Air MidwestI’m going to plan on a post of this sort after each weekend’s games. Don’t expect to read anything earth-shattering (few tables), but I’ve always got some thoughts on the games played – especially in the Big 12. Thus, I probably won’t have much to say about those SECers or those Big 10ers or those PAC10ers. Besides, is there football outside of the Big 12?
I’m still trying to figure out how Nebraska scored 27 points in the fourth quarter against Missouri. It reminds me of the days when NU used to take KU to the woodshed with 54 points by halftime. Of course, they usually ended up 64-7, but as KU fans remember, the games weren’t that close. Although I doubt that Nebraska can regain the glory they had, it’s possible. If so, that would be a big negative to KU, KSU and MU.
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Versus the line. Minus means underdog in this case.
| Line | Margin | Result | |
| Baylor | -25 | -26 | Lost by 1 |
| Colorado | -32.5 | -24 | Beat by 8.5 |
| Iowa St. | -20 | -5 | Beat by 15 |
| Kansas | +20 | +5 | Lost by 15 |
| Kansas St. | -16 | -52 | Lost by 36 |
| Missouri | -3 | -15 | Lost by 12 |
| Nebraska | +3 | +15 | Beat by 12 |
| Oklahoma | +25 | +26 | Beat by 1 |
| Oklahoma St. | +5.5 | +5 | Lost by 0.5 |
| Texas | +32.5 | +24 | Lost by 8.5 |
| Texas A&M | -5.5 | -5 | Beat by 0.5 |
| Texas Tech | +16 | +52 | Beat by 36 |
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K-State’s obliteration at the hands of Texas Tech had me scratching my head. When was the last time in NCAA history that a back-up quarterback threw for 491 yards and seven TDs against a BCS team? The answer may well be “never”. At halftime he had 367 yards and five TDs.
Naturally, that leads to the question of whether you or I could drop back in Tech’s system and rack up a few hundred yards and a few TDs. Is it that they are getting great QBs or does the system guarantee it? I drug my feet on this issue up until today. There is simply no way on earth that a back up QB can throw for almost 500 yards and seven TDs unless the system makes the quarterback. That being the case, you have to wonder why every college team doesn’t adopt the offense. If you can’t stop it, isn’t that kind of the point of an offensive system? And, of course, the answer is that more and more teams are adopting a similar style – especially in the Big 12.
I understand that Tech’s back up quarterback was once a walk-on? How would you like to have a walk-on QB who throws for 491 yards and seven TDs?
BTW: If you are wondering, the QB rating for such a game which included 33-41 with one interception is 232.6! The single season D1 record is 198.3 and the career D1 record is 176.7.
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KU’s defense is abysmal! Over the last six Big 12 contests going back to last season, they have allowed at least 21 points (K-State). And, in the other five they allowed at least 35 points! They have averaged giving up 40.8 ppg! While wondering if any other team in Division one is working on six consecutive games of allowing 40.8ppg in conference. Yet, KU is 5-0 this season and will probably move up another spot or so in the rankings. One more week of fantasy football before the schedule provides a dose of reality.
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Nebraska has 3 tough games - home vs Tech, home vs Oklahoma and at Kansas. Missouri with 3 also - at OSU, home vs Texas and at Kansas. However, Kansas has 5 - home vs Oklahoma, at Tech, home vs Nebraska, at Texas, home vs Missouri. Obviously, NU has a big advantage at this point in the north.
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How many times in NCAA history has a school had two receivers who both passed the previous school career leader in receptions ... in the same game?
How many times in NCAA history has a school had two receivers who in the same game had two fo the top top five most receptions in school history?
In case you didn’t know, KU’s Meier and Briscoe are now #1 and #4 for single game receptions. They are #1 and #6 in career yardage. They are #1 and #2 in career receptions. All the applicable tables are in today’s Star.
BTW: In case you were wondering, the record for most receptions in a game for KU is now 16, but the Big 12 is 18 and the NCAA is 24!
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I’m not convinced Texas is all that strong this season. Of course, I don’t know who should be #2 if not the Longhorns. But, there can be no possible excuse for trailing Colorado 14-3 just before halftime. In their other losses, CU trailed 20-3 to Colorado State, 23-3 to Toledo and 14-10 to West Virginia at the half.
Oklahoma didn’t appear too impressive winning 33-7 against the Griffin-less Baylor Bears. However, the final score is misleading. OU had 589 yards, but coughed up four fumbles. Bradford had a successful comeback with 386 yards – although only one TD.
And, a final score of 36-31 (OSU over A&M) is exactly what you might have expected considering the game was at A&M and OSU was without Bryant. It took days for Vegas to set the line, but the last I saw before the game, it was 5.5. Since you can’t score half a point, that’s about as close as you can get.