This will once again be the most random of thoughts concerning the Big 12 conference. Once again also, I harbor no ill will towards any particular team. I just call it the way I see it. I'm a Mizzou guy in the SEC and I think I have made it plain that I will be candid as hell with my own club this season.
Well, the Oklahoma Sooners came through for me with flying colors last saturday night. Like Bama in the SEC I have stated from the outset it was my belief that Stoops had the best team in the league. Maybe when the dust settles that will be true, maybe not. But they took a giant leap last weekend going down to Waco and knocking off the Bears. I said I felt Baker Mayfield would have a huge night and he certainly did. Been my opinion for a long time that Baylor should not be considered as a legitimate player in the national title scene. They simply do not defend well enough. The Sooners are more balanced and that was clearly evident saturday night. I made them my Rabid Dog release and my close friends thought I'd blown a gasket. Oh how the Sooners wish they had that damn game back against Texas. As for Baylor, no time to sulk, now they have to travel to Stillwater to contend with an unbeaten Cowboys team that has it's own dreams on the line. Stillwater is a rugged place to play and Briles team could find themselves having gone from the penthouse to the outhouse come saturday night. Gundy will have his kids ready to spit nails.
I know I have taken some good hearted shots at Kansas this fall but they are an easy target. Man they have a bad football team. Sometimes you just have to speak plainly. But, I will always give credit where it is due. The Jayhawks played their asses off last week against TCU. Yes, of course the Horny toads took them lightly, but whatever. Kansas made them sweat to the end.
This season has just got to be slowly killing Bill Snyder at Kansas State. He loses his starting QB on the FIRST play from scrimmage and well, it has been downhill from there. To his credit his kids keep playing hard for their beloved head coach. But as I tell my clients non stop, there is a world of difference between want to, and can do. I think maybe they are actually in a pretty good spot this saturday hosting Iowa State. The Cyclones might have blown their load last weekend in Ames with that nail biter against Oklahoma State. I cannot help but feel Rhodes kids will be kind of shuffling into town rather than storming. Might be a prime opportunity for the Wildcats to feel like their old selves for an afternoon.
I will not even begin to say I have my brain around Texas guys. Charlie Strong is a proven winner and by all accounts and solid and winning coach. The Longhorns have an abundance of athletes. They reside in the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country. Their facilities are second to none. Yet, here they are again. They are stumbling down the stretch. They are off this week and probably just as well. Strong has a major project on his hands down there. Be real curious to see if he gets the opportunity to see it though. He needs more time. To can him now would be ignorant.
I have a buddy here in Columbia that is an Oklahoma State grad and the poor guy is beside himself. Monster game on deck for the Cowboys. I cannot wait for this one. We are clearly going to see Oklahoma State bring it. I want to see how the Bears man up after a tough loss at home. I want to see how Briles and his staff are at motivating their kids in this spot. If the Bears even lose but put up a valiant effort in Stillwater then it's all good with me. But if they go in there and get down the then roll over to an ass kicking, well, my friends that speaks volumes. We will know a helluva lot more about what this team is made of after this game. Biggest game in Stillwater in some time. The pending showdown possibilities against Oklahoma are mind blowing. That state will be in total turmoil over that one.
Okay, that is it for this week. Some good games to look forward to and that is putting it mildly guys. On the business end I have my one & only College Football game of the year going saturday. I also have a college Rabid Dog loaded up. The Rabid Dogs have been off the chain good of late. Oklahoma last weekend was another outright winner. In the NFL I have my Triple Star game of the week loaded. Hopefully a repeat of our winner last weekend with the Giants covering the number against the mighty Patriots. This is a helluva fun time of years guys. ENJOY!