1. Kansas State: KSU’s
defense appeared every so slightly vulnerable against Oklahoma State, but the
Cowboys’ offense can make even excellent defenses look average. The mirage
created by OSU’s offense will certainly vanish when Kansas State travels to
Fort Worth for the Battle of the Purple Wild Frogs. Of more concern is the
health of Heisman frontrunner Collin Klein. The guess here is that nothing
short of super anthrax and a colostomy will keep Klein on the pine.
2. Oklahoma: The
Sooners rebounded in fine fashion from the Notre Dame beatin’
and did the same to a fired up Iowa State club. Hanging 35 on the Cyclones was
impressive. The emergence of wideouts Justin Brown
and Jalen Saunders helped Landry Jones. Brennan Clay
rushing for 157 against ISU was another fine bonus.
3. Oklahoma State: The
Cowboys played Kansas State about as tough as anybody, but like everybody,
didn’t have an answer for Collin Klein. Not that OSU didn’t
try. They are the only three-headed (Walsh, Lunt, Chelf)
quarterback team I can remember. Mike Gundy plugs ‘em
in and they play well.
4. Texas: As I
fully suspected, the reports of Texas’ demise were dramatically exaggerated.
The near loss to Kansas was an aberration; the solid win at Texas Tech was
closer to the norm. It looks like spoiled Horns fans may have to wait at least
a couple more years before seeing a replacement for Roscoe P. Buttertooth.
5. Texas Tech: The
Red Raiders had the Longhorns right in their crosshairs and then developed a
bad case of buck fever. Now the Texas Tech fanbase is
almost as angry as Texas’ was after the near loss to Kansas. And speaking of
Kansas, the Jayhawks should be just the thing for what ails the Red Raiders.
6. Iowa State: Inconsistency
at the quarterback position once again reared its hideous head as Steele Jantz could only complete 50 percent of his passes against
Oklahoma last weekend. Now Jantz and the Cyclones
travel to Austin where they’ll face a still vulnerable but improving Longhorn
defense. Iowa State deserves a nice win and Texas needs a nasty loss, but poetic
justice will probably not be served in this one.
7. TCU: The
Horned Frogs are an average college football team, but they have a deep fund of
mental toughness. The come-from-behind win at West Virginia proves that. Now it
will be interesting to see if TCU’s solid defense can remotely hold the Kansas
State attack in check on Saturday. The Horned Frogs may have the best rush
defense in the Big 12.
8. West Virginia: My
how the mighty hath fallen. After rising to No. 5 in the national standings and
posing as BCS title contenders, Dana Holgorsen’s
squad has been exposed as a paper tiger, losing three straight. Now this team
needs another win just to get eligible for the Caress Soap Bowl. The
Mountaineers will probably have to wait until the season-ender against Kansas
to get it.
9. Baylor: Well,
if nothing else the Bears proved that they’re head and shoulders better than
the Kansas Jayhawks. Any joy will prove short-lived as Art Briles’
team travels to Norman this weekend. Baylor appears destined to dwell in Waco
during the modern dumbed down bowl season.
10. Kansas: The
Jayhawks gave it their all in a loss to Texas and had nothing to give Baylor
except an easy win. Unless Texas Tech is suffering from a serious case of the
mopes because of the Texas loss, things won’t get any nicer for Charlie Weis’
boys in Lubbock.