I like where the AP picked Kansas to finish before the season began
Here is a look at the teams in the Big 12 South, in order of finish as predicted by The Associated Press:
• 1. Texas
McCoy threw for 2,570 yards and completed 68 percent of his passes. He says he's fully recovered from a pinched nerve in his neck that hampered him in the finale against A&M.
• 2. Oklahoma
Bradford will have a loaded offense around him. Most of the line is back, as are the top five receivers from last year, including all-Big 12 pick Malcolm Kelly. ... The Sooners may not miss Adrian Peterson all that much. Senior Allen Patrick (761 yards, four TDs) and sophomore Chris Brown (343 yards, six TDs) shared the load when Peterson broke his collarbone last year.
• 3. Texas A&M
The Aggies have 15 starters back, including quarterback Stephen McGee. The junior threw for 2,295 yards and completed 62 percent of his passes in 2006. ... A&M has one of the league's most varied running back tandems with 265-pound battering ram Jorvorskie Lane (725 yards, 19 TDs) and speedster Michael Goodson (847 yards, four TDs). ... The defense allowed more than 330 yards in five of last seven games, including 476 in the Holiday Bowl loss to Cal.
• 4. Oklahoma State
WR Adarius Bowman (60 receptions, 1,181 yards, 12 TDs) might be a Heisman Trophy contender. Bowman averaged 19.7 yards per catch and had five TD catches of 50 yards or longer in 2006. ... Dual-threat quarterback Bobby Reid threw for 24 touchdowns and ran for five more. ... The Cowboys gave up 26 points per game last season and ranked ninth in the league in total defense (364 yards per game).
• 5. Texas Tech
QB Graham Harrell threw for 4,555 yards in 2006, more than 1,000 yards more than the next closest quarterback in the Big 12 (Chase Daniel). He led the league in total offense (345 yards), completions (412) and TD passes (38), though he also threw 11 interceptions.
• 6. Baylor
Like the Sooners, the Bears are looking for a starting quarterback. Kent State transfer Michael Machen is the front-runner, though coach Guy Morriss says junior-college transfer John David Weed "has closed the gap." ... Baylor had the worst rushing defense in the Big 12 (191 yards per game) in 2006.
Big 12 North: 1. Missouri; 2. Nebraska; 3. Kansas State; 4. Colorado; 5. Kansas; 6. Iowa State.
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