Conference action opens up finally for the Big 12 this Saturday. While other conferences like the SEC, ACC, Big 10 and PAC 10 have opened up conference play, with some major upsets already in those conferences, The Big 12 has established 5 teams in the Top 25 and 2 teams in the Top 3. Look for Missouri and Oklahoma to be the power of this conference this season once again, and no doubt butt heads in Kansas City in December for the Big 12 Championship. Missouri has their first real road test of the season as they travel to Lincoln Nebraska as an 11 point favorite, a place where they have not won since 1978 with Warren Powers as coach. THIS IS MY BIG 12 GAME OF THE MONTH. As a faithful Husker, I will travel from Kansas City to Lincoln this weekend to see this game.

The Big 12 is loaded this year in both the North and South Divisions, and there are numerous games along the way that provide landmines for both OU and Missouri. That being said their are also some teams to keep an eye on. I would have said Colorado, but they laid an egg in Tallahassee last week after beating highly ranked West Virginia, but this is a team on the rise who is very tough at home. Oklahoma State and Texas Tech both are dangerous teams, with OU having to end the season down in Stillwater, that one could decide the South. Kansas is somewhat of a riddle right now but have a true test on the road this weekend so I will wait to pass judgement till I see what they can do, but they will give Missouri a run for their money up north. The Quarterbacking in the Big 12 is second to none in Division I football, with OU's Bradford, Texas's McCoy, Mizzou's Chase Daniels, KU's Reesing, Nebraska's Ganz, Texas Techs Harrell, and Colorado's Hawkins to name a few, the Big 12 is full of high octane offenses led by excellent QB's who can stretch the field.

This is going to be an exciting year in the Big 12 with possibly 2 teams landing in a BCS bowl game, not to mention the title game. Lets look at a few games this weekend of interest:

Kansas -12.5 AT Iowa St

Kansas had a road block in South Florida and lost the game against the ranked Bulls on turnovers. KU is not as good as 2007's Orange Bowl Winner, but they are no slouch either. Iowa State is a team on the rise, but still have a ton of holes to fill on defense. ISU is off back too back losses at Iowa where they managed 5 points against a weak Iowa team, and heartbreaker last week by 3 points at UNLV, a team who already upset Arizona State this year. KU has not played anyone of any substance other than a loss to So. Florida and are hard to gauge in terms of where they are at, but Iowa State is a tough place to play and the Cyclones are determined and play hard. KU will win it, but I think it will be closer than the experts think. Iowa State averages 46 ppg at home this season, and while KU will be a stiffer defense, ISU can score some points here. Kansas 31 Iowa State 24

Texas -13.5 @ Colorado

Colorado is off a devastating loss to Florida State, but have won games against West Virginia and Colorado State. Their offense is loaded with underclassmen that overachieve and a rising star in Cody Hawkins at quarterback. Texas has simply rolled everyone and have a high octane offense, off a 52 point output against Arkansas last week. THE KEY in this game is the Colorado offensive line, which lost 2 starters last week for the season in the Florida State Game, and Texas has a great defensive line with the Big 12 conferences sack leader. Colorado came inot the season thin on the OL, so I think it will be a key in this game that changes the outcome versus if they were healthy up front. With that weakness I do not think Colorado will score enough points to trade punches for 4 quarters, and I like Texas to flex their muscle here. The Buffs are just 6-13 ATS their last 19 conference games. Texas 41 Colorado 21

Oklahoma State -24 vs. Texas AM

Not quite sure what Mike Sherman is doing at Texas AM, but they are train wreck right now. Okie States offense is off the chart and they will score a TON of points against a very weak Aggie defense, and they may in fact be defenseless in this game. I honestly think OSU will run the score up here into the high 40's. Although they are undefeated, they have played no one to date so this will be their toughest test early on, but chances are Texas AM will be exposed this weekend big time with a very weak defense. Texas AM is 4-0 SU the past 4 years and 3-1 ATS in this series. Mike Gundy and his staff will want to exact some revenge and they will keep the hammer down if the chance is there. Too close to call on the spread but I give the lean to Okie State for a cover here since they have revenge on their mind after a tough 1 point loss in College Station last season. Okie State 45 Texas AM 17

Be sure and check out the Nebraska and Missouri game as my Big 12 Game of the Month and I also have Texas Tech and Kansas State on my Saturday 3 game card at www.sportsaudioshows.com
 

Tony George
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