Sunday, November 29, 2009

Texas 49 Texas A&M 39



Exhale.

What was not surprising on Thursday night:  Colt McCoy cementing his Heisman candidacy, accounting for 479 total yards, including a 65 yard TD run that will be shown about 100 times during Heisman discussions in the next week.

What was surprising on Thursday night: The defense.  What the *$#@ was that?

It appears as though the Longhorns were content with sitting back in zone and letting Jerrod Johnson beat them, and he almost did.  I don't know the exact numbers, but the Longhorns did little blitzing, sending four rushers for the majority of the game, and three a lot of times. 

I guess I would be more discouraged if I thought the players played poorly on Thursday night, but with the exception of the first touchdown, I thought that the defense did what they were asked to do by the coaches and did it about as well as they could.  Tackling wasn't always great, and of course there were some blown coverages, but I don't think as a whole our defense was "exposed" as a fraud...the coaches just tried a gameplan that failed miserably and didn't feel the need to change it up at any time during the game.

The offense was outstanding, as lost in the hubbub of McCoy's night and the defense falling apart was the rushing effort of Tre Newton, who ran for 109 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.  Hopefully he has locked down what has been a tumultuous position for the Horns this year.

You never know, the game might have been good for the Horns, as they were hit in the mouth and fought back with all they could, and Coach Muschamp now has a reason to get mad at his defense and make them work.  Don't let the national media fool you with the talk of a team that gives up 39 doesn't belong in the national title game, Oklahoma gave up 41 to Oklahoma State on this weekend last year and USC gave up 42 to Fresno State late in the year in 2005, and the media still loved those teams.

They just hate Texas, and well, that's their problem.

We'll be back on Wednesday with a look at the Texas/Nebraska match-up in Arlington, Florida/Alabama in Atlanta and much, much more.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Week That Will Be (Thanksgiving 2009 Edition)

Last Week: 4-2 ATS 4-2 SU
For the Year: 35-36-1 (.493) ($460) ATS 51-21 (.708) SU


What we learned last week:

We learned that Tate Forcier can be a good baseball player. He threw three interceptions in six attempts in one stretch in the fourth quarter on Saturday, a batting average of .500…

We learned that Les Miles is a good liar, but the camera never lies. Lester insisted that he didn’t call a spike play with one second left on the clock on Saturday, but the camera caught him making a spike motion on the sideline, unless he was trying to fix his watch…

We learned that Jeremiah Masoli is a hell of a quarterback and should be a frontrunner for the Heisman next year along with Tim Tebow, who will still get mentioned even though he will be a fullback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers….

We learned that Oklahoma has quite a reclamation project on their hands if they want to get back to losing BCS bowl games. The Sooners are now 1-5 on the road this year, and have ONE win against teams with a winning record…

We learned that Texas will be facing Nebraska at The Death Star for the Big 12 Championship, and the way national commentators talk, the Longhorns shouldn’t even bother to show up, because the Blackshirts defense is every bit as good as it was in 1996…when a Longhorn team nowhere near as good as this one ran all over it. Hmm….

And finally, we learned that Colt McCoy and the rest of the senior Longhorns know how to go out in style. That was quite a show to watch on Saturday, but hopefully it won’t be the highlight of the season.

Anyhow…

It is that time of year again, the time where you stuff yourself with turkey and dressing while listening to your Uncle Ned tell you stories of Aunt Francine’s bad back and how he has to dress her every morning until you lose your appetite for pumpkin pie. So before we lose the will to live, let’s remember what we are thankful for this year:

To Ben Alexander, thanks for stepping up BIG TIME this year. A lot of people, myself included, was worried about the defensive line coming into the year, but the line stepped up and you were a big part of that.

To Ryan Bailey, thanks for this on an awesome day:


To Deon Beasley, thanks for your persistence. This could have been a lost year for you, but you dug yourself out of hole and have contributed big-time since you have come back.

To Clark Ford, William Harvey & Mac McWhorter, thanks for going from a walk-on to scholarship player, earning it on the field and off the field.

To Chris Hall, thanks for your work on the offensive line, and the humor in the locker room.

To Lamarr Houston, thanks for stepping it up to become a big-time player this year. You’ve had some personal hardships, but you used them as fuel to get better, and the NFL will jump all over themselves to get you on their teams.

To Sergio Kindle, thanks for your production on the field and your leadership abilities. We’ll all enjoy watching you on Sundays next year.

To Hunter Lawrence, thanks for stepping up this year and locking down the kicking game. There was a lot of shuffling at that position in the last few years, but you took the job this year and never looked back, and I have never felt uneasy when you’ve come out to kick a field goal. Here’s hoping that that translates to the NFL.

To Charlie Tanner and Adam Ulatoski, thanks for your continued leadership on the field and your work on the offensive line. We couldn’t have accomplished what we’ve done on offense the past two years without the work being done up front.

To C.A. Vergari, thanks for your work on the scout team. It isn’t a glamorous duty, but it is a necessary duty, and thanks for doing so much for so little in return.

To Roddrick Muckelroy, thanks for wrecking shop on defense. You’ve been one of my favorite linebackers ever on the 40 acres, and wish you all the luck in the world at the next level.

To Jordan Shipley, thanks for giving up your body for this program. Many made jokes at your expense (I raise my hand, too) after your first two years were wiped out by injury, but you’ve gone from high school legend to forgotten man to UT legend because of your determination to make it work. I really don’t remember you dropping a pass this year. From orangebloods everywhere, thank you for that, and we’re rooting like hell for you to make it at the next level. And we know you will.

To Colt McCoy, thanks for sticking with us until we recognized your greatness. Even after your fantastic freshman year, some were wanting the other guy, and you kept producing until we finally realized you were the guy. You came in as a three star recruit from a 2A high school, and you leave as college football’s all-time winningest quarterback, a legend in your own right at this school and most importantly, a good man who doesn’t let all of that go to his head. We’ll be watching you on Sundays next fall as well.

To Kansas University, thanks for not firing Mark Mangino last week. Firings are depressing, and we’re glad that he didn’t eat all the turkeys.

To the Tailgate Tents, thanks for lasting us all of these years. We’re uncertain of your future, but a lot of great times went on under those tents, and we’re glad that they can’t talk. Godspeed on your journey to tent heaven.

To the Excellence Playa Mujeres, thanks for getting mine and Robbi’s mind right for football season. We had a great honeymoon at this fantastic resort, and we can’t wait to go again in 2010…and take some friends with us this time.

To T-Pain, thanks for the great iPhone app.

To Pedialyte, thanks for your part in helping sick children across the country, and thanks for getting our quarterback healthy.

To Lala’s, thanks for providing the venue for the greatest airband performance of all-time, according to Kanye West.

To the Hilton Anatole, thanks for the Bloody Mary bar. If ABC and the universities are going to keep on insisting scheduling our game at 11:00 AM, it is good to know we have a friend at 7:00 AM to help us recover from the night before.

To Reggie the Scalper, thanks for the great tickets to the Kansas game. Of course they were counterfeit and we almost got kicked out of the stadium, but those were the best seats I’ve had for a Texas game in a long time and I appreciate it. Hopefully you use that money you earned for good.

To the readers on Burnt Orange Fan Zone, thanks for taking the time each week to read the column and provide your kind thoughts. There have been some great discussions over there this year, and who can ask for more than that. You’ve got a great community over there.

To the other posters on LMFZ, thanks for sticking around. The board doesn’t seem to get much traffic these days, but I’d like to turn that around, and hope you stick around.

To the Anonymous Readers of The Week That Will Be, thanks for your time and energy every week. I know this column gets forwarded every which way, and I’m glad that everyone seems to enjoy it so much. This year has been by far the easiest year to write the column, and it is because I know how much everyone appreciates it.

