2010 College Football Preview and Predictions: Breaking Down the Big 12

In the off-season the Big 12 almost disbanded as Colorado and Nebraska decided to leave the conference. Texas led an effort to keep the Big 12 together and the other members decided to stay on board and keep the conference alive.

This year it will be interesting to watch how the teams react to the changes that will take place in 2011 and beyond.

BroBury Sports has posted the odds on each team to win the Big 12 conference. These odds are placed on each team and their chances to win the Big 12.

Here are my predictions for the Big 12 in 2010 and where the teams will finish in the standings and who will be the eventual champion of the conference.

Big 12 South Division

Oklahoma Sooners: Odds to win the Big 12 South are 1.5 to 1

Injuries knocked Oklahoma out of contention for the national championship early in 2009.

Landry Jones took over at quarterback as a redshirt freshman when Sam Bradford was lost to injury and that experience will be helpful as he leads the Sooners into 2010.

Jones will have plenty of offensive weapons as DeMarco Murray and Mossis Madu will provide running power in the backfield and Ryan Broyles returns as his main target at wide receiver.

The defense is chocked full of talent and will bring back several starters for the 2010 campaign. With Texas adjusting to life without Colt McCoy, this could be a good chance for the Sooners to change their recent losing ways against the Longhorns and make a run at the Big 12 title.

Texas A&M Aggies: Odds to win the Big 12 South are 5 to 1

If you are not familiar with the name Jerrod Johnson, you will be after this year. The Aggies run-n-gun quarterback is the best player in the Big 12. His offense put up 465.8 YPG and 32.9 PPG and there is no reason why he will not do it again this year.

On defense, linebacker Von Miller led the country with an amazing 17 sacks as he terrified opposing quarterbacks. The glaring weakness from a year ago was stopping the run and if they can fix that than the defense will be trouble for opposing teams.

The great mix of exciting offense and pressure defense could very well make Texas A&M a title contender. The last game of the year at Texas will be a statement game for the Aggies.

Texas Longhorns: Odds to win the Big 12 South are 1.4 to 1

Texas is coming off an outstanding season; however, they enter 2010 with some transition on offense.

Garrett Gilbert moves in and takes over for Colt McCoy as the quarterback and leader of the Longhorns. To take pressure off of Gilbert the Longhorns will run behind Tre’ Newton and a group of talented running backs.

If the offense struggles early the defense should be able to step up and win some games.

The defense returns seven starters from a very stingy 2009 squad. The defense was led by defensive end Sam Acho and allowed just 16.7 PPG last year.

That number can be easily duplicated in 2010 but the offense will need to succeed if they want to duplicate the success they achieved in 2009.

Texas Tech Red Raiders: Odds to win the Big 12 South are 6 to 1

Tommy Tuberville takes over the reins at Texas Tech and will focus on making the Red Raider faithful forget about a turbulent year in 2009.

The offense returns seven starters to include a solid nucleus of players at pivotal positions. The team is deep at quarterback with Steven Sheffield and Taylor Potts able to man the position and put up big numbers. They should be able to put up some points, but stopping the other team from scoring could be a problem.

On defense, Tech returns a strong secondary but they're missing four starters from the front seven. This could cause the Red Raiders to lose the battle in the trenches and teams with power running games could take advantage of this.

Baylor Bears: Odds to win the Big 12 South are 15 to 1

Quarterback Robert Griffin III missed last season with a knee injury and that contributed to the miserable 1-7 conference record that the Bears posted in 2009. He returns to lead the team with six other offensive components and this will drastically improve the Bears offense.

Baylor has not been to a bowl game in 15 years and to end that streak they need improved play on defense.  They return six starters on a defensive unit that gave up 405.6 YPG and 27 points per game.

The schedule makers helped out Baylor with weak games out of conference but if the defense does not do their part it will be another long season for the Bears.

Oklahoma St. Cowboys: Odds to win the Big 12 South are 15 to 1

Oklahoma St. will come into the 2010 season with plenty of question marks.

The offense will go through a big change in personnel starting at quarterback since Zac Robinson departed for the NFL. Head coach Mike Gundy is lucky to have potential superstar Brandon Weeden taking over at quarterback, but he is not so lucky on defense.

The challenge will be rebuilding a defense that has to replace nine starters from the unit that took the field in 2009 and that will cause some growing pains for the Cowboys.

2010 will be a down year for the Cowboys as they try to compete in a very tough Big 12 South division.

