Judgement Day

It's do or die time for the longhorns (and the sooners). I think this game will really set the tone for the rest of the year...for both of these teams. It's actually a big weekend for a lot of teams around the country - as we know, this is always the mecca weekend for college football fans. I've got to give each of the biggies their due. Here we go:

Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners:
I'll be honest (and I'm sure you probably could have guessed), I'm not at all optimistic about this game. I'm not suggesting Texas has zero chance to win this game....but I don't think Texas has much of a chance to win this game. It all comes down to the fact that history has told us that Stoops usually has his players prepared to play at a much higher level than Texas. Granted, the Horns have won the last two meetings and last year's win was really a big statement game/turning point for Texas. I believe we were down 10-7 at half and forced a number of turnovers in the 2nd half to win 28-10 - not too shabby. Ahhh....that was sweet.

And who knows, this team could pull it together and pull out a big, tough win - I just don't think they will. I think it's actually worse that we're getting this OU team coming off a loss. Stoops simply knows how to motivate and inspire his players to play their best against Texas - last year they had no quarterback and the previous year we had Vince Young. They've got a solid and confident passer now and they are getting good production out a couple of different backs.

Let's be honest, there's really nothing about Texas that instills a whole hell of a lot of confidence. You big-time fans are lying if you tell me you're not remotely worried about Colt getting his bell rung again and knocked out of the game. Is Limas Sweed still on this team? And what in the world is Jamaal going to do? Lots of question marks coming off that game last week.

Even more concerning - Greg Davis came out and said (paraphrasing here): "Colt may be putting too much pressure on himself to make plays. I may have given him too much freedom/reign in the offense - we may need to simplify it a bit."

Let me get this straight - you're going to simplify the offense? Rrrrrriiiiiight. I've got an idea, let's find and develop a quarterback who CAN take that freedom and know how to use it. Just give us some semblance of an idea that you know what you're doing Greg...please, just one sign.

Defense? If I'm the Sooners offense, I'm watching a ton of tape and absolutely salivating. Granted, these guys played much better than one might thing against Kansas State, giving up only 290 yards, but they did give up 20 points. I assure this Oklahoma coaching staff will be able to make some big plays on this defense - it's easier when you don't have to worry about linebackers getting in the way.

Oklahoma - 42
Texas - 20

Florida at LSU:
As always a great matchup in the SEC. I've been preaching this for most of the year, but I think LSU is really at a whole other level than any other team. Doesn't mean Florida can't win the game, but I just think - night game in Baton Rouge... I do think Tebow is probably one of the best players in the country (only a sophomore!), but LSU may give him all sorts of fits. Perriloux seems to be playing well when he does get his chances and they've proven they can run the ball at will.

I honestly don't see this ending too close - I do think it will be a good game for about 2.5 quarters or so, but LSU will ultimately wear them down.

LSU - 27
Florida - 13

Big 12 North:
Believe it or not, there are actually a couple of big games coming out of the north. Missouri at Nebraska and Kansas at Kansas State....that's right, Kansas at Kansas State. Obviously Kansas State is coming off of a huge and impressive win and Kansas is somewhere in the top 3 in scoring in the country. I don't are who you're playing, when you're throwing up 35 per game, you've got talent. I think Kansas State is pretty good - especially if that same team from last week shows up. I think they'll handle Kansas, but it should be a good game.

I hate to say it, but I'm pretty disappointed with Nebraska. They're giving up a lot of yards to any and everyone...and Missouri has a pretty strong team. I think Mizzou strolls into Lincoln and whips the Huskers. Missouri by 13.

College Football Quick Hits:

• Heads up Horns fans - if (when) Texas loses to OU this weekend, it will have been their fourth straight conference loss. The good news is the next two games are Iowa State and Baylor....followed by Nebraska, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. This could be a "rebuilding" year for the Horns.
• Interesting stat on one Tommy Tubberville I saw recently: 9 wins in his last 10 games against top 10 teams; 5-0 against top 5 teams in his tenure at Auburn. WOW!!! As hard as it is to even get a chance to play for a national title, you can't help but to think that they got robbed when his chance came along. Really unbelievable numbers there.
  
