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We're handing off Missouri from the Big 12 blog to the boys at the SEC blog today, and as part of the proceedings, it's time to get a bit sappy.

Ol' Mizzou, here's what I'll miss about you when you leave for the SEC.

And, if you were curious, here's our past installments of this series:

• What I'll miss most about Nebraska
• What I'll miss most about Colorado

1. Columbia. I called the city home for four of the best years of my life and earned a degree that I had so much fun earning it almost felt stolen. That doesn't affect how I cover the team, but I'd be a liar if I said I enjoyed visiting any Big 12 campus more than Mizzou. Sorry, Austin. Whether it's a Booche's burger, a slice of Shakespeare's Pizza or a stop by The Heidelberg, which somehow gets consistently left out of the "Must Go" places in Columbia, I love it. And if you didn't know, now you know, Tigahs.

2. The Border War. Nebraska and Colorado checking out didn't cost us any big annual rivalries, but this one hurts. The Kansas-Mizzou hate flows 365 days a year, and now, they'll have no chances on the football field or basketball court to give that hate an outlet. It's a shame. Please, please, play this game. I understand Kansas' side of the debate and why it wants to end it. That doesn't make it any less ridiculous.

3. The coaching staff. This was always a fun group to work with. Offensive coordinator David Yost -- we had some fun with him on Twitter last week -- will tell it like it is and offer some solid insight, too. He's always good to help folks better understand what's happening on the field, but the Tigers have a great mix of coaches. The fiery nature of defensive coordinator Dave Steckel balances well with the straight-laced Gary Pinkel, who handled an embarrassing incident this year with about as much class as you'll ever see, personifying the idea that character isn't mistakes, it's how you react to them.

4. Senior Day at Mizzou. The Tigers have one of the least-publicized, coolest senior day traditions around. After a player finishes his career on Faurot Field, he runs down, hops the fence surrounding the field and grabs a rock from the Rock M to keep for good.

5. Seeing DGB's career play out. Top recruits at schools that traditionally don't get them are much more interesting than ones who go to factories like Texas and OU. Dorial Green-Beckham will be a fun, fun player to watch over the course of his career. Unfortunately, I won't get to see it. But, good luck to him in Columbia.

Time to name a few superlatives from across the Big 12 this weekend.

Best offensive player: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor. Griffin had another legendary performance with 479 yards passing and 72 yards rushing, throwing for four touchdowns. The 479 yards were a school record and Griffin set the single-season record for passing with two games and a bowl game still left on the schedule. For his efforts, he was named the Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award.

Best defensive player: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas. Jeffcoat had a pair of sacks and made 3.5 tackles for loss with a pass breakup in a 17-13 loss to Kansas State. Never easy to do against K-State, who doesn't throw much and has a quarterback that's always tough to bring down.

Best game: Baylor 45, Oklahoma 38. This one went down to the final possession and two second-half comebacks. Lots of points and lots of fun. Polish it off with a field storming, and you've got yourself a classic. The dramatic finish gives the Bears' win an edge of the shocker in Ames. Honorable mention: Iowa State 37, Oklahoma State 31 (2 OT)

Best play: Griffin to Terrance Williams for a game-winning 34-yard touchdown pass. Griffin drifted to his left after escaping pressure in the pocket, and saw Williams in the back corner of the end zone, one-on-one. He threw across his body for Williams as he was hit, and queued up one of the craziest nights in Baylor history. Honorable mention: Dominique Hamilton tipping a game-sealing interception to Michael Sam.

Most immaculate reception: Griffin to Tevin Reese's hands and head to Kendall Wright for an 87-yard touchdown. This was a must-see play and one of the craziest we've ever seen. The big play tied the game in the third quarter, too. It was supposed to be a run play, but RG3 checked out and Terrance Ganaway went in motion. Wright was following coaches' advice to simply play fast, and the deflected ball ended up hitting him in stride.

Best speech: Paul Rhoads, Iowa State. Rhoads delivered another beauty to his team after it upset Oklahoma State to reach bowl eligibility. He even included a nod to his original classic, professing his pride in the privilege of being the head Cyclone.

Best halftime show: Oklahoma and Baylor's bands. I enjoy a little Party Rock only if it's dusted in irony. But two team bands combining for a choreographed flash mob? (OU gets in on the party at about 1:45 mark.) I can get behind that. It got the crowd going, too. Honorable mention: Texas A&M's Block T featuring the entire Corps of Cadets for the first time since 1956.

Funniest quote: Michael Sam, DE, Missouri. After intercepting Seth Doege to essentially seal the game, Sam remembered a piece of coaching from his acting head coach, defensive coordinator Dave Steckel. "I could hear his voice in the back of my head saying ‘Get your a-- down, Michael Sam,'" he said.

Second-funniest quote: Sam. What happened on that game-changing play? "I was trying to hit the s--- out of the quarterback," Sam said. "He threw the ball, and then I just dropped back, and Dominique (Hamilton) batted it up." A banner day for Sam and voice recorders in Columbia on Saturday.

Heading into the season, I see five teams in the Big 12 with a realistic chance to win the league. I'll be breaking them down in order (which won't be the same as my post-spring power rankings) of their chances to leave the season with the Big 12 title.

No. 1 on the list was the favorite: Oklahoma.

No. 2 was Texas A&M.

Oklahoma State came in at No. 3.

Why the Tigers will win the Big 12

1. Experience. Missouri returns 105 starts on the offensive line, losing only center Tim Barnes. That's the most in the Big 12 and 11th most in the nation on an offensive line that was fantastic in 2010. Just less than 80 percent of its total lettermen return, eighth-most in college football. That's a lot of guys who have been around, and the Tigers knocked over a big wall last year when they toppled the Sooners. Eliminate Mizzou's curious road hiccup at Texas Tech, and the Tigers would have been back in the Big 12 title game instead of sharing the Big 12 North with Nebraska after a third 10-win season in four years.

