The 2009 SB Nation Big 12 Preview

by Jon Woods on Aug 21, 2009 2:37 AM MDT in Buffaloes Football Feature Stories

Story lines. As fans of the Big 12 Conference we have heard the same ones over and over again for the last eight months. Oklahoma vs Texas. Sam Bradford vs Colt McCoy. That whole tiebreaker, flyover thing. Who can challenge from the North? Bill Snyder came back?!?! Baylor might win some games?? We get it, we've heard it, and we're ready for the season to begin so that we can hear about some real football games. We're ready for some new story lines. We're ready for a brand new college football season.

Welcome to the 2009 SB Nation Big 12 College Football Preview. All of the Big 12 SBN sites have put together an "outsiders" preview for all of you to learn about each of the conference teams. They have picked their projected finish, and we have aggragated it below. Finally, each conference site has answered a few vital questions about the pending outcomes we expect to see on the field over the next five months. Dive in, check out each of the sites and their previews and make sure and chip in if you feel like we have missed the boat. We are glad to have you join us for the beginning of the 2009 college football season.

Projected order of finish:

North

1) Kansas (Team Report)
2) Nebraska Team Report)
3) Missouri (Team Report)
4) Colorado (Team Report)
5) Kansas State
6) Iowa State (Team Report)

South

1) Texas (tie) (Team Report)
1) Oklahoma (tie) (Team Report)
3) Oklahoma State
4) Texas Tech (Team Report)
5) Baylor
6) Texas A&M (Team Report)

Click here to see some key questions going into the 2009 season:

Key questions for the 2009 season:

1) Who is going to win the Big 12 North?
Kansas - 5 votes
Nebraska - 2
Missouri - 1

2) Who is going to win the Big 12 South?
Texas - 4
Oklahoma - 4

3) How many Big 12 teams will finish the season bowl eligible?
Eight - 4
Nine - 2
Seven - 2

4) Which conference team will show the most improvement from last year (in record only)?
Baylor - 4
Colorado - 2
Kansas State - 1
Iowa State - 1

5) Who will be the non-quarterback Big 12 player of the year?
Dezmon Briscoe - 3
Ndamukong Suh - 2
Earl Thomas - 1
Kurtis Gregory - 1
Gerald McCoy -1

6) Which Big 12 coaches will be gone (fired or hired elsewhere) after this season? (Everyone answered with at least one coach and no one suggested that someone might be hired away)
Dan Hawkins - 8
Mike Sherman - 3
Mike Gundy - 1

7) What would be the better third "best" Big 12 bowl game. The Holiday or Alamo Bowl?
Holiday Bowl - 6
Alamo Bowl - 2

8) Better defensive lineman, Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy?
Ndamukong Suh - 7
Gerald McCoy - 1

9) Better wide receiver, Dez Bryant or Dezmon Briscoe?
Dez Bryant - 4
Dezmon Briscoe - 4

10) What's the worst non-conference loss (an upset) that the Big 12 will suffer?
Nevada over Missouri - 4
Lousiana Lafeytte over Kansas State - 2
Southern Mississippi over Kansas - 1
Houston over Texas Tech - 1

11) Who will be the BCS title game participants and champions?
Florida over Texas - 2
Texas over Florida - 2'
Oklahoma over Virginia Tech - 1
Oklahoma over Alabama - 1
Florida over Penn State - 1
Florida over Oklahoma - 1

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Comments

"What would be the better third "best" Big 12 bowl game. The Holiday or Alamo Bowl?"

More important than the actual votes, I’d love to know the individual methodology used to assess what is meant by “best”
If it’s money- well then that’s easy, because there’s no room for interpretation or opinion.
After that, what weighs on your decision? Location? Is that- “closest to me” location or “place I want to go” location?
Access to new recruiting areas?
Better gifts?
Potential opponent’s prestige?
TV timeslot?
Inquiring minds and etcetera…
Also, I’m surprised no one voted Sean Witherspoon as best non QB.

Heavy is the head that eats the crayons

by Hallux Valgus on Aug 21, 2009 10:21 AM MDT reply actions

It was easy for me

… as I hate San Antonio with a passion equaled only for my hate for Houston.

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics

by Jon Woods on Aug 21, 2009 10:59 AM MDT up reply actions

Can't Speak For Everyone

Based on the past:

Historically, I have liked the Alamo Bowl better as an ISU fan. It’s one day closer to New Year’s eve, and makes for a good short term visit. I can get a hotel on the Riverwalk, get to the game easily, then party on the Riverwalk before and after without having to worry about driving. I also liked the Big 10 matchup, having grown up in a Big 10 area and following that conference prior to going to college and becoming an ISU fan. Lastly, I can get cheaper flights to San Antonio and I can drive in one (long) day. The other factors such as time and money are negligible historically.

I haven’t not enjoyed the Holiday Bowl in the past. First, the Pac 10 isn’t that great of a conference. Second, San Diego is far away. I’ve been there before and had a good time, but I wouldn’t consider it for a shorter trip. A lot of times, the Holiday Bowl as consisted of a flat pissed off, feel sorry for themselves team missing out on the BCS (Oregon a few years ago, and Texas more recently IIRC).

