(Just Past) Halfway Point in Big 12 season

Every team in the league has now played at least 8 games, with 6 of the teams having played 9.  A review of the current standings and where I thought each team would be, based on my Quarter-Season Review :

1. Texas Longhorns 8-0 (regular season prediction: 6)
Texas is, in my opinion, one of the two or three best teams in the country at this point.  After the win at Kansas, they have ripped off big wins against OSU and Texas A&M on the road, and sandwiched a home win against Top 20 ranked Missouri.
Next 4: @ Oklahoma, Baylor, Oklahoma State, @ Nebraska
Predicted record after 12 games: 11-1 (#1)



2. Kansas Jayhawks 7-1 (regular season prediction: 1)
After the loss to Texas, Kansas has rebounded nicely and has solid wins at Colorado, Texas Tech and Nebraska and a home win against Kansas State.  Ranked 2nd in the country by both major polls, I still think this is the best overall team in the league and still hold to my prediction they will finish the season as the best team in the Big 12.
Next 4: Missouri, Iowa State, @ Kansas State, Colorado
Predicted record after 12 games: 11-1 (#2)

3. Baylor Bears 5-4 (regular season prediction: 5)
Still a completely Jekyll-and-Hyde team.  Lose at Oklahoma; beat Texas A&M in the road.  Huh??  Should finish in the 3-6 range in the conference.
Next 3: Nebraska, @ Texas, Texas Tech
Predicted record after 12 games: 7-5 (#3)

4. Texas A&M Aggies 4-4 (regular season prediction: 4)
The Aggies are on their first 3-game losing streak in 2 years. It could reach 4 before the bleeding stops.
Next 4: @ Colorado, @ Texas Tech, Iowa State, @ Oklahoma State
Predicted record after 12 games: 7-5 (#4)

5. Missouri Tigers 4-4 (regular season prediction: 2)
Busted up by Texas and then beat by the Pokes, Missouri is in a little bit of limbo right now. The next 4 games will be a good stretch for them to get back in the conference race.
Next 4: @ Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, @ Iowa State
Predicted record after 12 games: 7-5 (#5)

6. Oklahoma Sooners 4-4 (regular season prediction: 11)
Up and down, up and down.  I have no idea about this team.  They're really not good enough to finish any higher than 10th in the league, but could conceivably finish in the top 5.  Go figure.
Next 4: Texas, @ Missouri, Nebraska, @ Kansas State
Predicted record after 12 games: 5-7 (#8)

7. Oklahoma State Cowboys 4-5 (regular season prediction: 7)
Road wins are hard to get in this league.  Period.  Case in point?  Blown out at Baylor, beat an even better Missouri team at home.  That is the story of this conference.
Next 3: @ Nebraska, @ Texas, Texas A&M
Predicted record after 12 games: 5-7 (#7)

8. Kansas State Wildcats 4-5 (regular season prediction: 3)
They may finally be finding themselves.  Only losses in last 5 games were to #10 and #2 ranked national teams on the road.  Big stretch of opportunity coming up for the 'Cats.
Next 3: @ Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma
Predicted record after 12 games: 6-6 (#6)

9. Colorado Buffaloes 4-5 (regular season prediction: 9)
Started 3-1 in conference, then went 1-4.  Next 3 games could be even worse.
Next 3: Texas A&M, Kansas State, @ Kansas
Predicted record after 12 games: 4-8 (#9)

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers 3-5 (regular season prediction: 12)
Doc Sadler is a good coach, however, Nebraska will never be a good basketball school.  Maybe they'll have better luck in the Big 10?
Next 4: @ Baylor, Oklahoma State, @ Oklahoma, Texas
Predicted record after 12 games: 4-8 (#10)

11. Texas Tech Red Raiders 3-6 (regular season prediction: 10)
I had them being 0-8 at this point, so at least I'll eat a little crow on that.  This is still a bad team with only one decent player in Mike Singletary.
Next 3: Texas A&M, @ Missouri, @ Baylor
Predicted record after 12 games: 3-9 (#11)

12. Iowa State Cyclones 1-8 (regular season prediction: 8)
Currently on a 6-game losing streak, and just NOW coming into the meat of their schedule.  Yikes.
Next 3: @ Kansas, @ Texas A&M, Missouri
Predicted record after 12 games: 1-11 (#12)




The Big 12 is starting to shape up the way many thought it would, with a few wrinkles thrown in just to keep it interesting.  I don't think anyone, yours truly included, thought Texas would be this good, especially defensively.  The Longhorns have never been known as a defense-first team, but have proven to be a force so far.  Kansas is still Kansas, just as capable of winning the National Title as losing in the first round.  Hopefully OSU can pull out a win or two against a team I don't expect them to.  They're going to need to do so in order to finish even at 8-8, which is what I predicted for them originally.

GO POKES!!