College Confidential

Best college FB team in Texas? Sagarin Ratings say Aggies, then Horns; both ranked in Top 10 nationally

After Saturday’s losses by Texas and TCU, there are no more undefeated major-college football teams in the Lone Star State. But several have only one loss. So, which team is best?

While voters in both the Associated Press and coaches polls sided this week with Texas (4-1), the No. 15 team in both polls, the Sagarin College Football Ratings selected Texas A&M (4-1). And the computer-generated rankings have the Aggies ranked sixth in the nation, two spots ahead of Texas, in A&M’s first season as an SEC member. TCU (4-1) is 19th.

The Sagarin Ratings, used in BCS calculations, also have five SEC schools ranked among the top seven teams in the country: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 South Carolina, No. 5 Florida, No. 6 A&M and No. 7 LSU.

A pair of Big 12 teams ranked in the Top 10 of both voter polls, Kansas State and West Virginia, come in at No. 12 (K-State) and No. 15 (West Virginia) with Sagarin. K-State is behind No. 11 Oklahoma, a team the Wildcats (5-0) defeated in Norman, Okla. West Virginia (5-0) is behind No. 8 Texas, a team the Mountaineers defeated in Austin.

Below is a look at where college football teams from Texas, as well as Big 12 schools, fell in this week’s Sagarin College Football Ratings:

6. Texas A&M (4-1)
8. Texas (4-1)
11. Oklahoma (3-1)
12. Kansas State (5-0)
15. West Virginia (5-0)
19. TCU (4-1)
22. Oklahoma State (2-2)
26. Texas Tech (4-1)
30. Baylor (3-1)
32. Iowa State (4-1)
68. SMU (2-3)
92. Houston (2-3)
107. Kansas (1-4)
123. UTEP (1-5)
127. North Texas (2-4)
129. Rice (1-5)
136. UTSA (5-0)

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor guard Jackson selected Big 12 BKB Preseason Player of Year

Baylor point guard Pierre Jackson has been selected as the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year in balloting by the league’s men’s basketball coaches. Other individual honorees, selected by coaches and announced Thursday, include Oklahoma forward Amath M’Baye (Preseason Newcomer of the Year) _ a transfer from Wyoming _ and Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart (Preseason Freshman of the Year).

Joining Jackson on the first-team squad was Texas guard Myck Kabongo, Kansas center Jeff Withey, Kansas State forward Rodney McGruder and Oklahoma State guard/forward Le’Bryan Nash. Jackson, a senior, averaged 13.8 points and dished out 223 assists last season while leading Baylor to a 30-8 record and a berth in the Elite Eight.
 
Below is a breakdown of each honoree, as provided by league officials, as well as information about the first-team all-conference members selected by Big 12 coaches:

      Jackson leads BU after dishing out 223 assists last season, the second-best total in school history.  He is third among returning Big 12 scorers (13.8 ppg) and had 27 double-figure scoring efforts in 2011-12, including an average of 17.6 points in the final eight contests.  He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and earned honorable mention All-America recognition from the Associated Press.
 
      M’Baye sat out last season after transferring from the University of Wyoming.  He is expected to make an immediate impact for the Sooners after starting all 31 games as a sophomore in 2010-11, averaging 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds with 29 blocks.  M’Baye is just the second foreign native in Big 12 history to earn one of the three major preseason awards. Victor Avila of Oklahoma (native of Mexico) was picked as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year in 1998-99.
 
      Smart was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas and led his high school to back-to-back state championships.  He averaged 15.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.8 steals while shooting 66.9 percent.  This summer, he started all five games as Team USA won the FIBA Americas U18 Championships.  Smart is the second straight OSU player to be named top freshman in the preseason (Le’Bryan Nash) and third in league history (Desmond Mason, 1996-97).
 
      The Preseason All-Big 12 team was also announced.  In addition to Jackson, Jeff Withey (Kansas), Rodney McGruder (K-State), Le'Bryan Nash (Oklahoma State) and Myck Kabongo (Texas) were recognized.
 
