Let’s Call It a Weekend

Gabbert versus Suh in the rain.

Normally, I wouldn’t post a picture like I did in this post, however it’s too good to pass up.  You see, Missouri Tiger quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was once committed to Nebraska, said he would not turn on the Huskers like current backup Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman did several years ago.  Well, he did and plays for the last team most Nebraska fans would want to see him go to.  So now, injured ankle and all, Gabbert is 0-1 against the team he spited.  Anyway, on to my weekend picks.

#20 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #3 Texas Longhorns – 11 a.m. Saturday, October 17th on ABC

Can we please go back to calling this game the Red River Shootout?  It sounds cool, and not lame like Red River Rivalry.  Boring.  We’ll get to see who the class of the South is this year, and by tomorrow we’ll know who will play in the Big 12 Championship game.  Wait, we won’t?  Last year’s winner, Texas, did not make the title game despite defeating OU.  My guess is Texas wins again and the Horns will be in Arlington to try and take the conference in December.  Big Game Bob (Stoops) has lost the last three of four to Mack Brown.  Texas 38 – Oklahoma 30

Colorado Buffalos vs. #17 Kansas Jayhawks – 6 p.m. Saturday, October 17th

Jayhawk fans are anticipating a Big 12 North title.  Their first as a matter of fact.  However, with defensive performances like last week at home against Iowa State might not get them past Nebraska and Missouri in the North.  Colorado is a wounded team right now, and could be capable of pulling an upset at home in Boulder, Co.  Trust me, it’s been known to happen.  However, I think Kansas wins again and this time a little easier than the previous week against the Cyclones.  Kansas 45 – Colorado 24

Baylor Bears at Iowa State Cyclones – 6 p.m. Saturday, October 17th

While the two best programs will square off to much national attention, arguably the bottom two programs will do so without much fanfare, even from their own fanbases.  Baylor played Oklahoma pretty tough for a half down in Norman, Ok. last week even without their star quarterback who is out for the rest of the season.  They looked tough on the road, and I think it translates to a win in Ames, Ia.  Baylor 24 – Iowa State 17

Texas A&M Aggies at Kansas State Wildcats – 6 p.m. Saturday, October 17th

Kansas State took it on the chin in one of Bill Snyder’s worst losses as coach of the Cats last weekend in Lubbock, Tx.  Texas A&M under coach Mike Sherman has been one of the worst Big 12 teams in quite some time.  It’s tough to call, but even in Manhattan, Ks. I think the Aggies can pull this one out because of the Wildcat turmoil.  Although it is hard to pick based on how bad each of these teams are.  Texas A&M 30 – Kansas State 24

#16 Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Missouri Tigers – 8:15 p.m. Saturday, October 17th on ESPN2

Last year before this contest the Tigers came off their biggest win over their rival Nebraska in Lincoln.  They were number three in the country and assured a shot a the Big 12 and possibly the BCS Title.  Then the Pokes came to town and spoiled the party of Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and company.  This year the Tigers travel to Stillwater, Ok. and face the very real possibility of staring 0-2 in the conference after dropping their opener to Nebraska in a rain soaked Columbia, Mo.  It’s not like Mike Gundy’s squad has been setting the world on fire after their top five start and loss to Houston in week two.  However, they are good enough to beat the Tigers.  Oklahoma State 42 – Missouri 28

#15 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Huskers can exorcise some more conference demons by beating a Red Raiders team in transition.  Mike Leech’s offense typically doesn’t travel well (with the exception of last year in Kansas) and the last time they were in Lincoln, they escaped with a win over a Nebraska team that was not as good as this current version.  Injuries at running back are big questions marks for the Huskers, and the defense will face another test against this high powered offense, yet I remain optimistic on their chances to win and keep rolling in the conference.  Nebraska 37 – Texas Tech 32

National Picks

#25 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. #6 Southern Cal Trojans – 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 17th on NBC

