At Least We've got Football...

From the sounds of it, I'd say we've got just a few more months before society crumbles around the globe....the good news is we've still got our college football. So just for these few minutes, hopefully I can take your mind off of the current financial woes around the country with some mindless dribble around the great world of sports. So here we go...

Texas at Kansas:
Let's see, away game for an exhausted and very beat up Texas team....on the plains of Kansas.....in cold weather.....on Kansas' senior day. Anyone else a bit worried about this one? I am, but just a tad. On the flip side, Reasing has regressed quite a bit over the past few weeks, throwing equal number of INTs to touchdowns (maybe even a few more) - he's getting next to zero help from his offensive line which doesn't bode well considering that Texas' defensive line may be the best component of this Longhorn team. And their special teams are horrible (prediction alert: Texas will score a TD on special teams this weekend).

Seriously folks, as badly as Texas needs some big-time style points right now, I'll take a victory. I've given up on any prospect that the Horns can sneak into the Big 12 title game so I'm holding out for a BCS at-large bid. To do that, we need to just win. We should have Orakpo back for this one and clearly, based on last week, Cosby is feeling just fine. The loss of our starting center (and the release of our backup....idiot) is pretty key. If you want a silver lining there, like last year, we can say we're getting some experience for our underclassmen. Otherwise, this may hurt a bit. Our offensive line has grown less consistent as the season has gone on and this doesn't help - I expect to see Colt running for his life a bit this weekend.

Nothing would please me more than to have a big 30-point victory here, but I just don't see it happening. Want another silver lining? This is our second straight 11am kickoff so that is a good thing. Texas doesn't typically do well in early games, but this continuity (even if for only 2 weeks) will be good. I've said it before and I'm saying it again - just get me to that bye week.

Texas - 51
Kansas - 34

Other Notes from the World of CFB:
Not a ton of notable games this weekend so I'll do some random observations and predictions...

• Upset Special: Auburn over Georgia. This will save Tubberville's job...for one more year.
  
• Interesting battle between Disney (espn) and Fox for the TV rights to the BCS games - should espn win the bidding war, it would mark the first time that a major sporting event was broadcast on cable. What does this mean? Not a lot except that the rich guys are quite happy with the BCS model and are willing to pay a ridiculous amount of money to put it on television. You can read more about it here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/11/13/bcs.contract/1.html
• Upset Alert Part Two: Illinois over Ohio State. I don't know, I just have a feeling about that one.
• The Aggies visit Baylor this weekend - anyone else think we could see ANOTHER Baylor victory here? I don't know if upset is the word to be honest, but don't be shocked to see the Bears take it to the porous Aggie defense.
  
• Every day that goes by is another day that I think Leach is headed to Tennessee. His stock has to be higher than Kiffin's at this point. Hell, his stock may be higher than most any other candidate's at this point.
  
• Another point on the KU/Tx game - if you will recall, the last time Texas visited Lawrence, KS, there were some fireworks. Let me refresh your memory: Texas was vying for a BCS at-large bid and a loss at Kansas would have ended that hope. Kansas played a tough, hard-fought game and it came down to the final minutes of the game when a phantom pass interference call ended Kansas' hopes. And yes friends, it was a phantom call. Needless to say Mangino was pissed - even going so far as to say that call was made purely for "money" reasons - Texas getting into the Rose Bowl (which they did) would mean more money. Anyway, point is this, Kansas will be hungry to avenge that loss so buckle up...
• Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma fans, you had better route for Okie State this weekend - a loss at Colorado would be disastrous for all parties involved.

NFL Notes:

• My continued poor performance in my pick 'em game is really something else...
• HUGE win for the Jets last night - will certainly make things interesting for that division down the stretch. I'm still giving the Pats the slight edge, but we'll see.
  
• I don't know, I just don't see a semi-healthy Tony Romo being *the* difference with the Cowboys given their schedule down the stretch. They travel to DC this weekend and then get a couple of patsies at home before closing with the Steelers, Ravens, Giants and Eagles (Philly and Steelers on the road).
  
• I think the Titans finally go down this weekend - still a hell of a group there, but you can't win them all.
  
• Speaking of the Titans, word out of Nashville is that VY isn't doing much to improve his image amongst his teammates. You know, maybe he was thrown into the mix too early and maybe Fisher is a tough guy to play for, but f'ng grow up Vince. This may be one of the biggest busts in recent NFL history. It's so shocking to see his behavior now compared to the role he played at Texas as a leader. Crazy. You really get to see someone's true colors when they have to face adversity. I say a lot of his issues center around the people he has surrounded himself with - close family friends typically don't know how to manage the business of football players, that's why we have agents.
  
• How disappointing have the Saints been thus far? I think their resurgence was nothing more than a mirage. We're learning now that Shockey has and continues to kill himself with this attitude and work ethic; the defense still has tons and tons of holes; offensive line is questionable at best; etc. I wonder how much longer/more leeway Payton will have.
  
• San Francisco, St. Louis, Seattle and Detroit - All teams that will have high draft picks and who *desperately* need a QB.
  

Non-Sports Thoughts for the Week:

• How is it possible that people STILL don't know the rules/procedures when flying on a commercial flight? Are the rules kind of dumb? Yea, some of them. Does that mean you can argue your way out of it? No. If you try then you are an idiot.
  
• There are few things that are more fascinating than people watching in Las Vegas. Seriously, I can sit alone at a table/bar and just watch people for hours and hours on end.
  
• Is there anyone within the senior leadership ranks of this government (regardless of party) who has any f'ng idea what they're doing? Anyone at all?

That's what I got folks. Things are tough all over out there, I know (my company just announced they are laying off 5-6K employees), so keep your head up, crack open a beer (probably a Natty Light given this economy), and enjoy some football.