Well the bubble finally burst about as bad as Jamarcus Russell’s NFL career to date. After rolling the previous 4 weeks I had a worse day than a Dave Kingman Golden Sombrero. 0-4 was what I provided you last week and it wasn’t even close. I am still 15-8-2 over the past 5 weeks so let’s look at the glass half full.

Oklahoma St -17 v Colorado (Thursday)

#12 Ok State can not get to the Big 12 Championship due to their loss against Texas 3 weeks ago, but what they can do is win out and get themselves into a pretty big bowl game. Possibly a Holiday Bowl against the likes of Oregon, Stanford, USC or Oregon State in what could be the best non-BCS bowl of the year. The Cowboys are playing a disaster in Colorado where this will be the last year for head Coach Dan Hawkins. Ok State needs this win and again next week at rival Oklahoma to become one of the top 10 elite schools in the 2009 season even without Dez Bryant. Cowboys rank 32nd nationally in total defense, allowing 333.9 yards per game,  and seventh against the rush (89.6). As for turnovers, Oklahoma State still owns the plus-five mark it attained last season.

I am betting Oklahoma State -17 at home to cover

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Tennessee -17 v Vanderbilt

After going 3-1 the previous 4 weeks heading into Mississippi including
a 12-10 loss to at that time #1 Alabama in Bama things were on the right
track for Lane Kiffin and the Vols. Then 3 players get arrested for armed robbery and that is the ball game. They got crushed in ‘Sippi the same week and now need to win 1 of 2 to get bowl eligible and this is their chance. They need to come out and beat an over matched Vandy team in Knoxville before closing out at Kentucky. The Commodores are 2-9 with wins against 1-9 Rice and 2-8 Western Carolina and are riding a 7-game losing streak.  If Vandy gets close the TU Boosters will have Kiffin’s head, but will keep Mrs. Kiffin as ambassador of football recruiting.

I am betting Tenn -17 at home to cover

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Notre Dame -6 v UConn

I said last week that the Pitt game was Charlie’s Alamo and they lost. They did make an attempt to come back, but needed an 85-yd punt return
to cover the spread. Basically Pitt beat them up pretty good. ND has
to win this last game at home to satisfy some pundits because they will have zero chance next week at Stanford. UConn now has a few weeks under it’s belt after the death of a teammate and since that day have gone 0-3 but losses to Cinci, WVa and a hot Rutgers. They come
into South Bend with 2 weeks off and after dropping 45 at Cinci
while losing by 2 the problem is this may be Jimmy Clausen’s
and Weiss’s final home game. This is the game ND has to and will
win to save a little face. Their talented WR’s are healthy and JC
.. no. not that JC, but Clausen will throw for over 300 and the
Irish will cover easily.

I am betting Notre Dame -6 at home to cover

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Texas -27.5 v Kansas

WOW, what a week for the Rock Chawk Jayhwak program. 450+lb
head coach Mark Mangino is under an internal review which has been
initiated by the KU athletic department to investigate a personnel
matter involving the eight-year coach. Published reports indicating
senior linebacker Arist Wright came forward and provided an account
of an incident with Mangino and mired in a 5-game losing streak
after winning the first 5 has only fueled the fire.  Oh about Texas. Since the Red River game in mid-Oct against the Sooners Texas has literally crushed their opponents and have a stranglehold on the Big 12 South and will beat whoever wins the Neb v Kansas St game in the Big 12 Championship. Also ranked #3 in the BCS and awaiting the game between the SEC’s best in 3 weeks can reasonably figure to be in the National Championship and potentially have a Heisman Trophy winner in Colt McCoy who is as hot as anyone in college football.

I am betting Texas -27.5 at home to cover