Weekly rankings
Where does your team stand? Updating the 12 Texas FBS college football teams after Nov. 11 games
Nov 12, 2017, 6:56 am
Kliff Kingsbury and Tech got a much-needed win. Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images
Texas has 12 FBS teams. Each week we will rank them based on season-long performance, the prior game, and success relative to their level. These are the rankings after Nov. 4 games.
No. 12: UTEP
The beating goes on for the winless Miners. North Texas took them to the woodshed.
No. 11: Rice
The Owls at least put up a fight against Southern Miss. Alas, it was still a losing effort.
No. 10: Texas State
The Bobcats are playing better football, but lost 33-30 to Georgia State. At least it wasn't George Strait.
No. 9: Baylor
The Bears will probably have to be happy with that win over Kansas. They were competitive against Tech, but could not get the job done.
No. 8: UTSA
The Road Runners lost at home to improving UAB. They would fall on this list except there is nowhere to go with the teams behind them being putrid.
No. 7: North Texas
The Mean Green are likely headed for the C-USA championship game and are playing solid football.
No. 6: Texas Tech
The Red Raiders got back to .500 with a win over lowly Baylor and need one more victory for bowl eligibility.
No. 5: SMU
For a second straight week, the Ponies threw a scare into a superior opponent, but came up short in a 43-40 loss to Navy.
No. 4: Texas
The Longhorns are now 5-5 after taking out woeful Kansas. A trip to West Virginia and Tech remain as the Horns seek bowl eligibility.
No. 3: Houston
The Cougars were off. Tulane and Navy are left on the schedule.
No. 2: Texas A&M
The Aggies thumped New Mexico, but then again, they were supposed to thump New Mexico.
No. 1: TCU
The Frogs dropped their second of the season, losing to OU and all but killing their playoff hopes.
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The Houston Astros are hoping their ace can help them build momentum.
After taking the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the AL West–leading Astros (58–42) send left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound Tuesday night looking to stretch their edge and get back on track following a rocky 10-game stretch.
Valdez (10–4, 2.75 ERA) has been steady all season, and Houston needs another big outing. The Astros have dropped seven of their last ten despite strong efforts from their starting rotation. But Valdez, with a 1.12 WHIP and 125 strikeouts, remains the club’s most consistent option, and his ability to navigate Arizona’s home run, heavy lineup could be the key to another series win.
The Diamondbacks (50–51), meanwhile, sit just under .500 but have shown flashes, especially at home. Arizona averages nearly 1.5 homers per game, led by Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll. But left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (3–6, 5.94 ERA) has struggled in his first season with the club and draws a tough assignment against one of the AL’s top on-base units.
Just in the nick of time?
Christian Walker, who hit a clutch double against is former team in the opener, is finally giving the Astros the middle-of-the-order power they hoped for when they brought him in. Walker has 13 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and 51 RBIs for the Astros. With the Astros' rash of injuries, they need Walker's production now more than ever. He has 4 RBIs and 1 dinger in his last 3 games.
Houston enters Tuesday with a narrow edge in the series and on the betting line (-126), but they know there’s little room for error. While Arizona has split its last ten games and actually outscored opponents during that span, the Astros are still trying to shake off a slump that’s seen them hit just .234 with a 4.83 ERA in their last 10.
With the trade deadline looming and the division race tightening, every game — and every inning Valdez can give them — matters a little more.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -126, Diamondbacks +105; over/under is 8 1/2 runs.
Game 2 lineup
Back at it.
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What are the big takeaways from Tuesday night's lineup? Cam Smith is leading off again, even though many have been pleading with Joe Espada (me included) to leave him in the cleanup spot. Altuve is in the two-spot and serving as the DH.
Hey, at least Christian Walker isn't hitting fourth! (We'll take the small victories when we get them)! Walker is hitting third, followed by Yainer Diaz (C), and Chas McCormick (CF). Game 1 hero Brice Matthews is hitting six and playing second base, followed by Mauricio Dubon (3B), Cooper Hummel (LF), and Zack Short (SS).
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