Like many others I suspect, the HPSWBT took an absolute beating over
the weekend that was, posting a 3-7 record. I'll blame this solely on
Mississippi. Not the school but the state. For three quarters each it
looked like my Magnolia State parlay was going to pay off with two
wins. Didn't happen. If not for Auburn, the week would've been a total
loss.
Alas, another week begins anew and we've got work to do...
Kentucky @ South Carolina (-3.5)
The
Wildcats have never beaten the Head Ball Coach but Kentucky's major
questions seem to be on the defensive side of the ball but that's a
good place to have them when facing the Gamecocks. Rich Brooks dream
season will lose a little of its luster over the next three weeks but I
don't think it will be here.
Arizona St. @ Washington St. (-9)
I'm
officially the last person on the Sun Devil bandwagon. Over the past
two weeks I've chastised friends of mine for taking ASU but they keep
rolling along and Wazzu is some kind of awful. The Cougars have given
up 95 points in two Pac-10 games.
NC State @ Florida St. (-18)
The
Pack has one win this year. Against Wofford. But I'm not certain that
Florida State can score 18 points, much less win by that much. Despite
their struggles NC State has been able to put up at least two scores in
each game this season. The Seminoles have topped 28 only once.
Kansas @ Kansas St. (-3)
"Bounce"
is one of the most difficult things to predict in horse racing so
trying to apply it to football, especially in 2007, is doubly absurd
but I'll be real interested to see how the Wildcats come off their
shocking win over Texas. Kansas seems to have the most at stake here
with a nation full of disbelievers.
Florida @ LSU (-9)
Somewhat
lost in last week's shock and awe is the fact that LSU slept through
the first half of their game against Tulane. In my mind, USC was much
more impressive against Washington than the Tigers were against the
Green Wave. This is the SEC after all, the conference where everybody
beats everybody. I'm not ready to call an outright win for Florida but
it wouldn't surprise me.
Georgia @ Tennessee (-2)
The Bulldogs are the Jack Kerouac of college football. They do their best work on the road.
Virginia @ Middle Tennessee St. (+10)
After
an absolute debacle in Laramie to open the season, Wahoo Wah could be
one of the top teams in the admittedly abysmal ACC. Should probably
mention here that the Blue Raiders lost to Florida Atlantic.
TCU @ Wyoming (-3)
Love
the Cowboys defense but they can't really be the class of the Mountain
West can they? Subquestion: I'm not really going to take 10 road teams
this week, am I....
Oklahoma v. Texas ( +11)
...no,
I'm not because there is no road team at the State Fair. The difference
here, besides the four games prior to last week's shocking results, is
that Oklahoma gave their game away. Texas got straight punched in the
mouth. Sooners are still the class of the Big 12.
Nebraska @ Missouri (-7)
I'm
going to have a lot to say about this game tomorrow but for now it
comes down to three keys for the Cornhuskers: 1) Can the defense find
some answers? If they can't now, with the Tigers running their mouths,
they won't this year. 2) Can Nebraska run the ball? I feel like Lucky
has gotten his due when you consider that for two games, USC and Ball
St., Nebraska had to abandon the run entirely. 3) Can Sam Keller stop
turning the ball over? The Surgeon has been the rock for Nebraska so
far this year, but he's only one INT short of tying Zac Taylor's total
from all of last year.
Hey, I am going to cut and paste the following that makes me feel good:
I JUST FOUND OUT that my fellow student, Austin Smith, is still playing for the Boise State Broncos. Broncos, right? Anyway, I taught him in 2000-2001 at San Beranrdino Pacific. He was one of my best Spanish students and a nice guy.
I saw him help beat Oklahoma last year, and I thought maybe he already graduated.
But he is still there making me (and countless others, I'm sure) proud and gratified.
I no longer teach public school, but I would like to think that I made a small difference, even significant to him and his classmates.