BIG XII Media Teleconferences

Here they are. Not all of them, but many of them…

http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=23991&cmd=tc

BIG XII Picks and Preview

Get used to this sight

One of my writers continues to make me look bad, as he covers the Big East and does a nice write-up after the teleconference every week. I of course just screw off and use all this great info I get for the segment I have on his show. Well, it’s finally time to start sharing information with all of you, and more importantly giving you the insight I worked so hard to gain access to. Without further ado…

Week 8-

Kansas St at Kansas (-8.5)

Kansas papers are labeling this a “must-win” for both teams, as both teams are struggling this season the defensive side of the ball. I feel this is probably more of a must-win for K-St coach Ron Prince, whose job may be on the line after his team continues to tread water instead of swimming in it (or in the case of the first half last week take on water). Mark Mangino has built up enough good karma to survive a rough season, especially in a tough Big XII, but if Prince loses this game, he may want to get his resume spruced up. A win keeps the piranhas from circling this week. Look for Prince to pull out all the stops this week.

Kansas St 43 Kansas 39

Colorado at Texas A+M (-3.5)

One team has a quarterback in Jerrod Johnson who is flourishing and developing each week. The other team has 2 people playing quarterback in Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen, neither of whom is setting the world on fire. If the Buffs are looking for a defense to look good against, A+M’s is it, as the Aggies haven’t stopped anyone the last few weeks. The Buffs defense was lit up by Chase Daniel and Missouri last week, but they have played pretty decent football for most of the season. Look for another big game from Johnson here, and hopefully a Dan Hawkins meltdown on Monday morning.

A+M 34 Buffs 23

Missouri At Baylor (+21.5)

Chase Daniel and the Tigers got back on track last week, thanks to Gary Pinkel. “I told them just to focus on this week, this game, this opponent,” said Pinkel,”stop thinking ahead, and start thinking of now.” If only they had done this weeks ago. Baylor’s quarterback Robert Griffin continues to not make mistakes, and this should be more entertaining than many might think, as long as Baylor’s defensive secondary can hang with the Tigers receivers. Look for Mizzou to pull away late, but not before the Bears give them a scare (and pull their hair while riding their mare, eating a pear and walking up stairs).

Missouri 38 Baylor 30

Iowa St at Oklahoma St (-31)

Look up “let down game” in the dictionary, and you may find a picture of this one in there. Oklahoma St played as well as anyone against Texas last week and came up 4 points short in Austin. Iowa St has lost 4 straight and many Cyclones fans are asking for the head of Gene Chizik. A talented OSU team should roll here right? Not so fast. Cyclone QB Austen Arnaud is great with his feet and his arm, and a Cowboy defense that has a tendency to over pursue might get burned by more than one QB scramble, The Cyclones have played a lot of close games this year, and they are due to play another one, although they won’t win.

OSU 38 ISU 35

Nebraska at Oklahoma -22

Oklahoma continues to pound everyone not named Texas. Nebraska’s defense, while improved, still has a ways to go before it shuts down Sam Bradford and the Sooners. Nebraska QB Joe Ganz will be running for his life all day in Norman, and not because he is being chased by the Boomer Sooner (or Jim Ross).

Oklahoma 55 Nebraska 30

Texas at Texas Tech (+3.5)

This is the situation Mike Leach and the Red Raiders have been waiting for. They have a good defense, a great offense, and they get to play Texas at home with College Gameday in the house. Texas is missing something, what it is I don’t know, but I still don’t believe in them. They have had a tough stretch, but the games have been at home or on neutral fields, not in a hostile environment like Lubbock. Colt McCoy has completed over 83 % of his passes the past 4 weeks, I don’t think you see that this week. The Cowboys forced a turnover or two, don’t think the Red Raiders didn’t find something on that tape they can use. If you remember the Red River Shootout, Texas never really stopped Oklahoma, Oklahoma stopped themselves. Texas Tech will not stop themselves. Watch out for Eric Morris, who Mike Leach had great praise for this week and didn’t disagree with me when I compared him with Tech alum Wes Welker.

Texas Tech 48 Texas 38 *Pick of the Week*

College Football Preview

Another season of college football is upon us, and while we here at the Central Maine Sports Blog have an affiliation with Army this season as our “adopt-a-team”, there are more than a few other teams that are out there, so I am going to take a chance here and predict the top 10.

10. Florida Gators

Tim Tebow is back, and so is Percy Harvin, but Harvin’s heel has not healed yet. The SEC is as tough as ever, so 2 loss season for an SEC team may not get a spot in the national title game this year.

9. Texas Tech

I am buying into the hype about this defense improving, and Crabtree and Harrell will both get supports in the Heisman race.

8. Ohio St

After two years of bridesmaid status, I expect the Bucks to slip a bit this year. The big game against USC will probably tell you what type of team Ohio St is.

7. Kansas

I will always support the big guy, and Mark Mangino has done a great job with Kansas. This team only lost one game last year, and returns almost all of their key players. Plus Aqib Talib won;t be getting arrested, which can only help Mangino’s blood pressure.

6. Georgia

I don’t buy into the Georgia hype. I don’t believe they will beat Florida, and I don’t see them finishing the season with just one loss.

5. Missouri

Chase Daniel is back and could very well win the Heisman. The rest of this team has reloaded nicely.

4. Oklahoma

Although they can’t win in a bowl game, they will do enough damage to get to one of the big pay days, provided Sam Bradford stays healthy.

3. Virginia Tech

Defense and special teams lead the way, and the ACC is a very winnable conference this year. If Sean Glennon can keep mistakes to a minimum, (and this team can actually beat Free Shoes University, errr, Florida State) they win the ACC.

2. West Virginia

As much as I want to put them at the top, the durability of Noel Devine worries me, as does the durability of Pat White. Again, another case of an easy schedule that could lead a team to the promised land.

1. USC

The Trojans look to be the class of the league this year, as long as Mark Sanchez can stay healthy (I notice a pattern here). This team is loaded, and don’t think that Pete Carroll won’t remind them of the awful (by Trojan standards) year they had last year.

I think LSU’s qb issues will haunt them, and I also believe that Fresno St will make some noise this year (and will also win the WAC).