I’ve never cheered for USC, although they do have awesome road uniforms.  Never have I wanted it team I could care less about beat a team I care even less for.  I’m tired of the ESPN love affair with an overstocked, underperforming and underachieving Notre Dame.  I don’t just want the Trojan defense to hold the Irish to zero points, I want them to intercept Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen 13 times and sack him on every other play.  The Clausen for Heisman talk is old already.  USC 28 – Notre Dame 7

#19 Georgia Tech vs. #4 Virginia Tech – 5 p.m. October 17th on ESPN2

It’s hard to look at Virginia Tech and not think about what could have been for the Huskers.  Without that one play at the end of the game, and a win for Nebraska, the Huskers would be in the top 10.  Ugh, anyway.  If Tech, oh, Virginia Tech wins this game they’ll hold all the major tiebreakers in the conference.  Georgia Tech needs this win to stay alive to try to get to the ACC Championship game.  I’m not to impressed with how the Hokies have traveled this season, losing to Alabama (who wouldn’t?) and struggling with Duke in Durham N.C.  I like Paul Johnson’s squad to play keep away with the ball an control the clock.  The Hokie D is tough, but the Yellow Jackets come out on top in a low scoring struggle.  GT 21 – VT 17

No Pick Saturday

Bradford still on the bench in Miami

The biggest news of the week here in the Big 12 is that Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford will not be starting against the Miami Hurricane’s tonight in Miami, Fl.  Had the Canes and the Sooners not lost a game it would have had the potential to see equal hype on par with USC versus Ohio State of the past two years.  However tonight, the winner will still have a prayer to win a BCS title and the loser effectively will be playing for a potential conference title.

Backup Landry Jones has been doing everything that has been asked of him since the Sooners stinging loss to BYU in the opener in the new Texas Stadium in Arlington, Tx., however it may not be enough to beat a fairly decent Miami team on the road.  Idaho State and Tulsa were hardly a good barometer for the freshman QB.

With half the Big 12 awaiting next week, this Saturday is a bit of a snoozer with the exception of the showdown in south Florida tonight.  The only conference battle will be between Kansas State and Iowa State at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.  One thing to keep in mind, the winner will be in first place of the Big 12 North, something neither team probably would have expected or thought about.  However, none of the contenders this weekend are playing.

I missed out on the Colorado game, but at this point with Dan Hawkins on his way out short of a small miracle, is playing on the level of the conference Hawkins formerly coached in, the WAC.  Once again the Buffalo’s lost, falling to 1-3 on the season a few short months after the Hawk predicted 10 wins with “no excuses.”  At this point the Buffs would have to run the table, win the Big 12 and win their bowl game to finish 10-3.  In other words, not gonna happen.  Let’s move on to the rest of the schedule.

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Iowa State Cyclones – 2 p.m. Saturday, October 3rd

Two teams that are trying to find their way back to the way they were playing earlier this decade.  The Clones haven’t been the same since Seneca Wallace was in the back field and the Wildcats have never recovered since upsetting Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game in 2003.  The teams will face off at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. in yet another neutral site game in the conference and the second played in KC.  I’m actually looking for the Cats to come out and upset the Cyclones, don’t ask me why, I just have a feeling about this one.  Kansas State 24 – Iowa State 13

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. New Mexico Lobos – 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3rd

The Lobos are averaging under 20 p0ints a game while allowing opponents to score an average in the high 30′s.  Do the math and I’ll get back to you the next time Texas Tech plays a game where I know they might now win.  Texas Tech 52 – New Mexico 10

Baylor Bears vs. Kent State Golden Flashes – 6 p.m. Saturday, October 3rd

Baylor will trot out a quarterback that is not Robert Griffin, who suffered a season ending knee injury last week against in a fairly out of hand and meaningless game against Northwestern State.  Art Briles has probably slept about two hours total since last Saturday night.  Still, the Bears have enough without their star to beat a team out of the MAC, and a not so good one at that.  Baylor 30 – Kent State 14