Preseason Player of the Year
    Pierre Jackson, Baylor, G, 5-10, 180, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines/College of Southern Idaho
 
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
    Amath M’Baye, Oklahoma, F, 6-9, 215, Jr., Bordeaux, France/University of Wyoming
 
Preseason Freshman of the Year
    Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, G, 6-4, 225, Fr., Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus
 
2012-13 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
 
    Name, School                         Pos.     Ht.       Wt.        Cl.        Hometown/Previous School(s)
    Pierre Jackson, Baylor                G      5-10      180       Sr.        Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines/College of Southern Idaho
    Jeff Withey, Kansas**                 C       7-0       235       Sr.        San Diego, Calif./Horizon
    Rodney McGruder, Kansas State**        G         6-4       205        Sr. Washington, D.C./Arlington Country Day [Fla.]
    Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State** G/F    6-7       230       So.        Dallas, Texas/Lincoln
    Myck Kabongo, Texas                G       6-1       180       So.        Toronto, Ontario, Canada/St. Benedict’s Prep [N.J.]
 
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school):
Isaiah Austin, Baylor; Elijah Johnson, Kansas; Romero Osby & Steven Pledger, Oklahoma; Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State; Sheldon McClellan, Texas
 
** - Unanimous Selection

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Texas defensive starters Hicks, Moore to miss Big 12 opener against Oklahoma State

Two of Texas’ defensive starters, linebacker Jordan Hicks (hip) and defensive tackle Brandon Moore (virus), will miss Saturday's Big 12 football opener against Oklahoma State, team trainers announced tonight. Texas kicker Anthony Fera (groin), sidelined since fall camp, also will not play.

The 12^th-ranked Longhorns (3-0) meet OSU (2-1), the defending Big 12 champs, in Stillwater, Okla. (6:50 p.m., Fox).

_ Jimmy Burch

A breakdown of the Big 12's big TV deal and what it means to fans

The Big 12’s mega-TV deal, officially announced today, is a 13-year agreement with Fox Sports Media Group and ESPN/ABC that will keep league teams collecting an average of $20 million per school through 2025. Reports of the verbal agreement on terms surfaced in March, pegging the financial numbers _ not announced today _ at $2.6 billion, or $200 million annually for the 10-member league.

What does the deal mean to fans? Here are some highlights:
-- An increase in the number of guaranteed full national football telecasts to a minimum of 25 per season on a combination of FOX, FX, ABC and ESPN.
-- Allows FOX over-the-air access to Big 12 football with a minimum of six games annually on broadcast television.
-- Provides FOX with enhanced selections through 2015. ESPN and FOX share rotating game selections beginning in 2016.
-- All media, “TV everywhere” rights to FOX and ESPN.
-- Big 12 events to be carried on various FOX and ESPN platforms including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, FOX, FX, FSN, Fox College Sports (FCS), and FOX Sports Digital Platforms.
-- Institutions have option to retain rights to one home football game and a minimum of four men's basketball games per season for distribution via permitted member institution outlets and third-party licenses including the FSN Regional Networks and FOX College Sports.
-- No exclusive telecast windows, except for ESPN men's basketball “Big Monday” and “Saturday College GameDay” telecasts featuring Big 12 teams.
-- FOX Sports Media Group platforms to carry a minimum of 40 non-football events annually.
-- Minimum of 31 women's basketball games per season on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or FSMG platforms.
-- ESPN networks retain option for up to 25 additional women's basketball and/or other sports contests per season.
-- Championship events, except men’s basketball, on Fox Sports platforms.

