Around the North | Week #8

Screaming for Vengeance

Respect. It will be earned one team at a time for Kansas (7-0, 3-0). Teams in the north understand what the Hawks are all about, but the south division teams probably assume that there is some sort of typo when they look at KU's record. The Jayhawks aren't even on the Aggies radar at this point. But this Saturday's trip to College Station isn't about 8-0, BCS rankings or getting closer to that north division title. It's about one game, one chance to avenge the aborted win at Memorial Stadium last year. It ended KU's nine-game win streak in Lawrence and rocked the foundation of Mark Mangino's regime in Lawrence. It won't be quite like the media circus that the visit from Texas will generate next year, but for revenge games, this re-match with the Aggies ranks near the top of the list. Get some. Kansas opened as a 2-point favorite for the road trip to College Station.

It's official. Missouri (6-1, 2-1) has a defense. I think you get invited to the White House if you hold Texas Tech to 10 points. The Border War = the Battle for the North. Kansas City wanted to land a Super Bowl. This will be even better. The Tigers are a 28.5-point favorite versus Iowa State in Columbia this Saturday.

Well, I suppose Kansas State (4-3, 2-2) deserved that after stealing last year's matchup with OSU. It was cruel though. The Wildcats have officially entered the "need help" zone for their division title hopes. The Cats will start thinking about securing the seven wins needed for a bowl as the schedule turns favorable -- Baylor, @ISU and @Nebraska. They can play spoiler when Mizzou comes to town on November 17. This week the Wildcats are 24.5 favorites this Saturday versus Baylor.

The loss to KU was pretty much the last stand for Colorado (4-4, 2-2) as far as division hopes go. Still, it's a pretty good turn around for the Buffs this year. They'll want to win three of the next four to secure a bowl bid (KU doctrine -- six wins probably doesn't do it). They travel to Tech this week, then host Missouri. They'll have to win one of those two, but the schedule closes out with winnable games at Iowa State and a visit from the Cornhuskers. This Saturday CU is 12.5-point underdog in Lubbock.

For Nebraska (4-4, 1-3) fans this might be a good time to take up a new Saturday hobby. It should get better next year, but the Huskers have a horrible stretch coming up -- @Texas, @Kansas, Kansas State, @Colorado. On the flip side, Double Extra Point is the hands down winner in the photography category for Big 12 blogs for 207. The Corn opened as a 20-point underdog to Texas.

Great scott! What am I to make of Iowa State (1-6, 0-3) holding OU to 17 points? Let's spin it this way -- OU may not be as good as everyone thinks. How about this? The North and South are pretty even this year. Credit the Clones for fighting hard at home. I'm glad we don't have to go to Jack Trice this year. If ISU can give Mizzou a game in Columbia, Gene Chizik will start making friends in Ames.

North Sagarin Rankings -- Rank/Schedule
Kansas -- 2/117
Missouri -- 13/48
Kansas St -- 18/14
Colorado -- 38/7
Nebraska -- 63/23
Iowa St -- 126/41

Full Rankings