kevpks
10/17/2007, 04:53 PM
http://cfn.scout.com/2/691351.html
Offensive Player of the Midseason
Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
Defensive Player of the Midseason
Jordon Dizon, LB Colorado
Ten best Big 12 players in the first half of the season
1. Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
2. Graham Harrell, QB Texas Tech
3. Chase Daniel, QB Missouri
4. Jordon Dizon, LB Colorado
5. Jordy Nelson, WR/PR Kansas State
6. Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
7. Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma
8. Reggie Smith, CB Oklahoma
9. Todd Reesing, QB Kansas
10. Duke Robinson, OG Oklahoma
Biggest Surprise – Kansas
Kansas is ranked ahead of USC in the initial BCS rankings. Like anyone could've ever seen that coming. Despite losing the best player in the Big 12, RB Jon Cornish, the offense got even better, while the defense has been dominant all year long. KU isn't just winning, it's winning big.
Biggest Disappointment – Nebraska
This was supposed to be when it all came together for the Huskers. Bill Callahan had his recruits in place, he had a bombing quarterback in Sam Keller, and he had the offensive personnel to build on a North title winning season. Unfortunately, the defensive line has been awful, and the offense has gone into the tank just when it was supposed to hit its stride. Now the program is looking for a new athletic director.
The Big 12 Champion will be ... Oklahoma over Missouri
You saw round one in Norman, and you'll get the second version in a few weeks. Missouri will come up with a win over Kansas to ruin the Jayhawk dream season, but will lose the rematch to the Sooners. The OU running game will bring Bob Stoops a second straight Big 12 title.
Best Game of the First Half
Oklahoma State 49 ... Texas Tech 45, Sept. 22
In one of the wildest games of the year, Texas Tech threw for 646 yards, Oklahoma State ran for 366, but it was through the air that the Cowboys pulled off the win, as Brandon Pettigrew hauled in a 54-yard touchdown catch with 1:37 to play for a four-point lead. But Graham Harrell and the Texas Tech passing game wouldn't be done, getting down to the OSU 15 before finally sputtering out on a fourth down incomplete pass. Each team score 21 second quarter points, with Michael Crabtree catching two of his three touchdown passes, both from two yards out, on the way to a Red Raider lead, while OSU kept pace with a 46-yard Kendall Hunter touchdown run and a 48-yard Zac Robinson dash. Tech got 14 catches for 237 yards and three touchdowns from Crabtree, and 14 catches for 233 yards and a score from Danny Amendola. Three different players ran for over 100 yards for OSU.
Second Best Game – Colorado 27 ... Oklahoma 24, Sept. 29
Third Best Game – Texas A&M 47 ... Fresno State 45 3OT, Sept. 8
Worst Game of the First Half
Kansas 62 ... SE Louisiana 0, Sept. 8
Kansas didn't have to break a sweat to win as SE Louisiana managed just 75 yards of total offense and was stuffed for -31 rushing yards. Marcus Herford returned a kickoff following a safety 74 yards for a touchdown, and then Brandon McAnderson took over with two second quarter touchdown runs. Todd Reesing threw two touchdown passes, highlighted b a 36-yard pass to Agib Talib. Jake Sharp scored twice in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard pass from Kerry Meier and on a three-yard run.
Coach of the Midseason – Mark Mangino, Kansas
The competition hasn't exactly been a killer, but in the year of the upset, 6-0 is 6-0. Outside of the punting, there isn't a weakness to be found with the nation's No. 7 offense, No. 4 defense, No. 2 scoring offense, and No. 2 scoring defense.
Player who'll step up in the second half – Nate Jones, WR Texas
With Limas Sweed out for the year, QB Colt McCoy will start spreading the ball around more. TE/WR Jermichael Finley will be even more of a factor, but Jones will be the number one target, like he was against Iowa State with seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Best performance so far - In a losing cause, Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell completed 46 of 67 passes for 646 yards and five touchdown passes in the 49-45 loss to Oklahoma State.
Top Freshman – Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree
The dominant player of the first half of the season, Crabtree has been unstoppable around the goal line, and has rewritten the record book in just seven games. Even when he's not scoring, he's changing games, like he did against Texas A&M with a brilliant play on a slant pattern to lead to a touchdown that all but ended the game. He's the real deal.
Coach who needs to have a big second half – Texas A&M’s Dennis Franchione
Considering all his off-the-field problems, anything less than a brilliant second half of the year will all but end Coach Fran's tumultuous reign. That's easier said than done, playing at Nebraska, Kansas, at Oklahoma, at Missouri, and Texas.
Player who needs to have a big second half – Stephen McGee, QB Texas A&M
The second half of the season is brutal, and to have any shot of getting through alive, McGee will have to get more out of the passing game. He can throw, but he hasn't gotten enough of a chance, and he hasn't gotten enough from his receivers. A&M can't stay last in the Big 12 in passing, and it can't be as inefficient as it's been, to have any chance of getting to nine wins.
