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Big XII considered "Top BCS Conference" for '08
It should be noted that I usually do my best to seriously dislike the Big 12.
What's not to dislike? Choke-lahoma and that raving, 41-year-old "man" who coaches at Oklahoma State aren't easy to rally behind.
The 'Horns haven't been off the hook since Vince Young left for the NFL. In recent seasons, the Nebraska Blackshirts defense seemed incapable of preventing a sportswriter from scoring at the Playboy mansion.
Kansas used to have more NFL prospects on its basketball team and Missouri hadn't shown us much in years.
But things certainly turned around last season, with the final national poll listing four Big 12 teams in the top 10. All four should be capable of rolling again, although the deep thinkers still need another year of convincing from Kansas.
According to preseason rankings conducted by our pals at CollegeFootballNews.com, seven Big 12 teams are listed in the top 35; the SEC has seven in the top 37. While this is subjective and quantifies nothing, it does suggest quality depth in a conference that, at least, should be a runaway as the most entertaining to watch.
While bowing to the SEC's rank as the nation's foremost league over the last 10 years, the Big 12's edge for 2008 is attached to the return of 10 starting quarterbacks.
Calling roll, we find that Chase Daniel (Missouri), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Todd Reesing (Kansas), Colt McCoy (Texas) and Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) are among the top pitch men in the nation.
Harrell, receiving dynamo Michael Crabtree and a veteran offensive line could make the Red Raiders this year's sleeper squad if the defense can make a few stops.
Colorado, with QB Cody Hawkins and the nation's top running back recruit (Darrell Scott) in tow, is far from an intramural program, while Bo Pelini seems poised to put some pop back in the Cornhuskers.
Mike Sherman should be an upgrade at Texas A&M and Mike Gundy's 2007 rant deflected attention away from what has become a solid Cowboy program.
What's not to dislike? Choke-lahoma and that raving, 41-year-old "man" who coaches at Oklahoma State aren't easy to rally behind.
The 'Horns haven't been off the hook since Vince Young left for the NFL. In recent seasons, the Nebraska Blackshirts defense seemed incapable of preventing a sportswriter from scoring at the Playboy mansion.
Kansas used to have more NFL prospects on its basketball team and Missouri hadn't shown us much in years.
But things certainly turned around last season, with the final national poll listing four Big 12 teams in the top 10. All four should be capable of rolling again, although the deep thinkers still need another year of convincing from Kansas.
According to preseason rankings conducted by our pals at CollegeFootballNews.com, seven Big 12 teams are listed in the top 35; the SEC has seven in the top 37. While this is subjective and quantifies nothing, it does suggest quality depth in a conference that, at least, should be a runaway as the most entertaining to watch.
While bowing to the SEC's rank as the nation's foremost league over the last 10 years, the Big 12's edge for 2008 is attached to the return of 10 starting quarterbacks.
Calling roll, we find that Chase Daniel (Missouri), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Todd Reesing (Kansas), Colt McCoy (Texas) and Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) are among the top pitch men in the nation.
Harrell, receiving dynamo Michael Crabtree and a veteran offensive line could make the Red Raiders this year's sleeper squad if the defense can make a few stops.
Colorado, with QB Cody Hawkins and the nation's top running back recruit (Darrell Scott) in tow, is far from an intramural program, while Bo Pelini seems poised to put some pop back in the Cornhuskers.
Mike Sherman should be an upgrade at Texas A&M and Mike Gundy's 2007 rant deflected attention away from what has become a solid Cowboy program.
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