Oklahoma State, Oklahoma the best that the Big 12 can offer….Ohio State #1……Bama and Nole’s play top game in week one……Tide picked to win?

Pokes and Sooners top Big Twelve; Buckeyes start as my #1; Tide should nip Fla. State in Atlanta

Sep 17, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs as Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Jerome Baker (17) defends during the first quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

With the Big Twelve now having an end of year conference championship game, it is most important for a team to get into that first or second place spot after the regular season ends. A school could lose a regular season match-up with a school yet still play that school for the championship trophy in the title game on December 2nd in Arlington, Texas. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the likely two to play in the Big Twelve championship game. The Wildcats of land of Oz and the Toads of west Fort Worth could slip in, and the Mountaineers of the hillbilly country and the tea sipping Longhorns less likely.

10. KANSAS: Another basement finish for the Jaywawks. A couple of non-conference wins a possible. The program is making progress and the future is bright. A multi-million dollar upgrade in facilities and a strong influence of better recruits should put Kansas back to respectability in a few years. Hang in there Jayhawk fans, the future is looking up.

9. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders will have to fight off some stiff competition to win enough to get to a bowl. This will be Kliff Kingsbury’s last season in Lubbock if Tech does not start off quick.

8. Iowa State: Improvement is happening in Ames and the Cyclones will be primed to post some more than impressive wins. Look for a six win season add a bowl.

7. Baylor: A team that could win more than they lose but don’t bet on it. With Baylor, six wins will not be that far off but they are in the group with Tech, Iowa State more than West Virginia and Texas. This team could finish as high as fifth but as low as 8th.

6. West Virginia: Beat the Hokies in game one and the Mountaineers will be off on a good ride. Lose and the consequences will not be good. As with the middle of the pack in the Big Twelve, another six win season but it could go higher or lower. Six is about right.

5. TCU: The Horned Frogs are a cut above some in the conference and they have a much better coaching staff than most. The Arkansas game sets the season and with a win on the road nine wins seem about right. Do not count them out to pull into second and get into the title game.

4. Texas: The new coaching staff will have the Horns ready but the talent is not where it will be in two or three seasons. There is a reason for Texas having losing squads in the recent past. It was not all coaching. A tough non-conference schedule will prepare them for the Red River game that is always a tossup. Look for a good season. UT will win eight or more.

3. Kansas State: The Wildcats should be six and zero when they host OU on Oct. 21. Win that one and they will get into the championship game even with loss at Stillwater. I have them with a ten win season and eleven if they can upset OU. A great season for Snyder to end his career in the Little Apple.

2. Oklahoma: Lincoln Riley will need to outscore Okla. State in Stillwater to take the 1st seed into the conference title game in Arlington. Ohio State is a second game that the Sooners will need to win if they expect to make the Final Four. I give the Sooners a ten win regular season and another fight with the Pokes for the Big Twelve title.

1. Oklahoma State: Offense wins in the Big Twelve these days and the Poke passing game will be the best in the country. If you can score fifty on the OSU defense you have a chance. With the Bedlam game this year in Stillwater, I give that one to the Cowboys. They should meet again in the title game and I won’t say they can do it again. I won’t say they could not. OSU runs the table until December 2 in Jerry’s World. They will be undefeated going into the game.

Big Twelve Championship Game: OU 56 and Oklahoma State 51

Fred’s Preseason Top Twenty-five