2. Dave Steckel. The Tigers' defense has steadily improved under Steckel, who previously coached linebackers under Matt Eberflus. Missouri had its best defense under Gary Pinkel last year, and that could continue this year with a great mix of experience and upside at linebacker, with Will Ebner and Zaviar Gooden set to knock around a few folks. Missouri's defense is noticeably tougher under Steckel, and though the Tigers must replace Aldon Smith and both starting corners, don't expect it to take a big jump back. Though Kip Edwards and E.J. Gaines lack the experience of Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland, they may prove to be better corners very soon.

3. The defensive line. And what's the best way to negate inexperience at corner? How about the Big 12's best defensive line. Brad Madison is arguably the Big 12's best returning pass-rusher, and his counterpart at defensive end, Jacquies Smith, is one of the better ends in the Big 12, too. Missouri also has the best depth of any defensive line, with Michael Sam and Kony Ealy itching to spell Madison and Smith. At defensive tackle, Terrell Resonno could be poised for a breakout year, and blue-chip recruit Sheldon Richardson, if/when he actually makes it to campus, should join Dominique Hamilton at the opposite tackle spot, making sure Missouri's front four are not to be trifled.

Why the Tigers won't win the Big 12

1. The quarterback has never started a game. Sometimes, it's just this simple. James Franklin may blossom into a star at Missouri, but as a first-year starter, he's bound to have a few bad nights. Can Missouri survive them? Its Big 12 title hopes depend on it. If Blaine Gabbert had stayed, Missouri would likely be a top-15 or top-10 team and join Texas A&M and OSU as the chief contenders to knock off Oklahoma. Instead, the Tigers are relegated to a dark horse/wild-card role that depends heavily on how Franklin performs in his first year. The one advantage he has is after Tyler Gabbert's post-spring transfer, fall camp will be more about cementing his role as starter than winning it. Franklin walked in as a true freshman last spring and eventually won the No. 2 job behind Blaine Gabbert. That says a lot, and he earned some playing time last year, but his sophomore season won't be anything like 2010, when he threw all of 14 passes.

2. The passing game is limited. NFL teams knew Blaine Gabbert had a cannon, but he didn't get very many chances to showcase it to college fans last year, and Franklin may be forced to do the same. T.J. Moe and Michael Egnew are a great duo with some of the best hands in the league and a great sense of space, but without a deep threat to keep defenses honest, their production declined late in the season. Danario Alexander and Jeremy Maclin were able to stretch the field for guys like Chase Coffman and Martin Rucker in the past, but Moe and Egnew won't come close to 2010's production if the Tigers can't find someone to haul in a few passes over the top of the secondary.

3. Trips to Norman and College Station are on the schedule. I hear you, Missouri fans. I was there for the destruction of Texas A&M at Kyle Field last year. But that was a very different Texas A&M team than you'll be facing this time around. And the return trip may not be quite as enjoyable. Jerrod Johnson struggled against the Tigers, but the 30-9 loss was his penultimate start and Ryan Tannehill is driving the bus now. Also, don't count on this one being an 11 a.m. kickoff. I'd plan for prime time, and Kyle Field is a very different place at 8 p.m. than at lunch time. Ask Nebraska. Missouri knocked off Oklahoma last year, too, but don't think the Sooners have forgotten the fourth-quarter meltdown in Columbia. Oklahoma gets both of its losses in 2010 -- Missouri and Texas A&M -- in Norman this year, where it carries a 36-game home winning streak, the nation's longest, into 2011.

• Dave Curtis at The Sporting News offers the priorities for each team in the Big 12 this spring.
• Here's what it's like to spend a practice with Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel mic'd up, and you can do the same with offensive coordinator David Yost.
• Here's some more information on receiver Sterling Shepard, one of Oklahoma's top commitments for 2012.
• Former Longhorn Aaron Ross took some time out to chat during a recent visit to Austin.
• Kansas defensive back Chris Harris' winding career prepared him well for pro day in Lawrence, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Two Big 12 players made the list of the greatest juco transfers of all-time.
• Iowa State's website previews the team's offensive line in advance of spring practice.
• A famous former Sooner died last week, one of the stars of Oklahoma's teams in the 1940s.
• Former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson used an unfortunate choice of words to make a point about the current NFL labor situation.

Schedule: Practice opens today, and continues through the spring game on April 16. Practices between now and then are open to fans and media.

What’s new: Not much, really. There will be a quarterback derby, but we'll get to that in a bit. Missouri returns nine starters on offense and six on defense and didn't have a coaching change in the offseason. There will be new faces in the secondary, but Gary Pinkel has established a solid foundation for his program around his quarterback and there shouldn't be much concern about a down year in 2011 with a new passer.

On the mend: Linebacker Donovan Bonner missed all of 2010 with a knee injury, but he looked like a budding star before the injury. He's back this spring and should get a chance to get back to where he was in fall camp.

Key battle: There's plenty to see at quarterback. Pinkel says sophomore James Franklin will enter spring practice as the starter, but Ashton Glaser and Tyler Gabbert will push for the starting gig. This is definitely new territory for the Tigers, who haven't had any real uncertainty about their starting quarterback since Brad Smith took over as the starter in 2002. Chase Daniel and Blaine Gabbert were clear heir apparents, but a quarterback competition should add some new intrigue to the offseason in Columbia.

New faces: Receiver Wesley Leftwich will take part in camp, alongside offensive lineman Michael Boddie and defensive lineman Gerrand Johnson.

Breaking out: When defensive end and likely first-round pick Aldon Smith suffered a broken leg last year, backup defensive end Brad Madison flourished. He had three sacks against Texas A&M and finished with 7.5 sacks to lead the team and with Smith gone. Madison's road to becoming a household name across the conference could begin this spring.

Question marks: Secondary troubles have been a constant for Missouri's defenses over the past decade. Until last year, anyway. The secondary became a strength, but it did it with a pair of experienced, senior corners, Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland. Now, promising young players E.J. Gaines and Kip Edwards look ready to replace them, but will the excellence on the back line continue under third-year defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, or was last year an anomaly?

Big shoes to fill: All-Big 12 center Tim Barnes is gone, and Justin Britt and Travis Ruth will compete to take his place. Barnes was responsible for a lot of organization for the offense before the snap, not to mention his blocking and snapping talents. A weakness there would throw a kink into Missouri's offense. The Tigers need a solid talent to emerge, and that could happen this spring. The good news is the other four offensive linemen return.

