Disjointed thoughts while hoping the tricks go their way and the treats come ours:

Does Oklahoma State miss TE Brandon Pettigrew? Last year's game isn't close over the final 20 minutes if he doesn't catch 8 balls for 83 yards (6 for 71 in the first half) and block our ends and linebackers off the field. Our safeties are still having nightmares about him!

OSU is talking about how much more diverse its attack is WITHOUT Dez Bryant. OK. Except Bryant made his 17 catches for 323 yards and 4 scores (plus a punt return TD) while playing against Georgia, Houston and Rice. The fill-ins have done their damage against Grambling, Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor. I have Baylor ranked 12th in the Big 12, the Aggies and Missouri around 7-9.

For more, keep reading.

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On Sunday, I commented briefly on one aspect of PB’s terrific Texas-OU wrapup. His post centered on Greg Davis’ failings; I responded, “My view on Greg Davis’ performance is somewhat different than yours.” PB answered (well, kind of challenged) with, “Look forward to your take on GD.”

 With that background, anything I say about Davis is certain to be looked at as a defense of the oft-criticized offensive coordinator. That’s not my intent. But I do feel that too many of us are looking at the half-empty side of Davis’ performance – and specifically his play-calling. This is an attempt at taking the half-full side. Does Davis frustrate me? Sure. Absolutely. I cuss him (or the play he just called). I throw (foam rubber) bricks at the TV when one of his calls results in a drive-killing abortion of a play.

But I see a bigger picture to the issue of “Davis’ play-calling.” There are two ways to look at it: (1) An overall view of UT’s offense, and (2) the specific calls and decisions made in Saturday’s (it still feels good) win over OU and other recent games. The first of these is worth an in-depth post; if another deep-thinker doesn’t beat me to the topic, I’ll deal with it in a week or two. As to the second . . . Like you, I cringed when the Longhorns lined up in a five-wide set on third-and-short situations against the Sooners. We can all agree (maybe even the coach nobody criticizes since 41-38) that those were bad decisions. As to the rest . . . Please look after the jump.

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After some years spent listening to, and reading comments by, Mack Brown, I’ve reached the conclusion that the man answers very few questions completely. Oh, I like him. I'm glad we have him. But on questions, he usually holds something back. On occasion he's intentionally misleading. Now, if he chooses to answer a question, what you get is 100 percent accurate. And he won't lie to you. Most of the time, though, he dodges the tough ones and even skirts some of the easy ones. Worse, those who ask the questions either don’t know enough – or aren’t confident enough – to ask the tough questions.

Which brings us to today’s news conference. Last question of same. The one dealing with the offensive line and its performance. I listened live this morning and read the transcript some hours later. I still haven’t figured out what he was talking about. Selected comments from Coach Brown follow the jump:

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Periodically, we'll recognize (well, riducule) a deserving coach or player. Easy winner this week. Come on down, Danny Hope.

Purdue's coach managed to turn (probable) victory into defeat when he handed Notre Dame a free play in the final seconds of Saturday's 24-21 Irish victory.

With Notre Dame out of timeouts and the clock under 40 seconds -- and after Irish coach Charlie Weis called a running play that netted two yards on second and goal from Purdue's 4-yard-line -- the Irish were frantically trying to line up to spike the ball on third down. That would have left one play for the win.

Instead, Hope took a timeout. Notre Dame misfired on third down, then won on a short touchdown pass on fourth down. "I wanted to leave enough time to run a couple of plays," Hope said. "I wanted to save some time and be able to run three or four plays."

That's the way to show confidence in your defense.

"That kind of helped us out a little bit right there," Weis said.

You think?

So, BON experts, whadda think? Trojans again? Buckeyes defend the home turf?

Who do you like, and why? Which team losing helps the Longhorns more in the MNC picture? I'll kick if off.

I'd like both to lose, for reasons that go beyond the poll/national title game picture. USC has more speed, a much better offensive line. Trojans would probably like to control the game on the ground. This won't be a turnover-free game. Trojans have a lot of new faces on the defensive side. A true freshman QB on the road in his second start ain't what you'd choose. Ohio State won't lose many with the schedule it plays; most likely is Penn State and that might leave the Nittanys undefeated. USC has lots of potential stumbles in a wicked schedule.

I gotta hope Trojans win; they'll fall in Berkeley or South Bend. I hope.