To Michael Drakes, thanks for the duty and service to this country that you have chosen to give to all of us. We had a great time this year getting to know you, and look forward to seeing you at tailgates and boat parties in the future. You are one of us now, and we won’t let you forget it. Semper Fi.

To Chris and Stephanie, thanks for making it to several tailgates and for having us at your house several times as well. It is always a good time with Chris and Steph, and we can’t tell you how glad we are that you guys are in our lives.

To Gould, thanks for the easiest $50 of my life! But also, thanks for your humor and goodwill. We love you and Nathalie and wish you luck on your other bet this year.

To Marlon, thanks for being a good friend to all of us. We’ve missed you these past few tailgates, and hope that everything is well and that we’ll see you around more.

To Timms and Jordan, thanks for giving Chay shit, and thanks for helping out at tailgate set-up a few times this year. We were never shorthanded this year, and you guys were always eager to help, and we appreciate it.

To Schmoopy Becky, thanks for showing us a good time in Stillwater. We hope we reciprocated the move when you came down to Austin, and we look forward to seeing you at Chay’s Christmas party.

To hornsfan44, thanks for your continued service to this country and for sticking with us on the board, as well.

To Collin, thanks for all your help with the tailgate and for introducing us to the greatness that is Plucker’s Trivia Night. And thanks for giving me a good laugh every time I see you.

To Jerry, thanks for all your help with the tailgate and for welcoming us to the Plucker’s Trivia Night crew. We like to give you shit about the Redskins, but you’re a good dude who is always concerned about our well-being, and we appreciate it.

To Pickle and Mark, thanks for being you. We love you guys, and we know it is going to be a good time if Mark and Pickle are there. We hope to see you in Arlington and LA.

To RC Horn, thanks for all your help at the tailgates.

To Blondie, thanks for the continued love for the blog!

To dahorns, thanks for your continued love for the UT tailgating scene. We like like-minded individuals, and you are certainly one of those. You’re also a good man, and we wish you and the family all the best.

To Reinheitsgebot, thanks for always giving me a laugh at the tailgates. I always enjoy talking football with you, and wish you all the best.

To TheDean176, thanks for bringing Chandler to a game and introducing another one to a great tradition. We offer congratulations to you and Krista and wish you the best of luck in the years ahead.

To Bevo71, thanks for sticking it out with us. I know you’ve had some hard times the past couple of years, but we appreciate the love that you have for this great university and are always glad to see you around.

To AtlLonghorn, thanks for your contributions to the board and for keeping me entertained with your sports updates on Twitter. I’m not sure what happened to your weekly column, but I always enjoyed it and hope it is back next year.

To eochs, thanks for continuing to keep this board up and running. Congratulations to you and Jessica, and we wish you guys all the best. Hopefully your future includes a trip to Austin.

To Makaveli, thanks for having us over to a game watching party this year and inviting us to another one. We always have a good time with you guys and hope to see you more in the coming year.

To U2-Horn, thanks for your contributions to this board and Shaggy as well. I always enjoy reading a good U2-Horn post.

To all of those that contributed to Michael’s TX/OU Fund, thanks for your generous contributions. I know this is a tough year for everyone financially, but sending a new Marine to his first TX/OU game was a very rewarding experience. I wish everyone could have seen his face all day, he had a great time.

To Music City Mafia, thanks for your contributions to the board. I hope all is well with you and your girls.

To Janet (Pickle’s Mom), thanks for sticking with this motley crew. We always enjoy seeing you around, even if we might be acting like idiots at the time. But at least we made it a year without Drew throwing your chair in the creek.

To Pope, thanks for coming to the tailgate. This year seemed like a quiet year for Pope, but I guess we still have a few more games left to leave a lasting impression.

To rtapia, thanks for being a good tailgate neighbor, which we all know is more important than being an actual neighbor. We hope to tailgate next to you guys for years to come.

To my future employer, thanks for the job!

To BarryBnds, thanks for adding some spice to the board. Sometimes we like to sit around and tell each other how pretty they are, but you like to tell us differently and sometimes we need it. I’m disappointed that you guys didn’t make it to a game this year, but there is always Arlington…

To Markaholic, thanks for the Tito’s and for sticking around the board. We know you have your hands full but we’re going to have to ask that you make a couple more games next year!

To Mr. Peabody, thanks for the fun stories on the board. You almost turned into a stranger this year, don’t let that happen. We didn’t see you in Austin, but hopefully we’ll see you guys again soon.

To OKC Longhorn, thanks for giving me an outlet to vent during Longhorns/Cowboys games via text message. And most of all, thanks for giving us shelter when we decided in the middle of the night to drive up to Stillwater and didn’t arrive in OKC until 4:45 in the morning. You’re a good man, Todd, and I wish you all the best. Just don’t yell out Ernest Borgnine in public anymore.

To El Aitch Bee, thanks for making it down to a game this year. It was good to see you, and hope to see you again soon.

To BevoisaSoxFan, thanks for bring little Pili by a few tailgates this year. It is easy to see why you couldn’t make it to more! Thanks for everything you do for us, you’re a good man, Arch. We wish you and Sylvia all the best.

To Bucharest, thanks for stepping it up big time this year. You were always a regular tailgate contributor, but this year you helped us out by securing the Tito’s for every game and by getting kegs for a few tailgates. We really, really appreciate it. We’ll have to go grab a beer sometime that isn’t consumed in a state of Texas parking lot.

To hornbybirth, thanks for always being there when we need help. You guys have become a big part of this group over the last couple of years, and you’re always willing to help out a buddy, and that is appreciated.

To 12ozLongneck, thanks for not thinking we were out of our minds when we called you at 9 PM and asked if you wanted to go to Stillwater with us. Thanks for making the trip with us and for being a good friend. We hoped to see more of you this football season, but we’ll see you around, I’m sure.

To Ben & Lindsey, thanks for sticking it out. Thanks Ben for showing up every Friday for set-up and providing the masses with free alcohol on Saturdays. We wish you guys the best and hope to see you again soon.

To Ernest, thanks for being a good friend. I could not talk to you for a couple of months but pick up the phone and it is like old times. We need you at more tailgates next year, however.

To beam,coke&horns, thanks for the satellite hook-up every week and for providing high comedy at TX/OU and every other game as well. You crazy.

To 93Horn, thanks for all that you do for the tailgate. From having to tow two objects to and from the tailgate every week to cooking our food to being the chief loader and unloader of the trailer every week to being the treasurer on gamedays, it is all appreciated very much.

To Vicki, thanks for being there for all of us. You truly are a special lady and I’m not sure what we would do without you. From providing us with food, to alcohol, to good stories with punchlines we never would have seen coming, to dance partners, to a smile on a Friday afternoon when we pull into the lot, it is all very much appreciated, and we all love you very much.

To Bob & Marie, thanks for everything that you do. From Bob providing us satellite pointing expertise to providing us with cigars or to Marie telling us to get over whatever is troubling us and be happy because it is GAMEDAY to always giving us a hug when we need it, we don’t know what we would do without you guys, either. Thank you for all that you do and all that you provide, and we’ll miss you guys in Arlington.

To Eric, thanks for the ride to Stillwater! It might have cost you a few days of grief from the wife, but it was well worth the camaraderie and excitement that we encountered along the way. Thanks for all that you do as a friend, and we all hope that for your sake your 2010 is better than your 2009.

To Seth, thanks for going off and getting better educated so that it appears that someone in this group has some ambition other than drinking beer in a parking lot. We’re so happy for all that has come to you in the last year and wish you and Valini all the best.