Don’t forget about: The running backs. Missouri split carries between four backs last season, with none receiving more than 100 carries. Pinkel says he wants one to emerge and separate themselves, and if I'm guessing, I'd put my money on sophomore Henry Josey. He's the shiftiest of the four backs, and in Missouri's offense, a scat back can be a big asset. He may not get the goal-line carries (look for De'Vion Moore to take that duty), but he could get the Tigers down there.

All eyes on: Quarterback James Franklin. It sounds like he has a lead to start the spring, but the job isn't his yet. Missouri fans would like to see him (or someone, anyway) grab a firm hold on the job by the end of spring practice and impress them heading into fall camp. Uncertainty may not be the best option for Missouri's offense next fall, but if no one separates themselves, it might be a necessity.

Thanks once again for all the questions. Lots of good ones this week. I hope you all enjoy the weekend.

Aaron in Denver, Colo., asks: DU, what are the chances that Murray gets put in a slot receiver roll in the NFL? Would he really be better as a back? Also, I already voted for him to be on the cover of EA's NCAA Football 2012!

David Ubben: I don't think we'll ever see him moved to a full-time slot receiver, but his ability as a pass-catcher certainly boosts his draft stock. If you're paying X amount for a player, you want to make sure you're getting your money's worth. Not many backs are as talented in the passing game as Murray. Wherever he ends up, it would be a mistake for that team not to give him some time in the slot. In this era of the NFL, every team is going to have more than one capable back (or at least should), and putting Murray in the slot and a second running back in the backfield is a good way to get talent on the field. Lots of NFL teams do that.

And as for your voting, I'm sure he appreciates it. It looks like he's been campaigning pretty hard on Twitter.

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GTCat in Tonganoxie, Kan., asks: If you had to already pick a big 12 player as the face of NEXT year's NCAA football video game cover, who would it be? Blackmon? Bryce Brown?

DU: Interesting question. If you want to talk raw credentials and talent, Blackmon is a good call, but a big part of the game is name recognition and helping sell the game. Nick Fairley had enough press in his only year on the field to get the recognition, but the others up for consideration are two four-year starters/contributors in Murray and Jake Locker and a Heisman winner in Mark Ingram.

So from a name recognition standpoint, a four-year player from a perennial power like Ryan Broyles at Oklahoma would probably be a good call.

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Joe in Denver, Colo. asks: Brandon Weeden posted a picture of his Big 12 South Championship ring on Twitter this week. What are your thoughts on co-champions or even claiming division championships?

DU: I don't have a problem with what Weeden did, or others who showcase the hardware the conference gives out, but I hate that the conference gives out hardware to everyone with a share of the division title. This isn't junior high where there aren't any tiebreakers and everybody is a co-regional district area neighborhood champion. I watched a Big 12 championship game with two teams in it this year.

And by handing out the trophies, which sure, players earned, you put schools in awkward positions. If a school proclaims itself a division champion when it didn't play in the title game, they're going to catch flack from opposing fans and programs and have a mild PR problem. That's just the way it's going to be.

If they don't acknowledge or celebrate it, it's a bit of a slap in the face to both the conference and the players who helped earn the trophies and rings. It's nice for programs and players to be given recognition for their efforts during the year, but are you aware that the Big 12 handed out FIVE divisional champion trophies for football this year? Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M all got them. That's absurd.

So please, Big 12: Next year, just hand out one set of rings and one trophy for the team at the top of the heap.

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Tyler in Eden Prairie, Minn. writes: What a dirty trick, Ubben. Well played, sir. Well played.

- All of Nebraska

DU: Just keeping the Huskers on their toes.

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Hob Howell in Waco, Texas, asks: I believe that Robert Griffin III remains the key ingredient in the Bears hopes for more wins next season. However, the Bears return all 5 of their top recievers, and two of them have a chance at All-Conference seasons (Kendall Wright and Josh Gordon). Their depth at WR impresses me; do you think this could be one of the most explosive and talented WR corps in the conference, if not the nation?

DU: I definitely agree that Wright and Gordon have a great chance to be All-Big 12 players next season, but Baylor's receivers on the whole aren't quite on the level with what Texas A&M, Oklahoma State or Oklahoma will be putting on the field this year.

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Nick in NE asks: David, Just a little heads-up that Eric Crouch of Nebraska was featured on a cover for a 2002 NCAA Football game. I believe it was the one by 2K Sports. All I remember is my wife had that game for her GameCube when I met her in college.

DU: A different game franchise, but good to know. She sounds like a keeper, by the way.

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Gerry in Columbia, Mo., asks: With all the hype Blaine Gabbert has gotten heading into the NFL Draft, the big question everyone seems to be asking is how Missouri will replace him. I find it interesting that no one wants to talk about how Missouri will replace their five departing starters on defense, including three of four defensive backs. People forget that it was Missouri's 6th-ranked scoring defense that carried the team this year, rather than the offense, as is usually the case. Anyway, just wanted to know how you see Missouri's defense shaping up over the course of the spring.

DU: They may have some trouble, but I look at what Missouri did last year with so many injuries already in the secondary and at linebacker. I don't think you can say enough about what defensive coordinator Dave Steckel did to get those guys ready despite a revolving door at the second line of the defense especially. The Tigers even played without a likely first-round pick in DE Aldon Smith for a good percentage of the year, and when he returned, he wasn't quite himself.

Steckel's an experienced coach, but this is only this third year as a coordinator at the major college level, and in my opinion, he's already established himself as one of the best coordinators in the league. Last year was really, really impressive, and outside of Brent Venables and Tim DeRuyter, I'm not sure anyone's done a better job than Steckel as a defensive coordinator, shoring up a defense that had historically been a weakness for the Tigers. He'll get a big test this year, but like Missouri's offense did with Chase Daniel at quarterback, big picture, the defense turned a corner in 2010.

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Baron in Lubbock, Texas, asks: DU, I'm sure you've had a chance to make it to every big 12 stadium this past season. Rank the best gameday atmospheres based on your experiences. Thanks!

