Given the over-analysis of football that takes place in Texas, I am going to institute a brief review of each local team’s game from the past weekend with links to more thorough analysis:

Chargers 27 Texans 20. In their first game as a betting favorite, the Texans lay an egg as four turnovers (2 fumbles, 2 David Carr interceptions) undermine the Texans’ chances to pull out the win. The Chargers’ fourth year QB — Drew Brees from Austin — who the Chargers have been trying to get rid of since the end of last season, threw two TD passes to none for the third year QB Carr, who was the first pick in the 2001 draft. As noted earlier here, Carr has shown very little to date to indicate that he is a talent worthy of taking with the first pick of the NFL Draft. That he was outplayed by Brees in the first game of the season is telling.
Minnesota 35 Dallas 17. Vikes culpepper Pokes. Big Tuna will not be pleased.
Horns 22 Arkansas 20. A quality road win for the Horns, who received productive games from both QB Vincent Young and RB Ced Benson. UT’s defense looked improved over last season’s unit, as new defensive coaches Dick Tomey and Gregg Robinson appear to be making an impact. One major problem for the defense against Arkansas was a poor pass rush and containment, which better be fixed before the Horns tee it up in three weeks with OU in the Red River shootout. Offensively, it is still unclear to me whether UT can throw the ball well enough to force OU’s safeties to play safety rather than linebacker, which is essential if a team wants to beat the Sooners. Unfortunately, neither Rice nor Baylor — the Horns’ next two opponents before the OU game — will provide quality competition in which UT can develop that part of their offense.
Oklahoma 63 Houston 13. In a game that was not as close as the score indicates, the Cougars were in it all the way through the coin flip. In glancing at the Coogs’ schedule, it appears reasonably likely that UH will be 1-6 (Army appears to be the only likely win) by the end of October unless dramatic improvement occurs. Quite a comedown from Art Briles’ first season magic.
A&M 31 Wyoming 0. The Aggies take care of business against a patsy at home, which is an accomplishment for A&M the way they have been playing for the past couple of seasons. The Ags get a better test this Saturday night a home against a decent Clemson team, which is coming off a close loss to Georgia Tech.

Rice was idle this past Saturday. The Owls play the Run N’ Shoot Hawaii Warriors this Saturday at Rice Stadium. If Rice plays defense as well as they did against Houston’s junk offense a week ago, then the Owls could be 2-0 before becoming sacrificial lambs to Texas in Austin the following week.

For more information on Texas Tech, Baylor, and other Big 12 teams, Kevin Whited does a good weekly analysis of Big 12 games over at PubliusTx.Net.