Are we all ready? The Clone Chronicles is hosting the roundtable this week. Go give them some love. I sure didn’t in my rankings! Comments? Suggestions? Hate mail? Bring it on!

Were Saturday’s games a sign that the Big 12 North may be on its way back?

I would say that the short lived era of total dominance by the south is definitely over, but proclaiming that the North is “back” would be like saying a book was good after reading the first chapter.
A perfect storm hit the Big XII North over the last half decade. Bill Snyder left Kstate, Nebraska hired the wrong coach, Mizzou can’t recruit defense, and CU well… You all know what happened there.
The North must be spoken of with respect at least. To really know if the North is back, we need to see the next few chapters unfold. We will find out in the next month.
Specifically:

Mizzou @ Oklahoma, Oct 13
Nebraska at Texas*, Oct 27

There are a few other games to watch (OSU and Texas A&M visit Nebraska before the big date at Texas), but these two teams were supposed to be the leaders of the North. If they can put in respectable showings, or even win one of the two big games above, then, yes, the Big 12 North will have the depth to be called “back”.
The rest below the fold

How seriously do we take the hot starts at Mizzou and Kansas?

Mizzou has a real offense. However, they really haven’t played anyone besides Illinois in week 1 (and I take week 1 games with a real big grain of salt), but they did win. To declare any team “for real” before they start conference play is a big risk. (OU reference!). But the Illini did beat a stout Penn State team last week. Unfortunately for MIzzou, they don’t have the defense to run the Big XII table, and we should see 3 losses out of this team before the bowl season runs around.
Kansas? They have played nobody. I don’t care how many points they have been averaging. Until they start their Big 12 season, I won’t believe a thing. (Here is where I reference that OU game last week again). I would say… Not real. KState needs to avoid the post Texas hangover this week, but as time goes on I think Kansas will tank.

Pick one team from the opposite division that you truly hate, and say why; follow this up by picking another team from the opposite division that you don’t mind pulling for, and say why.

Texas. Arrogant fans, a more recent National Championship, and a penchant for running up the score (70 to 3?) because they are still smarting from a certain Big XII title game upset. That and their mascot is a shaved, brained, painted buffalo. Fortunately, everything is cyclical, and Texas is definitely on a down year, so I won’t have to see that annoying hand sign in a bowl worth mentioning this year.
I love rooting for Texas Tech. They are usually stoned by the CU defense, were kind enough to give us half our win total last year, and they are good for an upset or two in the Big XII each year. And they did this. How could a true CU fan not appreciate the Red Raiders (also the same name as my high school team!).

The NCAA has enacted a rule allowing you to bring back one senior that graduated last year to play for your team for the rest of the season. Would you do it? And if so, who?

A nice easy one! Mason Crosby! The guy is starting in the NFL! This is no knock against Mr. Clutch (sometimes) Mr. Eberhart, but despite his two game winners, he lacks consistency. Not every field goal that matters is taken in the last 3 seconds. I still remember that FSU game where his misses prevented us from having a chance to win! That loss was definitely not the poor guys fault, but consistency man! He is giving me a heart condition. Also, that was the ugliest winning field goal I may have ever seen. But it went in. Maybe our guy is only a good kicker when its for the win in the final seconds? CU has had worse kickers.

Rank the conference teams

After one week? That is just silly. Well just for fun, I am going to use the current standings in the conference as my baseline. All tied teams will be put into order by myself.
#1 Kansas State (1-0)
#2 Colorado (1-0) (I was tempted, but we WERE at home:)
#3 Texas A&M (1-0)
#4 Nebraska (1-0)
#5 Oklahoma State (1-0)
#6 Mizzou (0-0)
(This area is no longer recognized by the Catholic Church…. Limbo of the infants)
#7 Kansas (0-0)
#8 Oklahoma (0-1)
#9 Texas (0-1)
#10 Texas Tech (0-1)
#11 Baylor (0-1)
#12 Iowa State (0-1)
Enjoy that win Buffs… Now get back to work. I smell another blowout victory!

Related posts:

  1. Can the Buffs win the Big XII North? Long Odds are Good Odds!
  2. Colorado Defeats North Texas 52-21
  3. Buffs.tv Big XII Editor Pick ‘Em — Week 11