You are hereBurning questions: Gabbert Act II, K-State’s bowl hopes and more
Burning questions: Gabbert Act II, K-State’s bowl hopes and more
Blaine Gabbert
We’re about to launch some new daily features on Campus Corner, and this is one. Each week, we’ll examine the most pressing question facing Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State.
Got something else on your mind? Leave it in the comments and we’ll consider it for next week.
Was Blaine Gabbert’s first half against Bowling Green an aberration?
Yes. The Falcons, like most MAC teams, deserve respect. And Gabbert’s offensive line had some early problems. But the answer lies in how impressive Gabbert’s response was after the Tigers fell behind 20-6. He completed 10 of 12 second-half passes and nine of his final 10.
Did Saturday’s loss at Louisiana-Lafayette eliminate K-State from bowl contention?
Yes. The 1-1 Wildcats are double-digit underdogs Saturday against UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Because they already beat UMass, a win over Tennessee Tech won’t count toward bowl eligibility because both are Division I-AA teams. So seven wins becomes the magic number and the Wildcats would have to beat Iowa State at Arrowhead and run the table at home (A&M, Colorado, KU and MU) to get there. They face Texas Tech, OU and Nebraska on the road; Since 2001, K-State is 1-7 against those teams away from Manhattan in the regular season (beat Nebraska 38-9 in 2003).
Do we know enough about KU to consider the Jayhawks a Big 12 North contender?
No. The Jayhawks have held serve so far, but we need to see how they respond to adversity (Read: What would happen if KU played a team better than it, which won’t happen for a while). Wins over Oklahoma and Nebraska at home, Texas on the road and Mizzou at Arrowhead won’t come easy, and they’ll need at least three of those to take the North.
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Absolutely. WIth Neb at home and MU in KC they will win 4-6 big 12 games. NU will be in the same boat as will MU. The head to head games will determine the north champ. I am just glad NU has to come to Columbia. And since they have to travel to Lawrence as well the Huskers have thier work cut out for them. We will know alot more about NU when they go to Va tech. We will know more about MU when we host NU. As for KU they will take the early lead as they start conference play with ISU and CU. MU will likely find themselves looking up to NU and KU after the first three conference gamesas they open games agianst NU, OSU on the road and hosting TU. Need to win 2/3 and that is no small task.
You are exactly right. Obviously every poster has their personal opinion, but this is right on with how I feel. I think all three teams are pretty evenly matched. NU has the most uphill battle considering they travel to MU and kU's home fields. Mizzou already has one neutral bowl like atmosphere game out of the way. Does kU?--> honest question. I don't think experience will matter in the kU/MU game due to it being the last game of the regular season. I feel MU has the best chance given all things equal between the 3. The home field advantage (HUGE) will counter the inexperience of the Tigers, making the MU/NU game a pretty even matchup. The experience of kU would provide a monstrous advantage over MU if the game was early, but since it's not I see that one as pretty even as well.
is definitely a contender in the North. That's a no-brainer.
Apparently the question Mr. Fickett read was, "Do we know enough about KU to consider the Jayhawks the Big 12 North favorite? In that case, his answer would have been perfectly appropriate.
Even if they did miraculously get a bowl bid, they'd have to leave Purple Pride in the closet back in the Little Apple, because it ain't gonna be the Sugar Bowl. Bottom of the Barrel Bowl or stay home? More prideful to stay home, I'd say.
As for KU being a contender in the North: silly to say otherwise. Three teams appear as plausible winners (for now). But the only thing that's truly possible is what actually happens, which, of course, remains to be seen. Truth is, the teams (and coaches) themselves don't really know how good or bad they are until the games are played. Talent doesn't win games; plays do.
I think that the point Chris was trying to make, more than anything, is that KU hasn't played an opponent yet that has tested them. So, within the framework of just this season, there are still questions about the Jayhawks. I don't think anyone can argue with that.
As far as being a Big 12 North contender, of course KU is. The Jayhawks very likely will have to go 5-0 in the North, which is possible with ISU, CU and KSU down and Nebraska in Lawrence. If MU or Nebraska manages to go 6-2 (a possibility), then KU would need to steal one from the South. That's about as simply as I can break it down.
Since the NCAA moved to 12 games I think the wins against FCS schools count towards your bowl eligibility. Does anyone know for sure? Even so, a bowl game is still a tough task for the Cats.
You can count one win vs. FCS (I-AA) teams per season for bowl eligibility:
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/football/2008/psfootball_...
Thanks for the clarification.
We knew enough before the season even started that they would be a contender. Being a contender doesn't mean they will definitely win it, it just means they will compete for the North.
Not even an MU fan would say KU isn't a contender for the North title. You don't have to say they're the favorite, you can say they won't win it. But, a contender? Thats pretty obvious.
Especially when a number of independent media sources have predicted KU to win the North. Even if they don't win the North they are still a 'contender.'
"Wins over Oklahoma and Nebraska at home, Texas on the road and Mizzou at Arrowhead won’t come easy, and they’ll need at least three of those to take the North."
If KU beats Nebraska and Mizzou they will win the North (I'm assuming CU/ISU/KSU are wins -- those three may only be able to beat each other). KU could even drop another one (to Texas Tech for instance) and win the North. Neither Nebraska or Mizzou is going 6-2 in league (especially when we're assuming they both lose to KU which may or may not happen).
To look at their schedules, the three North con[or pre]tenders seem to be up against roughly comparable rough rows to hoe. Going 10-2 (6-2 in the conference) would be a fantasy outcome for any of the three; but it's not implausible that any one of them might stumble enough to end up 3-5 in the league. A Big 12 record of 5-3 is probably more realistic for all, but perhaps unlikely that the trio of records will be identical. Do you suppose tie-breakers will come into play at the end?
If I had to bet I'd say two of those teams will end up at 5-3. If anyone gets to 6-2 it's over (but I wouldn't expect any of them to make it to 6-2). It's a little too early to tell on all of them, but we should know in a couple of weeks who the favorites are. They're all contenders.
A K-State win over OU at Arrowhead, isn't that "away from Manhattan"?
Its says 1-7 away from Manhattan IN THE REGULAR SEASON. That win over OU was the Big 12 championship game.