To Chay, thanks for continuing to be the idiot that we all know and love. You also provided a lot of help at tailgate set-up this year and was willing to help when we needed it at other times as well. You’re a good guy who is often the sparkplug for this group, and whether or not that is a good thing is certainly up for debate.

To Jeremy, thanks for providing us humor when we need it and help when we need it as well. You went a little MIA at the end of the year, but you have a lot of things on your plate this year. Congratulations to you and Stacey, and we hope to see Boy Rodriguez at a tailgate very soon.

To Drew, thanks for being the best man in my wedding. That was a huge responsibility but you took it and knocked it out of the park. Thanks for all that you do for the tailgate and for us personally. Let’s make Pasadena a trip to remember.

To the Driggers, thanks for throwing my wife the wedding that she always wanted. And even though the groom is just a prop piece on these days, I enjoyed it as well. Thank you for your continued support and for being the coolest parents-in-law that a guy could have.

To my family, thanks for the support that you gave us throughout this year. It isn’t always the easiest of times, but we get through it. Thanks for inviting Robbi into the family with open arms and for letting Drew snore on your couch during OU weekend.

To Robbi, thanks for being the perfect wife that a guy in my situation could have. From initiating the late night trip to Stillwater, to insisting that we buy plane tickets to California early, you do things that other wives just don’t do. Thank you for your support during what has been at times a troublesome year, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you and the McCoy and Shipley off-spring.

To all of our friends and family, thanks for your support this year. It was a great year, but it was also a year of hardship and heartbreak, and we couldn’t have made it through all of it without your support. I honestly don’t think we could ask for a better set of friends, and we mean that.

FACEBOOK NEWS FEED

Jimmy Clausen is wondering if the he can take a seeing eye dog on the field with him on Saturday.

Mark Mangino is headed up to the Children’s Hospital to make fun of the Leukemia kids again.

Toby Gerhart has joined the group How Long Until The National Media Starts Calling Toby Gerhart “Touchdown Toby”?

The Houston Texans have joined the group F Vince Young.

Devin Hester got a little carried away with his New Moon love.

On to the games...

Notre Dame @ Stanford -10.5:

What was once a promising season for the Irish has turned into disaster as they have lost three in a row and will likely be looking for a new head coach yet again after the season ends in a mediocre bowl. Stanford, meanwhile, is headed in the other direction. Despite a loss to Cal last week, the Cardinal are deemed a program on the rise with some young talent.

This should be a shootout. The Cardinal have a great running game and the Irish can’t stop the run. The Irish have a great passing game (if their quarterback can open his eyes), and Stanford can’t stop the pass.

I can see Stanford running away with this game, but I think Jimmy Clausen is going to the NFL after this season and is motivated to perform in front of a national prime-time audience. Stanford hasn’t won a game in this series since 2001, so they have that to contend with as well.

Stanford 34 Notre Dame 31
ATS – Notre Dame
SU – Stanford

Florida State -24.5 @ Florida:

Florida State has won four out of five, but have feasted on below average competition, while Florida is winning games, but in not always pretty fashion.

This one has not been pretty in recent years, with Florida winning by 30 last season and by 33 the year before. Florida State hasn’t won a game in this series since 2003.

I don’t see it being much better for FSU this time around. EJ Manuel hasn’t been good in place of Christian Ponder, and he’ll face his toughest defense yet against Florida.

Florida 44 Florida State 17
ATS – Florida
SU – Florida
Alabama -10 @ Auburn:

The Iron Bowl. Auburn had won six in a row until last year’s 36-0 Alabama win, a game where the Crimson Tide ran for 234 yards and ended Tommy Tuberville’s era at Auburn. Enter Gene Chizik, and many are left wondering if he will be over his head.

I don’t see Auburn having much of a chance in this one. They have some nice stats this year, but the defense they will face on Saturday is easily the toughest defense they’ll play this year, and on defense, they have struggled against the run, which Alabama will be able to exploit quite easily.

Alabama 27 Auburn 10
ATS – Alabama
SU – Alabama

Nebraska -10 @ Colorado:

Colorado is playing better after a disastrous beginning to the season, but they are still playing out the string with uncertainty following the program. Nebraska is hoping to fine-tune their offense before a match-up with Texas in Arlington next weekend.

Colorado’s offense is going to have a hard time here. Nebraska’s defense hasn’t given up more than 17 points in the last five games, and it isn’t happening here, either.

Nebraska 27 Colorado 10
ATS – Nebraska
SU – Nebraska

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma -10:

QB Zac Robinson is expected to start for the Cowboys, which will of course be very good news for them. The Cowboys are fighting for a BCS bowl bid, which would be huge for their program.

Oklahoma is reeling, losing two out of their last three games and probably just wishing that this season would be over with. The Sooners have won 29 straight at home, but have their work cut out for them with an Oklahoma State team that is winning games with their defense. The OSU run defense is 4th in the country, and outside of the Texas game, they haven’t given more than 28 points since an early October trip to Texas A&M.

The line is the way it is because Oklahoma is Oklahoma and OSU is OSU, but I think the Cowboys take a step forward here, and frankly I wouldn’t be surprised to see it get a bit ugly.

Oklahoma State 31 Oklahoma 24
ATS – Oklahoma State
SU – Oklahoma State

Texas -21 @ Texas A&M:

The Aggies have won 2 out of 3, they have won 8 out of the last 13 at Kyle Field….blah blah blah blah BLAH.

Forget it.

That is the national media just hoping for some drama to end the season, and it isn’t going to happen.

But that isn’t to say that it is going to be a cakewalk. The Longhorns will have to bring their best game to College Station. The Aggies have scored at least 31 points in every home game this year, and have the balance between Jerod Johnson’s passing ability and the running game of Gray/Michael to keep Texas guessing.

But this is Will Muschamp we are talking about here. This isn’t Duane Akina in 2007 trying to account for the Aggies, this is Will Freakin’ Muschamp, and I think I’ll trust that he’ll keep the Aggies in check.

On offense, the Longhorns should be able to move the ball at will. The Aggies are ranked 100th in the country in total defense, giving up 157 rushing yards a game and 259 passing yards a game. If the Longhorns protect Colt McCoy (a big if considering the Texas offensive line woes and the Aggies proficiency at rushing the passer), he should have a big game.

Colt McCoy is looking to become the only Texas quarterback to ever win 12 games in back to back seasons…and he gets it here.

Texas 48 Texas A&M 17
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas

Random Hot Dallas Chick

Image

For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for turkey and dressing.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Texas 51 Kansas 20



Colt McCoy is college football's all-time leader in wins for a quarterback (technically it is a FBS record, but c'mon, FBS is college football as far as records) with 43, and will now have three more games to try to add to the record.

It was an absolutely fantastic night at the stadium, and I'm not ashamed to say that my eyes might have been a little wet when McCoy and the other seniors did their "victory lap" at the end of the ballgame. 

The running game was not superb, but it was efficient, and McCoy was 2008 McCoy.  The defense was a bit off, but again tightened up when they had to most of the game.

It is a short week this week with the Thanksgiving holiday, so we will be back on Tuesday with the Thanksgiving edition of The Week That Will Be, including a look at Texas/Texas A&M, OSU/OU, Alabama/Auburn, Florida/FSU and much, much more.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Week That Will Be (11.21.09)


Last Week: 3-3 ATS 6-0 SU
For the Year: 31-34-1 (.477) ($640) ATS 47-19 (.712) SU


What we learned last week:

We learned that you can hang with Florida for a while with a bad quarterback, but that bad quarterback will make a mistake and Florida will pounce on it…

We learned that Dan Mullen has Mississippi State competitive, but they need to find an offense in the off-season if they want to go from being pesky to being a winner….

