Freshly scathed from the exodus of Nebraska and Colorado, as well as the failed flight of Texas A&M, the Big 12 desperately desires kickoff to commence in order to revert attention back to the field of play.

For all the noise concerning Texas and their TV station, the Oklahoma Sooners are this year's forecasted favorite, ranking atop the USA Today Poll. Sporting one of the best quarterback-receiver duos in the nation in Landry Jones (4,718 yards, 38 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) and Ryan Broyles (131 receptions, 1,622 yards, 14 touchdowns), the Oklahoma offense will endure one of the more explosive attacks in the land despite the loss of running back DeMarco Murray. What remains to be seen is how the defense will respond to the blows to their LB corps, with the shocking death of starting LB Austin Cox and injury to Travis Lewis leaving the crew depleted.

But Norman isn't the only football hotbed in the state this season. In Stillwater, coach Mike Gundy has built Oklahoma State into a perennial power, as the Cowboys have won 29 games in the past three seasons. This campaign projects to be promising for the Cowboys, who have field general Brandon Weeden (4,277 yards, 34 touchdowns) and All-American receiver Justin Blackmon (111 receptions, 1,782 yards, 20 touchdowns) returning to an offense that averaged 44.2 points per game. The Cowboys will be tested early with matchups against Arizona and Texas A&M.

Although last season's 5-7 record served as a wet blanket to the program, expectations remain high in Austin, where a quarterback competition will be the main storyline for the Longhorns. In Columbia, the Tigers will vie for their fourth double-digit win season in the last five years while trying to replace Blaine Gabbert behind center. Texas A&M will not be one to be trifled with, as Ryan Tannehill looks to build off a strong second half for the Aggies.

Using our college football simulation engine, WhatIfSports.com simulated thousands of college football games to create this Big 12 Preview. Team ratings, player ratings and depth charts are accurate as of August 19th. What you see in the WIS-Big 12 Predictions table is the most likely outcome based on the computer simulations. The team-by-team schedules use Absolute Records, which you can learn more about below. Those same game-by-game simulations also generate average points per game for both teams.

WIS-Big 12 Predictions
Team	W	L	Overall Record
Oklahoma	7	2	10-2
Oklahoma State	7	2	9-3
Texas A&M	6	3	9-3
Missouri	5	4	8-4
Texas	5	4	7-5
Baylor	4	5	6-6
Texas Tech	4	5	6-6
Kansas State	3	6	5-7
Iowa State	2	7	3-9
Kansas	1	8	2-10

Oklahoma

Joey Helmer of SoonersIllustrated.com is our Oklahoma Sooners insider:

The Sooners are lauded to be the No. 1 team in the land by many for several reasons. They are loaded with returning starters and experience on both sides of the ball. They are extremely talented, perhaps the most talented team in the country. And they have very few weaknesses. OU surges into the 2011 season on a high, winners of five straight, including a Big 12 Championship and Fiesta Bowl victory in the process. Should the Sooners ride that momentum and click early, they'll be very tough to beat.

For more from Joey Helmer and the Sooners, check out SoonersIllustrated.com.

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Oklahoma Sooners
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	Tulsa Golden Hurricane	88	41-27
3	@Florida State Seminoles	56	35-33
4	Missouri Tigers	82	34-23
5	Ball State Cardinals	95	50-9
6	@Texas Longhorns	79	35-25
7	@Kansas Jayhawks	95	47-14
8	Texas Tech Red Raiders	93	39-21
9	@Kansas State Wildcats	92	39-21
10	Texas A&M Aggies	60	35-32
12	@Baylor Bears	88	39-27
13	Iowa State Cyclones	95	41-14
14	@Oklahoma State Cowboys	52	37-36

Oklahoma State

Terry Tush of GoPokes.com is our Oklahoma State Cowboys insider:

The Cowboys averaged 44.2 points a game last season (third best in the nation) on the way to winning a school-record 11 games, and there's no reason to believe they won't have one of the most prolific scoring offenses again this fall with All-America receiver and Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon and All-Big 12 quarterback Brandon Weeden returning. Strong safety Markelle Martin, cornerback Brodrick Brown and Big 12 co-defensive freshman of the year Shaun Lewis at linebacker will lead an improved defense.

For more from Terry Tush and the Cowboys, check out GoPokes.com.

