If it’s conference season, it must be time to rip the Big 12 North.
Right?
After all, the North clearly is the weaker of the two divisions that make up the Big 12 Conference.
Isn’t it?
Maybe not.
The Big 12 begins its first full weekend of conference football games Saturday, and there’s a noticeable difference in the strength of the teams competing to face the South’s winner in the Big 12 championship game.
Namely, the North is improving.
There is one 4-0 team (Missouri). Two teams are ranked in the Associated Press top 25 (No. 21 Nebraska and No. 25 Missouri), same as the South (No. 7 Texas and No. 16 Oklahoma). Colorado, which has the worst record in the conference (0-4), came within 46 seconds of beating one of the nation’s top 10 teams (Georgia) on the road. Teams up North are getting better.
What does all that mean in terms of who will win the division and try to break the South’s two-game winning streak over the North in the Big 12 championship?
Pretty much what it has in the past few seasons: It remains anyone’s game.
“I think it will be highly competitive, knowing the North,” Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said this week. “I see teams continually getting better. I see Kansas getting better. I see Kansas State playing a (No. 8) Louisville team tough.
“I just have great respect for these coaches. There are smart coaches in this division, good players, highly competitive.”
Nebraska, which hasn’t won the North since 1999, enters as the favorite. The Huskers (3-1) have the most talent and a big upside. Quarterback Zac Taylor has blossomed in his senior season, completing 70.8 percent of his passes for an average of 218 yards per game. He has eight touchdown passes and just two interceptions.
The emergence of sophomore running back Marlon Lucky has helped Nebraska keep offensive balance. He is fifth in the Big 12 in rushing at 91.2 yards per game. But more important, he averages 7.2 yards per carry.
Missouri is the North’s wild card.
The Tigers, who host Colorado on Saturday, are talented enough to compete with any team, but have a history of underachieving under coach Gary Pinkel. Nevertheless, the statistics are impressive.
Missouri is tops in the Big 12 in scoring defense (9.2 points allowed per game) and total defense (175.2 yards allowed per game), second in total offense (471.0 yards per game) and sacks (16), and third in red-zone defense.
The Tigers have the league’s fourth-leading receiver in Will Franklin (20 catches, 343 yards, four touchdowns), the third- leading rusher in Tony Temple (104.2 yards per game) and one of the league’s best defensive players in senior linebacker Marcus Bacon, who is second in the Big 12 in tackles (39), third in interceptions (two) and the leader in fumbles recovered (two).
Iowa State boasts perhaps the best trio of skill players in quarterback Bret Meyer, wide receiver Todd Blythe and running back Stevie Hicks. But because of a porous defense, the Cyclones have been forced to try to outgun opponents. Iowa State ranks last in the Big 12 and 98th in the nation in total defense, allowing 388.2 yards and 29.2 points per game.
Kansas State and Colorado have had the opposite problem. Each team has played decent defense, only to have the offense let it down more often than not. In K-State’s case, that hasn’t hurt as much because of a nonconference schedule that included Illinois State, Florida Atlantic and Marshall. When they were tested Saturday against Louisville, the Wildcats managed a mere six points.
Colorado knows few points well. It is by far the worst scoring offense in the conference, averaging just 9.0 points per game. Even Baylor, which is second to last, has CU beat by 13 points per game (22.2 average).
“We have to take what the offense gives us,” CU defensive lineman George Hypolite said. “If they score 13, then we have to hold the other team to 12.”
The Buffs showed signs of life last week in a 14-13 loss at Georgia. That game has led some to believe there may be life in Boulder after all, and CU players are counting on being a sleeper for the Big 12 championship game, where the Buffs have a 1-3 record.
Kansas has talent in spots but also has issues on both sides to iron out. The Jayhawks have been strong at home, though, winning nine straight. But their toughest North contests will be on the road – against Nebraska, Iowa State and Missouri.
“I just think it’s so wide open right now and so much football to be played,” Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. “It makes it exciting for all of us.”
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