DU: I get asked that a lot, but I've got you covered.

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Jimmy in Haysville, Kan., asks: So, do you think if Norman was as "loud" as Nebraska or Texas A&M, OU could lose as many games at home as those teams do? I'm sure both of those teams would trade their loud crowds for OU's home record any day of the week.

DU: This came up in our chat this week, but here's the fact of the matter: It's not like Owen Field is a peaceful oasis on game day, but it's not Death Valley either. Could, just maybe, Oklahoma's record at home compared to the Aggies and Huskers have more to do with the fact that the Sooners have been a whole lot better than Texas A&M and Nebraska over the last decade?

Any Oklahoma fan with a shred of self-awareness would willingly admit that the Sooners' remarkable current winning streak at home (36 games) and record under Bob Stoops (72-2) has a lot more to do with the teams Stoops is fielding every year than the fans making it a wholly intimidating atmosphere for opposing teams. They'll get up for big games like Texas Tech in 2008, but the atmosphere for pedestrian conference games like Colorado or Kansas State isn't anywhere close to where it can be. With the exception of this year against Florida State, when fans really sensed the winning streak could be on the line, they don't provide an elite atmosphere consistently. When they do, like in the Florida State and Tech games, the team responds. Clearly.

Matt W. in Bancroft, NE asks: Nebraska's almost out the door towards the Big Ten. What are your thoughts on the Leaders and Legends names for the divisions and what about the new logo?

David Ubben: The logo's not exactly lighting it up like the Pac-12's, which might be the best logo in sports outside of the Jumpman, but I don't have a huge problem with the Big Ten's. As for the division names, I feel about like most do. A little lofty, no? Not exactly the people's choice.

If it makes a move to change the names, which sounds possible after Delany's comments this week, it'd be a nice chance for the league to endear itself and shed some of the elitist perception that emerged during the expansion brouhaha over the summer.

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Jay in Austin, TX asks: Why is Will Muschamp such a hot commodity? His defense gave up 30 or more points in 4 games this year. They also gave up 20 or more points 7 times. They lost 7 games and really only had 1 impressive win (over Nebraska on the road) and no bowl game. He had some great talent around him too. I know the offense is a problem but sometimes that defense just looked pathetic Should Florida fans be concerned?

DU: Well, first off, since when did giving up 20 points or more become an indictment of a defense? And when your quarterback is throwing 17 picks and 10 touchdowns, you're out on the field plenty more than you'd like to be. That said, you're a little too wrapped up in 2010. This was a historically bad year for Texas, but the defense was pretty good most of the time. They had some poor stretches, but I'd hardly call them pathetic. And in the past, he's had some just amazing defenses. Like, you know, last year, when they got to the national championship (the second trip of Muschamp's career) and ranked third in total defense. Everyone around the SEC knows how good his defenses were at LSU and Auburn, too.

His pick for an offense coordinator will be a big, big decision, but I wouldn't be too concerned about his coaching future. As with any first-time head coach, there's always some slight reservation, but like I wrote when he was hired, there might not be another coordinator in the country more ready to be a head coach.

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Brett in Kansas City asks: Hey David, correct me if I'm wrong but did West Virgina hire Dana Holgorsen as a coach in waiting. Did they learn anything from what happened at Texas less than a week earlier?

DU: Well, this is a very different situation. The kicker at Texas was Muschamp never knew when he'd be able to take over, and outside of a few anonymous reports during the year, there was never any indication that Mack Brown was being pressured to offer any kind of definitive timing.

Holgorsen knows he'll take over in 2012. That presents a whole other set of awkward problems and odd team dynamics for 2011, but when it's all over, Holgorsen should be in a good spot. It didn't sound like Muschamp was looking to go anywhere, but if Florida calls you, most guys are going to pick up the phone and give the Gators a good, long listen.

And then leave.

So yeah, they learned plenty. If Holgorsen hadn't been given a definite timeline, I don't know if he would have taken the job. Everyone involved would probably be better off if West Virginia just moved Bill Stewart into an administrative role after this season, but if the Mountaineers have a disappointing 2011 season, it's up to the next similar situation to learn from this one.

And on a side note, there's some major drain on great coordinators in the Big 12 this year. We'll see what that means next year. Barring their replacements, it could mean worse football. But it seems like everybody's leaving and nobody's coming.

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Ben in CoMo asks: With the addition of Sheldon Richardson and the likely return of both Jaquis and Alden Smith, along with our D'line backup's (who led in sacks btw), won't most opposing offenses be scared senseless, and if they aren't shouldn't they be? MU is poised to have the best D in the Big 12 if they can replace their DB's with comperable or better players in 2011. Also, will 2011 bring a 10-2, 11-1, 12-0 or worse record for my Tigers during regular season play?

DU: We'll see about the best defense in the Big 12, because replacing those corners is easy to do in theory, difficult in practice. That's been a big problem for Missouri under Gary Pinkel. The two senior corners this year, Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland, really struggled before having fantastic seasons in 2010. Is that just simple player development, better coaching from coordinator Dave Steckel, or a little of both?

Next year, with guys like E.J. Gaines, Kip Edwards and Trey Hobson, we'll get a better idea of what to expect from Missouri's secondary in the years to come.

That said, you're right about the front four. That rotation with Jacquies and Aldon Smith (assuming they both return), Sheldon Richardson, Terrell Resonno, Michael Sam, Brad Madison and Jimmy Burge could be pretty scary.

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Wally Washington in Dallas, Texas asks: My Brother,Can you explain why the loser of the Big 12 Championship doesn't play in the 2nd best bowl tie in? You would think a division winner should be automatic to either the BCS game or fall to the next level Bowl. For example, Nebraska should be playing in the Cotton Bowl this year. Or in a better year be the next choice for an at-large bid for a BCS game. Enlighten me.

DU: I actually get this question a lot. It seems like a lot of fans don't quite understand. The bowl system is not a meritocracy, and they don't have to pick teams via standings. It's about making money. Fans more excited about their team and more likely to go watch their teams are going to make more money. Period. Outside of Oklahoma, I don't think any fan base in the Big 12 is more excited about their team than Texas A&M. Six consecutive wins, with two over top 10 teams will do that. And they're three hours away from the Cotton Bowl with a huge alumni base in Dallas. That's a big deal, and a big factor, fair or otherwise.