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns	95	45-14
2	Arizona Wildcats	57	33-29
3	@Tulsa Golden Hurricane	90	44-29
4	@Texas A&M Aggies	54	37-35
6	Kansas Jayhawks	95	46-16
7	@Texas Longhorns	71	34-26
8	@Missouri Tigers	71	34-27
9	Baylor Bears	82	42-30
10	Kansas State Wildcats	84	40-23
11	@Texas Tech Red Raiders	84	39-25
12	@Iowa State Cyclones	95	43-18
14	Oklahoma Sooners	48	36-37

Texas A&M

No fewer than 18 starters return among 60 lettermen, including top playmakers such as quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Cyrus Gray and wide receiver Jeff Fuller. They figure to lead a prolific attack after the Aggies ranked fifth in the Big 12 in total offense (441.8) and scoring (31.2) last season.

There is a disclaimer to consider regarding the Aggies' experience. Tannehill did not start until midway through last season, when Sherman benched Jerrod Johnson. So those six starts account for all of the senior's experience at quarterback after playing as a receiver before that.

The greater concern for A&M is on defense. That unit made considerable strides last season after Tim DeRuyter was hired as coordinator. Still, one of the most versatile defenders in the country, hybrid linebacker Von Miller, is gone after winning the Butkus Award and going second overall in the NFL draft. The Aggies' top tackler from a year ago, linebacker Michael Hodges, also departed. Leaders must emerge among potential standouts, such as cornerback Coryell Judie, who also rates as one of the Big 12's top return threats.

- FOXSports.com

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Texas A&M Aggies
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	Southern Methodist Mustangs	75	38-30
3	Idaho Vandals	95	42-17
4	Oklahoma State Cowboys	46	35-37
5	Arkansas Razorbacks	51	31-30
6	@Texas Tech Red Raiders	77	36-26
7	Baylor Bears	66	36-30
8	@Iowa State Cyclones	94	38-15
9	Missouri Tigers	65	31-25
10	@Oklahoma Sooners	40	32-35
11	@Kansas State Wildcats	81	35-23
12	Kansas Jayhawks	95	44-14
13	Texas Longhorns	82	32-21

Missouri

JP Rock of ShowMeMizzou.com is our Missouri Tigers insider:

Despite losing two NFL first round draft picks from last year's team, the Missouri Tigers have a chance to be just as good or possibly even better if they stay healthy and certain newcomers live up to their potential.

On offense new QB James Franklin has the goods to be an outstanding college signal caller and will provide more of a dual threat weapon than Blaine Gabbert. He has a veteran offensive line returning along with a strong stable of running backs and reliable receivers such as Michael Egnew and TJ Moe to help make the transition easier.

On defense, the Tiger front seven should be a strength and should be able to provide more depth than last year. The return of DT Dominique Hamilton to help defend the run game is key. DE Jaquies Smith and Brad Madison are on national pre-season watch lists, and Madison returns after leading the Tigers in sacks in 2010, and being the Tigers most productive defensive lineman. Look for newcomer DE Kony Ealy to remind people of former Tiger and 1st round pick Aldon Smith.

How they perform on the road, especially with key road games at Oklahoma and Texas A&M will be big determining factors as to how far their win total will go in 2011.

For more from JP Rock and the Tigers, check out ShowMeMizzou.com.

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Missouri Tigers
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	Miami (OH) RedHawks	89	30-15
2	@Arizona State Sun Devils	50	24-24
3	Western Illinois Leathernecks	95	54-7
4	@Oklahoma Sooners	18	23-34
6	@Kansas State Wildcats	78	31-22
7	Iowa State Cyclones	90	31-15
8	Oklahoma State Cowboys	29	27-34
9	@Texas A&M Aggies	35	25-31
10	@Baylor Bears	66	31-26
11	Texas Longhorns	55	25-23
12	Texas Tech Red Raiders	75	30-22
13	@Kansas Jayhawks	93	39-13

Texas

Texas probably faces as many question marks as any time since Mack Brown arrived before the 1998 season. Brown had never failed to record at least nine wins in Austin until last season. Now, the offensive line returns without a front-runner at left tackle. The best candidate for a go-to running back could be freshman Malcolm Brown, who arrived on campus in June.