We learned that I was completely wrong on TCU. Wow. What was once a great defensive team with a manageable offense now has a great defense and a great offense. The Frogs have scored 233 points in the past five games…

We learned that Nebraska needs to keep giving Roy Helu Jr. the ball and get out of his way….

We learned that Mike Leach will send a quarterback with one leg out there, but hopefully Mike Gundy will sit Zach Robinson out a couple of games after the nastiest collision this side of Darrell’s fist to Brad’s eye on The Ruins

And finally, we learned that Texas gets up 40-0 at the half, takes the starters out and coasts, while Oklahoma takes their starters out in a 65-10 game with 4 minutes left. You stay classy, Bobby….

Anyhow…

Earn the Right.

Nestled above a set of horns from a real Longhorn in the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center on the University of Texas campus is that simple saying. Many pass it every day, some might even pay attention to it.

But as dusk falls over Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium Saturday night, the players will stream to the field, carefully touch the other set of horns under The Eyes of Texas and then pay tribute to the Freddie Steinmark landmark. Mad Dog will start his chant, the players will jump up and down and the smoke will fill the tunnel as the beginning notes to Texas Fight fill the stadium, and the words will never ring as true.

Earn the Right.

It was May of 2004 and another hot Texas summer was descending upon West Texas. In the small town of Tuscola, Texas, population 714, there was a rumbling making its way across town, not that that takes long.

Their quarterback was going to the University of Texas.

Colt McCoy, the coach’s son, who guided the 2A Jim Ned Indians to the state championship game the year before, was going where?

“I had people in my town, friends of mine, people real close to me saying that I would never be able to play here,” McCoy told the Associated Press recently.

If people in your own town didn’t think you could make it, then what would Texas fans, who are as hard on a quarterback as any fanbase in the country, going to say?

Well, first, Texas had bigger fish to think about. Louisiana prep star quarterback Ryan Perrilloux committed in July and looked to be the heir apparent to Vince Young. He had the passing ability to keep defenses honest, but like Young could take over a game with his feet as well.

The Longhorns’ offense got off to a slow start in 2004, getting shutout by Oklahoma and struggling against Missouri, leading some to wonder if Young should be shifted to receiver. Amid concerns about the offense, the prep quarterback started to flirt with LSU.

No, not Perrilloux. McCoy. Citing concerns that the Longhorn passing game wasn’t a featured part of the offense, McCoy started to look elsewhere, finally listening to the phone calls from LSU offensive coordinator Jumbo Fisher. McCoy even set up a visit to LSU, but a visit from Mack Brown and Greg Davis to the one stoplight town showed McCoy all he needed to know about where he needed to be.

In the end, Perrilloux of course shunned the Longhorns on signing day in a move that surprised nobody. An eleventh hour effort to recruit Southlake Carroll quarterback Chase Daniel didn’t work, so the Longhorns were left with only McCoy, a three star recruit who was ranked 73rd in the state, behind such quarterbacks as Daniel and Arkansas signee Casey Dick.

Fresh off a resounding victory against Michigan in the Rose Bowl to end the 2004 season, the Longhorn nation was amped up about their opportunity to win the national title in 2005. It briefly appeared that McCoy might have to back-up Vince Young on the road to the title game, but after a brief flirtation with law school Matt Nordgren decided to play one more year so McCoy was able to red-shirt.

The Longhorns did indeed win the national title that year, and after Vince Young bolted to the NFL, the Longhorns were left with redshirt freshman McCoy and incoming freshman Jevan Snead to duke it out for the starting job. With Snead’s stature and rocket for an arm, most fans thought it was a formality that McCoy was even given equal snaps in Spring practice that year.

But in a move that shocked most of the Longhorn nation, McCoy was named the starter for the 2006 season opener against the University of North Texas. The second play of the game was a 60 yard touchdown pass to Limas Sweed, and Longhorn fans had a new hero.

2006 was great for McCoy, as he set a school record for any class and tied a national record for touchdown passes by a freshman quarterback (29). 2007 was a disappointment, as McCoy threw 18 interceptions along with his 21 touchdown passes. And, of course, 2008 was another fantastic year as the Longhorns went 12-1 including a Fiesta Bowl victory over Ohio State and McCoy breaking his own school record by throwing 34 touchdown passes.

This season the Longhorns entered the year ranked #2 in the country, a clear path to the national championship game before them and a clear path to the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York for McCoy.

But the games aren’t played on paper. The Longhorns are still very much in the hunt for the national championship, but it is only in recent weeks that McCoy is again getting Heisman consideration after a shaky beginning to the season.

The next step is Saturday night. Win? The Longhorns clinch the Big 12 South title. McCoy has an outstanding performance in front of what should be the majority of the country? He can buy a plane ticket to New York and can start to smell the bronze on the trophy.

Earn the right to be a Heisman Trophy winner.

Win on Saturday and Colt McCoy becomes college football’s all-time leader in wins by a quarterback with 43, breaking the record set by Georgia’s David Greene in 2004. His record at Texas is 42-7. His record at Jim Ned High School was 34-2. That is a combined record of 76-9. It appears,
with all due respect, that the people of Tuscola were wrong.

Earn the right to be the all-time leader in wins.

But, of course, McCoy didn’t win all of those games by himself. He was part of a recruiting class that might have at the time been remembered for who it did not get (Perrilloux, Martellus Bennett, Fred Rouse), but will instead be remembered for who did come here (McCoy, Jamaal Charles, Quan Cosby, Roddrick Muckelroy, Roy Miller, Henry Melton). He is part of a graduating class that includes Lamarr Houston, Sergio Kindle and Jordan Shipley.

That graduating class sits at 42-7 for their career. The all-time leading class in Texas history since freshmen became eligible is the 2005 class, who won their 45th game on the floor of the Rose Bowl that January night.

Wins against Kansas, at Texas A&M and the Big 12 Championship Game would tie the record.

One more after that would break it.

Earn the right to be a national champion.

Earn the right to be the greatest class in Texas history.

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For more on the gentleman pictured here, go here. Great story.

FACEBOOK NEWS FEED

Charlie Weis is having a garage sale this weekend…all my ND stuff will be on sale.

FSN we’re about as good at showing games as your high school AV class!

Pete Carroll wrote on USC Defense’s Wall: The last one out turn off the lights. This is California.

John Harbaugh has joined the group Bob Stoops’ Guide To Running Up the Score.

Case Keenum cancelled his flight to New York.

LeGarrette Blount is going to punch somebody if I don’t get some playing time.

Dick Tomey might not be going out on top, but I’ll be going out on top.

On to the games...

Ohio State -11.5 @ Michigan:

7-1. That is Jim Tressel’s record against Michigan. The Wolverines appear to have given up on life, losing four in a row with a lonely win against Delaware State the only thing keeping that from a six game losing streak. The defense has been atrocious, giving up 156 points in those four games.

The only that saves Michigan here is pride, but it doesn’t appear they have any of that left, either.

Ohio State 37 Michigan 14
ATS – Ohio State
SU – Ohio State

LSU @ Mississippi -4:

LSU had won six straight in this series until last year, when Mississippi went into Baton Rouge and won 31-13. Jevan Snead was great in that game, throwing for 274 yards, and they will likely need another great game from him to pull out the win.

Lots of attention was paid to Rebels RB Dexter McCluster last week, and rightfully so, but this is still the team that lost to Auburn three weeks ago and has lost to every ranked team they have played this year.

LSU’s defense contains McCluster, Jordan Jefferson tries to erase Tiger fans’ memories of Jarrett Lee.

LSU 27 Mississippi 21
ATS – LSU
SU – LSU

Oregon -6 @ Arizona:

In a convoluted situation, the Pac-10 has a chance to have a six-way tie for first place in the division. Of course those scenarios involve Washington State winning a game, and we all know that isn’t happening.

