Big 12 Preview

Before I get into my thoughts, I want to share some of the "Best of" previews I've seen off the beaten path. To get us started, Barking Carnival is an outrageously funny blog devoted to Texas and the Big 12. Their conference team by team previews are pretty off the wall. Let's start with the program most relevant to Georgia fans.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys preview has a series of quality lines; although none tops this (warning profanity):

Offensive coordinator Larry Fedora knows what he’s doing, moving his family to Stillwater aside. He’s the guy that made Chris Leak a household name. Granted, it was ‘That Leak guy at Florida is a huge p*ssy,’ but at least people were talking. He runs a no huddle spread offense that worked really well last year against teams not named Texas.

He also has completed previews of Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Nebraska and others. I didn't see a Texas preview yet, but I'm sure its coming soon.

Other Big 12 Team Previews:
-- Big 12 South Picks - Sunday Morning Quarterback
-- Big 12 North Picks - Sunday Morning Quarterback
-- Missouri as Big 12 North Favorite - Houston Chronicle
-- The Big XII's bottom feeders - AOL Fanhouse

Westerdawg's Preview:

Big XII North:
1. Nebraska - Callahan gets his QB.
2. Missouri - Who else?
3. Kansas State - Out of shape QBs don't instill confidence
4. Colorado - Lost 4 games by a TD or less in '06.
5. Kansas - Please don't eat me.
6. Iowa State - Devolving back into the land of Who Cares

Big 12 South:
1. Texas - Will Colt's shoulder stay attached?
2. Oklahoma - I could QB these guys behind that OL
3. Oklahoma State - Also lost 4 games by a TD or less.
4. Texas Tech - Won 4 games by a TD or less. Luck runs leaner this year.
5. Texas A&M - I have a Coach Fran Voodoo Doll. Is that bad?
6. Baylor - Baptists are better at softball than football.

(Image: Mark Mangino)

Bowls:
Fiesta - Texas
Orange - Oklahoma
Gator - Nebraska (via Big 12 option instead of Big East)
Cotton - Oklahoma State
Holiday - Missouri
Alamo - Texas Tech
Insight - Insight.com
Independence - Texas A&M
Sun - Big East goes here when Big 12 goes Gator

You'll find nothing ground breaking there. Having said that, if you're looking for dark horses to emerge watch opening weekend in the SEC. If either OSU or KSU were to upset UGA or Auburn, the momentum from those wins could propel them forward. Otherwise, I think the league will be pretty predictable at the top and bottom.

As for the middle of the pack? Most of the Big 12 (read: other than NU, OU and UT) suffers from altitude sickness. Anytime they get a little momentum in the polls they self destruct and come crashing back to earth. They are such strangers (or long lost friends in TAMU's and CU's cases) to long term success that they have zero idea how to handle prosperity. In many ways, the middle and bottom end of the conference reminds me of the ACC. You could swap the uniforms of Mizzou, KSU, TTU and TAMU with Clemson, GT, UVA, NCSU and Maryland, and you'd never know the difference.

Am I wildly off base?

PWD

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