Advertisement
October 1, 2009
The latest episode of ConferenceChatterTV can be found below, where I pick against the Big 12 in a couple games in week 5. Record to date: 35-8 (81 percent):
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. today released his latest Big Board, where he ranks the best prospects in the country for next year's NFL Draft.
I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the Big 12 impact on the Big Board.
Of Kiper's 25 ranked players on the board, 10 are from the Big 12. The conference has six players in the top 10:
- 1. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
- 3. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
- 4. Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
- 6. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
- 8. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
- 9. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
- 12. Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
- 15. Sergio Kindle, DE/LB, Texas
- 17. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
- 18. Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The Big 12 hasn't ever had more than seven players taken in the first round. And that just happened last season.
Kiper apparently doesn't think Bradford's shoulder injury will be serious enough to prevent him from being the best player available on draft day. Speaking of the Sooners' QB, Bradford won't play this weekend when OU travels to Miami (Fla.). Landry Jones will make his third straight start.
With all these high-profile players, you'd think the Big 12 would be the premier conference in college football. Not the case so far in 2009, as far as I see it.
Here's the rather basic formula I'll use this season in determining the best conference. I think it's rather obvious it's once again between the SEC and Big 12.
1. Head-to-head matchups
Oklahoma State 24, Georgia 10
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas: Saturday
2. Head-to-head bowl matchups
Independence Bowl: Big 12 vs. SEC, Dec. 28
Cotton Bowl: Big 12 vs. SEC, Jan. 2, 2010
It'd also make it a lot easier if Texas played Florida in the BCS Championship, but there's still a long way to go before that happens.
3. Amount of teams each conference sends to bowl games
4. Record of each conference in its bowl games
Last season, the SEC dominated these categories.
Kind of random, but did anyone else thoroughly enjoy the season premiere of Dexter last Sunday? I was in Texas last weekend and my parents don't have Showtime, so I DVR'ed it. I just got around to watching the episode today and season 4 looks like it could be the best season yet. Dexter is probably my favorite show on TV right now. Any other favorites?
That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.
Comments
bg_duck1 (anonymous) says...
Any list of the top NFL ready talent in the big12 without Dezmon Briscoe is a retarded list
October 1, 2009 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esorrentino (Eric Sorrentino) says...
Hey BG, this is from Kiper's article:
"Here's the change: If a player is a junior who isn't currently in the top 15, I'm going to leave him off. My reasoning is that in the top 15, it's rare to see a junior stay in school. Sure, there are exceptions (Sam Bradford last year, incidentally, is one). Below that point, however, it's really hard to predict. When a kid approaches the draft, the financial disparity has been great enough that a guy who could land at No. 20 could very well stay a year and aim for the top five."
Could be why Briscoe's not on there.
Also, I recorded this video before the news about Bradford broke on Thursday. The Sooners' QB won't be playing when OU travels to Miami.
October 1, 2009 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tdub (anonymous) says...
Community is the best sitcom to come out in years. And Bored to Death on HBO is a great new show, too.
October 2, 2009 at 12:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whitechocolate (anonymous) says...
Hey Eric, what's your ranking of the best conferences? I know several outlets still had the Big 12 at #2 behind the SEC, but after this weekend, I think the ACC deserves that spot. Miami and V Tech have both beaten the supposed heavyweight in the south and north.
I was rooting for Duke to upset the Hokies though. I think VT is in store for a big upset soon. And how about UTEP? Does this mean KU would have slaughtered Texas Tech and Okie State?
October 4, 2009 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esorrentino (Eric Sorrentino) says...
whitechocolate, that's a great question. Sounds like a good blog topic. I'll look at the conferences today and include my rankings in my blog for tonight. Stay tuned!
October 4, 2009 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )