What a week its been. The Yankees miss the playoffs for the first time since Mariano Rivera joined the team (which was in like 1895 or something), Lance Armstrong officially announced his intention to "race my bicycle" again, and no one from Florida State or Penn State was arrested! What a week indeed!
My Bonehead of the Week Award goes to the USC Athletic Department. Yes, Pete Carroll was the one on the field leading his team to its second loss against Oregon State out of their last three meetings. However, it was the AD that thought a Thursday night game was a good idea. On a night usually reserved for MAC and C-USA games, the #1 team in the nation lost on ESPN - marking the 4th ranked team to be upset on a Thursday night game this season. Yes, I know TV revenues are important, but what does USC gain from playing on a Thursday? if they win, the headline gets buried in stories about the weekend's games. If they lose it becomes front page news. Nice planning, guys. #13 South Florida takes on Pitt and #17 Utah plays the Beavers next Thursday. I'm not going to spoil the surprise, but I can't imagine that I would wager on either of those top 25 teams next week.
On to the picks . . .
PENN STATE -14 Illinois
Penn State gets a boost this week with the return of linemen Cheech and Chong . . . err Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma. For the most part, the Nittany Lions have cruised through their non-conference schedule, and could be in for a wake-up call when they face a well-rested Illini squad led by Juice Williams at QB. I said it before and I'll say it again - I have no jokes about football players named Juice. Even if PSU has won their last 5 meetings in Happy Valley against Illinois, I don't think this one will be a cake-walk.
A quick aside. I had a business meeting with someone who worked for the AD's office at Penn State and described herself as a NARC for Joe Paterno. Her job involved going to the football players' classes and making sure they showed up. Unfortunately, I couldn't take anyone seriously that calls themselves a NARC for Penn State. A little more believable than a NARC for Miami or FSU, but still . . .
I'll take Illinois getting 2 TDs
NOTRE DAME -1 Purdue
The curse of Tom Brady has already brought down Bill Bellicheck (L to Miami), Pete Carroll (L to Oregon State) Romeo Crennel (o-3, 0-7 including preseason), and it is gunning for an injured Charlie Weis. I feel so strongly about this, I might even start Purdue QB Curtis Painter over Sam Bradford in my NCAA football fantasy league this weekend. Yes, I'm aware that fantasy college football leagues are for real dorks. No, I don't have a problem admitting it. I'm going with Purdue getting one.
OKLAHOMA -18 Texas Christian
In OU's last game before the tough Big XII season begins, they face a 3-0 Horned Frogs team that has defeated such heavyweights as New Mexico, Southern Methodist, Stanford, and the mighty Stephen F. Austin!
Ok, who an I kidding? This is OU's year. With USC, Ohio State, and Georgia stumbling, Sooner fans everywhere will rejoice. And yes, I'm going to do that every week until it gets old.
I'll take Oklahoma to cover the spread. BOOMER!!!!
AUBURN -6.5 Tennessee
Somehow, I'm not comfortable with Auburn being favored here. Maybe its the fact that they haven't impressed when tested this season, or maybe it has something to do the fact that their defense was just plain awful against LSU. The Vols on the other hand have been all over the map. They lost their opener to an overrated UCLA squad, blew out UAB, and then were embarrassed by the Gators in Gainesville. As Dr. Dre and NWA warned us, you don't mess with Crompton . . . or something like that. I'll take Tennessee getting the points.
MIAMI -7.5 North Carolina
Ok, I'll be honest. I know nothing about this game, and I want to go home. I do know that Edgregjlkeidsmsin James is being added to the Ring of Honor this weekend. So that's a morale booster, right? I'll take the Hurricanes giving the points.
Until next week . . .
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