10 Big Thoughts on the Big 12: Week 3
By Brian Spaen
1) Kansas has to feel good after being in contention to win TCU’s first Big 12 game until the final possession. It looked like the Horned Frogs were going to slowly melt away the clock and put in a finishing blow to the Jayhawks. Give the boys in blue credit, they may not be a pushover after all.
Sep 15, 2012; Lawrence, KS, USA; Texas Christian Horned Frogs wide receiver Brandon Carter (3) is tackled by Kansas Jayhawks linebacker Ben Heeney (31) in the second half at Memorial Stadium. TCU won the game 20-6. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE
2) The conference could have it far worse than Kansas as the last-place team. Colorado’s become more of a joke than ever before.
3) It doesn’t look good for quarterback Wes Lunt after getting injured against UL-Lafayette and standing on the field with crutches. He remains questionable for the next game against Texas in two weeks. For what it’s worth, backup J.W. Walsh looked good – against the 118th-ranked defense in the nation. Texas will be slightly better.
4) Speaking of Texas, I don’t care how bad of an SEC team Mississippi is. That was an impressive showing by David Ash, and during the non-conference season he’s throwing 76 percent and is 7-0 in the touchdown/interception ratio. If Ash can do half that good with one of the top defenses in the nation, the Longhorns are a huge contender to win this conference.
5) I wouldn’t read too much in the rather close Kansas State victory over North Texas, 35-21. It was an obvious look-ahead to the big game in Norman next week against Oklahoma, and besides, old ball coach Dan McCarney likes playing against the Wildcats.
6) So in two games, WVU quarterback Geno Smith has an 88 percent completion rate, nine touchdowns, no picks, and you can tack on 83 yards rushing with another touchdown? There’s no argument – he’s on everybody’s top three Heisman candidate list.
7) Yes, Texas Tech has looked very good so far, but we should all know by now that the Red Raiders schedule the biggest patsies in the world during non-conference. ISU should still be favored.
8) No, despite some of Cyclone Nation calling for quarterback Steele Jantz, he should remain the starter.
9) For me, the jury is still out on Baylor. Southern Methodist is all sorts of bad this year. But the Bears can actually impress me with a win over the all-of-a-sudden SEC -calibur team in Louisiana-Monroe – and that’s a road game as well.
10) Take away preseason rankings, look at the schedules, and tell me that Texas hasn’t impressed you over Oklahoma so far. Exactly. Here’s this week’s Big 12 power rankings:
- Texas (3-0)
- Oklahoma (2-0)
- West Virginia (2-0)
- Kansas State (3-0)
- TCU (1-0, 2-0)
- Iowa State (3-0)
- Oklahoma State (2-1)
- Baylor (2-0)
- Texas Tech (3-0)
- Kansas (0-1, 1-2)
Brian Spaen is the lead editor for Clones Confidential. Keep up with the latest sports fails and disdain toward the Big Ten by following him on Twitter.
Read his other work on the Oregon Ducks blog, Autzen Zoo, and Lacrosse the Web.