No Important Games?

I must say that I have missed writing here. I have had some challenges that I needed to take care of, but I am back in the swing of the sports world again. It is good to be here.

ANALYZING THE ANALYSTS

I have heard some rumblings from the world of sports analysts. Many say that there are not any big games this weekend. Looking at the top 5 in the AP Poll, they are right. None of them will be challenged very much if at all.

#6 OKLAHOMA STATE @ #22 TEXAS
Looking at #6, Oklahoma State, there may be a challenge in store. They go to Austin this weekend to play the #22 Texas Longhorns. To say they were dominated by Oklahoma is an understatement. Texas was humiliated in their backyard 55-17. One thing they do not want to happen is to lose to both Oklahoma schools. In the last 12 years, they have faced Oklahoma and Oklahoma State consecutively three other times, splitting each year. This will be only their fourth time of facing Oklahoma teams back to back weeks. During that 12 year stretch, they have lost to both schools only once. That was last year. So they will come out determined not to let that happen again. They will play with fierceness and focus against a very powerful offense that is ranked #4 in total offense in the nation.

One thing in Texas' favor is their defense. Before Oklahoma, their defense allowed just under 15 ppg. So they may be able to hold the Cowboys down a bit from their 51.4 average. Texas needs to have a perfect game offensively if they are to challenge the Cowboys. The Cowboy defense is just 71st nationally in points allowed. They will with equal determination want to stay undefeated in the Big 12 to go into Bedlam week with a chance to unseat the Sooners, who they have not beaten in this game since 2002.

Not a big game, huh?

#18 ARIZONA STATE @ #9 OREGON

Arizona State goes into this game atop the South division in the PAC-12 with a record of 3-0 in conference play. Right on their heels are both USC and UCLA at 2-1. They fly north to face an Oregon team who have set their sites on a PAC-12 title. Since their opening loss to LSU, no one has even come close to competing with them. The closest point differential has been 56-31 against Arizona.

But the Sundevils have the best defense the Ducks have faced since LSU. They are going to need their best game on both sides of the ball, especially defensively to slow down the Ducks' attack. They are very quick defensively, which is what they will need against Oregon's offense.

Besides Oregon in the North Division, there is Stanford and Washington still undefeated. So the Ducks can not let down one iota against Arizona State, who will be gunning for an upset. The last conference game Oregon lost was against Stanford in 2009, 51-42, a span of 14 games.

FINAL NOTES

Tomorrow we'll look at some significant matchups in the Big Ten, ACC, and SEC.