they could be sitting high above the rest of the North next week, especially if Nebraska loses, with only two games to go.

It would then be Kansas trying to scratch a bowl-eligibility win and salvage a season out of Texas, Nebraska, and Missouri.

All right, Kansas State fans, get ready to point fingers, but I'm picking Kansas.

Kansas State is a really well-coached team and has been playing very solid football week in and week out.

However, Kansas is still far more talented, and if the defense can continue playing well, I am positive that the offense will step up sooner or later.

Call it bias, denial, or whatever you want, but I'm going to say that it starts happening this week.

In the game of the entire year in the Big 12 North, give me Kansas in overtime, 38-34.

I'm going for broke here, but I promise I'm prepared to take plenty of heat for this, especially if the Jayhawks let down again. Either way, I think we're all going to enjoy watching this game.