Below is a breakdown of annual football telecasts, with rights to all Big 12-controlled contests falling to either Fox or ESPN:
-- FOX: Approximately 38 games with minimum of six contests annually on FOX broadcast and six games on a national cable outlet.
-- ABC/ESPN: 19 games per year through 2015, increasing to 23 games annually in 2016 (minimum 13-15 full national exposures via ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or in combination with reverse mirror); maximum four-five games on ESPNU.
-- Member Retained Game: One member-retained game, which must be carried on a FOX platform if returned.
-- Television partners have a maximum four six-day picks between them per season.
-- Minimum four Thursday games each season (including Labor Day weekend and Thanksgiving Day); and one Labor Day Sunday appearance.
-- Maximum of four games scheduled for 8:15 p.m. local time starts per season with the following restrictions: no program required to play more than twice; host more than once; play consecutive weekends; and six-day pick only with conference consent.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

TCU, Texas are only entries from Lone Star State in AP Top 25; USC tops poll

By Jimmy Burch
jburch@star-telegram.com
 
TCU and Texas were the only teams from Texas to earn spots in today’s pre-season college football rankings released by The Associated Press.

AP voters placed the Horned Frogs at No. 20 to start the season. Texas checked in at No. 15.

The top spot went to Southern California, which received 25 of 60 first-place ballots from members of the voting panel. The Trojans edged No. 2 Alabama, the defending national champion, and No. 3 LSU, which played Alabama in last year’s BCS title game, in the opening poll. Alabama received 17 first-place votes. LSU received 16.

Rounding out the Top 10 were Oklahoma, the top-rated Big 12 school, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina and Arkansas. OU and Michigan each received one first-place vote.

TCU, Texas and Oklahoma were among six Big 12 schools in the pre-season poll. The others were No. 11 West Virginia, No. 19 Oklahoma State and No. 22 Kansas State. The Big 12, with six, joined the Southeastern Conference by placing the most schools of any league in the initial poll.

The Southeastern Conference, home of college football’s last six national champions, landed five of its six teams in the Top 10: No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 LSU, No. 6 Georgia, No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 Arkansas.

Three other teams from Texas _ Baylor, Texas A&M and Houston _ received votes but not enough to crack the Top 25.

Twitter: @Jimmy_Burch

Big 12 releases its men's basketball schedule for 2012-13

Big 12 officials have released their 2012-13 men's basketball schedule. The schedules will feature home-and-home matchups between all league schools. The full schedule is below.

2012-13 Big 12 Men's Basketball Composite Schedule
Dates, times and television listings subject to change; All times are Central.

Saturday, January 5
Oklahoma State at K-State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Baylor (ESPNU) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at TCU TBA
  
Tuesday, January 8 
Baylor at Texas Tech (ESPN2) 6:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 9 
Iowa State at Kansas (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
TCU at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Texas (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 12 
K-State at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Iowa State (ESPNU) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 2:00 p.m.
Kansas at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
TCU at Baylor TBA
  
Monday, January 14 
Baylor at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 16 
Texas Tech at Oklahoma (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
K-State at TCU (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Iowa State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 19 
Iowa State at TCU (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Kansas at Texas (CBS) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at K-State (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) TBA
  
Monday, January 21 
Oklahoma State at Baylor (ESPN) 4:30 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma (ESPN) 8:30 p.m.
  
Tuesday, January 22 
Kansas at K-State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 23 
TCU at West Virginia (ESPN2) 6:30 p.m.
Iowa State at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 26 
West Virginia at Oklahoma State (ESPNU) Noon
K-State at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Baylor at TCU (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at Kansas (ESPN) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at Texas TBA
  
Monday, January 28 
Kansas at West Virginia (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 30 
Oklahoma at Baylor (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
Texas at K-State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 2 
West Virginia at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Kansas (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
K-State at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 5:00 p.m.
Baylor at Iowa State (ESPN2) 7:00 p.m.
TCU at Texas TBA
  
Monday, February 4 
Oklahoma at Iowa State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Texas at West Virginia (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, February 5 
K-State at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  

Wednesday, February 6
Kansas at TCU (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 9 
Oklahoma State at Texas (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at Baylor (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
West Virginia at TCU (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Kansas at Oklahoma (ESPN or ESPN2) 3:00 p.m.
Iowa State at K-State (ESPN or ESPN2) 5:00 p.m.
  