And if you're running the Cotton Bowl, you think fans of Oklahoma or Nebraska are going to be willing to travel back to the same stadium and the same city a month later after losing the Big 12 Championship? Not happening.

The Cotton Bowl sold out its ticket allotment for both schools really, really quickly. It didn't want an Arkansas-Texas A&M rematch back in Cowboys Stadium (the same game would have taken place three times in the same stadium within a year) but they got LSU when Arkansas got into the BCS. It's a great matchup with two great fan bases and the best Big 12 bowl matchup. I'd say the Cotton Bowl did pretty well.

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KCC in Missouri asks: Dubbs, Absolutely love the blog, and as a huge husker fan I'm definitely gonna miss it. My question is when do I have to stop reading you and go to Ritt's big 10 blog, and how do we say good bye? A "thanks for everything", fist bump, awkward hug or what?

DU: Hey man, just do what feels right. Shoulder pat, awkward side hug, crushing bear hug, whatever strikes you. Maybe shed a few tears. I won't tell anyone.

Missouri Tigers (10-2) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5)

Dec. 28, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Missouri take by Big 12 blogger David Ubben: Missouri didn’t get passed over by the bowl committees this time. After three consecutive years of what the Tigers perceived as bowl snubs -- including the Insight Bowl taking 6-6 Iowa State over the 8-4 Tigers in 2009 -- Missouri got the nod from the folks at the Insight over Big 12 runner-up Nebraska.

That prevented a preview of the new Big Ten, and instead, the Tigers will take on Big Ten opponent Iowa. Missouri ended its season with a win over bordering Kansas, and will continue against its neighbors to the north, the Hawkeyes.

Midway through the season, Missouri looked like it might be making a beeline for the BCS, sitting at 7-1 and favored in its final four games. The Tigers stumbled, following a loss to Nebraska with another at Texas Tech, but rebounded to win its final three games and finish at 10-2 for the program’s third 10-win season in four years, bringing the program to its fourth such season ever.

Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi will provide a tough test for Missouri’s much-improved defense, coordinated by Dave Steckel.

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Iowa take by Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg: Bowl games often offer a chance for redemption, and the Insight Bowl certainly provides that opportunity for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes return to the state of Arizona, where on Sept. 18 they dropped the first of five games in a disappointing 2010 campaign. They also get a chance to send out a strong senior class with a victory after dropping three straight contests to end the regular season. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Iowa takes on Missouri, a team the Hawkeyes tried to schedule several years ago before an agreement fell apart.

There’s no love lost between Iowa fans and Missouri fans, and while most of Hawkeye Nation was hoping for a bowl matchup against a team from another bordering state, this contest still carries some intrigue. Iowa has won back-to-back bowl games (Orange, Outback) and coach Kirk Ferentz brings a 5-3 record in postseason play to the desert.

Although Iowa’s defense must contain Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, the bigger concern for the Hawkeyes might be putting up points of their own. Missouri ranks sixth nationally in both fewest points allowed (15.2 ppg) and sacks (3.1 per game), and the Tigers will test an Iowa offensive line that has endured some ups and downs.

Stanzi had Heisman-like numbers through the first two months of the season before struggling in November. Like the rest of his Iowa teammates, Stanzi gets one final chance to get things right.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M's offense is sputtering, the defense is getting exposed by a keyed-in Blaine Gabbert, and the fans at Kyle Field are restless. Twice in the second quarter, the Aggies threatened to score, but failed both times, punting once and failing to convert a fourth down on another. Jerrod Johnson is avoiding what he's often described as "catastrophic" turnovers, but like last week's performance (15-of-40), his inaccuracy has fueled some of the frustration of the Aggies fans in attendance. He's completed just 7-of-21 passes, and missed a pair of open receivers on the final drive by the Aggies that could have moved them into the red zone.

Texas A&M trails, 16-0, after a big stop inside the 5-yard line late in the second half. Wes Kemp was originally given a touchdown, but the play was reviewed and reversed, and a fumbled snap on the following play backed up the Tigers and cost them four points.

Missouri settled for a 21-yard field goal.

Stat of the half: Sometimes its this simple. Gabbert's completion percentage: 67. Jerrod Johnson's: 33.

Best player in the half: Gabbert. He completed 22-of-33 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown.

Record performance: After shutting out Colorado last week, Missouri has a run of six consecutive shutout quarters for the first time since 1967.

What Texas A&M needs to do: Johnson is having another rough day, but the Aggies still have two of the best backs in the Big 12, Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. Use them. Michael hasn't been super effective in the first half, rushing six times for 20 yards, but Johnson has been off all day, and establishing the run might help open up some simpler throws to get the offense rolling. If Texas A&M eschews balance in favor of stepping back and slinging it for the entire second half, it will lose big.

What Missouri needs to do: Keep preventing the big plays. That's the easiest route for Texas A&M to get back into this game. Ryan Tannehill nearly hauled in a deep touchdown pass, and Johnson has tested Missouri's defensive backs deep multiple times. Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel has emphasized his trust in them all season, both in words and actions -- like leaving them alone with one of the biggest receivers in the conference, Jeff Fuller. They've passed those tests so far, but they might want to offer some safety help on Fuller down the field in the second half to make sure they have some insurance. Make Johnson complete a lot of passes to move the ball, something he hasn't been able to do in two weeks. Don't give up the big one.

Many of you have written to me over the last several days asking me about my bowl picks for various confidence pools.

Obviously, these games aren't quite as prevalent as bracket sheets during the NCAA men's tournament, but they assuredly are growing. I know I have several offers and have to get my sheets ready by Saturday's games.

Here are my picks for Big 12 bowl games ranked one through eight in terms of my confidence in the results of the games. I'll have much more extensive previews before the games and I reserve my right to make a last-minute change, but here are my picks in place for Saturday's confidence-pick deadline.

