Big 12 Week 5 Preview

The Big 12 season is getting underway for most of the teams around the league. Teams like Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas, and Texas Tech have already gotten one league under there belts, heading into this weekend. Well now Texas A&M and Oklahoma State have joined them. Both teams headed into last nights game unbeaten, and the winner would hold a punchers chance at winning the Big 12 South. Oklahoma State is that team after narrowly pulling out a 38-35 victory on a last second field goal after intercepting a pass when Texas A&M themselves were trying to drive down for a last second field goal. The game was a turnover-palooza with Aggie quarterback Jerrod Johnson, accounting for 5 turnovers himself, and the Pokes themselves had three turnovers.

Tomorrow’s slate of big 12 games get kicked off at 11:00 when the rival Jayhawks travel down to Waco to take on the Baylor Bears and there stud quarterback, Robert Griffin III. Griffin is a freakish athlete who has won several sprinting events, and has brought hope to the Bear ever since he arrived on the scene and won the starting job his freshman year. Last year he suffered a season-ending injury early on in the year. He has continued to develop as a drop back passer as he has thrown for 971 yards with 8 touchdowns and only two picks. They are 3-1 on the year. Meanwhile the Jayhawks have had an up-and-down year so far. They suffered losses to North Dakota State, and Southern Miss. However they were able to pull of an upset against then ranked Georgia Tech, who has since dropped out of the polls. The Jayhawks have become at least respectable since inserting Joe Webb into the quarterback position, but are still in process of rebuilding under first year coach Turner Gill. They are currently 2-2 on the year.

The only big 12 team to play a non conference game this week is the Buffaloes from Colorado who take on the Georgia Bulldogs at home this weekend at six o’clock. The Bulldogs have suffered a disappointing season since starting of the year ranked. They are currently 1-3 on they year and 0-3 in SEC play. The Buffs will get there first taste of Big 12 action next week when they take on a talented Missouri team. As of right now they are 2-1. The only game they played against a BCS conference team was a 52-7 loss at the hands of future conference foe Cal. Cal is just a middle of the road team this year so don’t expect much from the Buffs.

The next matchup comes over in Ames where the Cyclones take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Both Teams are currently 0-1 in conference play with Iowa State losing to K-State and Tech lost to Texas. Some good news on the Cyclones front, it looks as if starting Quarterback Austen Arnaud will get the go this week despite being injured. Tech on the other hand just wants to keep improving under first year head coach Tommy Tubberville.

But no surprise the game of the week will like always be the Red River Rivalry which takes place in Dallas pitting the Texas Longhorns against the Oklahoma Sooners. The winner of this game has gone on to win four of the last six Big 12 titles with the loser winning the other two. In fact the last time that neither one of these teams one the Big 12 was back in ’03 when the ‘Cats were able to upset the then #1 Sooners behind Darren Sproles. The Last time the south wasn’t represented in this game by one of these teams was back in 1998 when Texas A&M had the honors and were able to throw a kink into the BCS by upsetting Kansas State when we were ranked number one at the time. This will be sophomore Longhorn quarterback Garret Gilbert’s first chance in this environment. Gilbert came into the national championship last year for the injured Colt McCoy and was able to show some flashes of brilliance, but this year has been a little different as he has not had a solid running game to lean on, as the ‘Horns are ranked 76th in the nation in rushing. They are coming off their first loss of the season a 34-12 drubbing at the hands of the UCA Bruins. The Sooners on the other hand just have one question, which team will show up? Will it be the team that played magnificently when they steamrolled over #17 Florida State, or will it be the team that has shown up the other 3 weeks who has allowed Utah State, Air Force, and Cincinnati to all come within a touchdown of them. If Boomer Sooner is rolling all cylinders behind QB Landry Jones, RB Demarco Murray, and WR Ryan Broyles, then the game should be over at halftime. But if they aren’t the Longhorns might possibly be able to sneak home with a victory.

Missouri, K-State, and Nebraska all have byes this week, with the ‘Cats being the only team who has already played a conference game. Next week the Tigers play Colorado, and on ESPN Thursday Night Football the Huskers and Wildcats will meet for the final time as conference foes, with Big 12 North title implications most certainly on the line.

-- Josh Dockendorf, 91.9 Sports Staff