Monday, February 11 
TCU at Oklahoma (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
K-State at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 13 
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Texas (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Baylor (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 16 
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
TCU at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Baylor at K-State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Texas at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Monday, February 18 
West Virginia at K-State (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, February 19 
Texas at TCU (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 20 
Oklahoma at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Baylor (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
Kansas at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 23 
Texas Tech at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Oklahoma State at West Virginia (ESPN2) 1:00 p.m.
TCU at Kansas (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Baylor at Oklahoma (ESPNU) 4:00 p.m.
K-State at Texas TBA
  
Monday, February 25 
Texas Tech at K-State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Kansas at Iowa State (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 27 
Oklahoma State at TCU (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at Texas (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, March 2 
Iowa State at Oklahoma (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
West Virginia at Kansas (CBS) 1:00 p.m.
TCU at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma State (ESPN) 3:00 p.m.
K-State at Baylor (ESPN2) 6:00 p.m.
  
Monday, March 4 
Texas Tech at Kansas (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at Texas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, March 5 
TCU at K-State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, March 6 
Oklahoma State at Iowa State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, March 9 
Iowa State at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
K-State at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Kansas at Baylor (ESPN) 5:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at TCU TBA

_ Jimmy Burch

TCU's Patterson more concerned with early foes than tough final month

TCU coach Gary Patterson keeps hearing about how tough the final month of his first Big 12 schedule is going to be this fall.
But he’s too concerned with the Horned Frogs’ first few opponents to worry about that. After TCU opens the season and its newly renovated Amon G. Carter Stadium Sept. 8 against Grambling State, the Frogs have their Big 12 opener at Kansas at 11 a.m. Sept. 15. 
“Starting with Kansas, and I think all the way through, each one of those games poses a problem and we should approach it like that,” Patterson said. “We've always been a very workman-like group when it comes to ball games like that. Last year was a great example of kind of the mental toughness that our group had.  All the games we had to win, all the Bowl teams in our conference were all on the road.”
TCU is back for a nonconference game against Virginia Sept. 22 and at SMU Sept. 29 before moving exclusively to Big 12 competition against Iowa State at home Oct. 6. The Frogs are at Baylor Oct. 13 and home against Texas Tech Oct. 20 before the schedule is turned up a notch with two road games at Oklahoma State and West Virginia. Kansas State is at TCU Nov. 10 before the Frogs finish at Texas on Thanksgiving weekend and home against Oklahoma Dec. 1.

TCU quarterback Casey Pachall talks preseason rankings, the move to the Big 12, and the aftermath of February's drug sting:

 

TCU offensive lineman Blaize Foltz talks about the media onslaught and the question about Gary Patterson he chose not to answer:

 

TCU defensive end Stansly Maponga talks Big 12 Media Days and anticipation of the Horned Frogs' first season in the league:

 

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

 

Texas DE Okafor earns pre-season Big 12 defensive honor; TCU DL Maponga also recognized

Texas defensive end Alex Okafor earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Years honors on the pre-season All-Big 12 team released today by league officials. Other individual honorees, selected by media members who cover the league, included West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith (Offensive Player of the Year) and Oklahoma freshman receiver Trey Metoyer (Newcomer of the Year).

League officials also released the list of first-team honorees, which included TCU defensive lineman Stansly Maponga. Maponga was the lone Horned Frog selected to the first-team unit.

The full list of first-teamers and individual honorees:

2012 Big 12 Football Pre-Season Honorees

Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

Newcomer of the Year: Trey Metoyer, WR, Oklahoma

OFFENSE
QB: Geno Smith, WVU
RB: Malcom Brown, Texas
RB: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
WR: Tavon Austin, WVU
WR: Kenny Stills, Oklahoma
TE: Jordan Najvar, Baylor
C: Ben Habern, Oklahoma
OL: Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State
OL: Cyril Richardson, Baylor
OL: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
OL: LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech

DEFENSE
DL: Alex Okafor, Texas
DL: Stansly Maponga, TCU
DL: Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
DL: Jamarkus McFarland, Oklahoma
LB: Jake Knott, Iowa State
LB: Arthur Brown, Kansas State
LB: A.J. Klein, Iowa State
DB: Nigel Malone, Kansas State
DB: Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State
DB: Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
DB: Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma

SPECIALISTS
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

PK: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

PR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

KR: Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

_ Jimmy Burch

USC gets favorite's nod in #BCS title race; #OU, #Texas, #TCU rank among #Big12 favorites

The return of highly touted USC quarterback Matt Barkley has helped the Trojans earn the pre-season favorite’s role in this year’s BCS national title race, based on odds released today by Bovada sports book.

