40 Acres Sports

Not much of a weekend nationally as the the Oklahoma – Missouri game is the only game between two ranked teams this weekend. Lots of other interesting Big 12 match-ups this week too. I’m of course hoping Texas at Texas Tech is a dominating Texas win, but there’s a good chance it’s a high scoring, exciting game. Texas A&M is at their biggest rival Baylor in a game that’s been close the last several years, though the game doesn’t look like it’s even being televised.

Here’s our picks for the games this weekend:

Related Links

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

Our Thoughts

Brian – With Adrian Peterson now off the list due to his injury and Calvin Johnson’s zero catch performance against Clemson I’ve got two new names in my top five this week. The new guys are Brady Quinn and P.J. Hill. Quinn has steadily crawled back into the race and with a last minute drive against UCLA put his name back in the mix. Troy Smith is back on top and unless he has a bad performance in an Ohio State loss there’s really no one that can catch him. He still could lose it, but there’s no way anyone else can do anything to win it.

Matt – Troy Smith is basically running away with this Heisman trophy. Unless he has a horrible game against Michigan and Rice or Slaton do something crazy, Smith has this locked up. I finally have Brady Quinn back in the Top 5 after his nice comeback performance against UCLA. Ted Ginn Jr. stays at my dark-horse #5 spot, although it will be really hard for him to get much further.

Related Links

• Last week’s poll
• ESPN Experts Poll
• SI.com Heisman Watch

Good bio on the linebacker from The Daily Texan.

Sweed starting to look an awful like the previous guy who wore #4.

Other than his play against play action he’s been solid.

Our Thoughts

Brian – Louisville drops for me as they haven’t looked like a top 10 team since they took out Miami over a month ago. Hopefully each of the top four Big East teams (West Virginia, Louisville, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh) find some way to lose a game and knock themselves out of the national title hunt. The top of the BCS rankings are getting interesting and the Longhorns could become a factor again soon.

Matt – My Top 8 remains totally unchanged, with Ohio State holding down 1st place with ease. Not too many other changes either, just a few minor adjustments based on how teams played. Many teams escaped with some close calls this weekend, with Texas kicking the game winning field goal late, Notre Dame getting the impressive 3 play 80 yard drive, and Tennessee closing out a close one.

Related Links

• Last week’s rankings
• AP Top 25
• USA Today Coaches Top 25
• Master Coaches Survey

Great article from the AAS (BugMeNot) on where walk-on kicker/hero [tag]Ryan Bailey[/tag]’s parents were when there son was knocking the game winning kick through the uprights on Saturday. His mom was in New York City on a trip with some friends and his dad was back home in Austin, both were shocked when they saw their own son out on the field with less than 30 seconds to go in the game.

Millions of Americans stared at their televisions. Who’s Ryan?

Nearly no one watching Texas and Nebraska play football Saturday recognized Ryan Bailey, jogging into swift and surprising fame through a swirl of Midwestern snow. But his parents knew their son, and when they witnessed Longhorns head coach Mack Brown pat Ryan’s helmet on the sidelines, they began to accept the sudden and thrilling and agonizing truth.

Soon, everyone would remember Ryan.

The whole article is a good read. It’s great that his parents were watching the game when their son got the call. I doubt the families of every walk-on are glued to their TV’s throughout every single game. I’m sure his parents are big time celebrities at their jobs this week.

Who knows if the kid will ever kick in another game for the Longhorns, but for at least one week he’s every fan’s favorite player.

I don’t want to see the I-formation, but it was good to see the Texas offense under center more Saturday.

Both players have been huge stepping in for injured teammates

Should Nebraska have run the football on 3rd down?