Big Games (and Big Traps) for the Big XII
I could be wrong friends, but I might suggest that we, die-hard fans of the Big 12, may want to look at re-evaluating our expectations as we head into conference play. Not suggesting that we'll see a massacre such as we saw last weekend in the SEC, but there are certainly some interesting match ups this weekend. In other words, Colt likely ain't going to be tossing 17 of 19 type numbers from here on out; Daniel probably isn't going to toss 425 yards a game; Graham Harrell won't be....no, he'll still throw up 450 a game. Either way, you get my point.
So what are these trap games you ask - let me elaborate...
Texas at Colorado:
I'll be honest, I've been up and down/hot and cold with this game for a few weeks now. You may recall that I picked the Buffaloes as my dark horse to come out of the north. On second look, I'm giving them one more year. They've got a lot of young players and they lost a few of their best defenders from last year including a pair of all Big 12 guys. Cody Hawkins is a talented QB and he's more than capable of making some plays and scoring some point. And yes, we all know that Darrell Scott snuffed the Horns for Colorado after sticking with Texas for months (what else is new) and so I'm sure he'll be looking to make some big plays.
Look, am I worried about Colorado being better than the Horns? Not at all. Am I worried about Texas showing up? A little. This is the ultimate trap game - road game against a respectable, yet inferior opponent (which also happens to be their homecoming), and a H-U-G-E couple of games looming against two top 4 teams. At the end of the day, Texas should win this game by at least 2 or 3 touchdowns, but what I'm REALLY hoping to see is continued improvement. I feel like these guys have gotten better and better as the last month has progressed and I'd really love to see that continue. And if that means winning a tight game by 3 to 6 points because CU played the game of their lives, so be it. We cannot afford to regress this week and I think the coaches will have them prepared.
Texas - 41
Colorado - 24
Texas Tech at Kansas State:
I'll briefly tell you what I think and then I'll hand it off to the "real expert" on the matter. Tech should win this game and win it big. BUT, Kansas State is one of those teams that will have a bad to really bad year, but beat one team they shouldn't (Texas happily filled that role the last two years..missing out on the conference championship because of it). Could this be their time???? I don't think so, but I also know what Tech is capable of on the road AND on national television. Don't be surprised to see KSU make this a game.
But what do I know? http://fannation.com/blogs/post/266855
Oklahoma at Baylor:
Rrrrrrriiiiiiiiiight.
Texas A&M at Oklahoma State:
I'm sorry, but this is going to be a looooong year for the Aggies. Okie State has put up 50 points a game the last 3 games. And I think they just may do it again - this Aggie team is just real young and frankly, not very good. Before things pick up in College Station they're going to have to start recruiting a hell of a lot better than they have the past 5 years....and that will not be easy.
Okie State - 52
Texas A&M - 20
Missouri at Nebraska:
This is one of the two "real" potential upsets I see. Is Nebraska as good as Missouri? Not at all, but this is in Lincoln where Mizzou hasn't won in forever. Talk about a coming out party opportunity for Pellini - this is THE prime opportunity for him to make his stake with this program and get the ship ready to turn. It's not entirely out of the question, but that defense will most certainly have it's work cut out for it as we know what Chase Daniel and company are capable of doing. On the other hand, Mizzou's defense has been anything but impressive thus far and although Callahan is gone, the Huskers still have an awfully good offense. I won't go so far as to say that the Huskers will pull this upset, but they will make Mizzou claw this one out.
Missouri - 34
Nebraska - 30
Kansas at Iowa State:
Just like I had a hunch with Bama over Georgia, I've got a hunch here. This is the one notable upset I think we'll see this weekend. It certainly won't get the national coverage of say KSU upsetting Tech, but it will be an upset nonetheless. Chizik gets his first signature win in this one.
Iowa State - 31
Kansas - 26
What Else You Ask???
So what are these trap games you ask - let me elaborate...
Texas at Colorado:
I'll be honest, I've been up and down/hot and cold with this game for a few weeks now. You may recall that I picked the Buffaloes as my dark horse to come out of the north. On second look, I'm giving them one more year. They've got a lot of young players and they lost a few of their best defenders from last year including a pair of all Big 12 guys. Cody Hawkins is a talented QB and he's more than capable of making some plays and scoring some point. And yes, we all know that Darrell Scott snuffed the Horns for Colorado after sticking with Texas for months (what else is new) and so I'm sure he'll be looking to make some big plays.
Look, am I worried about Colorado being better than the Horns? Not at all. Am I worried about Texas showing up? A little. This is the ultimate trap game - road game against a respectable, yet inferior opponent (which also happens to be their homecoming), and a H-U-G-E couple of games looming against two top 4 teams. At the end of the day, Texas should win this game by at least 2 or 3 touchdowns, but what I'm REALLY hoping to see is continued improvement. I feel like these guys have gotten better and better as the last month has progressed and I'd really love to see that continue. And if that means winning a tight game by 3 to 6 points because CU played the game of their lives, so be it. We cannot afford to regress this week and I think the coaches will have them prepared.