Big 12 North Division

Nebraska Cornhuskers: Odds to win the Big 12 North are 1 to 1

Nebraska moves to the Big Ten next year, and it would be fitting if on the way out the door they can win a Big 12 title.

On a team that returns 18 starters, they have a very good chance of doing just that. The number one defense in the country from a year ago will have to live without Ndamukong Suh but they are stockpiled on defensive talent and should pick up where they left off.

The offense returns ten starters and should have another dominant rushing attack.

Running back Roy Helu Jr averaged six yards per carry and with Zac Lee at quarterback this team is poised for big things in 2010.

The Cornhuskers have a very big chip on their shoulder after losing a questionable Big 12 title game and will accept nothing less than a title.

Missouri Tigers: Odds to win the Big 12 North are 3.5 to 1

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who threw for 3,593 yards and 24 touchdowns last year, is back and will lead a very strong offense into the 2010 campaign.

Eight starters return altogether to put fear into the defenses of the Big 12 North division. Derrick Washington is back to run the ball and will have four starters on the offensive line to escort him down the field.

Aldon Smith leads eight returning starters on defense, but this was a defense that was burned on many occasions late in the year.

With the possible deciding title game in Nebraska, Missouri will come up short again.

Kansas St Wildcats: Odds to win the Big 12 North are 4.5 to 1

The Wildcats will have room to improve this year and Bill Snyder at the helm is a good sign of things to come. He brings a winning attitude to a football team that was in need of leadership, they believed in his vision and responded by playing well.

On offense Carson Coffman returns at quarterback along with Daniel Thomas and four starting offensive linemen. This is a good sign for the Big 12 leading rusher and an offensive unit that could move the ball on the ground.

However, the real strength of this team is the defense.

Six starters return on defense and they were great at defensive scoring and getting turnovers as the secondary played with a killer instinct. The Wildcats will be a threat in the Big 12 North but they are not ready to overtake Missouri or Nebraska.

Iowa St Cyclones: Odds to win the Big 12 North are 14 to 1

The Cyclones surprised plenty of experts last year by winning seven games and going to a bowl game.

Paul Rhoads did a magnificent job as head coach and the offense looked explosive at times throughout the season. That offense returns eight starters to include QB Austen Arnaud and RB Alexander Robinson so they should pick up where they left off.

The defense returns just four starters so they can be expected to struggle without the experience of last year’s group to guide them. The biggest hurdle will be a tough schedule that has games with Oklahoma and Texas on the slate not to mention three non-conference games against teams that made bowl games last year.

The Cyclones will be aiming for another bowl game and may produce a record similar to last season.

Kansas Jayhawks: Odds to win the Big 12 North are 5.5 to 1

Turner Gill was a magnificent hire for the Jayhawks, but don’t look for success early as this will be a rebuilding year for Kansas. Chuck Long steps in as offensive coordinator and will institute a new offensive scheme.

They return seven players both on offense and defense so the defensive presence may win a few games; but on offense, all of the highlight reel guys like QB Todd Reesing and WRs Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier are no longer around to put up points.

This will be a long year for Kansas but the future looks bright.

Colorado Buffaloes: Odds to win the Big 12 North are 7 to 1

This will be the last year in the Big 12 for Colorado as they leave for the Pac-10.

Most of the Big 12 will be sorry to see them go because they have been a doormat for this conference over the last several years. They return eight starters on an offense that was ranked at the bottom in almost every statistical category. They were not much better on defense.

The defense was well, defenseless. They gave up nearly 29 points a game and it seemed like everyone could score on them.

This team will get worse before it gets better and expect a lackluster effort as play their last year in the Big 12.

Big 12 Champion: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Odds to win the Big 12 conference 2.5 to 1

I passed on the usual favorites of Texas (odds: 2-1) and Oklahoma (2 to 1) because of the chip on their shoulder that Nebraska has.

They play a solid and punishing defense and control the game with a great ground unit. In the last year in the Big 12 the Cornhuskers will leave with the conference title.

The Big 12 should provide some entertaining football for this season and it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Here are some other college football previews and predictions for the 2010 season.

2010 BCS Championship College Football Predictions

2010 ACC Preview and Predictions

2010 SEC Preview and Predictions

2010 College football Pac-10 Preview and Predictions

2010 College Football Big East Preview and Predictions

2010 College Football Big Ten Preview and Predictions

Handicapping the Heisman Race in 2010