2009-2010 Conference Outlook: Big 12

The 2009-2010 Conference Outlook will be a small preview of every conference in NCAA Division 1 Football. It will go over different categories regarding this season.

Second up, Big 12.

Best Team: Texas Longhorns. Is this a toss-up between them and the Sooners? Absolutely not. After all the Longhorns went through, they deserve this pick at the least.

When you beat Oklahoma head to head and end up with the same record as they did, but still don't make the Championship game, there is something wrong. We all know that already so let's just settle this debate by giving Texas the preseason edge. As long as McCoy plays like last year they will be fine.

Worst Team: Like the SEC, this is a difficult choice. Again, there are no bad teams in the Big 12. Oh wait, there is one: the Cyclones of Iowa State. After an 0-8 record in the Big 12 a year ago, this year doesn't look too good.

The Cyclones just have nothing going for them. They rushed for 1,661 yards last year as a whole, and with just a decent passing game to balance that out they can't get it done. Then again, without a very difficult schedule, maybe they could squeak a few more wins than a year ago. Not that that will be difficult, because they only had two.

Surprise/Sleeper Team: On the North side of the Big 12 I don't believe there is any potential for a sleeper team, so as I searched on the south side I wondered: is Oklahoma State considered a "sleeper" team?

I pondered this question and I found my answer. With Texas and Oklahoma on top, the Cowboys are indeed a sleeper team. They are coming into the season ranked, but I think they have the potential for a Championship run, and that would be very surprising. That is why I have selected them for this category.

With 3,000 yard passer Zac Robinson returning and his favorite target 1,000 yard receiver Dez Bryant also returning, if the Cowboys make it past Georgia on September 5th, look out because they will be for real.

Disappointing Team: Not that anything big is expected of the Red Raiders, but after such a successful season in 2008, I think they will be looking for some of the same in 2009. The problem is they won't get it.

No Graham Harrel and Michael Crabtree equals not nearly as much success as last year. Look for Texas Tech to have a decent year, but not as good a year as last year, and that may disappoint some people.

Shocking Upset: Who will be 2008's Texas Tech? Who will throw it up to Crabtree with seconds left to beat No. 1 Texas? Well, no one, unless Crabtree goes back to college. 

Who will shock the Big 12 in 2009? Sadly, I think it will be Texas again this year who falls. And it will be Oklahoma State on Halloween in Stillwater. Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant certainly remind me of Crabtree and Harrel, and the Cowboys as a whole certainly resemble 2008's Red Raiders. At home, the Cowboys will do what Texas Tech did again. Sorry Longhorns, but it seems like its going to be deja vu on October 31st. 

Best Player Offense: QB Sam Bradford Sr. Oklahoma, QB Colt McCoy Sr. Texas Longhorns—I have to pick the both of them because, in all fairness, Bradford won the Heisman, but McCoy does it all. I'm just going to leave it at that, and get back to you come December at Radio City Music Hall.

Best Player Defense: DT Ndamukong Suh Sr. Nebraska—By being named to the preseason All Big-12 team, and leading conference lineman in 2008 with 76 tackles, Suh is my pick. The reason he has the slight edge over some other defenders in the conference is his senior leadership. Suh and the Cornhuskers may do some good things this year.

Surprise/Sleeper Player Offense: WR Dezmon Briscoe Jr. Kansas—With other skill players like Kendall Hunter, Jermaine Gresham, Dez Bryant, and Jordan Shipley, Briscoe is quiet among them. The main reason is that he comes from a mediocre Jayhawk team.

I believe Briscoe will have an even bigger year than last year, where he totaled over 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns receiving. Dezmon will surprise some NFL scouts this year and the rest of the NCAA football world.

Surprise/Sleeper Player Defense: LB Joe Pawelek Sr. Baylor—The Senior linebacker was a tackling machine for the Bears last year, and he will need to be a machine again this year in order for Baylor to get it done on defense. Offensively, the Bears are explosive with Robert Griffin at quarterback, so defensively Pawelek will look to frighten opposing QBs and balance out the Bears team.

Big 12 North Champion: Kansas Jayhawks—With a Mizzou team that doesn't have the players to produce like in recent years, it's the Jayhawks' turn to get it done. Although with teams on the rise like Nebraska and Colorado, it will be a tough road. In the end with QB Todd Reesing returning for his final year, he will lead them to the Championship.

Big 12 South Champion: Texas Longhorns—This is by far one of the most difficult picks in the entire 2009-2010 Conference Outlook, but if they go untouched the Longhorns will be in the Big 12 Championship. It will be one of the toughest roads yet for any Big 12 South team, with Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and even Texas Tech in their way.

Look for Texas to most likely beat them all and go undefeated.

Big 12 Championship Game: Texas Longhorns vs. Kansas Jayhawks—As always, the South will dominate. In recent years, it's been ugly for the North. No one matches up with the Sooners, Cowboys, or the Longhorns, so clearly I'm giving Texas the edge.

The Big 12 should be just as competitive as any conference in the NCAA, hopefully just as dominant and competitive as the SEC, because that will make for a wild National Championship Game. Next up on Conference Outlook: ACC.