So in all likelihood this game is for the conference championship. Arizona is coming off a loss at Cal, but are undefeated at home this year, while Oregon rebounded from their loss to Stanford with a home win over Arizona State last week.

This one is very close. Give me Oregon’s experience to win, but Arizona’s youth, home field advantage and running game to keep it close.

Oregon 31 Arizona 28
ATS – Arizona
SU – Arizona

Oklahoma -6.5 @ Texas Tech:

Oklahoma hasn’t won in Lubbock since 2003, and please don’t bring up the “He Was In” game because that just creeps me out.

Which Tech team shows up here? If they hadn’t gotten their ass handed to them by Texas A&M I would be more inclined to go with them here, but they have been very inconsistent, especially at the quarterback position. Oklahoma has been very good on defense, but is it only a matter of time before they give up a big offensive game?

Give me Oklahoma. Tech’s rowdy student section will still be passed out in their dorm room for the 11:30 start.

Oklahoma 27 Texas Tech 17
ATS – Oklahoma
SU – Oklahoma

Kansas State @ Nebraska -16.5:

It is like we all fell asleep and woke up in 1999, except that I’m not in college anymore and the Internet isn’t this crazy new thing that we’re going to throw a bunch of money at even though we don’t even have any idea what it is.

KSU and NU went to the Big 12 Championship the first five years of the conference, and account for three out of the four North division wins in the championship game series.

But this is a new era. Nebraska looks to have the edge here due to their defense, but Kansas State has the rush defense to contain Roy Helu Jr. The Cornhuskers are going to Arlington, but that line is a bit crazy. Nebraska hasn’t even scored 16.5 points in four of their ten games this year.

Nebraska 21 Kansas State 17
ATS – Kansas State
SU – Nebraska

Kansas @ Texas -27.5:

Texas has won every game against Kansas in the Big 12 era, and with the team imploding around Mark Mangino this week, there really isn’t much evidence that that streak will end this week.

Todd Reesing makes his homecoming, but won’t be helped by a rushing attack that ranks 88th in the country and an offensive line that ranks 78th in the country in sacks allowed. Dezmon Briscoe is a dangerous receiver, but don’t you think the Horns put Aaron Williams on him and say go ahead?

The Jayhawks also don’t look to have much fight on defense, as they gave up 400+ yards to a Nebraska team that was asking Santa Claus for an offense so they might win their bowl game this year.

Texas wins easily, who knows what happens to Mangino, and Colt passes David Greene.

"I'm like anybody else. You really don't want to see your records broken," Greene told CBS Sports. "But if somebody is going to break the record, I would want it to be somebody like Colt. I don't know him personally, but you can tell by listening to him that he is a team guy and a very humble guy. I like that."

I can’t argue with that.

Texas 48 Kansas 10
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas

Random Hot Dallas Chick

Image

For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for Charlie Tanner all-time winningest guard t-shirts.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Texas 47 Baylor 14



The Longhorns scored on an 80 yard drive to open the game and never looked back, as they cruised into halftime with a 40-0 lead.

It was nice to see the running game get on track (35 carries for 224 yards, a healthy 6.7 YPC).  Yes, Baylor ranks 89th in the country against the run, but you have to be able to run against teams that can't stop it, and the Horns held serve there on Saturday.

The receivers didn't have a great day with some drops on third down, and you would have liked to have seen the Horns come out in the second half with a little more fire, but they did what they needed to do and got out of town.

Colt McCoy tied former Georgia quarterback David Greene with his 42nd career victory, and has a chance to break it Saturday night in front of a national television audience.  The Horns also have the opportunity to lock up the Big 12 South.  Throw on top that it is Senior Day for a very accomplished group of seniors, and Saturday night at DKR should be very electric.

We'll be back on Wednesday, where we will look at the match-up for Texas/Kansas, Oklahoma/Texas Tech, and the battle for the North division crown, Kansas State/Nebraska.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Week That Will Be (11.14.09)




Last Week: 2-4 ATS 3-3 SU
For the Year: 28-31-1 (.475) ($610) ATS 41-19 (.683) SU


What we learned last week:

We learned that Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden are in a race to see which can ruin their programs first. Penn State might be 8-2, but they’ve failed miserably against the best two teams on their schedule this year and will once again get blown out by whatever SEC team they might play in the Capital One Bowl. Put down the headset and grab a fishing pole…

We learned that Oregon once again proved to be a fraud that can only get up for one game a year. It doesn’t pay off to beat USC if you can’t beat the Stanfords on the schedule….

We learned that SEC officiating crews have a nice future ahead of them as Joe Biden’s driver….

We learned that Bill Snyder might be a whippersnapper to Paterno and Bowden, but the man can resurrect a program…

We learned that yes, it is possible to beat mighty Oklahoma with 39 yards passing, converting 1/14 third down conversions and earning 7 first downs. With the loss of three starters this week, Oklahoma might be looking at a bowl played in a baseball stadium…

And finally, we learned that Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley are roommates, okay we didn’t learn that, but we learned they are pretty good, okay we didn’t learn that either…

Anyhow…

.01862

That was the number that kept Texas on the outside looking in last season, the number of points that Texas was behind Oklahoma in the final regular season BCS poll that sent Oklahoma to Kansas City to play Missouri in the Big 12 Championship Game, and left Texas at home wondering how one play could alter their entire season.

Oklahoma went on to beat Missouri, 62-21, a game that was never close, and a game that Texas fans watched with maddening faces as Oklahoma players threw oranges to each other in the post-game, where Sam Bradford spewed some nonsense about being the best team at the end of the season, and where Bob Stoops had that smug grin on his face as he knew he got away with one.

But, there was still hope that the pollsters would right the wrong, that they would realize that Oklahoma and Texas had finished with one loss, and that Texas had given Oklahoma that loss on a bright October morning in Dallas.

But alas, they did not, and Oklahoma did go on to Miami, where they were embarrassed with their fifth straight BCS Bowl loss, again leaving Texas fans wondering what if?

On that Sunday, when the coaches poll came out, some oddities stood out. Was it on Mack Brown’s ballot? Nope, he put Florida #1, Texas #2 and Oklahoma #3. A perfectly reasonable ballot.

Nope, the oddities came within the Big 12 South, from Mike Leach, the coach at Texas Tech, who voted Texas #5 (behind Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Florida and Alabama).

The other? From Baylor coach Art Briles. Who voted Texas fifth as well, behind Oklahoma, Florida, USC and Alabama.

I think you know where I am going with this.

Two other coaches voted Texas fifth (Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio and Rutgers’ Greg Schiano), who I can only assume were too busy getting over their own failures as head coaches to really recognize who the best teams in the country were.

Leach is a nut who thinks he’s a pirate and blames losses on his players’ girlfriends over his own shortcomings as a head coach, and somehow thought his own team was the #2 team in the country last year when nobody else that didn’t work with Leach voted them higher than 6th (Kentucky’s Hal Mumme, who mentored Leach voted Tech third and Texas fourth).

But Briles? Briles sent a son to play for Mack Brown when he was the head coach at Stephenville High School. Kendall later transferred to Houston to play for his dad when Art got the job at Houston.

Oklahoma beat Baylor 49-17 in 2008, while Texas beat them 45-21. Similar results, but yet somehow Briles figured that Texas was four teams below Oklahoma in the rankings.

Now I’m not going to pretend that if Briles voted Texas #1 or #2 that they would be in any better shape, I’m far too much of a math retard to figure it all out, and I’m 98% sure I don’t even own a scientific calculator, but Briles clearly wasn’t impressed by the 2008 version of the Longhorns beating his team by 24 points.

