This is probably the biggest week of the year for the Big 12 in terms of their standing as a national conference unless the league puts a team into the playoffs (doubtful). For reasons I’ve articulated here a few times, the Big 12 can’t quite compete with the other major conferences. The demographics of the … [Read more…]
I had a chance to look at Iowa vs Iowa State finally and wanted to get a few thoughts down on week two and the prognosis for the Midwest teams before circling back (tomorrow perhaps) to break down all of the enormous week three games around the league. Kansas actually won and they have that … [Read more…]
It’s a crucial week for the Kansas schools and Iowa State. Kansas State is hosting fellow spread QB run game enthusiasts Mississippi State and are being given eight points at home. David Beatty is as good as fired after opening the year (predictably) losing to Nicholls. The Kansas media, such as it is, has already … [Read more…]
Evidently Lane Kiffin’s FAU team may need a few games to put it all together, much like in 2017. They were totally overmatched against the Sooners, obviously, and made an ass of yours truly. My B12 title pick didn’t do me any favors either, dropping a road game with a sloppy performance against the Terrapins. … [Read more…]
This always seems like a good way to talk about the various teams across the league, to look at the Vegas odds and make comments in one direction or another. I’ve typically been about as good as picking against the spread as I’ve been at picking playoff teams. I’m always a sucker for making the … [Read more…]
I guess technically the playoffs will be in 2019 but whatever, this will be clearer. My picks are normally pretty terrible, last year I took a somewhat serious stab at it after years of throwing out some interesting picks and missed wildly once again. The picks? USC, Auburn, Florida State, and Wisconsin. Of course it … [Read more…]
Everyone loves models these days. Not the kind that post pictures of themselves on Instagram and somehow derive a career from that enterprise, but the kind that forecast upcoming events in complex systems. For the most part, the good models are awesome and super useful for creating a picture of likely outcomes. My man Bill … [Read more…]
Drawn in by that Mike Stoops press conference, I offered some commentary the other day on the shaping of Oklahoma’s 2018 defensive identity. An important note within that piece was the fact that the Big 12 is likely to feature a lot of multi-pronged rushing attacks next season and most of Oklahoma’s question marks center … [Read more…]
I noticed that Mike Stoops recently made a media appearance and I was drawn in like a moth to the flame: Here’s a few of the major takeaways I had from this little session: “Steady work in progress” The Sooners haven’t yet determined who their starting lineup will be or who/what they’ll build their defense … [Read more…]
Last year’s B12 season figured to be defined by the QB play since most everyone was bringing a veteran into the season, some of which were all-time greats. That indeed proved an important plot line for the season, but the rise of dime defense was also a major event as teams got innovative out of … [Read more…]