Big 12 Bookend
November 24th, 2009 by James Lawrence
Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson (thanks Icon SMI)
Last week featured a Thursday night game between Colorado and Oklahoma State, an ugly affair where the Cowboys’ offense struggled mightily with Zac Robinson watching from the bench. Third-stringer Brandon Weeden did just enough to get the job done in the second half, but it was Keith Toston with 172 yards rushing, 45 yards receiving, and 2 TDs who was the big fantasy play. Tyler Hansen performed well for the Buffs, but 169 yards passing won’t cut it for fantasy lines, even though he did throw for 2 TDs. One special teams score for each team made this look less like the offensive failure that it was.
Oklahoma continued their season-long fall to mediocrity, getting blown out by Texas Tech on the road. I’m not looking too deeply into the 41 points and 549 yards the Sooner defense gave up — Mike Leach’s offenses are difficult enough to stop when your own offense doesn’t go 3-and-out on every meaningful possession in the second quarter; by the time it was 24-6 early in the third, momentum had taken over. What’s surprising is the degree to which Oklahoma’s offense failed against a relatively mediocre Tech defensive unit. Fantasy-wise, Baron Batch was the star of the game with 136 yards on the ground, 68 yards receiving, and 2 TDs. Alexander Torres caught 11 passes for 163 yards and a score, and Taylor Potts quieted the QB controversy in Lubbock by completing 66% of his passes for 388 yards and 2 TDs.
Blaine Gabbert had another strong outing against Iowa State and appears to have recovered from his midseason doldrums. The QB threw for 337 yards and 2 TDs, most of that again going to Danario Alexander who had 173 yards in receptions and one score. The Cyclones’ offense was largely ineffective, but receiver Darius Darks did have 107 yards and a TD.
If Baylor was a “must-win” game for A&M, the Aggies at least delivered that much, cruising to a 38-3 victory. Jerrod Johnson accounted for 3 TDs, throwing for just 153 yards but chipping in 83 on the ground. Two Aggie backs topped 100 yards – Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray, and Michael added two TDs including a 97-yarder.
Nebraska continued to grind their way to a Big 12 North title, setting up a showdown with Texas for the conference championship and a chance to avenge their conference championship defeat at the hands of the Longhorns in 1996 that cost the Huskers any chance at defending back-to-back national championships. This was an ugly defensive game in which NU was actually outgained but benefitted from being +1 in turnovers and from KSU missing two FGs. Roy Helu ran for 95 yards and a TD, and that is really the only player from this game you’d want to have used in week 12.
Colt McCoy had the kind of performance against Kansas that jumps a player back into the Heisman discussion list, completing 78% of his passes for 396 yards and 4 TDs. Jordan Shipley again was the Horns’ leading receiver, but this was a much more rounded effort with Malcolm Williams and James Kirkendoll each having plenty of receptions. Kansas’ offense was held in check as we expected, but Dezmon Briscoe had 101 yards receiving and a 98 yard kickoff return TD.
Week 13 Previews
It’s league championship week in college fantasy football, and it’s rivalry week in the Big 12.
Things get kicking on Thursday, when Texas travels to College Station to take on Texas A&M. The Longhorns are looking to finish a perfect regular season en route to the conference championship, while the Aggies have wrapped up bowl eligibility but would love to ruin Texas’ title hopes. A year ago, Texas fans brought “45-35″ signs to this game hoping to remind voters of their win over puzzlingly #2 Oklahoma, and the team scored the most lopsided Longhorn victory in the series, a 49-9 beatdown that would lead the human voters to move the Longhorns back above the Sooners by the thinnest of margins. While Texas is not the offensive juggernaut it was a year ago, the defense is much improved, and I am expecting another lopsided game. Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley are the obvious plays for the Longhorns, with Williams and Kirkendoll being decent starts. Jerrod Johnson is likely to be the only Aggie to put up good fantasy numbers, as he should be able to get some yardage scrambling.
Friday afternoon, Nebraska travels to Colorado in what should be another ugly, low-scoring game involving the Cornhuskers. Colorado has had offensive line and QB issues all season, something that will not bode well against one of the conference’s best defenses featuring its top defensive line. However, Nebraska’s offense has struggled against almost every team it has faced. Once again, Roy Helu is the only player here worth starting unless you are really in a bind.
Saturday at noon, Oklahoma State will travel to Oklahoma for their in-state rivalry. Last year this was a thrilling shootout, with Oklahoma winning 61-41. The Cowboys have not won this game since 2002, and are 3-8 against Oklahoma in the BCS era. Additionally, the game is played in Norman, where the Sooners have gone 5-0 this year, although the competition may have somethig to do with that. Oklahoma State will be the favorites, and if they are ever going to challenge Oklahoma for in-state supremacy, this will be the year. I expect Oklahoma to dominate both sides of the ball – with their defense shutting down an offense that has struggled all season and may be without Zac Robinson again, and with the own offense continuing to flounder with offensive line struggles and turnover issues. Expect another defensive struggle, and mediocre performances from Landry Jones and Keith Toston may be all you’re getting out of this game in your fantasy leagues.
That afternoon, Missouri and Kansas face off at the neutral-site Border War in St Louis. Though both teams may appear similar, Missouri is a team on the rise and Kansas is an embattled team on the decline. I expect the Tigers to score easily, and the Jayhawks to score enough to keep it interesting through two or three quarters. Blaine Gabbert, Danario Alexander, and Dezmon Briscoe should all have big games, and Todd Reesing is probably the 4th-strongest QB start in the conference this week.
Then in the evening, Texas Tech travels to Baylor in a game that should be the blowout everyone expected last season, but surprisingly didn’t get as the Red Raiders had to come back from 14-28 to win 35-28. You’ll want to play Taylor Potts and Baron Batch, along with whatever Tech receivers you may have, particularly Alexander Torres, Detron Lewis, and Tramain Swindall.
Kansas State and Iowa State have the week off.
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