Best remaining conference game – Kansas vs. Missouri (in Kansas City), Nov. 24
Played in Kansas City, it'll be a battle for the North title, and even more. If Kansas is as good as it's been, it'll be unbeaten and in the national title hunt going into the showdown. This will easily be the biggest football game ever played between the longtime basketball rivals.
Team Mid-Season MVPs & Predictions
North
Colorado – LB Jordon Dizon
predicted wins: at Iowa State, Nebraska
predicted losses: Kansas, at Texas Tech, Missouri
predicted record: 6-6
Iowa State – LB Alvin Bowen
predicted wins: None
predicted losses: Oklahoma, at Missouri, Kansas State, Colorado, at Kansas
predicted record: 1-11
Kansas – CB/WR Aqib Talib
predicted wins: Nebraska, at Colorado, at Texas A&M, at Oklahoma State, Iowa State
predicted losses: Missouri
predicted record: 11-1
Kansas State – WR Jordy Nelson
predicted wins: Baylor, at Iowa State, at Nebraska, at Fresno State
predicted losses: at Oklahoma State, Missouri
predicted record: 8-4
Missouri – QB Chase Daniel
predicted wins: Texas Tech, Iowa State, at Colorado, Texas A&M, at Kansas State, Kansas
predicted losses: None
predicted record: 11-1
Nebraska – RB Marlon Lucky
predicted wins: Texas A&M
predicted losses: at Texas, at Kansas, Kansas State, at Colorado
predicted record: 5-7
South
Baylor – QB Blake Szymanski
predicted wins: None
predicted losses: Texas, at Kansas State, Texas Tech, at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
predicted record: 3-9
Oklahoma – QB Sam Bradford
predicted wins: at Iowa State, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State
predicted losses: at Texas Tech
predicted record: 10-2
Oklahoma State – WR Adarius Bowman
predicted wins: Kansas State, at Baylor
predicted losses: Texas, Kansas, at Oklahoma
predicted record: 6-6
Texas – RB Jamaal Charles
predicted wins: at Baylor, Nebraska, at Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
predicted losses: at Texas A&M
predicted record: 9-3
Texas A&M – RB Jorvorskie Lane
predicted wins: Texas
predicted losses: at Texas Tech, Kansas, at Nebraska, at Oklahoma, at Missouri
predicted record: 6-6
Texas Tech – WR Michael Crabtree
predicted wins: Colorado, at Baylor, Oklahoma
predicted losses: at Missouri, at Texas
predicted record: 9-3
Offensive Player of the Midseason
Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
Defensive Player of the Midseason
Jordon Dizon, LB Colorado
Ten best Big 12 players in the first half of the season
1. Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
2. Graham Harrell, QB Texas Tech
3. Chase Daniel, QB Missouri
4. Jordon Dizon, LB Colorado
5. Jordy Nelson, WR/PR Kansas State
6. Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
7. Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma
8. Reggie Smith, CB Oklahoma
9. Todd Reesing, QB Kansas
10. Duke Robinson, OG Oklahoma
Biggest Surprise – Kansas
Kansas is ranked ahead of USC in the initial BCS rankings. Like anyone could've ever seen that coming. Despite losing the best player in the Big 12, RB Jon Cornish, the offense got even better, while the defense has been dominant all year long. KU isn't just winning, it's winning big.
Biggest Disappointment – Nebraska
This was supposed to be when it all came together for the Huskers. Bill Callahan had his recruits in place, he had a bombing quarterback in Sam Keller, and he had the offensive personnel to build on a North title winning season. Unfortunately, the defensive line has been awful, and the offense has gone into the tank just when it was supposed to hit its stride. Now the program is looking for a new athletic director.
The Big 12 Champion will be ... Oklahoma over Missouri
You saw round one in Norman, and you'll get the second version in a few weeks. Missouri will come up with a win over Kansas to ruin the Jayhawk dream season, but will lose the rematch to the Sooners. The OU running game will bring Bob Stoops a second straight Big 12 title.
Best Game of the First Half
Oklahoma State 49 ... Texas Tech 45, Sept. 22
In one of the wildest games of the year, Texas Tech threw for 646 yards, Oklahoma State ran for 366, but it was through the air that the Cowboys pulled off the win, as Brandon Pettigrew hauled in a 54-yard touchdown catch with 1:37 to play for a four-point lead. But Graham Harrell and the Texas Tech passing game wouldn't be done, getting down to the OSU 15 before finally sputtering out on a fourth down incomplete pass. Each team score 21 second quarter points, with Michael Crabtree catching two of his three touchdown passes, both from two yards out, on the way to a Red Raider lead, while OSU kept pace with a 46-yard Kendall Hunter touchdown run and a 48-yard Zac Robinson dash. Tech got 14 catches for 237 yards and three touchdowns from Crabtree, and 14 catches for 233 yards and a score from Danny Amendola. Three different players ran for over 100 yards for OSU.
