My uncanny inability to prognosticate upcoming matches on the football field is well documented.  (Just ask my jubilant bookie)  I have been bestowed with the “Kiss of Death” designation among my friends.  I am telephoned by friends and family and solicited for my picks on upcoming games.  I am begged not to pick favorite teams of my so-called friends.  I like to talk, so I try to go on and on about why I like the team I like, but often enough I get cut-off and my picks are demanded without reasons.  Am I not human?  Do I not have feelings?

In this forum I can explain my feeble thought processes involved in my bad decision making skills without being cut-off.  What I hope to achieve here is that someone will read my picks and go the other way.  Here is the moment everyone has been waiting for. 

The Kiss of Death’s picks.

(7-4) Rutgers +2.5 @ (5-6) Louisville (59.5) – At first glance I liked Rutgers, but I investigated a bit further.  Louisville is at home.  Louisville needs this game to become bowl eligible.  Rutgers is not the team they were last year.  Rutgers barely got by Louisville last year with a much better team.  Kiss of Death likes Louisville and the under. Stop the presses! I covered the side!! I would bet that will be one of the few times this week.  (1-0 against the side, 0-1 against the number.)

(7-4) Fresno State -13 @ (4-8) New Mexico State (67) – NMSU is bad but improving.  Coach Hal Mumme is starting to stir up some excitement with his wide open offense.  At no point can you count the Aggies of NMSU out o####ame.  The biggest problem is the fact that they do not sustain many long, time-consuming drives.  It is usually 3 and out or 5 plays and a TD.  Fresno State was not competitive in only one game all year.  That was against a healthy Oregon team.  Fresno State has put together a good year against mediocre teams.  I expect Fresno State to win, but not cover the 13 on the road.  Kiss of Death likes New Mexico State and the under.  Look at that! I covered the side and the number! (2-0 against the side, 1-1 against the number)

(6-6) Miami (Ohio) +3 @ (7-5) Central Michigan (67.5) - Central Michigan is sitting atop of the MAC-West Division.  Miami OH is second in the East.  If Miami wins, then there is a three way tie for first place in the MAC.  Miami, Central Michigan, and Bowling Green will all be 6-2.  Bowling Green lost to Miami and did not play Central Michigan.  And you thought the BCS was complicated.  I will pick to keep it simple.  Kiss of Death likes Central Michigan and the over.  My oh my!  I am going out to buy a lottery ticket. (3-0 against the side, 1-2 against the number)

(5-6) Arizona +9 @ (9-2) Arizona State (57.5) – Which of these teams has the most to lose from this game?  Arizona becomes bowl eligible with a win over their hated in-state rival.  Arizona State has an outside shot at a BCS bowl, right?  I can’t keep track of it all, but I believe they are in the running for a BCS bowl if they win.  The only question is if Arizona’s offense will be able to do anything against a very good Arizona State team.  Kiss of Death likes Arizona State and the over. Here we go with start of something bad. (3-1 against the side, 1-3 against the number)

(6-5) Cal -13 @ (3-8) Stanford (51) – Again we have another underachieving team fighting to become bowl eligible.  I really like this rivalry.  The Bay Area Brawl.  The Battle for the Bay.  Whatever it may be called, I like it.  This year Cal has disappointed many a PAC-10 fan, but they are going bowling.  Stanford had the win of the year in the PAC-10 over USC.  They should be happy with that.  Kiss of Death likes Cal and the over. Here we go, that's more like it.  (3-2 against the side, 1-4 against the number)

(4-8) Washington +14 @ (11-0) Hawaii (74) – I don’t understand why some people think that this will be a test for Hawaii?  It is at home.  Washington can score, but their defense is anemic.  Hawaii has everything to prove.  Washington can’t even get bowl eligible.  Kiss of Death likes Hawaii and the over.Half a win, I'll take it. (4-2 against the side, 1-5 against the number)

 (4-7) Pitt -28 @ (10-1) West Virginia (58.5) - I was asked in the comments where this game is on my list.  Personally, I would not bet this game (too many points), but I will be more than happy to give my pick.  Kiss of Death likes West Virginia and the over. That is the kind of pick I know well. (4-3 against the side, 1-6 against the number)

(5-6) UCLA +20 @ USC (46.5) - This one is another request.  For the same reason, I would not put money down on this one.  Kiss of Death likes UCLA and the under. This is getting scary. (5-3 against the side, 2-6 against the number.)

ACC Championship

        VS    

(10-2) Virginia Tech -4.5 vs (10-2) Boston College (46.5) – I think this game has the best chance of being the most entertaining of the day.  You have a great QB in Matt Ryan for Boston College going against a more than capable defense for Virginia Tech.  I fully believe there is some great football being played outside of the SEC, Big 12, and PAC-10.  I am really looking forward to this one.  Kiss of Death likes Boston College and the under. Now that is more like it. (5-4 against the side, 3-6 against number.)

SEC Championship

             VS   

(9-3) Tennessee +7.5 vs. (10-2) LSU (60.5) – This is a tough one.  I struggled with this one for a while.  What is important to these 2 teams?  LSU may have an outside (way outside) chance to still dance in the NC game.  Let’s face it Tennessee is just happy to be there.  With the way their season was going, everyone in Knoxville will be happy it is not a blowout.  What about Les Miles’ future?  How much of a distraction is Nebraska’s courtship of Pelini going to be a factor?  That is too many questions for me.  Kiss of Death likes Tennessee and the under. Well, would you look at that! (6-4 against the side, 4-6 against the number.)