It is time to impress Mr. Briles by running up 60 on his ass since he is clearly impressed by teams that score 60 points. You know Mack won’t do it, but damn I would be on cloud nine if he did.

You have to atone for Sonny, er, voting us fifth, Mr. Briles…

Switching gears a bit, the Big 12 conference has been great for Texas (I think), the power conferences were the way the NCAA was going in the late 90’s, yada yada yada, but how great would the old Southwest Conference be this year?

Ignore the fact that you clearly can’t assume TCU would be undefeated with some tougher teams on the schedule, and likewise that Arkansas would still be .500 if they had an easier schedule, and of course you have to fudge a little bit that Arkansas is still in the conference at all, but check out these standings and their ranking in the AP Poll:

#2 Texas 9-0
#4 TCU 9-0
#13 Houston 8-1
Texas Tech 6-3 (Others Receiving Votes)
Texas A&M 5-4
SMU 5-4
Arkansas 5-4
Baylor 4-5
Rice 0-9

The Southwest Conference would have just as many teams in the Top 13 as the SEC (3), and more than any other BCS conference. The SWC would have Colt McCoy and Houston’s Case Keenum as legitimate Heisman candidates, and it might come down to a late season match-up between Texas and TCU to see who goes to a national championship game. Dave Barnett would probably still be announcing their games on the Raycom Network.

Somewhere up above Bobby Layne, Davey O’Brien and Lou Holtz are smiling…

And finally, there isn’t much drama in the BCS this year in comparison to previous years, but let’s take a look at it anyways:

Florida: It is simple. Win out and they are there. The Gators have a couple of “interesting” games left, this week at South Carolina and at home against Florida State Thanksgiving weekend, but the FSU game is less interesting with Christian Ponder out with an injury. Everyone is looking forward to their SEC Championship Game match-up with Alabama.

Alabama: Read above. Win out and they are there. The Tide have a couple of “interesting” games left, this week at Mississippi State and at Auburn Thanksgiving weekend, but it would take a pretty big upset for either of those teams to knock off Alabama AND the SEC officials. Everyone is looking forward to their SEC Championship Game match-up with Florida.

SEC Officials: Undefeated in the SEC and will fine your ass if you speak up. I’d say that is quite a record.

Texas: They are about in the same boat. Win out and they are there. A few bored members of the media this week tried raising the question of whether or not TCU could pass Texas in the BCS rankings, but these things are decided by money and we’re not talking about TCU co-eds driving Tahoes and wearing Christian Louboutins to class. Texas puts butts in the seats and TV sets on, so even if it were possible for TCU to make an argument on the field it isn’t happening.

TCU: An early season win over Clemson, who very well might win the ACC Championship the way they are playing, is looking more and more impressive, but the problem with TCU is that is about all they can argue about. A blowout win in Provo over BYU is nice, but they would be better off if BYU hadn’t lost to Florida State. After BYU it is a mix-match of 6-4 teams that might play on the NFL Network during the bowl season. It would take a catastrophic collapse by two of the three teams above them for TCU to sneak into the championship game, but they should focus on getting into a BCS bowl, winning that and starting higher ranked next season when they have Baylor, SMU and Texas Tech on the out of conference schedule…wait a minute, did someone take the SWC paragraph above a little too seriously? Did I miss a press release?

Cincinnati: The Bearcats…blanking….oh wait, they don’t have a significant win this season, unless you count South Florida, Oregon State or Rutgers a pothole on anyone’s schedule. Cincinnati finishes up with West Virginia, Illinois and a trip to Pittsburgh, which should be fun in December. We’ll see what they are made of then. They, much like TCU, should probably just be happy with going to a BCS bowl, getting a check and ranking higher next season.

Boise State: Oh geez, we’re talking about them again? Hey Boise State, here is a clue, paint your field green and perhaps America will take you seriously. Until then, we won’t watch your games, we’ll think it is cute when we see your running back propose to the cheerleader on YouTube, we’ll laugh when LSUFreek makes another GIF of your back-up DE getting knocked out, but we won’t take you seriously. Go to Home Depot, get some green paint and we’ll talk in 2010.

FACEBOOK NEWS FEED

Charlie Weis might as well join Al-Queda because the Navy kicks my ass every year.

Lady Luck now shifts her attention from Iowa to Florida and Alabama.

SMU might win their conference. What the hell is the world coming to?

Mike Stoops is wondering if he really wants to go to the Rose Bowl with this last name.

Elizabeth Lambert and Mike Locksley have joined the group New Mexico Turns Us Into Crazy Ass Bitches.

The Michigan AD I did more hitting than our defense did against Illinois. F this (#*%.

The City of Shreveport is very much looking forward to hosting the Oklahoma Sooners!

On to the games...

Florida -15.5 @ South Carolina:

For all their faults in their last few games, Florida has won 19 games in a row and is the likely favorite in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. South Carolina is reeling, having lost 3 out of their last 4 ballgames, and speculation is that this might be Steve Spurrier’s last hurrah (if you can call it that) in Columbia.

This game has not been kind to Spurrier, who beat Florida in his first game as Gamecocks coach, and then lost three in a row. In 2006 they lost as two field goals were blocked (the same night that Texas lost in Manhattan), and then lost two blowouts, in 2007 by a score of 51-31 and last year by the score of 56-6.

I don’t see South Carolina being able to keep Florida in check. South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia wilts under pressure, and Florida’s offense is slightly better than Alabama’s, who was able to beat the Gamecocks by 14.

Florida 34 South Carolina 16
ATS – Florida
SU – Florida

Alabama -12 @ Mississippi State:

Mississippi State might have faced the toughest schedule in the country thus far. Check out some of their home schedule, with BCS rankings: #8 LSU (L 30-26); # 7 Georgia Tech (L 42-31); # 15 Houston (L 31-24); # 1Florida (L 29-19)

And they still have #2 Alabama and Mississippi to go. What a great season ticket package…

They’ve been able to stay in these games with a running game that averages 219 yards per game and keeping the ball away from their opponent. They held the ball for 32 minutes against Houston, nearly 34 against LSU and 27 against a high powered Florida offense. The Bulldogs actually outgained both LSU and Georgia Tech.

MSU coach Dan Mullen isn’t scared of Alabama, having beaten them last year as Florida’s offensive coordinator. The Bulldogs have also won 2 out of 3 in this series, both upsets, including a 2006 24-16 win where they were 14 point underdogs in Tuscaloosa.

And that was bad MSU. With an improved team, a coach that knows he can beat them, and a team that has beaten these guys before, Mississippi State won’t be intimidated….and might even pull off the upset here.

Alabama 24 Mississippi State 14
ATS – Mississippi State
SU – Alabama

Utah @ TCU -20:

The Horned Frogs are looking for their first undefeated regular season since 1938. Can the pressure be building up on them? You know Utah has been here, defeating Alabama in last year’s Sugar Bowl, but you have to wonder if TCU is beginning to read their own headlines. The Utes have won three straight in this series.

The Frogs have racked up consecutive 500 yard games, but Utah’s defense is playing well. They have only allowed more than 17 points once this season, a 31-24 loss at Oregon in week 3, but even then they held the Ducks to a little over 300 total yards.

Utah QB Jordan Wynn (a true freshman) is getting only his second start of the year, but let’s not act like Amon Carter Stadium is a hostile environment. TCU’s experience gets the edge here, but it is a lot closer than that line indicates it should be, and honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if TCU doesn’t go down here.

TCU 27 Utah 24
ATS – Utah
SU – TCU

Nebraska -3.5 @ Kansas:

Kansas has lost four in a row after starting the season 5-0 and are out of the Big 12 North race. Their offense has ground to a halt as Todd Reesing has turned into a turnover machine.

