This Week in the Southwest Conference

September 21, 2010

By: Dave Roberson

As much as I love college football, I am having a real problem with this 12 game regular season. I have been to two games in person, night games no less, and have had to take a major shower after each. I am not into publicizing my personal hygiene, but it has been seriously hot. I pity anyone who has actually attended day games. Now that we are on the autumn side of the autumnal equinox, maybe we will be getting some relief soon. I can only imagine what the players are suffering through. And while on the topic of player suffering, condolences go out to UH on the season ending injury of not only their starting QB and Heisman candidate Case Keenan, but the back up Cotton Turner as well. So much for redshirting the 3^rd string this year.

Week 3 Recap

So let’s take a quick look back at Week 3. The reason that it is a quick look is that there is really not much that was memorable. The two conference games turned out to be what the “experts” thought, Texas would handle Tech and TCU would blowout Baylor. Not exactly an ESPN Instant Classic for either one. As for developing trends, we see that Oklahoma St has no problem scoring and that Rice does; that Oklahoma and Texas A&M can win at home and LSU can win away from home. The best trend so far is that the conference is undefeated against all hyphenated Louisiana schools, schools name for Texas Heroes, unrecognized Tech schools, and the ACC.

Week 4 Outlook

So how does Week 4 stack up? The conference games this week are TCU at SMU and Baylor at Rice. First let me rip on TCU and SMU. I realize that both programs need the exposure and revenue that comes from a national television broadcast, but a Friday night game? In Texas! Are you serious? I am personally going to boycott the broadcast and place my fanny where it belongs, at a high school stadium under the real Friday Night Lights. Is anything not sacred or for sale anymore? As for Baylor and Rice, I consider this a must win for both. The loser is going to have a very tough road to a bowl. Baylor still has Kansas and Colorado, but I cannot find the other two wins they would need. If Rice goes to 1-3, they will need to finish 6-2 (Sorry Owls, but I think you will need 7 wins to get an invite). So from my perspective, the loser is reduced to building momentum for their 2011 Season ticket sales.

Now as for the non-conference schedule, we have some games to watch. The big one is the Hogs hosting the #1 Ranked Crimson Tide at 2:30cdt on CBS. Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet wants to put himself in the Heisman discussion and an upset of the ‘Bama would fulfill that desire. Other games that are not nearly as exciting, but important none the less are Texas vs. UCLA (Pac 10, 12, and counting) at 2:30 cdt on ABC, Oklahoma vs. Cincinnati (Big Least) on ESPN2 at 5 cdt, followed immediately on the deuce by LSU vs. West Virginia (another Big Least) at 8 cdt. Texas A&M should easily handle BYE this week (I believe they are a 2 touchdown favorite) and stay undefeated (No TV, but you can catch the highlights by Dave South on the Aggie Radio Network next week).

For those of you who are new to This Week in the SWC and are wondering why I am talking about a conference that you cannot find in the paper, I will go into more detail in the next issue when I will roll out the two divisions. Until then, hope your team wins. Catch a game if you can and back at you next week.