40 Acres Sports

NES ROM of Tecmo Super Bowl featuring current NFL rosters. Very cool.

I’m not sure it’s true here, but just because you lose to #1 doesn’t mean you’re not #2.

While the first “Game of the Year” of the year was last week, this week features several very interesting games. Seven games feature a pair of ranked teams facing off, including four matchups I’d classify as big games. I’ll be at the Texas versus Rice game, but I will definitely find a way to be in front of a TV for Michigan at Notre Dame and LSU at Auburn games at 2:30 CST.

Should be a great Saturday of football, here are our picks for this weekend:

Related Links

• Last week’s winners
• SI.com Top 25 Scoreboard
• SI.com Big 12 Scoreboard

Our Thoughts

Brian – So much for Jamaal Charles or any other Longhorns making a run at the Heisman trophy this season. He was a long shot anyways and now with Texas losing to Ohio State and Selvin Young is still looking pretty darn good he has essentially no chance. Troy Smith’s second straight very strong performance in a big game against a (supposedly) good defense moves him up over Brady Quinn and has him as my number one quarterback. He’s gaining quickly on Adrian Peterson. The Sooners are working Peterson to death and he’s putting up solid, but not ridiculous numbers. It’s becoming a very interesting race.

Matt – If Troy Smith has another big game like he did against Texas, I just might have to move him up above Adrian Peterson. I hadn’t really watched much of Smith, but I must say that I was very impressed. Chris Leak has already throw for 7 touchdowns in his first two games. I am definitely going to watch him this weak as he faces his first major test against Tennessee. Brady Quinn still isn’t performing where I think he should, so I am leaving him in the #4 spot. And Garrett Wolfe is having a major start to his senior season, averaging over 180 yards rushing per game.

Related Links

• Last week’s poll

Only a couple of games between ranked teams for the opening weekend. There’s a lot of talk about California giving USC a run this season in the Pac 10 and we’ll find out a little bit about the Bears as they have an early road test against Tennessee. The Vols have talent and should be improved from last season. The biggest game of the weekend doesn’t actually take place till Monday. Florida State and Miami face off in primetime in high definition on ABC. Both the Seminoles and Hurricanes finished below their fans’ expectations last season and are looking to rebound to become national title contenders once again.

Here’s this week’s picks:

Related Links

• SI.com Top 25 Scoreboard
• SI.com Big 12 Scoreboard

Very good article on Brown and the entire program.

Starting weakside linebacker Drew Kelson is listed as doubtful on the injury report and will likely miss this weekend’s matchup with the Mean Green of North Texas. He injured his ankle Wednesday in practice and was spotted around campus today with a boot on it. Bad news for our linebacker depth for sure, I’m definitely praying he’s back and 100% for Ohio State.

Dead on. Aggies have been recruiting well, but are still losing ground to Horns.

Rumor has it that Texas Tech senior and preseason All-American Jarrett Hicks could be in jeopardy of missing the season. Both he and top WR recruit Michael Crabtree are both appealing issues to the NCAA related to academic issues. Hicks has already lost one appeal on his case and Coach Mike Leach didn’t sound to positive about the issue. Both players will likely miss this weekend’s game against SMU. Losing an All-American and another member of the two-deep would obviously be a big problem for Tech’s pass happy offense.

Some love for JC, Okam, and especially Coach Chizik.