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

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• 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.