Three-Way Ties For Everyone
Okay, figuring out who is the champion of the south is impossible. In the case of a three-way tie, I believe all three teams should be disqualified and the last place team in the division should be awarded the Big 12 Championship birth. Or maybe we should give it to the winner of some lightweight conference like the Mountain West, Conference USA or the Big 10.
Anyway, I finally resolved it in my mind by giving each type of game a point value:
Road Win = 6
Neutral Win = 5
Home Win = 4
Road Loss = 3
Neutral Loss = 2
Home Loss = 1
Accounting for only the games played between Tech, OU and Texas the points are as follows -- Texas 8, Texas Tech 7 and Oklahoma 6. I'm still going to rank OU ahead of Tech, but I'm going to give Texas my top spot for now.
I'd also like to point out that NU, MU and KU all went 4-1 in their division and the only reason we avoided a three-way in the north is due to the extra loss KU took against south teams. MU and Nebraska each picked up their only south win against Baylor. Could I even make an argument that OU, Texas and Tech don't have it as rough as KU because we actually had to play all three of them -- they only have to play two. Oh well, the rotation comes back in 2010/2011 and that'll be just right for the new QB.
1 (A+ 98%) - Texas (11-1)
Really, make the interception in Lubbock and we avoid all of this. Of course, if there was a playoff, Texas would probably get over the Conference title loss due to a chance for redemption on the national stage. Hmm, maybe that makes the case for the bowl system and how it creates huge regular season games that really matter. I don't know, I think I'm still with Mike Leach on the 64-team playoff system.
(HD rank 4-4-3-3-3-3-1-1-1-2-2-2-2-1)
2 (A+ 98%) - Oklahoma (11-1)
The Sooners are going to have to win out to get back to the top of my poll.
(HD rank 1-1-1-1-1-1-3-3-3-3-3-3-1-2)
3 (A 92%) - Texas Tech (11-1)
You kind of wonder if it's ever going to happen for Tech. I'd petition to join the North.
(HD rank 5-5-4-4-4-4-4-4-2-1-1-1-3-3-3)
4 (B+ 89%) - Oklahoma State (9-3)
Definitely not ready for primetime yet. Still a 9-3 season is a pretty good jump from a 6-6 regular season result last year.
(HD rank 6-6-6-7-6-6-2-2-4-4-4-4-4-4)
5 (B+ 88%) - Missouri (9-3)
The Chase Daniel era is fading away, but that changes drastically if the Tigers come up with something to take down Oklahoma at Arrowhead. They should note that KU battled the Sooners for a while down in Norman.
(HD rank 2-2-2-2-2-2-5-5-5-5-5-5-5)
6 (B+ 88%) - Nebraska (8-4)
The Huskers snatched one away from CU with an amazing 57-yard surprise field goal. Doesn't seem like the Corn should have struggled that much at home, but it is a rivalry game. Will they move it to Denver?
(HD rank 8-7-7-8-8-8-9-7-6-7-6-6-6-6)
7 (B+ 87%) - Kansas (7-5)
Personally, I feel like we're a better team than both MU and NU, but you've got to go with the results on the field and the Huskers got us pretty good in Lincoln. I guess Phil Steele nailed it with third place and a 7-5 record, but I think we were a lot closer to 9-3 than he would have imagined. Of course, we were also a lot closer to 5-7 than I ever would have imagined.
(HD rank 3-3-5-6-5-5-6-6-7-6-7-7-7-7)
8 (C 75%) Baylor (4-8)
Yes, I raised the Bears five percent after a road loss. This is a dangerous team and it'll be interesting to see what they bring to the table next year.
(HD rank 11-11-10-9-9-10-8-10-10-8-8-8-8-8)
9 (D 65%) - Kansas State (5-7)
You're still going to keep the Power Towel promo right? I'm still bringing it to every game.
(HD rank 9-9-9-10-10-11-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9)
10 (D- 61%) Texas A&M (4-8)
Did the Aggies really do the right thing?
(HD rank 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-11-11-10-10-10-10-10)
11 (D- 60%) - Colorado (5-7)
Pretty good defense for the Buffs ... too bad they couldn't get a hand up.
(HD rank 7-8-8-5-7-7-10-8-8-11-11-11-11-11)
12 (F- 49%) Iowa State (2-11)
Still securing the bottom spot.
(HD rank 10-10-11-11-11-9-11-12-12-12-12-12-12-12)