Time to preview this upcoming week in college football
Music to listen to: One Thought at a Time by Massive Attack
Here’s my top-25 ranking for your review and analysis:
1- Oregon
2- Auburn
3- TCU
4- Stanford
5- Boise State
6- LSU
7- Wisconsin
8- Ohio State
9- Alabama
10- Oklahoma State
11- Michigan State
12- Arkansas
13- Oklahoma
14- Virginia Tech
15- Nebraska
16- Missouri
17- South Carolina
18- Texas A&M
19- Arizona
20- Nevada
21- North Carolina State
22- Florida State
23- Utah
24- Mississippi State
25- Iowa
OK, lets get to the matchups for this Thanksgiving week
Texas A&M at Texas: There’s no excuse for Texas to be 5-6, no matter what excuse you use. I know that the Longhorns lost a lot of talent from last year’s squad but with the talent you have, that shouldn’t happen. The Aggies have a chance to put a number on Texas.
Louisville at Rutgers: This has to be considered a disappointing season for the Scarlet Knights. With the Big East being as open as it is this season, this would have been a prime time for Rutgers to win its first-ever conference title. Charles Strong has a chance to get the Cardinals bowl-eligible in his first season at Louisville, which would be a nice accomplishment.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh: If you said that this contest would determine the Big East at the beginning of the year, the estimation would be that both of these squads were ranked and be a good representative in the Fiesta Bowl. Instead, both teams represent the bad side of the BCS. Do you realize that the Big East doesn’t have one team in the top-25 of the BCS, yet one of its team will be in one of their bowls? And you want to say that the BCS is fair?!?
Buffalo at Akron: The Zips are 0-11 for the season so this is their final chance to get a win when they host a Buffalo squad that is 2-9. If I was an Akron fan, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.
Auburn at Alabama: As of Wednesday night, I think that Auburn will win this contest. I don’t think that the Alabama defense, particularly the secondary, will be able to control the Auburn offense, especially if Cam Newton is able to get open running lanes to increase the passing options. Furthermore, I don’t think that the Alabama offense has been right all season accept for the Florida contest, which looks less impressive over time since we now know the average state of the Gators.
If the Crimson Tide win, it wouldn’t be surprising. In fact, I wouldn’t even call it an upset. However, give me the Tigers and the points.
Colorado at Nebraska: The Huskers will win this but what will Colorado do to find its new coach. I think the Buffalos’ job is a solid one for a variety of reasons. First, Colorado has had excellent moments in its school’s history so its not like this is a barren program. Also, the move to the Pac-10 will help increase its profile in the west coast and make it easier to get talent from California, a crucial state in recruiting. Very interested in the direction that they go.
UCLA at Arizona State: Speaking of potential great jobs. Arizona State should be a consistent top-25 program. Good talent base to recruit, great weather, excellent conference. Have you been to Tempe? Dennis Erickson needs to go.
Arizona at Oregon: The Wildcats are a good team but can’t score with the Ducks.
Boise State at Nevada: You’re darn right I have Stanford ahead of Boise State in my rankings. I’m tired of hearing people want to see the Broncos get into the national title game to end the argument. The national title shouldn’t be a testing ground. Tell a quality team like Oregon, Auburn, TCU, LSU and others that they don’t get a chance to play for the national title because we want to do an experiment.
Give me Nevada covering the spread.
Michigan at Ohio State: Good to see E. Gordon Gee finding his way back into the news.
While I was at Vanderbilt as an undergrad, he would make the rounds to many campus hangouts. He was very approachable and a nice guy. Not happy about his insistence and ultimate implementation of the residential college model but that’s another topic for another day.
My funniest moment was running into Mr. Gee when he went into the DKE frat house when I was a freshman. I was drunk but remember that moment well.
Anyway, fire Greg Robinson because Michigan’s defense is beyond awful.
Michigan State at Penn State: Joe Paterno is going to die within the next two years at a practice. Hate to make that prediction but if he insists on continuing to coach, that’s what’s going to happen. He’s not going to willingly leave. Paterno has the best job in college football. He doesn’t have to stress out with the preparations of the game and gets credit for the victories.
South Florida at Miami: The Hurricanes should be better than this and don’t give me the Jacory Harris injury as an excuse.
Boston College at Syracuse: This should be a Big East matchup but Boston College is in the ACC in one of the most confusing conference realignment moves I can think of. Outside of making a few more bucks from the ACC, the Eagles don’t fit the profile of the conference at all. Boston is north of New York City and Philadelphia yet is in a conference that doesn’t have a school north of Baltimore.
It has been good to claim being a Syracuse fan without complete embarrassment. The Orangemen were my first favorite college team in all sports and I still have love for the university’s athletic teams.
Kentucky at Tennessee: I think the Wildcats finally break their 20+ year losing streak to the Vols.
LSU at Arkansas: I think the Razorbacks win this by double digits.
North Carolina at Duke: How is Butch Davis 0-4 against North Carolina State? Beating Duke won’t help the Tar Heel fans forget that stat.
Florida State at Florida: The Seminoles should win this game and end their losing streak against the Gators.
BYU at Utah: Love the Holy War. Have to go with the Utes.
TCU at New Mexico: Arguably the biggest mismatch between two FBS teams this season.
Mississippi State at Ole Miss: Taking the Rebels in the Egg Bowl in a mini-upset. Move this game back to Thanksgiving night!!!
South Carolina at Clemson: Why can’t the Tigers get it together? They have SEC resources in an ACC school. They should have won at least two conference titles in the last six or seven years. Now that the Gamecocks have finally made it into the SEC title game, things must be uneasy in the Palmetto State for Clemson fans.
Wake Forest at Vanderbilt: As a loyal Commodore, I watched all of the Vandy/Tennessee contest last Saturday night. Waste of an evening. Major changes need to happen in Nashville. Hopefully Vandy can beat Wake Forest to end the season with a win.
Georgia Tech at Georgia: Georgia is a big favorite going into the contest but I think the Yellow Jackets will keep it close. Take the Bulldogs to win the contest though.
Notre Dame at USC: The last time this contest meant anything nationally was in the mid 1980’s when both teams were rolling. Than USC took a dip in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. By the time the Trojans got their act together under Pete Carroll, Notre Dame was in their down swing. Now, both teams are looking for win in a desperate way.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State: I love Bedlem and the Cowboys even more in this contest.
Idaho at Fresno State: Tough year for my Vandals. I adopted them last year as my untraditional team to follow and it led to one of Idaho’s best seasons ever, including a bowl win. Now, not so much. I still have love for my people in Moscow but don’t think that they’re going to get a win at Fresno on Saturday.
OK, those are my thoughts on the games, what are yours?
The Sports Inquirer 
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