Big 12 Market Report: BUY NU

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Big 12 Stock Report

BY CURT MCKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star

 

 

BUY: Nebraska

 

The asking price on the Huskers fell to an all-time low at the end of trading Saturday, so shoppers might find a bargain. But if you're going to add this to your portfolio, be prepared to face a lot of short-term turbulence and, remember, past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

SELL: Missouri

 

The Tigers' win against Baylor on Saturday was the North's first in seven inter-divisional matchups with the South this season. It left them on top of the league's lighter side. But considering that unbalanced climate, Mizzou could be headed for a downward adjustment in the next two weeks with games against Texas and unbeaten Oklahoma State.

 

BLUE CHIPPER: Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M

 

The Texas A&M junior can be overlooked playing in a league that feature's the nation's leading passer (Texas Tech's Sonny Cumbie) and 2003 Heisman Trophy winner (Oklahoma's Jason White). But McNeal has the most rushing yards (356) of any Big 12 quarterback and is No. 2 in total offense at 278.6 yards per game. Even more impressive is his 5 TDs-to-0-interceptions line. Last season, McNeal threw for eight scores and was picked off seven times.

 

INSIDER TRADING

 

Texas fans still up in arms over a fifth straight loss to Oklahoma probably don't care the Longhorns compiled a 23-4 record after their four previous losses to the Sooners. ... Junior strong safety Michael Huff recorded the fifth interception of his career Saturday, but it was the first time he didn't return one for a touchdown.

 

Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt didn't play in the second half Saturday against Oklahoma State after suffering a strained neck. Klatt didn't practice Monday but is expected to be available for the Buffaloes' next contest against Iowa State. Klatt's replacement, sophomore James Cox, completed 15 of 21 passes for 175 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a score.

 

Texas A&M is the only NCAA Division I-A team that has not thrown an interception. Not surprisingly, the Aggies are No. 2 nationally in turnover margin at plus-2.4 per game. Their next opponent, Oklahoma State, is No. 1 at plus-3.

 

Oklahoma cornerback and punt returner Antonio Perkins is expected to miss at least two games with what's believed to be a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Perkins was injured on a fourth-quarter rush of Texas quarterback Vince Young. Wide receiver Mark Clayton is expected to replace the NCAA record-setting punt returner, while Chijioke Onyenegecha will take over his cornerback position. ... Mainly because of Adrian Peterson's 225-yard rushing performance, Jason White had his third-lowest passing total as a starter Saturday. The only games White finished with less than 113 yards came against Alabama in 2002 and Nebraska in 2001. He finished neither of those games because of knee injuries. Against Texas, White completed 6 of 9 passes in the second half, including two on the Sooners' fourth-quarter touchdown drive.

 

It's no fluke that Oklahoma State is one of the two unbeaten Big 12 teams. The Cowboys have trailed a total of just six minutes and 15 seconds all season. "Bring on the Aggies," offensive guard Sam Mayes said to reporters about this week's game against Texas A&M. "We're 5-0. And I think we're going to be undefeated for a while."

 

Iowa State freshman quarterback Bret Meyer left Saturday's game against A&M after being hit three times on the same play in the final minute of the first half. Meyer didn't return but is expected to be ready for Saturday's contest at Colorado.

 

Kansas quarterback Adam Barmann was pulled in favor of Jason Swanson during the fourth quarter of the Jayhawks' win against Kansas State after completing 10 of 20 passes for 85 yards. Swanson, a transfer from City College of San Francisco, went 4-for-7 for 52 yards, including a 31-yard TD pass that put KU in front. Coach Mark Mangino declined to say if a change in starters is forthcoming. "I think we're in a good situation at quarterback," he told reporters Sunday. "We still have a great deal of faith in Adam Barmann, but Jason Swanson showed he can do some things and provide a spark."

 

You'd never know from Texas Tech's 70-10 blowout of Nebraska that the Red Raiders were penalized 10 times for 121 yards. If they continue piling up that kind of unwanted yardage (they're No. 6 nationally with a per-game average of 82.8 penalty yards), that statistic isn't likely to remain insignificant.

 

Yamon Figurs is set to replace Darren Sproles as Kansas State's punt returner. Sproles had his ninth fumble of the season (six of which have been lost) while trying to field a punt against Kansas that led to a field goal. ... Sophomore quarterback Dylan Meier was scratched as the Wildcats' starter just before Saturday's kickoff because of how he looked physically during warmups. With K-State down 7-6 at halftime, Meier talked his way into starting the second half and passed for 249 yards while guiding the Wildcats to 22 points.

 

Baylor coach Guy Morriss said he plans to get sophomore tailback Paul Mosley more involved. Mosley rushed for 58 yards on just six carries against Missouri. The Bears' starter, Anthony Krieg, had 48 yards on 15 attempts. "I've heard it said that he's not our player, we didn't recruit him, or we don't like him, stuff like that," Morriss said to reporters on Sunday. "From this point forward, we've got to get it corrected. Let's put it this way."

 

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

 

Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma defensive end Jonathan Jackson and Oklahoma State punter Cole Farden were named Big 12 offensive, defensive and special-teams players of the week.

 

Peterson produced the highest rushing total (225 yards) for an OU freshman in the Sooners' 12-0 win against Texas. Jackson had eight tackles and two quarterback hurries. Farden averaged 48.1 yards on seven punts in the Cowboys' 42-14 triumph at Colorado.

 

MARKET QUOTE

 

"Last year, everything was bigger than life if it was a negative. And we certainly had plenty of those. We didn't have enough of a lot of things last year to overcome any adversity, whether it was depth or mental toughness or team spirit, or whatever it may be. We were just lacking in so many areas. We have made about as dramatic a change in one year as you can make at this point in time." — Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione, to the Bryan-College Station (Texas) Eagle.

 

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2004/1...5b536561582.txt