Around the North | Week #6

Border Power: Tigers and Hawks Look Legit

Well, the Cornhuskers were supposed to expose the Missouri (5-0) defense this Saturday. I guess that didn't quite happen. A Corn loss was expected, but it was supposed to be a shootout. With a defense that can hold a division rival to six points, the Tigers are officially legit. Illinois helps the case as well. If Missouri goes into Norman and picks up a win, they can start thinking about a lot more than a conference championship. OU opened as a 10-point favorite.

It was survive and advance in Manhattan this Saturday and Kansas (5-0) moves on as the number one challenger to Missouri in the North. There's a lot of football to play before Arrowhead on November 24 and KU will have to start by avoiding a Bear trap this Saturday. With revenge in mind, the Hawks should survive the Baylor visit. The question is will the Hawks be able to address a few of the annoying little issues that surfaced on Saturday -- dropped balls and fielding punts mainly. KU opens as a 23.5 point favorite.

Colorado (4-2) is perfectly positioned in the race to secure the north. First, they actually have a one-game advantage over #11 Missouri and #20 Kansas with a 2-0 Big 12 record. More importantly, Mizzou is wearing the target right now and will have to take everyone's best shot. The Buffs actually are rated lower than KU as well, thanks to the two non-con losses. The Buffs can play the disrepect card for motivation the next few weeks. The true measure comes this weekend in Manhattan. The Buffs open as a 4.5 point underdog.

Kansas State (4-2) hates to lose to KU, but if the Cats can put it into perpective as a tough loss to a good team, they can still factor into the overall race. There's no time to wallow in misery, as It actually starts this Saturday when Colorado comes to town. If they can re-focus for the Buffs, the rest of the schedule plays out pretty well. Later in the year, they have to travel to Lincoln, but they get the Tigers in Manhattan.

We've lived most of our lives hearing about the great Nebraska (4-2) fans. It was easy when the Huskers dominated. I suspect that we'll now find they are pretty much like all sports fans. Of couse, losing to the dark force from the east is enough to drive anyone over the edge. It's pretty much desparation time for Callahan. OSU and A&M are coming to town and a loss to either one would probably do it for the BC era -- especially if a score gets ugly. Vegas still likes the Corn though -- the Huskers open as 5-point favorites against the Cowboys.

Three straight away games wasn't really what the doctor orderd for Iowa State (1-5). Luckily for Gene Chizik, you are usually granted an exception in year one. The 2006 Cyclones helped set the bar pretty low as well. Of course, I'll bet Gene had no idea that it would be quite like this. I wonder how the reunion with Mack will go this Saturday in Ames. The Cyclones open as 16.5-point dog.

North Sagarin Rankings -- Rank/Schedule
Kansas -- 13/138
Missouri -- 15/90
Kansas St -- 27/30
Colorado -- 29/13
Nebraska -- 36/22
Iowa St -- 109/52

Full Rankings