I sent out an e-mail to some of the best Big 12 bloggers around inviting them to participate in a series of questions concerning the upcoming football season. Hopefully those guys will leave a comment linking to their own posts where they have answered the same questions. It should make for a fun comparison and on Thursday I'll tally up the answers and post some of the better comments here at the Machine.

As for the questions themselves feel free to take a shot at them yourself.

Pick a team (other than the one you blog about) from the north and south divisions and explain why they may be the best team in the division.

Since the Sooners are disqualified from my discussion I have to go with the only other obvious choice in the South, the Texas Longhorns. I could make the argument that Texas is loaded in talent on offense and their defensive line will be dominant, both of which are true, but the reality is that after you get past Oklahoma and Texas in the South then there is a drop-off. Until someone actually steps up to actually take the division title from them then I'll stay with Oklahoma and Texas.

Last year in the north I bought into the Iowa State hype and got burned. This year I'm on the Missouri Tigers bandwagon. I think Nebraska might have a slight upper hand in that division but I like the Tigers schedule and the fact that they are more settled in the quarterback position. I also think that Kansas State has will have the ability to play spoiler in the north as well.  

If the Big 12 Conference had a Heisman trophy candidate who would it be and why?

I have to go with Colt McCoy here simply because he has been the poster boy for the Big 12 throughout the pre-season. If the Longhorns win the conference then he'll most likely get an invite to New York

If you had to place a $100.00 bet on a current Big 12 head coach being fired at the end of the season who would you pick and why? I think the win over Texas last season bought Fran some more time at A&M so he won't get my bet. However, Guy Morriss from Baylor will. If the Bears finish last again in the South (which they will) and don't make it to a bowl game (which they won't) then Morriss' days in Waco are done.

Another guy to keep an eye on is Gary Pinkel at Missouri. The Tigers are loaded on offense and the people in Columbia are hungry for a title shot. The problem for Mizzou is going to be defense and if the Tigers fall on their face then Pinkel could really be in trouble.

The one non-conference game, not involving your school, you would pay money to see would be?

I would like to see TCU/Texas because maybe I'm crazy, or just biased, but I think the Horned Frogs can give the Longhorns all they want and put the fear of God in them.

However, if I'm paying money I want USC/Nebraska. The Huskers are supposed to be improved from last season and they won't face a tougher challenge all season.

Which of the four Big 12 schools currently ranked in the AP Top 25 doesn't belong there?

I've got to go with A&M here. I really don't understand where the love is coming from. I realize that they are still riding on the Texas victory to end the regular season last year but did anyone see the Holiday Bowl?

Make a case for one of the 8 Big 12 schools not ranked as to why they should be. The Missouri Tigers should be ranked! I realize that I've got a personal love fest going on for the Tigers here but their offense will win them enough games to deserve a Top 25 ranking.  

Prediction Time:
Tell us the offensive and defensive players who are going to make the biggest impact on the conference this season.

Offensively I'll continue with my crush on the Tigers and go with Chase Daniels. In my opinion he's sitting in the best position to make the biggest impact. Playing in the North will allow the possibility of eye-popping stats and there aren't the question marks around him like some of the other top offensive players in the conference. Malcolm Kelly and Adarious Bowman have quarterback question marks. Colt McCoy and Jammal Charles have offensive line question marks and Mike Goodson has the Coach Fran question mark. Daniels is setting pretty good to be an impact player.

Defensively there are way too many options. I love Reggie Smith and think that he'll make a significant impact but I don't know that there will be a more dominant defensive player than Nebraska's Bo Ruud.