USC opened today as a 3-1 favorite to win the 2013 BCS National Championship Game, ahead of defending champ Alabama (11-2), LSU (11-2), Oklahoma (10-1), Florida State (12-1) and Oregon (12-1).

National title odds for other teams with in-state or Big 12 connections include Texas (28-1), West Virginia (30-1), TCU (50-1), Kansas State (75-1), Oklahoma State (80-1) and Texas A&M (100-1).

The breakdown of odds for favorites in the 2012 Big 12 title race include: Oklahoma (1-1), Texas (4-1), TCU (11-2), West Virginia (11-2), Kansas State (12-1), Oklahoma State (22-1), Texas Tech (30-1) Baylor (40-1), Iowa State (65-1) and Kansas (100-1).

A list of pre-season odds for multiple conferences, as well as the national race, is below:

Odds to win the 2012-2013 BCS National Championship        
USC                             3/1
Alabama                               11/2
LSU                              11/2
Oklahoma                     10/1
Florida State                  12/1
Oregon                          12/1
Georgia                         14/1
Arkansas                      20/1
Michigan                       20/1
Notre Dame                   28/1
Texas                           28/1
Virginia Tech                 30/1
West Virginia                 30/1
South Carolina               30/1
Clemson                       33/1
Nebraska                      40/1
Wisconsin                     40/1
Florida                          50/1
TCU                              50/1
Auburn                          60/1
Michigan State              60/1
Boise State                   65/1
Kansas State                75/1
Miami (Florida)               75/1
Oklahoma State             80/1
Mississippi State           100/1
Missouri                        100/1
Texas A&M                   100/1
Tennessee                    125/1
Cincinnati                      150/1
Iowa                              150/1
Louisville                               150/1
Penn State                    150/1
Arizona                         200/1
Boston College              200/1
BYU                             200/1
California                       200/1
Georgia Tech                 200/1
Pittsburgh                     200/1
Stanford                        200/1
UCLA                            200/1
Washington                   200/1
NC State                       250/1
South Florida                 250/1
UCLA                            250/1
Oregon State                 300/1
 
Conference Odds
ACC - Odds to Win     
Florida State                  1/1
Virginia Tech                 3/1
Clemson                       5/1
Miami (Florida)               9/1
Georgia Tech                 15/1
North Carolina                     15/1
Virginia                              18/1
NC State                       20/1
Wake Forest                       35/1
Boston College                   50/1
Duke                             100/1
Maryland                              100/1
 
ACC Atlantic Division - Odds to Win   
Florida State                  1/2
Clemson                       11/4
NC State                       9/1
Wake Forest                       16/1
Boston College                   22/1
Maryland                              30/1
 
ACC Coastal Division - Odds to Win   
Virginia Tech                 10/11
Miami (Florida)               9/2
North Carolina                     11/2
Georgia Tech                 6/1
Virginia                              13/2
Duke                             30/1
 
BIG 12 - Odds to Win  
Oklahoma                            1/1
Texas                                4/1
TCU                              11/2
West Virginia                  11/2
Kansas State                12/1
Oklahoma State             22/1
Texas Tech                   30/1
Baylor                           40/1
Iowa State                     65/1
Kansas                             100/1
 
Big East - Odds to Win
Louisville                               9/4
South Florida                      7/2
Cincinnati                             5/2
Pittsburgh                            13/2
Rutgers                         13/2
Syracuse                      20/1
Temple                              20/1
Connecticut                         25/1
 