Nebraska is a mess on offense, but their defense has earned their Blackshirts, only allowing 22 points in their last three games, and only giving up 10.33 ppg on the season. Kansas has a shot here if they can keep from turning over the ball, but Nebraska’s defense is playing too well to count on that.

This has been a high scoring series of late (266 points scored in the last three games), but I see Nebraska’s defense continuing to dominate and Nebraska’s offense continuing to sputter.

Nebraska 24 Kansas 13
ATS – Nebraska
SU – Nebraska

Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State -4:

This is always a good one…and always one dominated by the home team. In fact, the only road win in this series in the last ten was a 2001 49-30 Tech win in Stillwater.

Tech is a little unsettled at quarterback with Sheffield still out and Doege ineffective and Potts throwing interceptions. OSU QB Zac Robinson plays well against everyone besides Texas and Oklahoma, so OSU gets the nod here.

Oklahoma State 37 Texas Tech 24
ATS – Oklahoma State
SU – Oklahoma State

Texas -23.5 @ Baylor:

Jordan Shipley needs just 139 yards to break Kwame Cavil’s single season school record of 1,188 set in 1999. He might get that in the first half.

Vegas was fooled a bit by Baylor’s surprising win at Missouri last week, but the Bears gave up 468 yards passing to Blaine Gabbert and 389 to Sam Bradford the week before the Texas game. Colt McCoy is pretty good, too.

On defense, the Longhorns are playing like the #1 defense that the statistics say they are, and a Baylor offensive line that is 78th in the country in protecting the quarterback and 100th in the country in running the ball is not going to have a lot of success.

Texas rolls.

Texas 52 Baylor 7
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas

Random Hot Dallas Chick

Image

For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for HD TVs for SEC replay officials.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Texas 35 Central Florida 3



Wipe away the first quarter and I'm satisfied with the game.  But give UCF some credit, this game was about what I expected (I predicted the Horns to win by 32 in last week's column), a slow start by the Horns but a comfortable win.

Colt McCoy went a bubble screen away from breaking Major Applewhite's career record for passing yards in a game, and Jordan Shipley did set a UT record with 273 yards receiving, but at some point the Longhorns are going to have to be able to run the football.  It wasn't necessary this week, and to be fair, when they have had to this year they have been able to (especially against Oklahoma), but at some point it would be nice to line up and run the ball in the first half.

The Longhorns remained #2 in the polls, but fell to #3 in the BCS because they fell to fifth in the computer polls (somehow Sagarin has us behind LSU, you figure that out), but are still closer to #2 Alabama than they are #4 TCU, so it's still win out and we're in.

We'll be back on Wednesday to take a look at Texas/Baylor, Texas A&M/Oklahoma and more.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The Week That Will Be (11.07.09)


Last Week: 3-3 ATS 5-1 SU
For the Year: 26-27-1 (.491) ($370) ATS 38-16 (.704) SU


What we learned last week:

We learned that Iowa can turn the ball over 6 times, trail Indiana 21-7 at halftime, get the benefit of some curious decisions from the replay booth and some bored sportswriters and analysts will still argue that they belong in the discussion with Texas, Florida and Alabama…

We learned that Georgia is once again worried about what they’re going to wear on Saturday, while Florida is worried about winning a national championship. It was the best offensive outing in weeks for Florida, who finally turned those red zone drives into touchdowns instead of field goals.

We learned that I was completely wrong about USC/Oregon. Wow! The margin of defeat in that game (27) was more than the prior 7 defeats (26) that USC has had since 2004. The Ducks literally ran over the Trojans. Look for Oregon to promptly lose to Stanford this week (not really, but if they do, you heard it here first).

We learned that the Aggies can catch Texas Tech by surprise and batter a bruised Iowa State team, but we will learn if they are any good the next two weeks with road trips to Colorado (they haven’t won there since 1997) and Oklahoma.

We learned that Kansas State somehow has Oklahoma’s number offensively (they average 30 ppg against Stoops in 7 games), but they don’t need to fall down 21-0 before they even get a first down if they want to make a game of it.

And finally, we learned that Colt McCoy is never going to win the Heisman if the defense keeps scoring all of the touchdowns. But I’m sure he’ll take a trip to Pasadena over New York any day (and truth be told he’ll get both).

Anyhow…

Sadly, the end of Saturday’s games meant that the season was about 75% done. It seems like just yesterday we were sweating while watching….who was our first game? Maybe Roddrick Muckelroy can answer that question….”Florida Atlantic?”

No Roddrick, it was Louisiana Monroe, and the Longhorns won 59-20. Yes, the Warhawks scored more points than all but one Texas opponent, Texas Tech (24 on September 19th).

But anyways, now that we’re nearing the end of the college football regular season, we can take a look at the Friday Night Tailgate’s Bowl Predictions.

The Mike Leach Bowl: Fat Little Girlfriends vs. The Biggest Loser Contestants

We can promise a few things about this bowl. A.) They will run out of candy bars in the 2nd quarter; B.) There will be a lot of crying; and C.) John Madden would have a lot of fun marking the “sweat marks” in this one. Mark Mangino and Ralph Friedgen will coach the game.

The We Lost to Illinois Bowl: Michigan vs. Illinois State

Give it to Illinois, when they win, they win big. The Illini beat Illinois State 45-17 early in the year, and then beat Michigan last week 38-13. At least Illinois State has the FCS excuse…Michigan can just search “Rich Rodriguez contract” on Google and see how much this is going to cost them.

The Big 12 North Bowl: Missouri v. Iowa State v. Nebraska v. Kansas v. Kansas State

The Big 12 North mess doesn’t look like it will be solved anytime soon, so let’s just put them in a cage outside of The Death Star, and whoever emerges gets their ass beat by Texas. We’ll solve that dilemma and we’ll stimulate the steel chair and thumbtack market in North Texas. Win win.

The We Have Better Things to Do Bowl: TCU Fans vs. Oklahoma State Fans

TCU is ranked in the Top 5 in the BCS standings, enjoying perhaps their best season ever, and they attract 33,541 fans in a stadium that seats 44,008. Are you kidding me? And did I mention it was on Homecoming? Don’t go crying when Gary Patterson leaves after this season, Frog fans. And Oklahoma State, ranked 14th in the country, FINALLY sells out Boone Pickens Stadium for the first time this year. Really? What else was going on in Stillwater or Oklahoma City that OSU alumni couldn’t make the drive, drink a beer at Eskimo Joe’s and take in a team having one of their best seasons ever? I’m guessing nobody would travel to this game.

The Assaulting Coaches Bowl: New Mexico vs. Oakland

Yeah, Oakland is in the NFL, but c’mon, are they really? Anyhow, both coaches have been suspended this year, oh wait, no Oakland coach Tom Cable hasn’t been suspended for punching an assistant coach yet. Apparently writing something on Twitter is a bigger violation in the NFL. As for New Mexico coach Mike Locksley, I’d be punching people too if I couldn’t win a game. The Lobos would be favored, by the way.

The Karma Bowl: Sam Bradford vs. Jermaine Gresham

The Sooners ran it up on everyone last year on their way to another BCS bowl loss, and the football Gods caught up to them this year. Bradford and Gresham, certain first-round NFL draft picks, came back to school and got hurt, severely hampering their draft stock. I do feel sorry for the kids. A little bit. Okay, if Gresham will admit that touchdown against Texas was a complete fluke I’ll feel really bad for him.

The Somebody Put Him Out of His Misery Bowl: Bobby Bowden Hiring a Defensive Coordinator vs. Bobby Bowden Doing Anything At This Point

Please. Someone plant some drugs on him or something. He needed to go about three years ago, but now the decision that he will name the new defensive coordinator after Mickey Andrews is not only a bad decision, but insulting to coach-in-waiting Jumbo Fisher. Let’s just hope that Bowden hires someone credible and not a nephew or somesuch.

