Week Three: The Over-Rated

I will look back at this weekend as a time when the over-rated made their true colors known in college football. There are certainly a couple of solid examples. Let's start with the Big 10 and, yes, Ohio State. The Buckeyes are perenially the darlings of the pollsters. You could have 22 freshman lining up and some media hack in the Iron Belt would claim that Jim Tressel would take them to the national championship this year. This year has been no different. Ohio State is, imagine this, over-rated. Again. Beanie or no Beanie, they had their livin' Brutus' handed to them by USC. And, once again, USC is looking like it might be for real - now imagine that - again.

Let's perhaps even extend that to the Big 10 in general. Though they remind us that they have five 3-0 teams in conference, who have they played? Wisconsin only put up 13 points on Fresno State. Maybe Penn State will change my mind, but right now, I doubt it, even though I am a big fan of Joe Paterno.

Speaking of over-rated - how about #9 Auburn? They go to Starkville to win a 3-2 game against Mississippi State. Yes, 3 to 2. I know hockey teams that score more than that. Then, they drop one spot in the polls. Can you say SEC love, boys and girls? That drives me crazy as well. Kansas loses by 3 in a hard fought battle against #19 South Florida - then drops six spots because of it. Wasn't Kansas in a BCS bowl last year?

If a 3-2 decision is what comes from a number 9 these days, then I am feeling pretty good about how Texas looks at number 7.

Maybe the Big 12 will finally get some recognition. Oklahoma and Missouri are legitimate national championship contenders. Much as I hate to say it, I think it's going to be a long season for the #7 Longhorns, who end up playing #2 Oklahoma, #5 Missouri, #11 Texas Tech, and #19 Kansas before it's all said and done. All of these teams have gunslinger quarterbacks that will be licking their lips at a weak Texas defensive backfield. I think a few 400 yard games could be in their future ... let's hope Colt throws for at least 401 ...

Fortunately for those of us in Austin, another over-rated entity was Hurricane Ike. No rain, no wind, no nothing.

Ike managed to do what no other act of congress or special legislative session would ever be able to do - force a postponement of the Arkansas/Texas matchup. It was the best thing to do given the goings-on in Galveston and Houston. It will certainly prove interesting as postponing the game until September 27 will put it in direct competition with all of the expected 100,000+ spectators that attend Austin City Limits music festival that same weekend. This is the one thing the schedulers have always avoided - now it's the bane of our orange-blooded existence. I'll bet the Razorback faithful won't be happy as there hasn't been an open hotel room in months.

But if we were back in the Southwest Conference again, would a Longhorn care if a Razorback couldn't find a hotel room for the game in Austin?

Stay tuned ...