Texas - 41
Colorado - 24
Texas Tech at Kansas State:
I'll briefly tell you what I think and then I'll hand it off to the "real expert" on the matter. Tech should win this game and win it big. BUT, Kansas State is one of those teams that will have a bad to really bad year, but beat one team they shouldn't (Texas happily filled that role the last two years..missing out on the conference championship because of it). Could this be their time???? I don't think so, but I also know what Tech is capable of on the road AND on national television. Don't be surprised to see KSU make this a game.
But what do I know? http://fannation.com/blogs/post/266855
Oklahoma at Baylor:
Rrrrrrriiiiiiiiiight.
Texas A&M at Oklahoma State:
I'm sorry, but this is going to be a looooong year for the Aggies. Okie State has put up 50 points a game the last 3 games. And I think they just may do it again - this Aggie team is just real young and frankly, not very good. Before things pick up in College Station they're going to have to start recruiting a hell of a lot better than they have the past 5 years....and that will not be easy.
Okie State - 52
Texas A&M - 20
Missouri at Nebraska:
This is one of the two "real" potential upsets I see. Is Nebraska as good as Missouri? Not at all, but this is in Lincoln where Mizzou hasn't won in forever. Talk about a coming out party opportunity for Pellini - this is THE prime opportunity for him to make his stake with this program and get the ship ready to turn. It's not entirely out of the question, but that defense will most certainly have it's work cut out for it as we know what Chase Daniel and company are capable of doing. On the other hand, Mizzou's defense has been anything but impressive thus far and although Callahan is gone, the Huskers still have an awfully good offense. I won't go so far as to say that the Huskers will pull this upset, but they will make Mizzou claw this one out.
Missouri - 34
Nebraska - 30
Kansas at Iowa State:
Just like I had a hunch with Bama over Georgia, I've got a hunch here. This is the one notable upset I think we'll see this weekend. It certainly won't get the national coverage of say KSU upsetting Tech, but it will be an upset nonetheless. Chizik gets his first signature win in this one.
Iowa State - 31
Kansas - 26
What Else You Ask???
- SEC continues it's roller coaster ride this weekend when Vanderbilt knocks off Auburn in Nashville
- Speaking of this game, when was the last time the Game Day crew was in Nashville for a Vanderbilt game?
- So it would appear that the Texas offensive staff is scratching the Q-package. Word from the team is that Chiles isn't developing as they were hoping - especially in the passing area. Oh, no sh*t? I'll keep saying it - get him in the game, but never EVER put him behind center unless he's 4 yards back and the play is for him to take off to the outside. He's not a passer. Period.
- We'll see if Wisconsin's 4th quarter lapse last week got their attention - the Buckeyes visit on Saturday night. Although not a national championship game, or USC match up, but a national spotlight game and an opportunity for OSU to right the ship. As much as I want the Badgers to pull this out, I think the Buckeyes slip by.
- Be careful Alabama. They get Kentucky this week followed by a bye week. They should demolish these guys, but this is, yet another upset/let down opportunity.
- Another top 10 team goes down tonight as South Florida was beaten at home by Pittsburgh 26-21. I think we'd all agree that South Florida, although a solid team, was not a top 10 team. I say UCONN goes down at North Carolina, leaving the Big East with no more undefeated teams.
- Want just one more potential upset special? I know, I know, it's like I'm saying every game this weekend is an upset special, but seriously - Penn State at Purdue. Like Texas, PSU is on the road against a lesser team a week before their game of the year. I'm just saying.
- Speaking of Penn State - how big is that blowout over Oregon State looking now? Looks like OSU is going to knock off Utah tonight as well which Nittany Lion fans are just fine with.
- Me and my NFL pick 'em - it's like a horrible round of golf: after a while, when you line up you realize you have no idea what you're doing.
- I gotta think Philly bounces back and drops the Skins back down to earth - although if they still don't have Westbrook anything can happen.
- Benson to Cincy, huh? Welcome to the AFC North Cedric, meet Ray Lewis...
- Speaking of Ray Lewis - I think this is the week we see the Titans finally fall. Looks like VY is physically cleared/healthy, but still sitting...as he should be.
- Talk about a disappointing season for the Vikings - I think they drop their road game in New Orleans this weekend, which would drop them to 1-4.
- How painful is it to be a Cubs fan right now? Sheesh, what an enormous egg these guys seem to be laying. And weren't they one of the top 2 teams in the regular season?
- I think I'm routing for the Dodgers and Rays to meet in the championship. You more loyal readers may recall that I had picked the Cubs and Angels in the finals, but clearly I know nothing about this crazy game. All I'm saying is this what I'm routing for.
- How badly does this country need a hero, a leader, to live up the real situation at hand? And it might be a good idea to bring in a few folks who may know a little bit about economics (clearly, no one in congress does) - Ross Perot, Boone Pickens, Warren Buffet, etc., etc.....yea, I said it, Ross Perot. I know he's a crazy little bastard, but the dude knows money and he knows the system. Then we wouldn't have the most important piece of legislation we've seen in our lifetime include a rider that provides tax breaks on the import of Rum from the Virgin Islands (yes, that's a real addition that was included to "sweeten" the deal and there are many more just like it).
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 4:40 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home