Then there's the quarterback. A year ago, Garrett Gilbert was the guy, the can't-miss prospect inheriting the starting job from Colt McCoy. Now he's one of four players in an open competition after throwing 17 interceptions as a first-year starter in 2010. The other contenders: 2010 backup Case McCoy, fresh from an impressive spring game; one-time top recruit Connor Wood; and true freshman David Ash, who has already impressed.

"The No. 1 thing we want is leadership," Brown said. "We want somebody that can get the swagger back and make sure that the rest of the kids know that this person's going to lead them to victory."

- FOXSports.com

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Texas Longhorns
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	Rice Owls	86	37-15
2	Brigham Young Cougars	70	27-21
3	@UCLA Bruins	76	28-20
5	@Iowa State Cyclones	88	32-14
6	Oklahoma Sooners	21	25-35
7	Oklahoma State Cowboys	29	26-34
9	Kansas Jayhawks	95	37-13
10	Texas Tech Red Raiders	67	29-22
11	@Missouri Tigers	45	23-25
12	Kansas State Wildcats	79	30-20
13	@Texas A&M Aggies	18	21-32
14	@Baylor Bears	63	31-26

Baylor

Chris Bullajian of BearsIllustrated.com is our Baylor Bears insider:

While the offense might struggle early to find someone to replace NFL draft pick Jay Finley in the backfield, the Bears' explosiveness at the other skill positions make it likely that plenty of points will be scored through the air. Baylor's offensive line might also be the best it has been in a decade, although sophomore Cyril Richardson will have big shoes to fill in replacing NFL 1st round draft pick Danny Watkins at left tackle.

The Bears will have a new defensive coordinator roaming the sidelines this fall with Phil Bennett taking over the job. Expectations are high with new faces on the defensive side of the ball, but there still might be a few bumps along the way. After losing defensive tackle Phil Taylor to the NFL draft, the Bears will have to find a new anchor on the defensive line.

The Bears must build upon last season's success, and they must use that momentum to surpass last year's achievements.

For more from Chris Bullajian and the Bears, check out BearsIllustrated.com.

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Baylor Bears
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	TCU Horned Frogs	22	25-37
3	Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks	95	55-9
4	Rice Owls	95	42-21
5	@Kansas State Wildcats	65	32-28
6	Iowa State Cyclones	88	34-20
7	@Texas A&M Aggies	34	30-36
9	@Oklahoma State Cowboys	18	30-42
10	Missouri Tigers	34	26-31
11	@Kansas Jayhawks	91	38-21
12	Oklahoma Sooners	12	27-39
13	Texas Tech Red Raiders	49	32-30
14	Texas Longhorns	36	26-31

Texas Tech

Joe Yeager of RaiderPower.com is our Texas Tech Red Raiders insider:

Look for the Red Raiders to be a better team because of the continuity and stability that will come with the personnel's second year under Tommy Tuberville. The defense, in particular, will be improved. Trips to Texas and Oklahoma, however, preclude a truly special season.

For more from Joe Yeager and the Red Raiders, check out RaiderPower.com.

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	Texas State Bobcats	95	50-8
3	@New Mexico Lobos	95	36-11
4	Nevada Wolf Pack	50	30-29
5	@Kansas Jayhawks	88	32-18
6	Texas A&M Aggies	23	26-36
7	Kansas State Wildcats	60	29-26
8	@Oklahoma Sooners	7	21-39
9	Iowa State Cyclones	76	29-20
10	@Texas Longhorns	33	22-29
11	Oklahoma State Cowboys	16	25-39
12	@Missouri Tigers	25	22-30
13	@Baylor Bears	51	30-32

Kansas State

Expectations aren't particularly high this year with the Big 12 cutting out divisions and adapting a round-robin format. Picked eighth, the Wildcats must improve dramatically on defense to make any noise.

The secondary is the strength of that unit. Safeties Tysyn Hartman and Ty Zimmerman are both solid, while cornerback David Garrett is a versatile performer who led the team in tackles last year while ranking among the Big 12 leaders in tackles for loss (15).

Even with Arthur Brown, the front seven is shaky. The top performer along the line is end Brandon Harold, though he too has frequented coach Bill Snyder's doghouse.

Collin Klein won the starting job at quarterback during spring camp and now must refine his throwing touch after being used situationally as a rusher last season. Experienced receivers exist, yet most either underperformed or were injured last season. Brodrick Smith is the top talent, but he must bounce back from a broken leg.