Big Ten - Odds to Win
Michigan                               2/1
Wisconsin                            5/2
Nebraska                              7/2
Michigan State              15/2
Penn State                    12/1
Illinois                                20/1
Iowa                                   20/1
Northwestern                 35/1
Purdue                          50/1
Indiana                              65/1
Minnesota                            100/1
 
Big Ten - Leaders Division Winner (Without Ohio State)       
Wisconsin                            1/2
Penn State                    3/1
Illinois                                15/2
Purdue                          10/1
Indiana                              15/1
 
Big Ten - Legends Division Winner   
Michigan                               11/10
Nebraska                              9/4
Michigan State              4/1
Iowa                                   8/1
Northwestern                 12/1
Minnesota                            40/1
 
PAC 12 - Odds to Win 
USC                             5/8
Oregon                              2/1
Washington                         12/1
California                              18/1
Stanford                        25/1
Arizona                         35/1
Utah                             35/1
UCLA                            40/1
Arizona State                50/1
Washington State          50/1
Oregon State                 60/1
Colorado                               100/1
 
PAC 12 - North Division Winner         
Oregon                              2/5
Washington                         5/1
California                              17/2
Stanford                        10/1
Washington State          15/1
Oregon State                 22/1
 
PAC 12 - South Division Winner         
USC                             1/6
Arizona                             10/1
Utah                             10/1
UCLA                            15/1
Arizona State                18/1
Colorado                               30/1
 
SEC - Odds to Win     
Alabama                               11/5
LSU                              11/5
Georgia                             11/2
Arkansas                              7/1
South Carolina                    10/1
Florida                               12/1
Auburn                          22/1
Mississippi State           30/1
Missouri                                35/1
Tennessee                    35/1
Texas A&M                   40/1
Vanderbilt                      60/1
Kentucky                              100/1
Mississippi                          100/1
 
SEC - East Division Winner    
Georgia                             17/10
South Carolina                    5/2
Florida                               3/1
Missouri                                11/1
Tennessee                    11/1
Vanderbilt                      16/1
Kentucky                              25/1
 
SEC - West Division Winner   
Alabama                               8/5
LSU                              8/5
Arkansas                      4/1
Auburn                          12/1
Mississippi State           15/1
Texas A&M                   20/1
Mississippi                          50/1

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Champions from Big 12, SEC to meet in annual bowl game, starting with 2014 season

Champions from the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference will meet in a bowl game, effective with the 2014 season, officials from both leagues announced Friday.

The matchup will be part of a five-year agreement between the leagues to pit their league football champions in a head-to-head setting unless one or both champions are selected to play in the new, four-team model to determine the national champion. If that occurs, a replacement team from one or both leagues would be selected to compete in the bowl game.

Specific details of the plan, including the venue for the games, will be announced later. But the goal is to play the game in prime time on or around Jan. 1 throughout the duration of the agreement.

Under existing agreements, the SEC champion plays in the Sugar Bowl and the Big 12 champion plays in the Fiesta Bowl. Champions from either league that finish in the top two of the final BCS standings compete in the BCS National Championship Game. Representatives from the SEC and Big 12 also meet in the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, but that matchup does not include league champions.

Chuck Neinas, the interim Big 12 commissioner, helped arrange the matchup in negotiations with SEC commissioner Mike Slive. In a statement, Neinas said the new deal stands as “a landmark agreement between two of the most successful football conferences during the BCS era … Our goal is to provide the fans across the country with a New Year’s Day prime-time tradition.”

Slive said the matchup would “complement the exciting post-season atmosphere created by the new four-team model” to select future national champions.

Linking the two leagues also speaks to the future stability of the Big 12, which has lost four members to other conferences in the past two years. The list includes Texas A&M and Missouri, which will move to the SEC on July 1 _ the same day TCU and West Virginia become Big 12 members.

In a statement, incoming Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said he was “very excited” by the new agreement. Bowlsby takes over as Big 12 commissioner on June 15.

_ Jimmy Burch