Nebraska (+20.5) at Texas - Nebraska has one of the worst run defenses in the nation. Texas has an average running game at best, and even then they can hold onto the ball. Something has to give here and I don’t even think Bill Callahan’s players are trying for him at this point. Take Texas to cover.
Iowa State (+28.5) at Missouri - Iowa State has screwed with me for the past two weeks. Missouri can’t blow this like the Sooners and Longhorns did. I mean, this can’t be like last year’s game, can it? Tigers win and cover to take the lead in the North.
Likely Winners: Kansas State (Baylor), Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (Colorado)
Likely Losers: Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Nebraska, Baylor
Upset potential: Kansas over Texas A&M
Exciting games always come in mysterious places, and of course in the C-USA it spawned from the Tulane-SMU game, in a battle of who got their first conference win. The Tulane Green Wave won 41-34 in overtime, thanks to Matt Forte and his silly-good 38-carry, 342-yard effort. So, congrats, Green Wave. Your team is still bad, but at least Forte leads the entire FBS in rushing yards this season (1,261).
This week revolves around two monster games — one in each division. In the West, Houston and UTEP are perhaps the two strongest teams, and they meet in El Paso for a Saturday night rendezvous. Both teams average at least 30 points on both sides of the ball, so if you see this game 28-28 at halftime, try to find it on TV somewhere.
A slightly less-tempo game will be found in the East between Southern Miss and Central Florida. USM's 24 points allowed per game is actually the best in the conference, and their strong rush defense may pose a problem for UCF's stud tailback Kevin Smith, the other 1000-yard rusher in the conference. Catch this game Sunday night on ESPN if you just can't stand professional footblal.
Finally, Marshall is still looking for win No. 1, and they just may get it against Rice this week. It is their homecoming game, after all. Nobody loses homecoming games. Right?!
Limping into an off-week, Notre Dame — after being pounded by the Trojans of Southern Cal — has to be licking its wounds as it prepares for Navy on Nov 3. Also looking to next weekend in a key match-up, Army preps for Air Force in the second meeting of the three service academies. Enough about those on downtime, lets get into the games being played this weekend.
Article comments
1 - Pico
Hi, Josh, your fan club checking in...
Wow, I had forgotten about the intense hatred Bama has toward Phil. Thanks for reminding me, lol. Funny how just a couple of weeks ago the Tenn/SC tilt was expected to be possibly the one that decided the East. But UT gets their 3rd blowout (when they lose, they lose big) and Spurrier actually loses to Vandy. I think you'll get your wish in this game, however.
Ga/Fla...oh yeah, Florida all the way.
And the others:
Auburn/Ole Miss: despite the loss last week, the War Eagles have played much better since dropping one at home vs. Moo State in week 3 and will probably win out from here. So of course they'll take this one against a coach who is in a race with Bill Callaghan to the head of the unemployment line.
MSU/KY: Moo State in an upset! Yeah, dream on.