- FOXSports.com

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Kansas State Wildcats
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	Eastern Kentucky Colonels	95	50-9
3	Kent State Golden Flashes	77	26-16
4	@Miami (FL) Hurricanes	23	20-30
5	Baylor Bears	35	28-32
6	Missouri Tigers	22	22-31
7	@Texas Tech Red Raiders	40	26-29
8	@Kansas Jayhawks	89	35-19
9	Oklahoma Sooners	8	21-39
10	@Oklahoma State Cowboys	16	23-40
11	Texas A&M Aggies	19	23-35
12	@Texas Longhorns	21	20-30
14	Iowa State Cyclones	78	27-18

Iowa State

The only thing the Cyclones appear to be lacking is a bona fide quarterback, and ISU hopes that doesn't hold the program back from trying to make its second bowl game in three seasons.

The three men battling for the starting spot -- Jerome Tiller, Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett -- will only have a month of practice to improve before the season starts. Each showed flashes of brilliance in the spring, but none ran away with the job. Tiller opens camp No. 1 on the depth chart, but he needs to improve his accuracy. Jantz, a junior-college transfer, needs to learn the playbook. And Barnett, a redshirt freshman, lacks college experience.

The defense appears to be the strength of the team with seven starters returning. Linebackers Jake Knott, a preseason first-team All-Conference selection, and A.J. Klein will anchor the defense. Cornerback should be a strength as the top four return.

"Everywhere you turn the program is in better shape," coach Paul Rhoads said. "I think we'll have our best football team that we'll put on the field this fall. The marker is wins and losses. We'll see how that plays out. We'll certainly take the field every Saturday to win them and see what the numbers end up at by the time the season's done."

- FOXSports.com

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Iowa State Cyclones
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	Northern Iowa Panthers	95	39-7
2	Iowa Hawkeyes	11	14-30
3	@Connecticut Huskies	20	18-28
5	Texas Longhorns	12	14-32
6	@Baylor Bears	12	20-34
7	@Missouri Tigers	10	15-31
8	Texas A&M Aggies	6	15-38
9	@Texas Tech Red Raiders	23	20-29
10	Kansas Jayhawks	75	27-19
12	Oklahoma State Cowboys	5	18-43
13	@Oklahoma Sooners	5	14-41
14	@Kansas State Wildcats	22	18-27

Kansas

In a second season as Kansas coach, Turner Gill promises he will field a faster and deeper team. If true, the Jayhawks could lack experience. Although Gill restrained from pulling redshirts off all but four freshmen last year as the Jayhawks struggled to go 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Big 12, he is encouraged by the newcomers he signed as part of a class ranked 34th nationally.

"We got quality recruits," Gill said. "Many legitimately have a chance to play right away."

There is reason to understand the optimism Gill will always attempt to exude. His top returnee on offense is a running back, sophomore James Sims, who broke in and gained 742 yards last year as a true freshman. One of the best players Kansas redshirted, Brandon Bourbon, is a running back. So too is Darrian Miller, an incoming recruit who reported for spring camp and enters the fall as Sims' backup.

Defensively, much work remains and will be handled by a new coordinator after veteran Carl Torbush stepped down after being diagnosed with cancer. Vic Shealy, the cornerbacks coach, was promoted to the coordinator's post and will attempt to capitalize on a talent infusion featuring a pair of transfer linebackers, Darius Willis (Buffalo) and Malcolm Walker (junior college).

- FOXSports.com

Absolute Schedule/Records

2011 Kansas Jayhawks
Week	Opponent	Win%	Avg Score
1	McNeese State Cowboys	95	38-9
2	Northern Illinois Huskies	6	18-39
3	@Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	15	16-32
5	Texas Tech Red Raiders	12	18-32
6	@Oklahoma State Cowboys	5	16-46
7	Oklahoma Sooners	5	14-47
8	Kansas State Wildcats	11	19-35
9	@Texas Longhorns	5	13-37
10	@Iowa State Cyclones	25	19-27
11	Baylor Bears	8	21-38
12	@Texas A&M Aggies	5	14-44
13	Missouri Tigers	7	13-39

Joel Beall is the assistant content manager for WhatIfSports.com. He can be reached at jbeall@whatifsports.com.