The Party Ain't Over Folks

Alright Texas fans (actually players too), it's time to suck it up, quite your crying and move on. You've received a ton of confidence from the voters, you've got 3 games left and you are by no means out of anything. And to Red Raider, Cowboy and Sooner fan - you're ride is just beginning so strap it on. Bottom line, there is A TON of football yet to be played and if there's anything we've learned over the last couple of season, it's that chaos is sure to rule - I promise you the upset bug hasn't gone anywhere and will likely linger through the first week of December.

Short, but busy week for me this week so you'll see a more "abridged" version of the rant this week (you're welcome).

What to expect this weekend...

• Seriously Longhorns, Mack Brown said it best in an interview this week, "we've got to stop pouting and get back to work". No doubt Mack and company will have their work cut out for them - after 4 weeks as the darlings of the media, Texas got knocked off it's rocker just a bit and had now been relegated to the status of mortal and the coaches need to figure out how to make these guys forget about that. We talk a lot about what it takes to be a champion-caliber team and a lot of that talk centers around adversity and how teams handle it. Texas has been great at facing and overcoming adversity in games (OU, Okie State and even Tech to a lesser degree), but now they face a different kind of adversity - a loss. How they respond over the next two weeks will, I think, do more to define this team than anything thus far - and let's be honest, Texas hasn't been stellar in November over the past couple of years, twice blowing a chance at the Big 12 championship game with ridiculous losses. And let me be crystal clear about this yet again, Texas - you MUST demolish Baylor. If you don't win by 30+ points, you will leave doubts in the minds of the powers that be in this system and you can't afford to do that. I'm going with Texas (and Colt) bouncing back in this one in a big way: 52-17 Texas win.
• Couple of more thoughts on this... I do worry a tad about the distractions that this team is facing right now, namely: rumblings about Sergio Kindle already thinking about the NFL, Burnett being kicked off the team (young guy who was going to be key in the future of this O-line), Orakpo's injury, Cosby's injury, etc., etc. I'll reiterate - this Texas coaching staff has their work cut out for them - they need a bounce back game just as much as the players do. Don't be surprised to see A LOT of guys resting quite a bit against Baylor. And guess what young secondary, your task doesn't get a whole lot easier on Saturday.
  
• And speaking of Texas Tech - as I said, they're rodeo is just starting. I felt this way throughout the week and I think I'm still leaning this way, but I'm a bit torn. On one hand, there's no better scenario for Oklahoma State to be coming in than on the heels of the biggest win in Red Raider history. No doubt this Red Raider team was riding a monumental high throughout the week, as well they should because they earned it. On the other hand, this win will likely do wonders for Texas Tech's confidence going forward - this remains to be seen, but this team has to think it can play with anyone now. I do question whether Tech realizes how good Oklahoma State really is - and as Hooser will remind me (again), "we know how good they are, we lost on the last play of the game to a dropped pass last year." My response to that is both of these teams are vastly different teams this year - both being quite a bit better. I'll say this, having seen the other big 3 in the Big 12 south up close and personal, I'm still not sure Oklahoma State isn't the better of the 3...something tells me I'll know more after Saturday night. I'll go with the upset just because this time of year this is what we've come to expect: Okie State in a squeeker, 38-34.
  
• Hold on to your hats Penn State fans, this could be the weekend you've been waiting for...I'm talking 'Bama at LSU. First off, for all the writers/talking heads out there giving us the, "what's wrong with LSU?" bs, let me tell you what's wrong with them - NOTHING! They're young and raw. They're breaking in new defensive lineman and new offensive weapons. But the good news is you're starting to see some clicking. Yes, they've given up a ton of points/yards in recent games, but the good news is Alabama's offense is just OK at this point. The Tiger offense will have their hands full with this one, I think Les Miles gets over against Saban. I said it coming into the year and I'll repeat it - you can't question how good of a coach Saban is, you just can't. He'll have this team in the national title game, but it won't be this year....give it one or two more years. I'm taking LSU in a BCS-busting game. Tigers win 27-21.
  
• Memo to Penn State: I certainly haven't been too close to Happy Valley these past couple of weeks and the buzz that's going around, but I'll offer this advice - ignore the media. The more you pay attention to what's going to happen to this team or that team, the less you'll focus on the games. If I were you I would go and drum Iowa by 3 touchdowns because if you don't and you let them hang around, that's it. Win these remaining games and the system will work itself out, but it would behoove you to win them convincingly.
  
• Utah at TCU on Thursday night - you might want to tune into that one if you're a college football fan - could be seeing Gary Patterson officially get his name on just about every coaching vacancy out there (although he's allegedly a horrible interview....like Norm Chow). I'm taking the Horned Frogs here.
  
• Here's a million dollar question: do other schools looking for a new head coach look at what Muschamp has brought (intangible) to this program? Or do they look at the 117 ranking in pass defense? I'll say it again Horns' fans - Baylor will throw the ball all over the field - I suggest you find something to fill the "Orakpo" void in terms of pass rush.

BCS:
Don't worry, I'm not going to get into this. Yes, we all hate it. No, it doesn't make sense. I'll only throw this bit of advice - don't criticize the system for what it says in week 9, criticize it after week 12. It's not supposed to pick the best teams in early November, it's supposed to pick the best teams in early December. So pipe down and stay tuned....you'll get your chance for a legitimate gripe soon enough. I'm mostly talking to you Penn State fans.

Non-Sports Thought for the Week...
Like 'em or hate 'em - history was made this past Tuesday and you would be a fool to deny the importance of the occasion. Not really sure I thought I would see this in my lifetime, but here we are. Fascinating point here that I pondered on Tuesday night: I'm not sure my daughter will ever appreciate or understand how big of a deal this was....that's something else.

Here's the irony of all irony - one of the best commentaries I heard on Tuesday night regarding this historic election was from.....Karl F'ng Rove. Seriously. And is it me or does he look like one of those actors who you don't know his name, but you know him as the bad guy in like 87% of all B-movies?

Finally - I urge you to go and check out this week's South Park....funny stuff. The show is crude and ridiculous, but their ability to make fun of the right people at the right time (which is usually all of us) is genius. Here's a preview: the whole election was a farse so that McCain, Obama, Palin and Michelle Obama could steal a rare set of diamonds - it's a spoof of Oceans 11. Trust me, it's funny.