Big 12 Power Rankings and Predictions: Week Two

The Big 12 kicked off the 2009 season in style, as the only two teams to lose out of the 12 were Colorado and surprisingly, Oklahoma.

The biggest surprise of the week was indubitably the 37-9 spanking the Missouri Tigers put on the Fighting Illini of Illinois. Coming into the season there was a popular consensus among those in most Big 12 circles that Missouri would most likely take a step back this year. Boy were we wrong.

Other Notable Performances Included:

The Baylor Bears getting their first non-conference road win of the season in an impressive debut vs. Wake Forest in which they won 24-21. The Bears snapped a nine game road losing streak which dated back to a 34-21 win at Buffalo a year ago.

Fresh off their highest preseason ranking ever, the Oklahoma State Cowboys unveiled newly renovated Boone T. Pickens Stadium in style, as they beat SEC foe Georgia, 24-10 in front of a sold out crowd.

This was a much needed win for the Big 12 as far as the national perspective of the conference goes, as the Oklahoma Sooners fell to the Cougars of BYU, 14-13.

Let's look at some of the outstanding performers of week one:

Offensive Player of the Week - Jerrod Johnson, QB, Texas A&M—Johnson went 31-49 for 349 yds. and two scores, he also rushed for a net of 57 yards while leading his team to a 41-6 win over New Mexico.

Defensive Player of the Week - Joe Pawelek, LB, Baylor—The Senior LB tallied seven tackles, one sack, and one INT, helping his team to a road win over Wake Forest.

Special Teams Player of the Week - Perrish Cox, S, Oklahoma st.—Cox opened up the game when he returned a kickoff 74 yards against Georgia; this marked the ninth kickoff return in his career in which he exceeded 50 yards.

Big 12 Slate Week Two:

1) Colorado vs. Toledo (Friday Night Game) - Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio. 8:00 pm, ESPN

- Dan Hawkins is starting to really feel the heat after his teams' lackadaisical performance vs. CSU last week. It's always tough to go on the road and play a team like Toledo. I think the Buffs respond, in a close game for their coach. 17-14.

2) Iowa st. vs. Iowa - Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa. 11:00 am, FSN

- Most national media outlets aren't giving the Cyclones much of a chance in this one, but ISU plays the Hawkeyes well historically, especially in Ames. I like the Cyclones to pull off the upset here. 24-21.

3) Nebraska vs. Arkansas st. - Nebraska Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb. 1:00 pm, FSN PPV

- Don't see much of a contest here, Blackshirts win big. 45-14.

4) Oklahoma st. vs. Houston - Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Ok. 2:30 pm, FSN

- This is one of the more intriguing matchups of the conference this week, both teams have offenses equipped to light up the scoreboard; be interesting to see if OSU defensive success continues vs. a high powered Cougar attack. OSU wins 45-21.

5) Texas vs. Wyoming - War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo. 2:30 pm, Versus

- This game is being billed as the biggest game ever in the state of Wyoming...that's great but, Wyoming just doesn't have the personnel to match Texas. 45-14.

6) Oklahoma vs. Idaho st. - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Ok. 6:00 pm, FSN PPV

- Poor Idaho st...this game was already a huge mismatch for them, now they have to play the Sooners after a loss. Ouch. 63-0.

7) Missouri vs. Bowling Green - Missouri Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Mo. 6:00 pm, FSN PPV

- Blaine Gabbert and co. rolls; lots of offense in this one. Tigers win 48-17.

8) Kansas St. vs. Lousiana Lafayette - Cajun Field, Lafayette, La. 6:00 pm

This one will actually be interesting; Coach Snyder has a big rebuilding job to do and his wildcats will struggle to get wins all season...even vs. a program with this stature. KSU wins but by a small margin. 27-24.

9) Texas Tech vs. Rice - Jones At&t Stadium, Lubbock, TX. 6:00 pm

- Two old SWC rivals going at it. Rice just doesn't have the man power to match up with the raiders. Tech wins big 41-24.

10) Kansas vs. UTEP - Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX. 6:30 pm, CBS College Sports

- UTEP has a decent football program in Conf. USA. KU however, is a legit top 20 team. Expect the Jayhawks to roll. 45-21.

Power Rankings (last week's rank in parentheses)

1. Texas(1)

2. Oklahoma st.(3)

3. Oklahoma(2)

4. Kansas(4)

5. Missouri(9)

6. Baylor(5)

7. Nebraska(6)

8. Texas Tech(7)

9. Texas A&M(10)

10. Colorado(8)

11. Iowa st.(12) Kansas st.(11)