Search

[Zephon]

Gotta agree.  OU called some pretty stupid plays those two times in the first half when they were inside the five.  And at the end of the half, why throw to a guy who is triple covered instead of the wideout to the right with man-to-man coverage?  I'd say OU handed the game to them.  That said, Tebow was great, pretty much taking things into his own hands in the second half, along with Harvin.  It would have been a different game had OU played smarter in the first half.

Final AP rankings-

1. Florida (48) 13-1 1,606
2. Utah (16) 13-0 1,519
3. USC (1) 12-1 1,481
4. Texas 12-1 1,478
5. Oklahoma 12-2 1,391
6. Alabama 12-2 1,264
7. TCU 11-2 1,193
8. Penn State 11-2 1,153
9. Ohio State 10-3 1,013
10. Oregon 10-3 997
11. Boise State 12-1 938
12. Texas Tech 11-2 916
13. Georgia 10-3 903
14. Mississippi 9-4 857
15. Virginia Tech 10-4 713
16. Oklahoma State 9-4 534
17. Cincinnati 11-3 506
18. Oregon State 9-4 467
19. Missouri 10-4 435
20. Iowa 9-4 317
21. Florida State 9-4 246
22. Georgia Tech 9-4 223
23. West Virginia 9-4 144
24. Michigan State 9-4 138
25. Brigham Young 10-3 137

I had Utah and USC switched, but as I said, I suspected that Utah might end up at #2.  MU ended up at #19.  Probably the best they could expect considering they lost to (of all things) Kansas.  It'll be interesting to see what kind of team they can field next year, minus Daniel, Coffman, and Maclin.  It would be nice if they fielded a defense also.

[Swoosh]

^Mizzou ended at 16 in the Coaches Poll -- the one to go by.
We'll see how things end up with the final BCS poll -- the one that counts.

[Coaster]

I'm worried about how long Mizzou will last in the polls next year. We're losing a great senior class and Maclin has announced he is going pro. It might be a down year. 

[Swoosh]

Wait until you see the crop of underclassmen coming up behind them.
It won't be a "rebuilding" year, more like a "reloading" year.

'sides is it really a loss when you are graduating the conference's worst pass defense?

[sdcforever]

ESPN has put out their very early preseason top 25 for college football, and here's how they see it.  I'm just highlighting the top 5 and then the Big 12 teams in the poll.

1.  Florida--they expect them to be wire-to-wire #1.
2.  Texas
3.  Oklahoma
4.  USC
5.  Alabama

now the other Big 12 teams in their top 25
10.  Oklahoma State
22.  Nebraska
23.  Kansas
25.  Texas Tech

No Mizzou.

[Swoosh]

^Considering ESPN has no idea who is going to be back with most of the teams, it is just smoke coming out of their butts.

MIZZOU will be back, and I think will surprise some people

[sdcforever]

I hope they're back, but I'm not expecting them to be at the level they've been the past two years.  We can be optimistic, but losing Chase Daniel and Chase Coffman (the most productive pass-catch duo in Mizzou football history), and Jeremy Maclin is going to hurt.  There's no way around it.  I think perhaps the toughest hole to fill will be Maclin's.  I found something else interesting on ESPN's website.  Here's how they see the Big 12 shaping up next season.  They make these predictions with the caveat that they can change them if more people declare for the draft.  But as of now, here's what they say:

North: 1. Nebraska; 2. Kansas; 3. Colorado; 4. Missouri; 5. Kansas State; 6. Iowa State
South: 1. Texas; 2. Oklahoma; 3. Oklahoma State; 4. Texas Tech; 5. Texas A&M; 6. Baylor.

Big 12 championship game: Texas over Nebraska.

Bowl teams: Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas Tech, Colorado, Missouri.

Interesting that they have us with 8 bowl teams next year.  I agree that Nebraska has really made strides; I think they were the North team that was playing the best at the end of the season, including their bowl game.

[Swoosh]

Nebraska is losing a lot this year though -- including their QB.  While I think they have made great strides this last season, they are a long way from being "BACK"

They have to go to Columbia this year -- they haven't won there since 2001.
Also I just don't see Mizzou dropping off...

BIG 12 NORTH TEAM WINS
LAST 7 YRS. ALL GAMES
Mizzou 54
Nebraska 49
Kansas 46
Kansas St. 40
Colorado 36
Iowa St. 27

Think about it, that includes 3 years of the stars you mentioned, but it also includes 4 years before they came around... everyone thought it was over when Brad Smith graduated and now everyone is like "Brad Who?"  Forgive me for being overly optimistic (as some might view me) but everyone graduates people.  If you choose to roll over and play dead since you don't have (insert name here) anymore then, you are not a true fan and just a bandwaggoneer.

[sdcforever]

Who said anything about rolling over and playing dead?  I just think the North teams will be closer in talent than the past few years.  Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado are improving.

[Swoosh]

IMHO... 2009

^ Nebraska
= Missouri
V kansas
= Kansas State
V Colorado
^ Iowa State

[sdcforever]

^Can't argue with that.  I think the separation of the top 3 teams will be pretty slim, going by the conference record and that the non-conference records will be really important.  Out of curiosity, how do you see the south shaping up next year?  I pretty much agree with ESPN's guess for the south (not for the north, though).  Although OU and Texas is a toss-up for 1 and 2.

[Swoosh]

The thing is OSU is losing NOTHING for next year.  They are going to be one tough team.  I almost want to go out on a limb and say they will win the South next year.

It will be a dog fight between Nebraska and Mizzou next year for the North.  I think I am going to go with Mizzou one more year before I think Nebraska reclaims the top spot.  NU has to go to Mizzou this year and I think it will get in their head that they have not won there since 2001. 

North
1. Mizzou
2. Nebraska
3. Kansas
4. Kansas State
5. Colorado
6. Iowa State

South
1. Oklahoma State
2. Texas
3. Texas Tech
3. Oklahoma
5. Baylor
6. Texas A&M

[Coaster]

^I just don't see it...I don't believe that a team can lose that much talent and just go into next season and pick up where they left off (which we didn't finish well in the first place). I love Mizzou and I definitely am not a fair weather fan. I just see it as what will happen.

But, I am waaaaaay too overly optimistic with the Chiefs. I'm a 1,000,000X bigger Chiefs fan than I am Mizzou. Although, I did go to the K-State and Big Twelve Championship games. Both were cold...

So, I can't blame you for being optimistic. Win the North! 

[Swoosh]

How 'bout them Tigers Hoops!  Going to Stillwater and coming away with a victory!!!

[sdcforever]

^^Coaster, speaking of the Chiefs, rumors are flying that the Chiefs are close to naming their new coach; there may be an announcement as soon as tomorrow.  Rumors say the new coach will be none other than Mike Shanahan, former Broncos head coach.  Now I like Shanahan, but the problem is he did all of his winning with Elway at quarterback, and hasn't really done anything since.  Worth a shot, though, I guess.