Second Best Game – Colorado 27 ... Oklahoma 24, Sept. 29
Third Best Game – Texas A&M 47 ... Fresno State 45 3OT, Sept. 8
Worst Game of the First Half
Kansas 62 ... SE Louisiana 0, Sept. 8
Kansas didn't have to break a sweat to win as SE Louisiana managed just 75 yards of total offense and was stuffed for -31 rushing yards. Marcus Herford returned a kickoff following a safety 74 yards for a touchdown, and then Brandon McAnderson took over with two second quarter touchdown runs. Todd Reesing threw two touchdown passes, highlighted b a 36-yard pass to Agib Talib. Jake Sharp scored twice in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard pass from Kerry Meier and on a three-yard run.
Coach of the Midseason – Mark Mangino, Kansas
The competition hasn't exactly been a killer, but in the year of the upset, 6-0 is 6-0. Outside of the punting, there isn't a weakness to be found with the nation's No. 7 offense, No. 4 defense, No. 2 scoring offense, and No. 2 scoring defense.
Player who'll step up in the second half – Nate Jones, WR Texas
With Limas Sweed out for the year, QB Colt McCoy will start spreading the ball around more. TE/WR Jermichael Finley will be even more of a factor, but Jones will be the number one target, like he was against Iowa State with seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Best performance so far - In a losing cause, Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell completed 46 of 67 passes for 646 yards and five touchdown passes in the 49-45 loss to Oklahoma State.
Top Freshman – Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree
The dominant player of the first half of the season, Crabtree has been unstoppable around the goal line, and has rewritten the record book in just seven games. Even when he's not scoring, he's changing games, like he did against Texas A&M with a brilliant play on a slant pattern to lead to a touchdown that all but ended the game. He's the real deal.
Coach who needs to have a big second half – Texas A&M’s Dennis Franchione
Considering all his off-the-field problems, anything less than a brilliant second half of the year will all but end Coach Fran's tumultuous reign. That's easier said than done, playing at Nebraska, Kansas, at Oklahoma, at Missouri, and Texas.
Player who needs to have a big second half – Stephen McGee, QB Texas A&M
The second half of the season is brutal, and to have any shot of getting through alive, McGee will have to get more out of the passing game. He can throw, but he hasn't gotten enough of a chance, and he hasn't gotten enough from his receivers. A&M can't stay last in the Big 12 in passing, and it can't be as inefficient as it's been, to have any chance of getting to nine wins.
Best remaining conference game – Kansas vs. Missouri (in Kansas City), Nov. 24
Played in Kansas City, it'll be a battle for the North title, and even more. If Kansas is as good as it's been, it'll be unbeaten and in the national title hunt going into the showdown. This will easily be the biggest football game ever played between the longtime basketball rivals.
Team Mid-Season MVPs & Predictions
North
Colorado – LB Jordon Dizon
predicted wins: at Iowa State, Nebraska
predicted losses: Kansas, at Texas Tech, Missouri
predicted record: 6-6
Iowa State – LB Alvin Bowen
predicted wins: None
predicted losses: Oklahoma, at Missouri, Kansas State, Colorado, at Kansas
predicted record: 1-11
Kansas – CB/WR Aqib Talib
predicted wins: Nebraska, at Colorado, at Texas A&M, at Oklahoma State, Iowa State
predicted losses: Missouri
predicted record: 11-1
Kansas State – WR Jordy Nelson
predicted wins: Baylor, at Iowa State, at Nebraska, at Fresno State
predicted losses: at Oklahoma State, Missouri
predicted record: 8-4
Missouri – QB Chase Daniel
predicted wins: Texas Tech, Iowa State, at Colorado, Texas A&M, at Kansas State, Kansas
predicted losses: None
predicted record: 11-1
Nebraska – RB Marlon Lucky
predicted wins: Texas A&M
predicted losses: at Texas, at Kansas, Kansas State, at Colorado
predicted record: 5-7
South
Baylor – QB Blake Szymanski
predicted wins: None
predicted losses: Texas, at Kansas State, Texas Tech, at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
predicted record: 3-9
Oklahoma – QB Sam Bradford
predicted wins: at Iowa State, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State
predicted losses: at Texas Tech
predicted record: 10-2
Oklahoma State – WR Adarius Bowman
predicted wins: Kansas State, at Baylor
predicted losses: Texas, Kansas, at Oklahoma
predicted record: 6-6
Texas – RB Jamaal Charles
predicted wins: at Baylor, Nebraska, at Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
predicted losses: at Texas A&M
predicted record: 9-3
Texas A&M – RB Jorvorskie Lane
predicted wins: Texas
predicted losses: at Texas Tech, Kansas, at Nebraska, at Oklahoma, at Missouri
predicted record: 6-6
Texas Tech – WR Michael Crabtree
predicted wins: Colorado, at Baylor, Oklahoma
predicted losses: at Missouri, at Texas
predicted record: 9-3