• I'm sorry, but I don't see any way that Purdue is going to hang with Ohio State. 2 or 3 touchdown favorites in my book.
  
• Kentucky...in the top 10? Not anymore - 15 point loss to a very impressive South Carolina team.
  
• BEATING THE DEAD HORSE: I know I bring this up a lot and go on and on....BUT, has there been a better season to support the "no polls until first week of October"? You're starting to see writers hit on this more and more. Perhaps a tide is starting to turn???....Check out this article from DMN: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/topstories/stories/100507dnspotaylor.31737a2.html
  
• I think I'm taking South Carolina to come out of the SEC East...and yes, I know Florida resides in the east as well.
  
• Those defense-less Red Raiders open up conference play Saturday night by hosting a horrid Iowa State team. Why is this a game worth mentioning you might ask? Because next week Tech gets the Aggies - and that's always a fun game. Let's hope the Red Raiders aren't looking ahead because a stumble here would be disastrous. I'm picking Tech in a route here. More on the Tech game - http://fannation.com/blogs/post/64661
• Don't you know that the Bruins are quietly thinking to themselves, man I don't want to give Notre Dame their first victory of the year. That's what every team will be thinking from here on out. We'll see if that Jeckyl and Hyde coach of theirs can get them up for this one. Either way, Notre Dame is just real bad. I say Bruins by 13...they should have a couple of takeaways here that will make the difference.
  

NFL Quick Hits:

• I think we're going to learn a lot about Reggie Bush and this Saints team this weekend. I'm not sure Bush is in his best position for success as a 20 carry-a-game back. I think the loss of Deuce is going to prove too much. Lot of pressure on Bush this weekend - we'll see. You hope he does something good and I'm sure he will, but I just don't think he can carry a team as the every-down back...or anything even close.
  
• Colts will be very interesting this weekend - playing without Joesph Adai, Marvin Harrison and Bob Sanders (and one or two others). I think Sanders is by and far the most detrimental loss (why can't this guy play a full season??). If they can get through this game with a win (playing the Bucs), they'll really have a ton of confidence.
  
• New England is ridiculous good. BUT, let's calm down with the "will they go undefeated talk". We should put a ban on any such talk until the 10th or 11th week of the season.
  
• Tennessee going to Atlanta...and coming off of a bye week may be a statement game. Look for a huge game from Brown and VY.
  
• I'm routing for the Packers from here on out.

Non-Football Thoughts of the Week:

• I swear to God, the NHL has the shortest off season of any other sport - they're already in regular season play!
  
• Don't you know the Phillies, who rode a big high and win streak to get into the playoffs, were bummed to learn they had to play Colorado who came off a "pre playoff" playoff game against the Padres. Talk about a team with momentum. By the way, the Rockies have taken the first two from the Phillies...and now they go back to Denver. OUCH.
• Man o man, for the thousand+ sports writers that called this throughout the past two months, kudos. I'm talking of course about those Yankees - you can't win in the post season without pitching. And as much as I love Clemens, am I supposed to believe that he's going to do anything productive at all? He hasn't played in like 25 days.
  
• So long Cubs, nice ride while it lasted - pulling Zambrano in the first game was playing too conservative and it's going to cost them the series I believe.
  
• If you haven't figured it out yet - as much as I hate MLB, I do love playoff baseball. It just seems more exciting...even though it's really not.
  
• Marion Jones? Sucks to be you. This is terrible to say, but every time something like this comes out, it makes you more and more skeptical of all athletes accused of cheating. Way to go Marion.
  
• Let me throw this one generalization out at you - Chinese people cannot compete at the NBA level. Everyone in Milwaukee is going nuts over this Yi guy. Let's take a look at Yao - how's that working out??? Still waiting....

We'll do it again next week folks - go horns.