Season Preview: Big 12 Predictions

Here's how ETS sees the Big 12 playing out:

Big 12 North
1. Missouri (10-2, 6-2)
2. Nebraska (7-5, 5-3)
3. Kansas State (7-5, 4-4)
4. Colorado (5-7, 3-5)
5. Iowa State (3-9, 1-7)
6. Kansas (4-8, 1-7)

Notes:
-- Mizzou takes the North on the strength of a win over Nebraska in Columbia. The Tigers finish 6-2 in Big 12 play with a South loss to either Oklahoma/Texas A&M, and a "Gary Pinkel road loss" to either Colorado/Kansas State. In both sets of games, Mizzou wins one of the two games and drops the other.
-- I seem to be one of the few bloggers outside of Lincoln who thinks Nebraska will win on the road against Wake Forest. Additionally, I may be one of few dropping the Huskers to 5-3 in conference play. The Huskers' schedule is a beating, and I have them slated for three losses in a four-game Big 12 stretch against Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas, all of which come in consecutive weeks (a four-game stretch that will send the entire state into full-fledged panic).
-- Iowa State avoids the North cellar by way of a season ending win over Kansas. Kansas avoids the goose egg in Big 12 play with a win over Baylor.

Big 12 South
1. Texas (11-1, 7-1)
2. Oklahoma State (9-3, 6-2)
3. Oklahoma (9-3, 6-2)
4. Texas A&M (8-4, 5-3)
5. Texas Tech (8-4, 4-4)
6. Baylor (2-10, 0-8)

Notes:
-- Texas survives a non-conference date with TCU, beats Oklahoma in Dallas, staves off Nebraska at home, outduels Texas Tech and enters the national championship picture at 11-0 entering a bye week on Nov 17. Then, while Longhorn fans are busy booking tickets to the national title game, Texas A&M's three-headed option attack will once again wear down the Texas defense, upsetting the Longhorns. This time, the Ags do it in front of The 12th Man (don't sue me), and a brutal season has a beautiful ending in Aggieland, as the Aggies effectively ruin a gorgeous picture for Texas.
-- Oklahoma State runs off impressive upset road victories over Nebraska in Lincoln and Oklahoma in Norman, effectively sending Stillwater into, ironically, bedlam. Losses to Texas and Texas A&M cost them a title shot.
-- Texas A&M rides and survives a horrendous schedule. The Ags lose on the road at Miami, lose to OSU at home, turn around and get upset AGAIN in Lubbock, turn around and upset Nebraska in Lincoln, lose in Oklahoma, potentially upset Missouri on the road, and return home to upset Texas. Much like Mizzou teams of years past, I honestly don't know what to make of this team. They will win a few games they shouldn't have, and drop a few they should have won.
-- Holy hell, I don't think I could have landed any harder on the Oklahoma State bandwagon. Mock me if you must - the Cowboys are the team I'm looking towards to reward me for my preseason faith.
-- Waco real estate spoiler: Guy Morriss' house will be available in early-December.

Big 12 Title game
Texas over Missouri

Big 12 Offensive POY
Co-POYs: Colt McCoy (Texas) and Chase Daniel (Missouri)

Big 12 Defensive POY
Reggie Smith (Oklahoma)

Bowl projections
-- Texas: Fiesta Bowl
-- Missouri: Cotton Bowl
-- Oklahoma State: Holiday Bowl
-- Nebraska: Alamo Bowl
-- Oklahoma: Sun Bowl
-- Texas A&M: Insight Bowl
-- Kansas State: Independence Bowl
-- Texas Tech: Texas Bowl
Left out: Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor