By John Shinn
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In previous seasons, the Big 12 championship game has tended to go one of two ways. Almost every time a heavy favorite has rolled into the game and that favorite has either won impressively or suffered a stunning defeat. That trend will continue when No. 4 Oklahoma (11-1) faces No. 19 Missouri (9-3) at Arrowhead Stadium.
A Sooner victory will likely seal a berth in the BCS title game. OU is almost a three-touchdown favorite to do it. A loss, however, would put OU in the same boat as several other teams that had their national championship aspirations squashed in the conference title game.
The Tigers know this well.
They entered last season’s conference title game ranked No. 1 and on schedule to make it to the BCS title game. Then they got whacked around 38-17 by the Sooners.
It was the fifth time in 12 years the lower ranked team had won the championship, although 2007 wasn’t exactly a stunning upset. The Sooners had beaten Missouri in the regular season and were favored to do it again in the conference title game.
But there have been some huge surprises over the years.
OU’s stunning loss to Kansas State in 2003 was the last major upset. But there was also Colorado stunning No. 3 Texas in 2001. Texas A&M; ripped No. 2 Kansas State’s heart out with a victory in 1998. The granddaddy of all upsets occurred in the first Big 12 title game in 1996 when No. 3 Nebraska was stunned by unranked Texas.
Players know what can happen.
“We know about all that stuff,” OU wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias said.
So does Missouri. Last season it crashed in the driver’s seat. Tonight it gets an opportunity to run the Sooners off the road.
Every game has an underdog. Some have thrived in that position and others haven’t. In 13 conference title games, the favorite has won by at least two touchdowns seven times, including the last four games.
Some teams handle the pressure better than others. Traditionally, OU’s handled the pressure of being the favorite well. It’s been favored in all six of its previous title game appearances and won five.
Missouri gets its first shot at being the big underdog tonight.
“As a competitor, it drives you to prove people wrong or you become a victim,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “I’d be real disappointed if our team didn’t take the competitive side of it.”
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
