Big 12 Preview - Cash Machine U

I would imagine some Aggie fans are ready to name the stadium after RC Slocum. RC lost 37 games while winning 84 in the final 10 years of his 14 year career. In the six seasons since, the Aggies have gone 36-37. The Aggies have the erratic-to-date Sherrod Johnson at QB, and there’s no Wrecking Crew for the time being. The only thing that’s wrecked is the bowl hopes of the Aggie faithful. Coach Sherman may turn this thing around, but how long will it take? Last year, Baylor was picked last in the conference by all but one voter. This year, it’s the Aggies in that slot. I’m projecting a 6-6 record for Cash Machine U, with the Ags losing to Arkansas, and going o-fer against the Big 12 South. Aggies our proud of their history, and it’s a great university. They won’t look back fondly upon this era.

Now, you readers get to pick the footall poster for the Aggies this year. Click through to the website to vote for Pressure, Tradition, or History

Big 12 Preview - Nebraska

Nebraska gets year 2 of Bo Pellini this year, combined with a weaker North division, and I expect them to end the season as the North Division champion. They’ve got to replace the QB, but expect Zac Lee to fill in capably for Joe Ganz. Defensively, the Huskers have had a full season and two springs to acquaint themselves with the Pellini defense, and I expect the Bugeaters to continue to improve there as well. I’ve got the Bugeaters going 10-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play, with their lone loss in regular season Big 12 play coming at the hands of Sooners. The non-conference loss is on the road at Virginia Tech. If my prediction of 10-2 is correct, this gent will have plenty to celebrate in Lincoln.

Big 12 Preview - Kansas

Phog U lost the heart of their defense with the departure of their linebacking corp to the NFL and CFL, and only return one of their top 4 tacklers from last year. However, Todd Reesing is back, as is the entire receiving RB corps. Kansas first four games are against Northern Colorado, UTEP (on the road!), Duke and Southern Mississippi. I see them winning those and their first two conference games, but then the wheels come off with as they lose four of their next five, with the losses coming to the Sooners, Dust Pirates, Bugeaters and Austin County Correctional Facility. The Jayhawks will end the season at 8-4, second in the Big 12 North and in a bowl game. If Mangino’s team can sneak in a couple more upsets, perhaps this lady will change her tattoo to incorporate the football team.

Big 12 Preview - Missouri

The Tigers lost six players to the NFL last year, in addition to college great Chase Daniel. The Tigers hadn’t had that many players go to the NFL since the 1981 draft. After that draft, the Tigers went 8-4, but didn’t match that win total again until 1998. I don’t expect the Tigers to be very good this year (they lost a lot on offense, and not enough on defense), but the bottom has fallen out of the Big 12 North again. The Tigers will lose on the road to start the year against the Illlini, on the road to Nevada, to the Bugeaters, Boone State, Austin County Correctional Facility, at home against Baylor (!), and to border rival Missouri. Just don’t tell this guy. That’s still good enough for 3rd in the Big 12 North.

Sooner Great Rick Bryan Dead

Rick Bryan died at the age of 47 last night of an apparent heart attack. The Tulsa World has an excellent article here. My condolences to the Bryan family and friends.

In an unrelated note, two county deputies were killed in my hometown of Seminole, Ok while attempting to serve an arrest warrant last night. My prayers are with the families.

What a crappy way to start out the day.

Big 12 Preview - Colorado

Phil Steele points out that Cody Hawkins became the first 1-A QB to play for his father since Rodney Bryant played for Steve Bryant at Ohio in 1989. The Ohio Bobcats went 1-9-1 that year, and Bryant was replace by Tom Lichtenberg. Anytime you’re replaced by someone whose name rhymes with the Hindenberg, that’s not a good sign. Anyway, back to the Buffs. The Buffs return nine starters on an offense that – to put it mildly – sucked. They were last in the conference in rushing and points per game, and 11th in passing. I’m not sure it’s a good thing to return starters in that instance. I see Colorado finishing 4th in the North and going 4-8 this year, with losses at Toledo, at West Virginia, at Texas, to Kansas, Missouri, Cash Machine U, at Boone State and to the Bugeaters. There's little margin for error at this point in the Buffs history, so they need to make sure they listen to the coaches.

I would expect this from the Big 10

The LandThieves Investigative Team was unsuccessful today in the search for the truth. You see, here are the preseason poll results for the North

Bugeaters 172
Phog U 164
Mizzou 124
CU Later 100
Willie and Friends 81
Iowa State 33

This totals 674. Problem is, it should tally 672 (32*[6+5+4+3+2+1]). I sent a message to a spokesperson at the Big 12, but they apparently are getting ready for a media conference or something, and completely blew me off.

Same problem, except different, in the South:

Texas 174
Sooners 174
Boone State 130
Dust Pirates 89
Baylor 75
Cash Machine U 33

This totals 675. Again, we should get to 672, but we're three points off here. Where are the three extra points? Well, we can presume they are NOT in the Texas Aggies total, unless someone else voted them seventh in the division.

If the conference responds, you'll be the second to know.