Big XII Championship

             VS    

(10-2) Oklahoma -3 vs (11-1) Missouri (67) – Oklahoma is coming off a thrashing of in-state rivals Oklahoma State.  Missouri is coming off a 4th quarter rally by a very, very talented Kansas team.  Missouri is hot.  They have played a couple games on the biggest stage in college football, and I believe they are ready to take on Oklahoma at a neutral site.  If Mizzou can limit turnovers, they stand a better than average chance to win.  The Kiss of Death likes Mizzou and the over. This one wasn't even close. (6-5 against the side, 4-7 against the number)

That is not as bad as I usually do.  My bookie is happy because I will make out a loser due to me posting the juice.  Guido, your welcome.

It is official.  The "End Times" are upon us.  Two of the Four Horsemen are wearing the school colors of Kansas and Missouri.  Quick!!  Hide the women and children!   Slaughter and store the pets for food.  There is something horribly bad going on and I don't think the Space-Time Continuum of our universe can contain the magnitude of the absurdity of it all!!! 

I don’t know how many of you remember, but I wrote a blog about how I thought the Big 12 North was the best division in college football.  My post was supposed to be a homeristic view of how ridiculous some of the conference cheerleaders sound after just a few games in the book.  A mild satire, if you will, with a bit of seriousness.  It was not supposed to be taken 100% serious.  Someone should have informed Kansas and Mizzou that I did not really mean for anyone to take my post to heart. 

The Big 12 North is the best division in college football.  At this late stage in the season, all teams have been road tested and tested at home.  There have been times where the outlook o####ame was in question and a team had to dig deep to find a way to win.  Missouri has only lost one game, much like LSU, Oregon, West Virginia, and Arizona State.  Missouri’s loss was to a team that has been in the top-10 all year.  All Kansas has done is put up gaudy numbers and won every single game.  I don’t care how bad Texas A&M is, College Station is a tough place to pull out a victory for a visiting team.   

FACT:  As of right now and for at least until the weeks end, the supposedly weak Big 12 Conference has three (3) top 10 teams in the BCS.  (Kansas – #4, Oklahoma – #5, Missouri – #6) Hmm.  That is interesting.  Two (2) of these teams are in the Big 12 North.  I remember seeing polls comparing conferences to one another and the Big 12 was 4th behind the SEC, PAC-10, and Big 10.  How did this anomaly come about?  How could the powers at be allow this kind of travesty? 

No one, and I mean no one, saw Kansas starting the season 9-0.  I will admit that even after they were 6-0 I had my doubts about their legitimacy.  The schedule the Jayhawks played left much to be desired for true competition.  Although, the manner in which they dominated these lesser teams made people start saying “maybe.”  Maybe they are good this year.  How good is this year’s batch of Jayhawks?  Good enough to be a legitimate top 10.  Good enough to make Oklahoma work for this year’s Big 12 title.  Good enough to put up 76 on a division 1-A team.  (Ok that maybe stretching it a bit; Nebraska’s defense is playing more like a preseason NBA team’s defense.) 

Where are the chinks in the mighty KU armor?  There are not any.  Some may look at this Nebraska game as a poor defensive showing.  Don’t believe that for a second.  Nebraska had it’s best showing on offense in years.  On the offensive side of the ball, Nebraska rallied around the new starting quarterback Joe Ganz.   I won’t even get started.  That would be an entirely different blog.  KU has 2 very good running backs, a quarterback that doesn’t make mistakes, a receiver corp. that would improve all but just a handful of offenses, and a rock solid defense. 

Missouri has been on the verge of having a breakout season for more than just a few years.  They have always been held back by the same thing, themselves.  Coach Pinkel has seemed to finally clear out all of the sel####oubt and insecurities of his team and he has them playing lights out at the right time.  This Missouri team should scare anyone who is on the field with them.  Chase Daniel is the real deal.  We have all known that for a number of weeks.  That is old news.  Hot off the press!!!!  Extra!! Extra!!  Missouri’s defense is ready to play football now. 

Mizzou’s defense was the subject to many a criticism.  “Was” is the important word here.  When the Tigers traveled down to Lubbock to face the high flying offense of the Texas Tech Red Raiders I was expecting an over/under of at least a 100.  Missouri held that juggernaut of offense to 10 points.  10 points!!  I was sold on the effectiveness of the Tiger defense ever since. 

Now, what does the future hold for the mighty Big 12 North?  Kansas and Mizzou play at Arrowhead on November 24th.  Before either one of these teams can begin to think about that match-up of Big 12 North titans, they each have 2 more games. 

Kansas has to play an improving Oklahoma State team that lost a heartbreaker against Texas last week.  This Cowboy team will certainly test the Kansas defense with a high powered, balanced offensive attack.  This talented OSU team seems to have the same problem Mizzou has had over the last few years.  They seem to beat themselves.  Unlike past Mizzou teams, OSU seems to start off weak and get stronger as the year goes on. Kansas will have another chance to show the country that they belong in the top-5.  This game is in Stillwater.  The next week, Kansas hosts the flailing Iowa State Cyclones.  This game would have “trap game” written all over it except Iowa State is the only team worse than Nebraska in the North.  (That hurt to say)

Mizzou has a little tougher road to follow.  The Tigers host aTm and travel to Manhattan to play Kansas State.  Mizzou will be the heavy favorite in each game.  In order to have a realistic shot at taking the Big 12 North crown, they have to win both of these games.