Ahh, the unhappy middle. It is the place that most drives sports fans insane. Everyone wants a great team, but few see those hopes achieved. For the fans of a bad team or a bad school, at least they know going in their team has limited hopes and can prepare themselves for dark days.
For others, however, it's a tortured existence. I'm talking about you, the fans of The Mediocre. These are those quality programs that have a pulse but are unlikely to pull things through like a contender would. For these teams, the season will be a success, if they can separate and make the Big 12 Championship Game.
That is, however, a tall order.
| Texas A&M Aggies |
 Last year: 9-4 overall, 5-3 Big 12WHY THEY'LL WIN: Because the pressure is on coach Dennis Franchione to get big wins and make a Big 12 Championship appearance or lose his job. On the field, the Aggies return one of D-I's finest ground attacks. They can go four deep at tailback and quarterback Stephen McGee's a talented runner as well. The win over Texas last year also appeared to signal that this team finally figured out how to win big games. WHY THEY WON'T: But then again, the Aggies also lost their very next game in embarrassing fashion. California pounded them in the Holiday Bowl, 45-10. Also, one big win does not a team make. The Aggies have yet to string together several big wins in a season, and must find a way to close games out. They blew late leads at home last year to both Nebraska and Texas Tech and very nearly lost to Missouri the same way. The schedule is a killer with national power Miami making an appearance. In the Big 12 slate, the Aggies face all three of their recent masters: Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska as well as Northern division favorite Missouri. If past is precedent, it will be a tall order to manage more than one win out of those five games. PROGNOSIS: Hard to tell. I have people tell me occasionally about the disconnect between Franchione and the Aggie nation. It's not a leap to assume that unease sometimes trickles down to the team and frustrates his ability to lead the entire roster. All of which means his teams are unpredictable, prone to unexpected wins and losses. The Aggies can manage 50% of their schedule but it's that other 50% that matters here. The win over Texas was huge, but they responded horribly the next time out - not good. Let's call this a 7-8 win season with much greater promise if some of the dark clouds of past years are put behind them. |
| Oklahoma State Cowboys |
 Last year: 7-6 overall, 3-5 Big 12WHY THEY'LL WIN: "The Greatest Offense in College Football". Or something like that. Oklahoma State is hyping up its balanced offense which posted 200+ yards/game both on the ground and in the air last year. Most of those players are back including marquee names like receiver Adarius Bowman, quarterback Bobby Reid and tailback Dantrell Savage. Hey, don't forget about Kenneth Toston, either. The Cowboys head into 2007 feeling good about themselves after an exciting bowl win over SEC power Alabama. WHY THEY WON'T: Like Texas A&M, this team has an exciting offense and a shaaaaaky defense. Any win will be a race to get to 30 points which is tough to do against some of the better defenses on the schedule like Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma and maybe Nebraska. The offensive system really started humming midway through last year and this team can afford some injuries, but not too many. Sophomore receiver Artrel Woods (how many Woods' are there at Oklahoma State?!) pretty much shattered his back in a lifting accident a few weeks back and is out for the season. The penciled-in starters at defensive line combined for all of 7 or so starts last year. PROGNOSIS: This is an improving team starting a feel-good third year under coach Mike Gundy. They've proven they can make a showing against the big boys (just one blowout loss last year) and fend off most of the middling teams in the Big 12. What's left is to either stay at that place or make a leap forward. I don't see them having a defense necessary to do that, however. Mix in the usual Texas/Oklahoma/Nebraska intimidation matrix along with a roadie against Georgia and the Cowboys should settle in at 7 to 9 wins his year. |
| Missouri Tigers |
 Last year: 8-5 overall, 4-4 Big 12WHY THEY'LL WIN: Because everyone keeps telling them this is their year. The Tigers flashed an improved defense last year and if it can improve just a little bit more they have a shot at the Big 12 North division crown. The offense is sometimes spectacular and has an exciting leader in quarterback Chase Daniel. After a few rough years of failing to meet expectation, the Tigers are feeling good about themselves. WHY THEY WON'T: If past is precedent, this snake-bitten program will find a way to collapse and/or disappoint. The Tigers were scorching hot in a 6-0 start last year but faded badly and lost some very winnable games. The defense is average at best, which was fine several years ago. However, this league is becoming much more offensive-minded and those who can make the occasional stop like Texas and Oklahoma keep winning. PROGNOSIS: Big 12 media think this team is headed towards a North division title. I'm a little more skeptical. I was on the Tiger bandwagon last year and agonized over the ruin of the Tigers' finish. I know better this time around. The Tigers get to skip Texas this year and host two of the three biggies: Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. It's a favorable schedule so let's call this a 9-win season. |
| Kansas State Wildcats |
 Last year: 7-6 overall, 4-4 Big 12WHY THEY'LL WIN: Coach Ron Prince surprised many in making the Wildcats competitive in just his first year on the job. The roster was questionable but he managed to keep this team in some games and even beat Texas. If he can keep turning that Manhattan Kansas water into wine then they'll improve behind their 6'-6" Stay-Puff giant of a quarterback Josh Freeman. The running game is decent and they should improve against both the run and the pass with seven returning defensive starters. WHY THEY WON'T: Talent. The roster's improving, but this walks and talks like a middle of the Big 12 team. The defense wasn't great last year, and Freeman for all the hype had a TD/INT ratio of 6 to 15. He also checked into camp out of shape and overweight which isn't a great leadership mark. Combine that with a possibly humiliating road opener against Auburn and this season could unravel fast. PROGNOSIS: I was tempted to put this team in The Dregs, but their schedule is nice and Ron Prince seems like the kind of coach who can consistently get this team to overachieve while he slowly improves the overall talent. Playing in the less regarded Big 12 North helps. Just two conference giants are on the schedule - a pair of roadies against Texas and Nebraska. If the Wildcats play their cards right I could see another 7 or so wins. |
