Big 12 Power Rankings: Week 3

Big 12 Power Rankings

Week 3

Offensive Player of Week:

            Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State- Dez is quickly becoming one of, if not the, best wide receiver in the Big 12.  Against Houston this week he had nine catches, including three for scores, for a total of 236 yards.

Defensive Player of Week:

            Cha’pelle Brown, Colorado- Purely because his 27 yard interception return for a touchdown saved the Buffaloes from losing to D-II Eastern Washington.

Power Rankings

1.  Oklahoma

The Sooners dominated again on Saturday against a good Cincinnati team.  Even with a little scare in the middle, and a struggling secondary, OU stays on top of the Big 12 and probably will continue to until they lose.

2.   Missouri

I love Chase Daniel.  He is just a good football player who knows how to win.  This Missouri squad has the most talent around Chase as they ever have, if the defense continues to progress this team could be National Title good.  They are by far, sorry Kansas, the favorite in the North division.

3.   Texas

The secondary has to get better, and a big play or two in the running and passing game wouldn’t hurt, but how can you argue with two wins over four touchdowns?  Colt McCoy has looked even better than his freshman year and this team will go as far as he takes it.

4.   Oklahoma State

Not as many people are as high on the Cowboys as I am.  That offense is sick, with Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter becoming big names.  The defense will have to improve, and they must figure out a way to hold on in the big games, something OSU has struggled with under coach Gundy.

 5.  Kansas

Kansas looked good Saturday against an overlooked Louisiana Tech team.  Todd Reasing was his usual self, but it was the defense (who posted a shutout) that moves the Jay hawks up the list.  It is hard for me to believe they are better than Mizzou, but the game should the shootout of the year in the Big 12.

6.   Texas Tech

The Raiders have disappointed on defense so far this season.  The whole team struggled for the first three quarters against Nevada before pulling away late.  It appears the offense will have to out score their opponents this year, which will work some weeks and not others.  There should be no reason the defense hasn’t caught up to the offense since Mike Leach has been there.  He does know it matters right?

7.   Kansas State

I am now officially the President of the Josh Freeman fan club.  The guy is amazing.  And I know his opposition hasn’t been great, but that isn’t his fault.  It will be hard for the Wildcats to finish better than third in the North, but I think they have the best quarterback in the conference. (Yes I said it, and it felt good)

8.   Nebraska

Three quarters into the game against San Jose State and I thought we were going to have our first big upset of the Big 12 year (I’m not counting A&M vs. Arkansas State).  The Huskers pulled away in the fourth quarter because of special teams.  It is hard seeing this team doing much more than making a small bowl game this year.

     9.   Colorado

Wow.  I was high on Colorado until they needed an interception return for a touchdown to beat a Div. II school.  The term sleepwalking won’t even do their performance justice; the Buffaloes were comatose on Saturday. 

10.  Texas A&M

Fear not Aggie faithful, your team can win a ball game, especially if it is given to them.  New Mexico did everything wrong, and A&M did just enough right to pull out the victory.  I have faith in Ron Sherman as a coach, but as a recruiter is a different story.  He was given a bad team, and it is his job to make them competitive. 

11.  Baylor

Baylor stays out of the last spot because freshman Robert Griffen appears to be a star in the making.  The Bears broke a nine game losing streak and are building confidence under new coach Art Briles.

12.  Iowa State

The game coming up against Iowa will show where the Cyclones stand up against good competition.  So far Gene Chizik’s team has yet to find identity at the quarterback position.  And while each of them are playing decent, I would think he’d want to get a sure fire go to guy before conference play begins.