Rivalries and Big 12 Totals on Tap

Rivalries and Big 12 Totals on Tap

by Mike Neri

There are some high totals in the Big 12 this weekend as rivalries heat up across the country. Texas is playing at Missouri in a game Texas won 56-31 last year. The unbeaten Longhorns are loaded on offense for four-year starter QB Colt McCoy, averaging 40 points, 140 yards rushing and 280 passing.

McCoy and the offense were not sharp Saturday, with 270 total yards, but they had enough to top rival Oklahoma, 16-13, despite 3 turnovers. The ground game has some injuries, but sophomore RB Foswhitt Whittaker (71 yards against the Sooners) filled in for ailing junior RB Vondrell McGee(left shoulder) and freshman RB Tre' Newton (mild concussion).

McCoy has his right hand tucked into the pocket of his sweatpants during an interview session this week. The Texas quarterback said he wasn’t trying to hide his injured thumb. The thumb that McCoy smacked on the helmet of an Oklahoma lineman late in the first half of Texas’ 16-13 victory Saturday remained swollen. Texas used draws and zone reads for McCoy against Oklahoma. Expect more against Missouri and at Oklahoma State on Halloween. Texas is 51-7 SU, 38-19 ATS the last four+ seasons, and on a 32-18-2 OVER the total run.

Missouri (4-2 SU/2-3 ATS) is riding a 0-2 SU/ATS skid. They had a stunning 27-12 collapse to rival Nebraska (blowing a 12-0 4th quarter lead), followed by Saturday’s 33-17 loss at banged-up Oklahoma State. They had 393 yards, but 4 turnovers. 6-5 QB sophomore Blaine Gabbert (9 TDs, 5 picks) leads this spread attack, one averaging 29 points, 113 yards rushing and 285 passing. Despite a sprained ankle that noticeably affected his mobility in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State, Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert will start against Texas, Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. Gabbert was injured in Missouri’s Oct. 8 loss to Nebraska. Mizzou is 14-11 over the total the last 2-plus years.

In Texas, Big 12 rivals A&M and Texas Tech battle it out with a super-high total.  Texas A&M (3-3 SU/2-4 ATS) Coach Mike Sherman has a strong offense behind junior QB Jerrod Johnson (16 TDs, 3 picks), freshman WR Uzoma Nwachukwu along with freshman RB Christine Michael. But this defense is brutal, giving up 521 yards to Utah State and 30 ppg. They have been accused of playing a soft schedule and flunked their first test in a 47-19 loss to Arkansas allowing 434 yards (down 30-10 at the half), and gave up 448 yards in a 36-31 home loss to Oklahoma State.

Texas Tech (5-2) continues to chuck the football all over the field under Coach Mike Leach. While most teams don’t have one capable quarterback, the Red Raiders have had TWO magnificent QBs. QB Taylor Potts (13 TDs, 6 INTs) has battled a concussion of late, so junior QB Steven Sheffield (12 TDs, 2 INTs) has stepped in. He threw 7 TDs and 490 yards in a rout of K-State, and impressed again Saturday in a 31-10 upset at Nebraska, completing 23-of-33 passes for 235 yards.

Texas Tech offensive linemen Terry McDaniel and Shawn Byrnes and nickel back Will Ford, all of whom left Saturday’s game at Nebraska with injuries, didn’t practice Tuesday. McDaniel, who went down with an apparent right knee injury, was on crutches and wearing a knee brace.  Leach’s dominance of A&M has been one of the hallmarks of his 10-year tenure as Tech coach. He’s 7-2 against the Aggies, with the seven wins coming in the last eight games.