1. Mack Brown has won three out of the last four games in Dallas against OU. Meanwhile, Bob Stoops continues to pile up Big 12 trophies like NCAA inquiries. With the presumption that Mack will hang up his concho belt in the next two years in deference to the undeniable coaching force that is Will Muschamp, how does this year's Texas/OU game define Mack Brown's legacy? Texas wins and it's likely Pasadena bound. A loss would likely cement this depressing statistic: a 7th conference championships for OU vs one in 12 years under Mack Brown, which was delivered by some guy named Vince Young.
Short answer: It doesn't.
Longer answer: Mack Brown's legacy is pretty secure. He won a national title on the back of one of the greatest college football players ever. He has guided Texas to soon-to-be nine straight 10 win seasons (Royal, by the way, only had 7 in his career at Texas). He has rebuilt Texas into a national power, as I believe people have forgotten how much the Horns had slipped in the post-Royal years. Yes, he's only won one conference title in his entire career, but if you can't appreciate what Mack Brown has done over his entire career, then that's your problem and not Mack's. If you think Mack's legacy is on shaky ground, beating OU this week certainly won't change your mind.
2. Flipping the lens, does another OU loss - 4/5 to Texas, 0/5 in the last five BCS bowls - permanently establish Big Game Bob as an overrated, overpaid coach disguised as an asshole? At least sweater vest is an all around nice guy. I just feel sorry for Tressel when he comes up short in big games. When Stoops does it I cackle in a spasmatic fit of primeval laughter. So the natives are getting restless in Norman, and by natives I mean the people that stole the land from the natives that actually lived there. Who needs to win a big game more: Bob Stoops, Jim Tressel, or Mark Richt?
Well, if we want to get technical, we all stole the land from the natives, so let's get off that high horse. Texas has a pretty dirty past as well. I know you're obligated to rip on the Sooners, but come on.
The obvious answer is Richt. Stoops and Tressel's problem is that they win their conference and then lose in a BCS Bowl. As far as problems go, that's a good one to have. Richt's problem is that his team lost by about a million points to Tennessee. He also doesn't win as many conference titles as the other two, which speaks highly of his conference (SEC! SEC! SEC!). If Tressel and Stoops don't win a big game, their fans will continue to murmur and count the conference titles. If Richt doesn't win one, he'll be out of a job.
3. Pick the game that glistens like no other on your remaining schedule. Why does it shine for thee? What portent does it hold at the seat of your BCS or Brut Sun Bowl altar?
Bama. Bama. Bama.
The natives are restless, but if LSU beats Bama, all is forgotten. LSU (provided it beats Auburn beforehand, no gimme), if it beats Bama, will control its own destiny in the SEC race. Beating Bama is the difference between thinking about the BCS and thinking about going to the Cotton Bowl (hey, I live in Dallas, I wouldn't mind that). LSU fans now demand titles and you cannot win it without beating the Tide.
There's also some coach over there that some of our fans don't like very much. I should look into that. Miles is unfortunate in that he will always be compared not to Nick Saban the Coach, but Nick Saban the Legend. He's being compared to a mythic figure who never lost a game and who sent every player to the NFL. Miles absolutely needs to shut these people up. Also, the loss to Bama last year started an ugly tailspin to the season, something this program cannot afford for two straight seasons.
4. NC State lost to Duke. Okie State lost to Houston who lost to UTEP who scored more points against the Cougars (55) than it gained in yards against Texas (51). Virginia lost to William & Mary. Not the school but to two motivated kids named William and Mary. USC lost to Washington. I only bring this up as a reminder because USC losses tend to fade from the voting conscious faster than a fresh set of downs for an LSU quarterback. (Which leads to another riddle: Does one become concussed in the mere presence of Tebow?) Vandy just lost to Army. The point is: Big upsets are hard to predict. Riddle us yours for the month of October.
One for each weekend, all picks correct or your money back!
Oct 17: Kansas at Colorado. Kansas has been really unimpressive in building an undefeated record. Colorado has looked even less impressive. In fact, the Buffs have looked downright terrible, even getting blown out by Toledo. Kansas can't afford to overlook anyone, but they are likely overlooking Colorado.
Oct 24: Oregon at Washington. One week before the USC game? It screams "trap game".
Oct 31: Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt. Why not?
5. In a top-heavy year where many of the favorites immolated themselves from national title contention early on, two teams now loom larger than the rest: Florida and Alabama. Assuming they face off in the SEC Championship game and the supremacy of their defenses continues to shroud their offenses in a cloak of 13-10 wizardry, and no other team seems quite as worthy by comparison (this is the SEC after all), should they get a chance to play again in January for a national championship? If not, what undefeated or 1-loss team would have the best positioning?
Absolutely not. The idea of a rematch right after the SEC title game just seems absurd. It's one of those things that could actually bring down the BCS. So let's cheer for it.
VT would be my answer, but their loss to Bama complicates things. I doubt the pollsters would place VT ahead of Bama, meaning they are blocked from a VT-Florida title game. On the other hand, the pollsters will likely vote to prevent a VT-Bama rematch. It's a difficult position to be in.
How about this for a fun scenario? LSU beats Bama and then loses to Florida again in Atlanta. Then we get the Bama-Florida tilt in the national title game instead of the SEC title game. Just throwing it out there.
However, the best positioned team is USC. The Pac-10 has had a solid season, unlike the Big 12, so a one loss champ from the west coast would probably fare the best in the polls and the computers. Oregon's one loss is better, but USC will have the Ohio St win to hang their hat on. But a one loss Oregon team certainly opens up the Boise Question, which may prevent their title chance.
Or Texas can just win out and save us all the trouble.