Is Texas' emotional well empty? Oklahoma State hopes so
My Bet is Nooooooo...LOL HOOK EM HORNS... ESPN.com
Updated: October 24, 2008
Situation Room: Does No. 1 have a problem?Cowboys-Horns, Bucks-Lions, Dawgs-Tigers headline Week 9 By Rece Davis, ESPN.com Paul Jasienski/Getty Images
Coach Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State would like to build a lead -- and keep it -- in Austin on Saturday.
How many times can you go to that emotional well and find it full?
How many times can a coach warn a team that it must play its best, and it still delivers?
Texas will soon find out.
The Longhorns hope the number is at least three. Texas has beaten Oklahoma State 10 straight times and 20 of the past 22. The Longhorns even tease the Pokes, just to make it fun. Oklahoma State built leads of at least 19 points three times in the past four years. But Texas won all the games and twice won by 19 or more points. Last year, Texas won by only three points, but Mike Gundy's team had led by 21 … in the fourth quarter! The Longhorns' two greatest comebacks in history were against the Cowboys.
Still, I think No. 1 might have a problem on its hands.
I think Texas is a better team. But the Horns have been superhuman the past two weeks. That's the intangible reason for the Horns to be wary.
The tangible reason is the Cowboys' running game. Texas hasn't seen one like it. The Horns have seen one top-50 rushing attack all season. RB Kendall Hunter and the Pokes rank fifth running the ball, averaging 283 yards per game.
Oklahoma State is balanced and tough. Keep an eye on how Will Muschamp's defense deals with WR Dez Bryant. Last week against Baylor, Oklahoma State completed 13 passes. Eleven of them were to Bryant. He's dangerous. But Texas is even more dangerous, assuming that emotional well still has something in reserve. Even if it doesn't, the Longhorns still have QB Colt McCoy. He's enough to beat anybody this season.
Just playing in The Shoe has been enough to guarantee Ohio State a victory over Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 0-for-7 in Columbus since joining the Big Ten.
Much attention will focus on how Terrelle Pryor handles the Penn State pressure.
He tends to hold the ball, as young QBs do. That's not a good plan against Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin, who is tied for second in the nation with 10 sacks. This is a put-up-or-shut-up game for Ohio State's defense. After getting gutted by USC, the Bucks' veteran D has earned another shot at a marquee matchup's big plays.
Penn State has made 50 plays of 20 yards or more, second-most in the country. If Ohio State wants to creep back to the edge of the national-title picture, it must limit the number of times it gives up yardage in chunks.
I know a two-loss team won the title last year, but like Penn State-Ohio State, Georgia-LSU is a virtual national-title elimination game. Georgia hasn't been the same since Alabama steamrolled it.
Here's the Dawgs' chance to put some bite back into their game. Georgia has dominated stats the past couple of games, yet has found a way to let teams hang around. Penalties, red zone turnovers and busted assignments are a recipe for dream-shattering jambalaya on the bayou Saturday.
The key matchup is LSU's defensive line against a very green Georgia offensive line. Georgia should have a QB advantage in terms of experience. That edge will be negated if Matthew Stafford is running for his life or is flat on his back.
Every game is a national-title elimination game for USC. Arizona might be one of the few places where the Trojans could stumble. I don't expect USC to lose, though, because Pete Carroll's team seems pretty locked in after its crash in Corvallis. USC hasn't allowed a point in 10 quarters.
The Wildcats have been an offensive juggernaut at home. Willie Tuitama and Nic Grigsby are threats. If the Trojans have their minds on NFL teams who want to flirt with their coach, the upcoming election or anything but the Wildcats, Arizona could give coach Mike Stoops a signature moment.
But let's be realistic. The Trojans usually get knocked off when no one sees it coming. Arizona and USC share first place in the conference. This is when USC likes to flex its muscle and put teams back in their place -- which, to the Trojans, means somewhere behind them in the Pac-10 standings.
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
Dezmon Briscoe and Kansas look to hand Texas Tech its first loss of the season.
A two-loss Big 12 North team and an undefeated Big 12 South squad collide in Lawrence, Kan. Saturday.
The Jayhawks put on a show against Oklahoma last week. Quarterback Todd Reesing and wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe were brilliant.
If Texas Tech gets past the Fighting Manginos, it can no longer be called untested.
I'll be looking to see whether the Jayhawks have their legs back after their track meet with Oklahoma last week. The Big 12 South has stymied some of the strides that the North made last year. Kansas can regain some of that credibility and establish itself as the team to beat in the division -- with all due respect to Missouri.
The focus for Alabama has been on finishing.
The Crimson Tide have raced out to first-half leads. Their average lead at the half of 21 points is the best in the nation. But they've let those leads dwindle in the second half and almost let the Ole Miss game get away entirely last week.
Some rightfully point out that continuing that trend will eventually bite the Tide, but another trend could be more problematic. If the Tide fail to play well early in the blood-feud match with Tennessee, it would give the struggling Vols confidence, whip that very good Big Orange D into a frenzy and create big upset potential on Rocky Top.
Finishing is important. Starting is just as important for Alabama.
On the subject of bitter feuds, Ole Miss and Arkansas meet in the best off-the-radar game of the day. Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt returns to his old congregation. It might not go down in the lexicon with "win one for the Gipper," but "win a personal homecoming for the Right Reverend" would be sweet for Nutt.
The Rebels are a talented, improving bunch. They still have tough games to play, but a win here would make the Rebs a near-cinch to become bowl-eligible eventually.
To Nutt, this game might be more important than any bowl game, although it probably would take truth serum to get him to admit it.
'The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.'
Thank you, M'Lady! Looking forward to a great day of college football - this is what it's all about. Rainy here but it looks good for tonight in Columbus. Here's hoping Beanie stubs his toe early on! <g>
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