8 points: Texas Tech over Michigan State, Valero Alamo Bowl. The Red Raiders are catching the Spartans at exactly the right time. And the fact that Michigan State is riddled with suspensions only makes the Red Raiders' opportunity to win that much greater. Tech's Taylor Potts should have a huge game against the Spartans' struggling secondary that ranks 96th in pass-efficiency defense and 103rd in pass defense.

7 points: Missouri over Navy, Texas Bowl. The Tigers played well late in the season when Blaine Gabbert was healthy. Danario Alexander was the Big 12's most explosive player down the stretch. And while the defense isn't their best quality, I like their chances of being able to stuff Navy's run-heavy offense. Missouri limited four of its last five opponents to 77 yards rushing or less and Dave Steckel's group will have a long time to prepare for the option.

6 points: Georgia over Texas A&M, Advocare V100 Independence Bowl. Which Aggies team will show up for this game? The one that nearly beat Texas or the one that was blown out by Oklahoma or Kansas State? I think that Joe Cox and A.J. Green will have a lot of success against the Aggies' struggling defense, providing they can effectively keep Von Miller out of the Georgia backfield.

5 points: Oklahoma over Stanford, Brut Sun Bowl. The Sooners are intent on turning around after losing five of their last six bowl games. Oklahoma gets a break because of Andrew Luck's iffy status for the Cardinal. Look for the Sooners' run defense to clamp down on Toby Gerhart and Ryan Broyles and Landry Jones to make enough big plays to win.

4 points: Mississippi over Oklahoma State, AT&T Cotton Bowl. How much will that blowout loss at Oklahoma in Bedlam harm the Cowboys' psyche? I'm thinking more than might be expected as underrated bowl game coach Houston Nutt will assuredly have the Rebels ready to play. Look for a game similar to last year's Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech where the Rebels win the game in the trenches.

3 points: Arizona over Nebraska, Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Look for a defensive struggle between good buddies Mike Stoops and Bo Pelini. But with Nebraska's well-chronicled offensive struggles against better opponents, it might be more of the same for the Cornhuskers in the bowl game. This one should be tight, but look for Arizona quarterback Nick Foles to make enough big plays to give the Wildcats a narrow victory.

2 points: Iowa State over Minnesota, Insight Bowl. The Cyclones definitely are happy to move up this far in the bowl pecking order. That attitude, along with strong inside running by Alexander Robinson, might be enough to catapult them to a big effort over the Gophers. Minnesota has been to the Insight Bowl three times in the last four seasons and might be a little bored with another trip to the desert this time around.

1 point: Texas over Alabama, Citi BCS National Championship Game. The Longhorns are underdogs in this one, but I'm thinking they are going to be a little tired about pundits talking about how fortunate they are to be playing in this game. The Longhorns are actually a better match for the Crimson Tide than they would have been against Florida. Will Muschamp's expertise on Nick Saban and his system will be pivotal. And I think Texas' run defense will keep Mark Ingram bottled up and that Colt McCoy will outplay Greg McElroy for his fourth bowl victory.

That would produce a 5-3 bowl record for the Big 12 this time around. It might be a little optimistic, but I'm fairly confident the teams can play to my expected levels.

What about some of your picks? I'm curious what you believe is a legitimate record the Big 12 can achieve this season.

Missouri was the biggest mystery team in the Big 12 coming into the season.

The Tigers played to those expectations in a rollercoaster 8-4 season that started with a four-game winning streak and finished with a three-game winning streak. In between, there was an inexplicable home loss to Baylor and a nasty three-game losing streak.

Some of the uncertainty should have been expected, considering all of the top talent that left the Tigers from last season's division champions.

Sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert had a strong first season as a starter as he ranked 11th nationally in total offense, passing for 3,302 yards and 23 touchdowns. He gamely tried to play through a sprained ankle, but his decreased mobility was one of the prime reasons for the midseason tailspin.

After scoring only 36 points in the three-game losing streak to Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas, the Tigers surged at the end of the season as Danario Alexander emerged as the nation’s hottest receiver. His late charge, along with Gabbert’s return to health, helped the Tigers score at least 32 points in each of their last five games as they finished 4-1.

The defense struggled at times under first-year coordinator Dave Steckel, but had a knack of coming up with big plays despite getting gashed for big yardage. That was typified in their 41-39 season finale victory over Kansas, where they were torched by Todd Reesing for 498 passing yards but came up with a big stand at the end of the game to set up the victory.

Offensive MVP WR Danario Alexander

After struggling with injuries most of his college career, Alexander blossomed as arguably the nation’s most productive receiver at the end of the season. He produced 107 receptions for a conference-leading 1,644 yards and 13 touchdowns, ranking first nationally in receiving yards per game and third in receptions per game. He finished the season with 200-yard games in three of his last four contests, accounting for 49 receptions during the late charge.

Defensive MVP LB Sean Weatherspoon

While freshman defensive end Aldon Smith displayed some freakish pass-rushing abilities, Weatherspoon was a steady force on a defense that needed one. Weatherspoon led the team with 104 tackles and ranked second with 14 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He helped the defense find an identity with all of the new blood on the squad.

Turning point Oct. 8 vs. Nebraska

The Tigers were nursing a 12-0 lead over Nebraska heading into the fourth quarter and appeared to have the game firmly in control on a nasty, rainy night against their prime North Division rivals. Instead, Zac Lee found lightning in a bottle by throwing three touchdown passes in a period of 3 minutes and 22 seconds, which pulled the Cornhuskers to a dramatic comeback. Even worse, Blaine Gabbert sprained his ankle and would struggle during the next several weeks, paving the way for a three-game losing streak that killed the Tigers’ hopes of earning their third straight North Division title.

What’s next?

Despite the loss of key playmakers like Weatherspoon and Alexander, the Tigers have a strong young collection of talent that will benefit from the extra practice this month. The Tigers earned a favorable Texas Bowl matchup against a Navy team that likely will not be able to exploit their pass defense liabilities. And with another year of development for Gabbert as well as losing only two offensive and three defensive starters, the Tigers should be back in North Division contention next season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

1. Texas (8-0, 5-0 in South): The Longhorns’ movement in the BCS standings and the national polls Sunday was largely superficial. All they have to do is keep winning and they’ll be playing in the BCS title game. The Longhorns’ secondary is playing at levels reminiscent of the 2005 title team with Earl Thomas developing into a legitimate Thorpe Award candidate. The running game is a concern, but the Longhorns have a few weeks to work on that before it will really become a worry.