Texas A&M Aggies vs. Arkansas Razorbacks – 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3rd on ESPN 2

A lot of experts are pick the Aggies to win this game.  One reason you shouldn’t trust most experts is because they aren’t paying attention to a team like A&M, they just see their 3-0 record and automatically pick them because the Hogs are 1-2.  Look a little closer at this showdown in Jerry Jones’  football palace, and you’ll see an A&M team who as defeated virtually no one, lowly Utah State only lost to them by 8.  Arkansas on the other hand has looked good in two of their first three games.  The only one where they were soundly defeated was against #3 Alabama.  The Hogs get one for the SEC tonight in Arlington.  Arkansas 34 – Texas A&M 28

#8 Oklahoma Sooners at #17 Miami Hurricanes – 7 p.m. Saturday, October 3rd on ABC or ESPN 360

This game is a complete mystery.  For the opening weeks the Canes were media darlings right before being blasted by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. last weekend.  The Sooners were supposed to be national title contenders once again, but with an opening week loss to BYU and an injured Sam Bradford, things are murky.  I think being on the road and no Sam Bradford should equal a loss for the Sooners in Miami.  Not so fast my friend, as Lee Corso would say.  I’m still not on board with the Miami hype machine.  One strength of this Sooner team is it’s defense, and it will show up and shut down, or at least slow down, Jacory Harris and Miami’s passing attack.  Oklahoma 37 – Miami 24

#18 Georgia Bulldogs vs. #4 LSU Tigers – 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3rd on CBS

Yes, my illustrious return to picking two national match ups!  First, we have the best SEC contest of the day.  LSU comes in to Athens, Ga. clearly over rated, and the Dawgs are bit of a enigma themselves narrowly winning against South Carolina and Arizona State at home between the hedges.  Despite the fact that Les Miles and his Tigers have a bit of an inflated record, I still like them, but I’m not going to pick them.  It’s hard to think of this as a trap game, but the Tigers have the Gators coming to Death Valley next weekend and I think it plays in to this one.  Mark Richt and company win a close one this afternoon.  Georgia 20 – LSU 17

#24 California Golden Bears vs. #7 Southern Cal Trojans – 7 p.m. Saturday, October 3rd on ABC or ESPN 360

The Trojans got their loss to a lowly Pac 10 team out of the way.  Cal is coming off a huge lost to Oregon to the tune of 42-3.  They just fell and are reeling from being in the top five to being ranked number 24.  Even though Jahvid Best is one of the most electrifying players in the country, Pete Carroll and his defense will find a way to contain him.  I think USC wins big on the road and gets back on track in a big way tonight.  USC 42 – Cal 17

Big 12 picks record: 10-0

National picks record: 0-0

Not Wasting Any Time

The Sox will pick up where they left off last season, playing the American League Pennant winning Tampa Rays. Or is it Tampa Bay Rays? Just don’t say “Devil.” A few of the sports publications that find their way into my mailbox are predicting that both these teams will battle it out for the top spot in the East. Looks like ESPN thinks the Yankees will pull a Detroit Tigers from 2008. Remember that? Cabrera. Willis. I fell for it. Hook, line and sinker.

Number one for things that will have to work for the season to come together for the Sox will be remaining healthy. There are a couple ways this season will go, and without checking, I’m pretty sure this is the exact same prediction that I made last season.

If Boston keeps their training staff busy, it could be a long year. At least by recent standards set since around 2002 when John Henry and company took over. If the team and players like David Ortiz, not getting any younger at 33, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell keep the injuries to a minimum the sky is the limit for this team like it was in ’07.

If we have issues and have to raid Pawtuckett and call up players a bit too early, then the season could turn into ’06 very quickly. Let’s hope for the former. Nothing would make me more pleased than seeing the Yankees miss the playoffs. Again. I will be intregued to see if the Rays can duplicate the same success they had last year. Naturally, they can wait until next Thursday or Friday to start winning.