It took until [Week 3][1], but a couple of our pickers finally went 6-0 last weekend. The difference for Scott Stanford and Bobby Nightengale was they had the guts to pick Mississippi State on the road — at night — against LSU.
We’ll see who can do as well this weekend, and if anyone has the intestinal fortitude to pick Kansas over Texas.
WEEK 4 MATCHUPS
—————
Texas at Kansas
Baylor at Iowa State
UTEP at Kansas State
Missouri at South Carolina
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (at Arlington, Texas)
Stanford at Washington
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
——————–
Texas Longhorns fans take their football about as seriously as KU fans take their basketball. Among major FBS programs, which head coaching job do you think would would involve the most pressure?
*Overall: 15-3 Last week: 6-0*
**Kansas 21**, Texas 20
**Baylor 41**, Iowa State 14
**Kansas State 37**, UTEP 3
**South Carolina 34**, Missouri 30
**Texas A&M 32**, Arkansas 27
**Washington 21**, Stanford 17
**Answer**: In my mind, it has to be Alabama. Even with three national championships there, Nick Saban (or any other coach) probably will never match up to Bear Bryant in a lot of their fans’ eyes.
*Overall: 14-4 Last week: 6-0*
**Texas 38**, Kansas 0
**Baylor 49**, Iowa State 33
**Kansas State 56**, UTEP 14
**South Carolina 28**, Missouri 17
**Texas A&M 42**, Arkansas 31
**Stanford 24**, Washington 10
**Answer**: Texas. The best facilities, biggest alumni base, deepest pockets, highest expectations and the fewest excuses. Texas has its own TV network and is the college focus for all media in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, TCU, Rice, Houston, SMU and UTEP each considers Texas its primary rival. Couple years back, Texas played a September game at Wyoming — turned out to be the biggest sporting event in Wyoming history. Everybody wants to beat Texas, everybody wants to recruit Texas but nobody in their right mind really wants to coach Texas.
*Overall: 14-4 Last week: 5-1*
**Texas 31**, Kansas 17
**Baylor 56**, Iowa State 14
**Kansas State 49**, UTEP 10
**South Carolina 35**, Missouri 24
**Texas A&M 49**, Arkansas 21
**Stanford 21**, Washington 10
**Answer**: I’d probably have to go with Texas. Whether it be at the high school, college or professional level, football is everything in Texas. Mack Brown led the Longhorns to four BCS bowls in six years from 2004-2009, but a 5-7 season in 2010 put Brown on the hot seat which he seemed to stay on for the rest of his tenure at Texas. The Longhorns rebounded the next three years with a nine-win and two eight-win seasons, but Texas fans expect double-digit win-seasons and national titles. I don’t see either coming from Charlie Strong.
*Overall: 13-5 Last week: 4-2*
**Texas 31**, Kansas 10
**Baylor 35**, Iowa State 21
**Kansas State 31**, UTEP 10
**South Carolina 28**, Missouri 21
**Texas A&M 42**, Arkansas 31
**Stanford 38**, Washington 31
**Answer**: Since Charlie Strong, a proven winner, is already under heavy criticism after coaching three games, I’d have to say Texas.
*Overall: 12-6 Last week: 5-1*
**Texas 45**, Kansas 3
**Baylor 45**, Iowa State 6
**Kansas State 45**, UTEP 6
**Missouri 14**, South Carolina 13
**Texas A&M 28**, Arkansas 21
**Stanford 35**, Washington 28
**Answer**: ‘Bama
*Overall: 12-6 Last week: 5-1*
**Texas 30**, Kansas 14
**Baylor 34**, Iowa State 20
**Kansas State 31**, UTEP 24
**South Carolina 31**, Missouri 27
**Texas A&M 38**, Arkansas 34
**Stanford 23**, Washington 17
**Answer**: I think you have to turn in the direction of the SEC, the land of unreasonable expectations, for this one. And I’ll go a little off the national radar, too, and say Tennessee. Since Phillip Fulmer left in 2008, the Vols have had three different coaches. Current second-year coach Butch Jones, who went 5-7 last year, has to feel the heat from the 80,000 to 90,000 fans in Neyland Stadium every time Tennessee loses.
*Overall: 12-6 Last week: 5-1*
**Texas 20**, Kansas 13
**Baylor 40**, Iowa State 21
**Kansas State 36**, UTEP 14
**South Carolina 33**, Missouri 24
**Texas A&M 40**, Arkansas 30
**Stanford 28**, Washington 21
**Answer**: I’m looking ahead a bit, but can you imagine the pressure on the next K-State coach? Constantly reminded of Snyder’s legacy while running from Ron Prince’s.
*Overall: 11-7 Last week: 4-2*
**Texas 21**, Kansas 13
**Baylor 48**, Iowa State 23
**Kansas State 30,** UTEP 13
**South Carolina 27**, Missouri 24
**Texas A&M 38**, Arkansas 31
**Stanford 27**, Washington 26
**Answer**: There are plenty of good programs out there that you could justify going with here, but, for my money, the answer is Notre Dame. Despite the program’s overall struggles in the past five or so years, The Golden Domers are still under as big of a microscope and spotlight as any program in the country. With all of that incredible history and tradition in place, I think every coach who ever has coached a down at Notre Dame has walked in and felt the unbelievable pressure, expectations and excitement from Day 1.
*Overall: 11-7 Last week: 5-1*
**Texas 45**, Kansas 14
**Baylor 31**, Iowa State 20
**Kansas State 38**, UTEP 21
**South Carolina 30**, Missouri 21
**Texas A&M 35**, Arkansas 22
**Stanford 34**, Washington 17
**Answer**: In football I’ll go with Alabama No. 1, Notre Dame No. 2 and Texas No. 3.
In basketball I’ll go with Kentucky No. 1, Kansas No. 2. I can’t think of a No. 3 right now. I guess North Carolina would be No. 3.
*Overall: 11-7 Last week: 5-1*
**Texas 22**, Kansas 21
**Baylor 42**, Iowa State 28
**Kansas State 56**, UTEP 14
**South Carolina 28**, Missouri 24
**Texas A&M 28**, Arkansas 21
**Stanford 42**, Washington 35
**Answer**: Alabama
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/picksix/2014/sep/19/who-to-choose-ku-or-cmu/