2. Oklahoma State (6-2, 3-1 in South): We saw how much Dez Bryant and a healthy Kendall Hunter really were needed against Texas. The Cowboys had a strong defensive plan and shut down the Longhorns for much of the game, but struggled offensively with mistakes that were returned for touchdowns and a bad case of the dropsies by Hubert Anyiam. The loss assuredly dims their divisional hopes. But the Cowboys can play in a New Year’s Day bowl game and still have a slim hope at a BCS bowl if there’s a lot of implosion in front of them during November.

3. Oklahoma (5-3, 3-1 in South): The Sooners have won two straight since the Texas loss and are heading into Nebraska with some momentum. Landry Jones appears to have found another productive receiver with the emergence of Dejuan Miller, who adds another weapon for the Sooners. The Sooners showed some uncharacteristic struggles against Kansas State in the second half, but still had enough offense left to enable them to claim the victory. It will be more of a challenge this week in Lincoln -- even with the Cornhuskers’ recent struggles.

4. Texas Tech (6-3, 3-2 in South): Mike Leach’s trip to the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn., Monday and his team’s bye week will be much happier after the Red Raiders’ comeback against Kansas on Saturday. The victory enabled Leach to tie Spike Dykes as the winningest coach in school history with 82 triumphs. Taylor Potts’ heroics off the bench throw the quarterback situation back into a quandary. But the biggest story was the comeback of the Tech defense, which bounced back from its struggles against Texas A&M to limit Kansas to 258 yards while recording six sacks and recovering four fumbles.

5. Kansas State (5-4, 3-2 in North): The gutsy Wildcats might have shown more in their loss to Oklahoma than in any of their previous victories. Despite spotting the Sooners an early 21-0 lead, they came storming back to make it a competitive game in the second half. That game should provide Bill Snyder’s team with a shot of momentum heading into the Kansas game that will be pivotal in their improbable trip to the Big 12 North title. The biggest reason for their recent success has been Brandon Banks, who had a career game with 351 all-purpose yards against Oklahoma, equaling the school single-game record set by Darren Sproles.

6. Texas A&M (5-3, 2-2 in South): The Aggies took another step to a bowl berth by manhandling Iowa State. The developing running game keyed by Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael has helped them soar to No. 23 in rushing offense. A&M now is the nation’s only team to rank in the top 25 in the four major offensive categories of rushing offense, scoring offense, passing offense and total offense. Jerrod Johnson’s offensive statistics are as good as any quarterback in the league. The Aggies’ recent surge has enabled them to win back-to-back Big 12 victories by more than 20 points for the first time since beating Baylor and Kansas in 2002.

7. Nebraska (5-3, 2-2 in North): Cody Green was the first freshman quarterback to start for Nebraska since Tommie Frazier in 1992, and his magic worked in the first half to spark the Cornhuskers’ victory at Baylor. Whether it will pass muster against Oklahoma is an entirely different story. The Cornhuskers’ inconsistency in the second half won’t give Bo Pelini much confidence as he prepares for the Sooners. But the defense, which has held the last seven opponents to 280 yards or less, will give them a chance to be competitive.

8. Kansas (5-4, 1-3 in North): Are the Jayhawks heading into meltdown mode? With the stunning benching of Todd Reesing, it appears that coach Mark Mangino is looking for some kind of spark to get them back on track. And it won’t be easy Saturday at Kansas State, in a stadium where Bill Snyder has defeated the Jayhawks the last eight times he coached against his archrivals. With the recent slump in production and all of the offensive turnovers, it will be a big change to turn that around.

9. Iowa State (5-4, 2-3 in North): Even after the loss at Texas A&M, the Cyclones' bowl hopes look pretty good. All they need to do is win one of their last three games of the season in a gauntlet that starts Saturday against Oklahoma State. Alexander Robinson was back against the Aggies, although Austen Arnaud was missing. His return will be vital for any upset bowl hopes they might have, even with Jerome Tiller’s strong recent play.

10. Missouri (5-3, 1-3 in North): The Tigers still have a shot at the North championship if they can run the table. Their offense perked up with the use of a two-back alignment that boosted their running game against Colorado. And Blaine Gabbert didn’t look like his ankle was bothering him nearly as bad against the Buffaloes. Dave Steckel’s defense produced eight sacks against Tyler Hansen, the most since 2006 and a good sign heading into the Baylor game on Saturday.

11. Colorado (2-6, 1-3 in North): There’s no doubt that Colorado doesn’t like to play Missouri. After the Buffaloes fell into an early 33-0 hole against the Tigers, it marked a streak of 139 consecutive points scored by the Tigers against Colorado’s defense over two-plus seasons. And it won’t get any easier against Texas A&M. Colorado fans are becoming more vocal about a coaching change after the end of the season. And it won’t be a picnic for the struggling Colorado offensive line, which will try to contain the nation's sack leader, Von Miller, a week after allowing eight sacks against Missouri -- the most by a Colorado team since 1984.

12. Baylor (3-5, 0-4 in South): Bowl hopes aren’t officially dead, but they have been on life support since Robert Griffin’s injury. The Bears’ woes on offense continue as the conference losses in the tough South Division keep mounting. Baylor’s only TD against Nebraska came on an interception return. In four conference games, the Bears have averaged 8.5 points per game and have scored no more than 10 points in any single game. Missouri’s improving defense will provide a huge challenge to surpass those numbers.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Missouri Tigers

Record: 4-0, 0-2

The Tigers were an early surprise as they streaked to victories over Illinois, Bowling Green, Furman and Nevada to crack the Top 25 in September. The fast start by sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert had some pundits comparing him to John Elway and Ben Roethlisberger after only a few games. But some of those early praises look a tad premature after a blown fourth-quarter lead against Nebraska and his sputters against Oklahoma State in back-to-back losses to start conference play. The Tigers had three turnovers in each of the losses and the defense struggled producing any turnovers, much to the chagrin of Gary Pinkel and his new coordinators, David Yost and Dave Steckel. The result is a skid into the North cellar as the only team in the division without a conference victory. The running game has also struggled most of the season, making this a marked contrast from Missouri's ’ back-to-back teams that advanced to the Big 12 title game. And it won’t get any easier with a game against a Texas team on Saturday that is intent on proving its BCS mettle.

