It is easy to see who the top three teams in the conference are, but beyond that each team has some major holes. The Big 12 will again have big offenses, but it is the teams with stellar defenses that will rise to the top. Though Nebraska seems like a no-brainer in the North and Oklahoma and Texas will battle for the South, the rest of the conference is wide open.

Champion: Oklahoma – The Sooners defeat Nebraska in a hard-fought Big 12 Championship game.



South Division

• 1. Oklahoma (7-1): Don’t get used to the Sooners finishing in the middle of the division; Coach Bob Stoops will have this team back at the top of the Big 12 as early as this season. QB Landry Jones showed last year that he is good enough to lead the team to big things. Super-talented RB DeMarco Murray and WR Ryan Broyles will help Jones carry the load. The only real question on offense is along the offensive line, which received some heat for Sam Bradford going down last year and loses first round pick Trent Williams. The defense loses star DT Gerald McCoy but returns a total of 7 starters and will again be stout. The Sooners avoid Nebraska but will have tough games against Texas and Texas A&M. Oklahoma could end up in the Big 12 Championship this year as long as they can win the close games they failed to win last year; the Sooners lost 4 games by a touchdown or less.

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We’ve started gazing into the crystal ball. Check out our Big 12 Conference football predictions for the upcoming 2009 season.


Champion: Oklahoma – The Sooners win their 8th Big 12th Championship in the last 11 years with an impressive win over Nebraska

South Division

• 1. Oklahoma: Bob Stoops doesn’t run the table, but ends up being the only one-loss team in the South. Offense won’t be as explosive, but will still be very good. Defense will be great again if they can find replacements at safety.
• T-2. Texas: Defense will be the Achilles heal for the Longhorns. Offense was solid again with Colt McCoy back, but they don’t get enough out of their ground game. Texas ends up with 2 conference losses.
• T-2. Oklahoma St: Still not able to get over the hump.
• 3. Texas Tech: The loss of Crabtree and Harrell takes its toll.
• 4. Baylor: Robert Griffin has a great year, but Baylor still can’t find a way to beat the upper echelon teams.
• 5. Texas A&M: The aggies finish the year on a dismal note. Mike Sherman is fired after just two seasons.

North Division

• 1. Nebraska: The Cornhuskers win the North with 3 conference losses. They prove to be solid on defense, and they are able to win a lot of close games.
• 2. Colorado: Going out on a serious limb here, but Dan Hawkins finally delivers what has been expected of him in Boulder. The Buffs return an experienced offensive line, and the offense finally starts to click.
• T-3. Kansas: Keep in mind Kansas could easily win the Big 12 North this year, but the loss of three of their top five tacklers on defense proves to be costly. Todd Reesing returns to a dangerous offense when you throw in Kerry Meier, Dezmon Briscoe, and rising junior Johnathan Wilson forming a dangerous receiving corps.
• T-3. Missouri: Mizzou struggles to thrive in a post-Chase Daniel era. Maclin was missed.
• 4. Kansas St: Defense was awful last year, and it didn’t get much better this year. The Wildcats couldn’t find an answer at quarterback. I’m not sold on the Bill Snyder rejuvenation hype.
• 5. Iowa State: The Cyclones start 2009 with their 3rd coach in 4 years. Coaching turnover is never good when you’ve consistently been a bottom dweller for recruiting. Iowa State wins only one Big 12 game.

Let’s hear your predictions in the comments!