College Football Week 10: Big 12 Conference Power Rankings Logic by the Lake
Each week I bring you a sort of fireside chat from one of the many Great Lake regions of the Big 12 Conference.
I take you from the Rockies to the gentle rolling hills of south central Oklahoma, to the Land O' Lakes, to the palm trees of Texas.
I've been to the Ozarks, Lake Waco, Clinton Lake, Eufala, Medina, Thunderbird and even Skunk River to name a few.
This week I'm in Austin, Texas—home to rippling Lake Travis.
This week’s rankings went topsy-turvy after the Nebraska-Mizzou game in Lincoln on Saturday afternoon. Iowa State, Oklahoma State and the Boomer Sooners are still winning.
While OU lost the No. 1 BCS ranking, the Big 12 is still a big player in the national championship picture.
Join me as I take a look at which teams hold the power cards for Week 10.
12. Kansas Jayhawks: Is Rock Chalk Football Turning into Powder?
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Losing to the Iowa State Cyclones last weekend is keeping them perfect in the Big 12 losses column.
Coach Turner Gill's first season as KU's football head hasn't been pretty.
What more can I say without piling on?
Prediction: He stays without a Big 12 win. CU will prevail in Lawrence: 24-13.
11. Colorado Buffaloes: Will They Stop Their Losing Streak?
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God bless America. The Buffaloes (3-5, 0-4) need a blessing as they travel to face KU.
At least Colorado or the Jayhawks will get a Big 12 win this week.
The boys from Boulder have lost four games in a row. KU has also.
Prediction: Kansas falls to Colorado: 24-13.
10. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Will Life in Lubbock Get Lovely?
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Texas Tech ranked No. 99 in passing defense going into last week.
Their opponent, Texas A&M, is still scoring as you read this.
The Red Raiders (4-4, 2-4), if they want to make a bowl, need to start returning the favor.
In their remaining games, Texas Tech plays Missouri in Lubbock and Oklahoma in Norman.
Weber State and Houston are next.
Sitting in last place in the South, could Tech become bowl eligible?
Prediction: The Raiders may play in a bowl. Still, they will lose to Mizzou next Saturday: 31-20.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
9. Kansas State Wildcats: Will KSU Give the Longhorns Mad Cow Disease?
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Kansas State (5-3, 2-3) lost 24-14 to Oklahoma State in Manhattan. The disappointing loss relegates them to the bottom half of the North.
Games against Texas, Missouri, Colorado and North Texas remain.
A reeling squad, Texas will be goring for survival.
KSU's outlook seems to be bright, but they can't rest on their paws.
Prediction: The Wildcats will upset Texas: 27-24.
8. Texas Longhorns: Will They Become Bowl Eligible This Season?
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After going 25-2 in consecutive seasons, the Longhorns (4-4, 2-3) are in a very strange position near the bottom of the Big 12.
After leading the nation in interceptions last year, this year is a different story.
The offense is under fire for turnovers and lack of scoring punch.
Goring, kicking and passing the ball will all have to improve if they are to get it right.
Texas is coming off a humiliating loss to the division-leading Baylor Bears.
It was Baylor's first win in Austin since 1991. The Longhorns losing three games at home, for the first time since 1998, is a wrap.
Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Florida Atlantic and Texas A&M remain.
Texas faces the Wildcats in Manhattan this week.
Prediction: The Wildcats will win it: 27-24.
7. Texas A&M: Will the Aggies Gig OU?
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The Aggies (5-3, 2-2) were reaping and sowing Texas Tech.
By throwing for 447 yards and four touchdowns last week, Ryan Tannehill gave the Red Raiders a disciplinary decision.
An invitation to a premium bowl game is still possible. We'll see if they can get on a roll.
They host Oklahoma this week, so I don't expect any rolling.
Prediction: No giggin' will be going on. Oklahoma will win: 38-25.
6. Iowa State Cyclones: Will Spiraling Winds Hurt the Huskers' Harvesting?
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The Cyclones (5-4, 3-2) went ripping through Kansas.
The Wizard of Oz couldn't help the Jayhawks out with a new heart.
Iowa State is lurking behind Nebraska and Missouri in the Big 12 North.
If the Cornhuskers or the Tigers slip, then ISU is right there.
They will be looking to pull the banana peel out from under Bo Pelini and the Huskers' feet.
They upset Nebraska in Lincoln last year. Why should I believe ISU is not capable of doing it in Ames?
If they can beat Nebraska and then Mizzou in Columbia, they are riding the whirlwind to represent the Big 12 North.
Prediction: The Cyclones will upset Nebraska: 26-24.
5. Oklahoma Sooners: Will They Win a Big 12 Title This Season?
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The Boomer Sooners' (7-1, 3-1) trouncing of Colorado in Norman smells like a locomotive letting off steam.
Look for the train to continue rolling through Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma State.
With their rejuvenating swagger, Oklahoma will travel to College Station this week.
Prediction: The rejuvenation continues with a romp in College Station: 38-25.
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Still Waters Run Deep Like the OSU Program
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In Stillwater, the Cowboys (7-1, 3-1) will face Baylor for the Big 12 South lead.
OSU has the toughest remaining schedule in the conference.
If they beat Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma—a tall task—then they will be riding high to the Big 12 Championship.
They have to sit straight in the saddle against head coach Art Briles' Baylor squad.
Coming off a win in Manhattan last week, the Cowboys host the Bears in an unlikely matchup of division leaders.
If they can stop Robert Griffin III, then they win.
Prediction: Final score: 38-37. By beating Baylor, OSU will walk away leading the Big 12 South.
3. Baylor Bears: Will Waco Rejoice Over a Big 12 South Title?
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Baylor (7-2, 4-1) deserves to be enjoying its stunning victory over Texas.
Sitting in first place in the Big 12 South, they decide their destiny.
Baylor plays against Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma next. Only the OSU game is on the road.
Prediction: The Bears will lose two of three games. Therefore, they will fall short of the Big 12 South title.
2. Missouri Tigers: Will They Stop Chasing Their Tails This Week?
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Giving up 307 yards rushing, a Nebraska record, to Roy Helu Jr. doomed them.
If they can win this week, then they are still in the running to play in this year's Big 12 Championship Game.
Nebraska owns the important tiebreaker over Mizzou (7-1, 3-1).
The Cornhuskers' next games are Iowa State in Ames, Kansas at home, Texas A&M away and Colorado in Lincoln.
Mizzou has Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas in their future plans.
Prediction: The Tigers will paw the Red Raiders: 31-20.
1. Nebraska Cornhuskers: Will Cyclones Cottonmouth the Cornhuskers' Crops?
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While Roy Helu Jr. was hitting the Tigers up for 150 yards, it was Nebraska: 24-0.
The Tigers came scratching back after halftime, but their fire was doused.
It was an impressive performance by Big Red's defensive backfield.
As a big bruiser, that's how Taylor Martinez is remembering the game.
The Huskers freshman is recuperating from a helmet-to-thigh hit.
Whether or not he plays against Iowa State will shake the over/under.
Yet I expect him to be running the Huskers (7-1, 3-1) through the Cyclones.
Prediction: ISU will upset UN in Ames: 26-24.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