Offensive MVP, WR Danario Alexander: After struggling with injuries most of his career, Alexander has fulfilled the promise when he arrived at the school. He produced nine catches for a career-high 180 yards last week at Oklahoma State, filling the featured role that formerly was filled by Jeremy Maclin. The tall, angular Alexander ranks second in the conference and ninth in the country with an average of 104.5 yards per game and fourth in the conference with an average of 7.3 catches per game. And he’s already surpassed his previous career season high for receptions and yards only seven games into the season.

Defensive MVP, LB Sean Weatherspoon: Even as the Tigers have struggled during their two-game slump to start conference play, Weatherspoon has been a constant as a defensive leader and producer. The Lombardi Award semifinalist ranks sixth in the conference with an average of 8.33 tackles per game. He’s notched at least nine tackles in three games this season and is only 83 tackles from breaking the school record. He can get it with a fast finish and a bowl game -- much like his strong closing last season. And after the Tigers' slow start, they could certainly use a boost from Weatherspoon, too.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Here are some of the trends I've noticed in Missouri's 12-7 halftime lead over Nevada.

Turning point: Blaine Gabbert eluded pressure and remained upright before hitting Danario Alexander for a 31-yard TD grab to enable Missouri to grab the halftime lead. The touchdown enabled the Tigers to overcome a sputtering start and take the lead at the break.

Stat of the half: Missouri has produced 20 yards of rushing offense in the first half, with 14 coming on one run by Jarrell Jackson. On Missouri's other 14 carries in the first half, they produced 6 rushing rushing yards, for an average of 0.4 yards per carry

Best player in the half: Missouri wide receiver Danario Alexander, who repeatedly ran free in the Nevada secondary against the smaller and seemingly slower Wolf Pack secondary. Alexander provided three clutch receptions for third-down conversions, including two catches on the scoring drive including the touchdown.

Best call: After struggling to keep Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in check early in the game, the Tigers seemed more intent in covering him during the second quarter. The extra attention worked out as Kaepernick was only 2-for-7 with three sacks in the second quarter.

What Missouri needs to do: The Tigers were a different defensive team in the second quarter after stifling Kaepernick as the second quarter progesses. If that can continue and the Tigers can get their running game going, they should be able to escape Nevada's upset bid.

What Nevada needs to do: After losing leading rusher Vai Taua to an elbow injury after Nevada's first possession, the Wolf Pack need to develop enough passing to balance with their running game. The Wolf Pack had trouble with Missouri defensive coordiantor Dave Steckel's blitz packages as the game progresses and must protect Kaepernick better. And the defense, which played much better than expected, can't let the bigger and taller Missouri receivers wear them down as the game continues.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

With a young defense still grasping the nuances of college football, Missouri coordinator Dave Steckel made an astute decision that belied his lack of experience in his new job.

Namely, why not unleash “The Scorpion?”

Steckel’s simplified four-man pass rush featured three defensive ends in the lineup at the same time to boost the athleticism of his defensive front.

“Coach Steckel said he got a little bored calling the same defense over and over,” Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. “But why change anything when our base was working like it did?”

That assessment might have been one of the biggest understatements of the young season. The Tigers’ defense stung Illinois in a convincing 37-9 victory that ranked as the biggest surprise of the weekend in the Big 12.

Yes, that was the same Missouri defense that ranked 98th nationally in total defense and 117th in pass defense last season. The Tigers were also supposed to be reeling from the loss of first-round draft pick Ziggy Hood, top pass-rushing specialist Stryker Sulak and inspirational leader William Moore from last season.

But Missouri coach Gary Pinkel has been telling anybody who would listen this summer that his defense is faster and more athletic than any unit he has had at Missouri.

And “The Scorpion” proved that.

Steckel realized that he had so much talent at defensive end that it didn’t make sense not to play his best players together. So along with starting defensive ends Jacquies Smith and Brian Coulter, redshirt freshman defensive end Aldon Smith was added to the mix at defensive tackle.

Aldon Smith was the most productive of Missouri’s defensive linemen, producing a sack and six tackles, including three for losses. He saw action at both end and tackle and continually harassed Illinois quarterback Juice Williams.

“It was just a team effort and everybody did their job,” Smith said. “Some people might be surprised, but I’m not. We worked so hard in the off-season getting this down and Saturday’s game was the result of it.”

Yes, that was the same Illinois quarterback who torched the Tigers for 451 passing yards and five touchdowns in a wild 52-42 shootout that Missouri was fortunate to win in 2008. He was limited to 179 passing yards in Saturday’s loss.

The Missouri defense didn’t flinch this time around. And a secondary that was a running punch line last season didn’t allow a completion of longer than 24 yards against the Illini.

Obviously, the Tigers were helped when top Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn went down with an ankle injury early in the first quarter and produced only one catch. But the Tigers sat back and dared Williams to beat them with his arm – and he couldn’t do it.

Weatherspoon also credited Steckel’s presence on the sideline for helping the defense improve. In the past, Missouri defensive coordinators were situated in the press box. But Steckel, a former Marine known for his intensity, was on the field exhorting his team.

“I think our communication was a whole lot better,” Weatherspoon said. “Coach Steckel still has a few wrinkles that nobody has seen. Our defensive line got a little bit more pressure. It was a good day to show what we could do.”

Having their fiery coach so close to his team provided a little extra motivation for the Missouri defense, Weatherspoon said.

“Now, you would have to face him as you came on the field,” Weatherspoon said, chuckling. “In the old days, we could wait until halftime or after the game. But now, he’s right there waiting if somebody made a mistake.”

In Missouri's opener, "The Scorpion" kept Steckel relatively quiet.