An unusual week in that not a single member of the current top 25 plays another ranked team. But still should be some very good games. The top game of the weekend has to be Texas vs OU. Tom Herman vs Lincoln Riley, it's the first time since Bud Wilkinsons first year at OU that both OU and Texas have first timers. Bud faced Blair Cherry back in 1947, Texas and Cherry won that one. But Bud won the next 3 and Cherry was fired. Longhorns seem to have a defense that is fast and hard hitting and growing every week. Sooners are not a good defense as evidenced by all the points they gave up to Baylor. The Sooners however do have Baker Mayfield an experienced Heisman candidate at QB. He's a load and capable of putting the Sooners on his back and carrying them. Texas has Sam Ehlinger a true freshman who played for Mayfields rival in HS. Baker played for Lake Travis a true powerhouse in Texas, and Sam played for Austin Westlake another outstanding team annually. He was coached by a former Texas QB. They of course didn't play each other but their schools play every year in what some refer to as the Preppy Bowl as both Lake Travis and Austin Westfield are the Single HS in mostly white districts, both districts are definitely upscale. Of course as we all know the pay for Sooners if much better than your average College QB!
There are of course some interesting games this weekend. Ga.Tech at Miami...can the young Hurricanes wrap their minds around and stay disciplined against the relentless triple option attack of Ga.Tech? Wash State at CAL...another road game for the Coogs. Got to keep it going, Luke Falk seems to have found his mojo now. NCState at W.Virgina... State has a lot of respect building for them, but going to Morgantown against a pretty good WVA team will be a test. So.Carolina at Tenn....Butch Jones absolutely can not lose this game. Purdue at Wisconsin...Purdue definitely an improved team, but Wisc probably too much for them on the road. A&M at Fla ....It will be interesting to see if the offense of A&M can continue to evolve and improve. Gators are really hurting, I read that they have lost 4 or 5 starters from the LSU game. Back to back losses in the Swamp...when was the last time that happened. Ohio State at Neb ...from reading what AJ has posted about the Huskers I won't be shocked if the Buckeye's put an epic beating on them. You can't play this Ohio State team unless you are all in on the game plan and winning. Mich State at Minn...Gophers maybe not so great this year, will MSU follow up the great effort at Mich with a similar effort at Minn? I hope so it helps ND's SOS. Utah at USC ...critical game for both teams in the Pac12 race they certainly can not get a 2nd loss. Both are coming off conference losses.
I suspect this year's edition of the Red River shoot out is going to be a case of the Moveable Object, versus the Stoppable Force. No clue who will come out on top, although if OU has ANY heart at all they will come out firing to get the taste of losing to... Iowa St out of their mouths. GT vs Canes - I suspect a big part will be how much Miami can score. Not gonna get the ball 20 times this game, so you better make the opportunities count. Cougs ROLL the Cubs. NS St vs W Virg... I suspect NCSt is much better, but not sure I'd bet on this one. SCAR vs Tenn. Wow... at the beginning of the season I would put a lot on the Vols, but now with how they've been playing, and SCAR finding an offense. It is in Knoxville, so surely they won't lose at home? Purdue vs Wiscy. Very impressed with the strides the Boilers have made, and if this wasn't in Madison... but it is. Aggies vs Swamp Lizards We have a lot of momentum and a somewhat better offense than the Gators have, but it's also a lot of 18 year olds on the road at a big venue. No bet from me on this one! AJ's search for a new coach may officially begin this weekend if the Bucks throw down the expected beating. Mich St vs Minn. I suspect Mich St just shot their wad, but Minn aint really good so it might not matter. Coin toss. Utah vs Magnums... er I mean USC. Who cares? :wink:
Urban needs to make up for the loss to OU...if he can, he'll rub our nose in it. Conservative score....52-10
(Sigh)...24 points....and a home game...when does the distant shot in the night happen to get this mess over with? During the collapse against UW last week, there was no sign of coaches on the sidelines imploring the kids with a sense of urgency. Many shots of Riley just staring out into the field, very similar to his days at OSU. Fans leaving half way through the 4th qtr...that never happens. I'm scared guys...turn on the light please... :lol:
Aj, I have no idea what is going to transpire Saturday evening. My Buckeyes have been on a roll, since the Oklahoma loss, but the competition has not been too tough either, so I am not convinced just yet how good we might be this season. This season has to be distressing for Husker fans. Hopefully, things will get better as the season progresses.
Scott.... Florida is missing so many pieces this year from suspensions and injuries we are a far cry from what could have been back in August. Really missed Tyrie Cleveland last week..... especially in the 4th quarter when we needed to just get within FG range. I'm afraid UF is in for an Alabama SEC title game type butt kicking from Georgia this year so maybe we can skip the humiliation in Atlanta this season. In the interim we probably lose to A&M I believe and hopefully to none other than Georgia.... hopefully beat FSU and move into the postseason at 7-4 most likely in the Gator Bowl. Find a way to beat you guys and the Outback Bowl again might opt for UF.
So here is the funny part...not surprisingly a lot of Texas fans aren't exactly happy with the B12 membership and there is always talk about leaving. Some want to go the B1G, feel like we fit with the Enormous State U.'s up there, plus we'd kill'em in baseball and golf! Some want to go the Pac 12, California dreaming and all..but they are a minority because nobody want's to stay up to midnight to watch most of the sports. A few also want to go to the ACC because we'd fit so well academically and they like being in the Eastern TZ better than the West Coast. Nobody, but nobody wants to go to the SEC, because our program has honor and doesn't buy players! :shock: They think OU though fits well!
Well here's the good news for us. After the Aggie game we go back to our daughters house and leave Sunday morning for a week cruise in the Caribbean where I won't even have internet. Won't have to put up with the insanity of some Gator fans. We will be going to see Georgia when we get back, we are probably in for a beatdown in that game.
Terry failed to mention most of Texas honor was "acquired" while they had an official on the NCAA infractions committee and every reporter in the state went to their journalism school ... :roll:
Yeah Scott's right Texas fans feeling of being a morally superior program is sort of laughable. We're not SMU but not with out our skeletons no doubt. And as far as SEC, it's understood that everybody that is not a SEC fan thinks the SEC teams invented the anonymous bagman. One team that doesn't need a bagman if they exist, is the Saban lead Tide, so much is going right for the Tide I'd imagine some kids might pay Saban to recruit them!
Terry, it appears to me that Texas's helped to tear apart the Southwest Conference and true to their "honor", they appear to be ready to bail on the Big 12. You mention all of the conferences that Texas is considering, are those conferences interested in taking Texas and it's Longhorn Network? The SEC has its own network but as far as I am aware the individual teams do not have their own networks. I know Alabama doesn't. Maybe Texas needs to be an independent? Right now Texas is pretty much irrelevant in the national scene of football on the field. Y'all are making a ton of money, I'll give you that. Be careful, all it takes is one of your deep pocketed booster to get a little careless and that "honor" could be tarnished. 8)