Starting to feel the effects of parity. Can't quite pick right. Must get back to 62%...Florida State @ Wake Forest (+6)
I'm not quite ready to buy the Seminoles just yet, but they should be plenty fiery after Wake went to their place last year and shut 'em out.
Alabama @ Ole Miss (+6.5)
I can't stop picking Ole Miss. I want an Ole Miss hat. I want them to be good more than I want Kentucky to be good. I need a unique rooting interest in the SEC and cute and cuddly Coach O is it. One of these days the Rebels are going to break through and what better time than now against their grumbling eastern neighbors?
New Mexico @ Wyoming (-3.5)
I'm sorry Wyoming for picking against you last week. It ended in a push so it's not as bad as it could've been, but here I am asking for a second chance to jump on the bandwagon that is your 8th-ranked defense. Go Big Brown!
South Carolina @ North Carolina (+7)
Before the season, HBC specifically instructed Gamecock fans to use the cheer "WE ARE...Carolina!" This angered Tar Hell fans who claim the right to drop the direction from their name as exclusively theirs. Why not just invent a new rivalry trophy awarding the word "Carolina" to the winner? We may have seen a Tar Heel pulse last week, but USC is ranked in the top 10 and very much in the national title mix. I like Spurrier in those situations.
TCU @ Stanford (+5.5)
What have you done for me lately, Stanford? Did you like beating USC? Well, how do you like being a home pooch to a rapidly regressing team from the Mountain West? I'm hoping your answer is "not very much."
Texas Ag. & Mech. @ Texas Technical (-8.5)
The Red Raiders have won 4 of the last 5 in this series and the last six straight in Lubbock. I know this because earlier this fall I claimed that Tech rides behind A&M and Texas in the Texas football derby, which is true in terms of national cache. However, a number of Raiders took their finger guns down long enough to e-mail in and call me an idiot. I think we were both right.
LSU @ Kentucky (+9.5)
The spotlight is on LSU now and they don't have to share it with anyone. How do they respond to that? The top has been a bad place to be this season and that otherworldly Tiger defense probably won't face a smarter QB all year. This one should be delightful to watch.
Missouri @ Oklahoma (-10.5)
Putting Nebraska on life-support is one thing, but beating Oklahoma is another and Gary Pinkel is going to have to earn it this week by out-coaching Bob Stoops. Or maybe he won't. The Sooners haven't looked like the juggernaut of the first four weeks of the season lately, but the Tigers look to be getting better. I'll take OU to win at home, but give me Mizzou to cover.
Oregon State @ Cal (-14)
This is a pretty fascinating week as Cal, like LSU, now has to deal with the onus of being a national title favorite. Can they be perfect? They'll be good enough to win here but the toothy Beaver defense should keep them in it.
Oklahoma State @ Nebraska (-4)
This game opened at four and, shockingly, it's stayed at four. Hell, I'm just hoping Nebraska can win straight-up, forget laying points. In theory Nebraska should be able to move the ball on just about any defense in the Big 12. Problem is they can't a) get on the field, or b) stay on the field long enough thanks to mental breakdowns on both sides of the ball. Oklahoma State can't seem to stop anyone but Nebraska has yet to ask any team to stop them.
I've got a bad feeling about the fact that the '97 Huskers will be back in Lincoln this weekend (Exhibit A, Exhibit B) but I'll save that breakdown for tomorrow.
Last Week: 4-5-1
Year to Date: 32-27-1
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