The Hey This Isn’t 1865 Anymore Bowl: Shepard Smith vs. Ole Miss Students

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith is among many vocal advocates for Ole Miss students to stop chanting “the South will rise again” after the school’s fight song, for obvious reasons, among them that we now have integrated schools, integrated water fountains and we even got rid of segregated busses.

And some Big 12 Bowls…

The Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Navy

The Aggies try to make this one “Army/Navy II” until Navy laughs them out of Reliant Stadium. A&M coach Mike Sherman says the team has come a long ways since losing the Spring Game and that he’s proud of the guys.

The Independence Bowl: Kansas vs. Georgia

Georgia misses a team practice while holding a fashion show while Mark Mangino is excited about the “Frommer’s Guide To Shreveport Dining” new edition.

The Insight Bowl: Nebraska vs. Northwestern

Northwestern is just happy to get out of Chicago in the winter, while Nebraska fans are wondering what the hell the Insight Bowl is and when did the Orange Bowl change their name. Phoenix is just wondering who all these pasty white people are.

The Sun Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Arizona

The only fat little girlfriends Mike Leach has to worry about in this one are the ones on the mountains above the Sun Bowl. Leach’s offense outlasts Mike Stoops’ Arizona squad and the Red Raiders are excited to proclaim 2009 as the “Second Best Year EVAR”.

The Alamo Bowl: Minnesota vs. Kansas State

Kansas State is once again banished to the Alamo Bowl after a 70-3 lashing at the hands of the Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship Game. They once again stink the place up worse than it already was with the Riverwalk running through town.

The Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. USC

The Trojans nearly miss the game when several Trojans miss the team bus to San Diego, thinking that noted prankster Pete Carroll is pulling yet another joke on them by telling them their playing in the Holiday Bowl and not the Rose Bowl. The Trojans prepare for Iowa all week and still beat Mike Gundy and the Cowboys.

The Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma vs. LSU

The Sooners are relieved they are finally not in a BCS bowl game, but then see LSU across the field and panic and lose yet another bowl game. Bob Stoops fires both coordinators on the spot and then kicks Jermaine Gresham in the knee and punches Sam Bradford in the shoulder while impaling his visor in the Cotton Bowl turf.

The National Championship Game: Texas vs. Florida

For the Longhorns, it is simple. Win five games where they will be double digit favorites and they’ll be in the title game. You have to think the next three should be the easiest, with Central Florida and Baylor the next two weeks and a struggling Kansas team at home the week after that. Texas A&M could be a tough one on the road, but like we discussed earlier we’ll probably know more about the Aggies after the next two weeks. Kansas State is on the rise and Nebraska is always tricky, but you have to think a majority-Longhorn crowd in Arlington will push them over the edge.

For Florida it is a little more complicated. They still have a road trip to South Carolina and a home game against Florida State and Bobby Bowden (in what could be his last FLA/FSU game), and then have to follow that up with a tough match-up in the SEC Championship game. A game with Alabama would be tough, but give me Tebow’s experience and a little better offense for the Gators in that one.

I want Tebow and Meyer. I’ve said that all year and it is close.

Real close.

FACEBOOK NEWS FEED

Brandon Spikes has joined the group University of Florida Optometry.

The Iowa/Indiana Replay Crew is applying for a job in the SEC.

Urban Meyer grounded my son for half an hour.

Darrell Scott is looking for his mom a new job.

Eric Davis is not in college anymore.

On to the games...

Ohio State @ Penn State -3.5:

Who is Penn State? No, that is not the question that 100 year old Joe Paterno asks when he gets out of the casket every morning, but that is the question that college football fans are asking. The only credible team they have played is Iowa, and they lost that one. They were down at the half at Northwestern last week.

So who knows what happens in this game? But the title of this column isn’t “Who Knows How The Week Will Go?” so let’s look at this. You might want to take the under here. Penn State has the nation’s best scoring defense, while Ohio State’s defense is 6th in the country. Penn State’s offense has been efficient this season, but they haven’t faced a defense like OSU’s, either.

Your guess is as good as mine, but the title of this column isn’t….

Penn State 17 Ohio State 13
ATS – Penn State
SU – Penn State

Oregon -6.5 @ Stanford:

Oregon is coming off a HUGE win for their program on Saturday, and will be riding high into Palo Alto, while Stanford watched last week’s game on their couch on their bye week.

It is setting up as the perfect trap game, but I’m not sure Stanford has the horses to pull one off here.

Oregon 34 Stanford 21
ATS – Oregon
SU – Oregon

LSU @ Alabama -7.5:

Alabama hasn’t beaten LSU in Tuscaloosa since 1999, four Alabama coaches ago.

LSU is playing really well lately, and it is all due to a defense that is much improved from last season. They only gave up 36 points in the whole month of October, playing some very capable offenses in that stretch (Georgia, Florida and Auburn).

Alabama finally gets their win in Tuscaloosa, but like most of their games lately, this one is a close one.

Alabama 20 LSU 17
ATS – LSU
SU – Alabama

Kansas -3 @ Kansas State:

Kansas State appears to be on a roll, while Kansas is going the other way. This win would go a long way towards KSU winning the North, so they’ll be focused and ready.

Kansas State 34 Kansas 24
ATS – Kansas State
SU – Kansas State

Oklahoma -5.5 @ Nebraska:

There is a bar in Lincoln that plays “Boomer Sooner” and sings out the words “Screw the Soon-ers, Screw the Soon-ers” when Texas comes to town. I know they probably do the same against Texas when Oklahoma comes to town. That’s what I always think about when these two teams play.

Anyhow, now that your lesson on Lincoln dive bars is done, let’s look at this matchup. Nebraska has been putrid on offense the past three games (and you could argue they weren’t very good against Missouri, either), while Oklahoma appears to have put the Texas loss behind them and is looking to make the most of it.

Again, these appear to be teams that are headed in opposite directions, and you have to go with the hot hand.

Oklahoma 27 Nebraska 16
ATS – Oklahoma
SU – Oklahoma

Central Florida @ Texas -35.5:

And the matchup we’ve all been waiting for. Well it is partially true, we have been looking for a break in the schedule.

Which isn’t to slight Central Florida. Make no mistake about it, this isn’t Florida Atlantic or North Texas coming in here. UCF has some real athletes on this team, but they try to run the ball against you, and you tell me if that is going to work against Texas.

On defense, UCF has some real talent. They have 27 sacks on the year, good enough for 8th in the country, 9th in rushing defense and are 5th in the country in tackles for loss. With the problems with our running game, and at times pass protection, don’t look to get healthy in those areas against Central Florida.

And yeah, you say they haven’t played anybody. But they trailed Miami 10-0 at halftime, eventually losing 27-7, and held (an albeit bad) Miami running game to 70 yards on 46 carries.

Texas wins comfortably, but with the early start, the natural tendency to let down when facing a lesser opponent after the gauntlet we went through, and some talent from UCF in our weak areas, I think UCF covers here.

Texas 45 UCF 10
ATS – UCF
SU – Texas

Random Hot Dallas Chick

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For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for coffee for early kickoffs.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Texas 41 Oklahoma State 14

The defense was outstanding and the offense did what it had to in an efficient manner, and the Longhorns left Stillwater with a victory, a tight grip on the Big 12 South and the inside track to the national title game.

There are still up to five games left, but most would agree that the toughest part of the schedule is over and this defense doesn't appear to be letting up any time soon.

We'll be back on Wednesday with a look at Texas/Central Florida, Alabama/LSU, Oklahoma/Nebraska and much, much more.