Based on the past, I like the Alamo Bowl.

Based on the future (which I haven’t researched much):

Doing some quick reading online, I am seeing that the Alamo Bowl matchup could be the Holiday Bowl Matchup now (Pac 10 #2 vs. Big 12 #3), and the Holiday Bowl would then go to perhaps Pac 10 #3 vs. Big 12 #5, and the Alamo would pay out $3 million vs. the $2.2 it is now. Obviously the Alamo would be the better bowl.

For the Big 12 south, however, I could see why they like Holiday better, as making a trip to San Antonio is less exciting, especially if you are Texas.

Clone Chronicles

by Mark Kieffer on Aug 21, 2009 3:33 PM MDT up reply actions

I voted based on best trip for players

Let’s face it, if you’re from Texas, you’ve probably been to San Antonio at least once in your life. If you haven’t, it is a nice trip to take once and see the Alamo. After that, it is really nothing to write home about.

For the player, the Holiday Bowl is a better trip b/c it is out of state, and feels like you are going to a bowl game. I think having the game in San Antonio, more players are forced to deal with issues like getting family tickets, re-arranging travel plans around holiday plans because of family being so close, etc. I just don’t think it is much of a reward for the players.

I actually think going to the Tangerine Bowl in Miami, or even changing the Big 12 bowl contracts, and getting the Las Vegas Bowl, would be preferable to the Alamo Bowl. At least the fans would have fun at the Las Vegas Bowl trip.

I Am The 12th Man.com

by Beergut on Aug 22, 2009 5:39 AM MDT up reply actions

Big XII South Teams, especially the four Texas schools

almost certainly would prefer Holiday over Alamo. It would be convenient to travel to San Antonio, but it is an unwanted consolation prize. At lease Holiday Bowl is going out of state and feels like “bowling.” I assume the question was answered based on which bowl you think the players would prefer.

WW at Ralphie Report—great compilation of info and I always look forward to your comments over at Burnt Orange Nation. I was at the Big XII championship game in 2005, don’t blame you for hating Houston. It was a perfect storm. So, San Antonio and Houston are on your dislike list, does that mean you like Austin?

by Wrangler86 on Aug 21, 2009 3:58 PM MDT up reply actions

Love Austin.

I’d live there in a second if it wasn’t so hot. My GF is a Horn so I have been to Austin many, many times. Still haven’t made it to a game though.

Appreciate the compliments.

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics

by Jon Woods on Aug 21, 2009 5:55 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

What did you hate about Houston other than the game?

I would rather be in Austin, but Houston is still a pretty good town if you live in the right places inside the loop.

by Wrangler86 on Aug 22, 2009 2:27 PM MDT up reply actions

I've just never liked it

Too hot and way too many people. Of course I went to HS in North Dallas so there is that whole rivalry too

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics

by Jon Woods on Aug 23, 2009 4:03 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

The Texas Bowl

Sucks. I didn’t go, but ISU last played a Bowl Game there… No one in town knew that a Bowl Game was going on, nor did they care…

Clone Chronicles

by Mark Kieffer on Aug 24, 2009 11:31 AM MDT up reply actions

It depends on who's playing - just like all lower tier bowl games

by Texas Wahoo on Aug 24, 2009 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions

I think it has to do with the town

If Texas made it there, would a lot of fans go? Probably not because it’d be such a dissapointment.

When ISU has gone to Shreveport, yes Shreveport, the people there get excited about the bowl game. Yes the town may be somewhat lame, but I’d rather go to a lame town that is hyped for a bowl game, then to a big city that doesn’t care.

Clone Chronicles

by Mark Kieffer on Aug 25, 2009 3:09 PM MDT up reply actions

Sure - part of it is that Houston is not a small town

If you hosted a bowl game between two 3-12 teams in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, it would be full of excitement. That won’t happen in larger cities. However, that doesn’t mean that more people in the city aren’t excited about the game.

I was in Houston for the Texas A&M bowl there and there was a lot of excitement and news coverage. There was some disspointment over not getting Notre Dame last year, but there was still quite a bit of excitement over Rice being there.

by Texas Wahoo on Aug 25, 2009 4:07 PM MDT up reply actions

wish we could have a winning season this year

Rays fan in NC

Over the Monster: an unofficial blog for Red Sox bandwagon "Fans"

by raysfan81 on Aug 22, 2009 6:55 AM MDT reply actions

Why do people think Missouri is going to be any good? The lost every difference maker on O plus there D has not been good. Nebraska plays a tough schedule plus needs to fill voids at RB and QB. kansas plays OU and UT plus us at home. If we stayed half as health last year we would have finished at least 7-5 and would be along with Kansas as pre season favorites. Even if we went 4-8 Dan Hawkins isn’t going anywhere. He just got an extension and there is no $ to buy him out.

1990 National Champions- Colorado Buffalo's
1913,1957,1983,1993,2004 National Champs- Auburn Tigers

by trayrenfro on Aug 26, 2009 12:04 AM MDT reply actions