To no surprise, Missouri and Oklahoma received all the love in the Big 12’s football preseason media poll, picked as the favorites to meet in the conference’s title game.

Nebraska was narrowly picked third in the Big 12 North, behind Missouri and Kansas, edging out Colorado by just two points. Kansas State was selected fifth with Iowa State picked last.

“Haven’t seen it, won’t see it, don’t care,” said NU linebackers coach Mike Ekeler after hearing of the poll.

Missouri, coming off a dominating Cotton Bowl win and returning quarterback and Heisman candidate Chase Daniel, was chosen as the favorite to win the North by all 51 media members who cast votes.

Oklahoma won the South Division voting in a similar landslide, receiving 49 of the 51 first-place votes.

Texas received two first-place votes and was picked second, just three points ahead of Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are a fashionable pick by some to make some noise this year.

Oklahoma State is predicted to be fourth, followed by Texas A&M and Baylor.

Missouri and Oklahoma met for the Big 12 championship last December, the Sooners winning the game and derailing a Mizzou shot at a national title.

As proven last fall, these polls provide nothing more than some table talk in July. Nebraska was picked second in the North last season and Kansas was picked fourth. Texas was supposed to win the South.

In the previous 12 seasons, conference media five times correctly picked both of the division champions. In 10 of 12 seasons, voters correctly selected at least one division champion.

This is the second straight year Missouri has been picked to win the North. Nebraska has been predicted at the top seven times since the inception of the league.

Big 12 Media Days will begin in Kansas City on Monday and continue through Wednesday, four teams represented each day.

Husker head coach Bo Pelini will get his chance at the podium on Monday, starting at 1 p.m. NU players scheduled to join him are Joe Ganz, Matt Slauson and Barry Turner.

Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.