The Week That Will Be (Thanksgiving 2008)

Last Week: 2-4 ATS 5-1 SU
For the Year: 39-38-1 (.506) ($280) ATS 63-15 (.808) SU

What we learned last week: We learned that college football analysts love to say that Cincinnati is no longer “just a basketball school”, but when were they even last a basketball school? They haven’t made it to the NCAA tournament since 2005, and haven’t made it to the Sweet Sixteen since 2001. Hopefully Fox announcers come up with other adjectives before the Orange Bowl that they somehow will be playing in……We learned that in the Big Ten, there is Penn State and Ohio State, and the rest are just schedule fillers. Michigan State beat every other Big Ten opponent, but gave up 45 points to Ohio State and 49 to Penn State……We learned that Utah can finish a season undefeated, and nobody wants to play them. Not because of their football team (how good can a team be that only beat Michigan by 2?), but because nobody literally wants to see their team play a game against Utah. But whatever, congrats to the Utes on another BCS berth…..We learned that Michigan football is off the charts bad. Holy hell the Aggies might beat them. I’m not sure that an all-star squad of Texas high school football players couldn’t start at most positions on that Michigan offensive squad……It happened to MC Hammer, it happened to HornFans.com, but has anyone fallen quicker than LSU? Mississippi completely dominated that game on Saturday, and who was surprised by the outcome? Nobody……And finally, we learned that you can take a boy out of Lubbock, but he’s liable to get his ass kicked when you do. The Red Raiders didn’t look so perfect faced with a hostile crowd on Saturday.

Anyhow…

I write this every year, but this year I REALLY can’t remember that it is already Thanksgiving and time for the annual time of the year where I give thanks to all of those around me. This will be long, so let’s get started:

To Rashad Bobino, thanks for your efforts in bringing a national championship to Austin.

To Cedric Dockery, Aaron Lewis, Henry Melton, Ryan Palmer, Nic Redwine, Luke Tiemann and Peter Ullman, thanks for your contributions on the football field. None of you were All-Americans, but you did your job, some of you did really well, and you’ll always have a T-ring from the University of Texas. Sounds great to me.

To Chris Ogbonnaya, thanks for that glorious day in October of 2008. The coaches and the Harris poll voters might have forgotten that day, but orangebloods forever will remember Chris Ogbonnaya secured a win over the #1 Oklahoma Sooners.

To Quan Cosby, thanks for coming back from baseball and not only giving this team one hell of a playmaker, but also a role model. Anyone that can juggle a marriage, kids, football practice and school sounds like one hell of a man to me.

To Roy Miller, thanks for being a rock in the middle of the defensive line. Your play has been more consistent than most on this team, and consistently good at that.

To Brian Orakpo, thanks for being the best defensive lineman, and the best defensive player, in the nation in 2008. I feel that you could have done it in 2007 if it weren’t for injury, but you’re still going to get your payday in the NFL, and I couldn’t be prouder to root for you on Sundays next fall.

To Jordan Shipley, thanks for…no, you’re going to be back.

To Burnt Orange Fan Zone, thanks for taking the time to read this column every week and for allowing me to post it there. It’s always nice to see some different commentary, and I truly appreciate the compliments and comments that have come along this year.

To the BCS, thanks for nothing.

To Michigan[b], thanks for letting us gain at least 7 wins on you in the all-time wins standings this year…and counting.

To [b]Deloss Dodds and Mack Brown, thanks for Will Muschamp. And Major Applewhite.

To Myron Rolle, thanks for giving us a good story in the midst of all this drama.

To Syracuse, thanks for giving us a good laugh last weekend.

To Baylor, thanks for kicking the crap out of Texas A&M. That was humorous.

To edsfopmfolm, ChevyHDGert, Scruffhorn, tobacco chewin’ redneck, AC-3, tamut98 and ck_hook_em, thanks for continuing to post your thoughts on threads. I know this group can be a little cliquish at times, but differing opinions are really necessary to keep this thing afloat, and your input is welcome and appreciated.

To CHBHorn, thanks for making it to another tailgate! That was great. Always good to see you around, buddy, hopefully you can bring the family around us one of these times and you can become a staple at the tailgate.

To hornsfan44, thanks for defending our country and taking the time to share your experiences with this little slice of the world. I’m not sure if you’ll even read this, but please let us know what you need over there and we’ll do everything in our power to get it to you.

To pabloknight, thanks for doing what you do. I feel like I say this every year, but knowing how much time and effort it takes to run a tailgate, keep a full-time job and devote more time to a message board, thanks for being one of the few that get it.

To rossum01, thanks for continuing to post. You seem to have fallen off the map a little bit lately, but your opinion is always appreciated and always good to talk to you for a few at MBK functions.

To oneputtlarry, thanks for giving us insight on cell phone distractions and movies that we might not be able to see.

To Simon Honeybone, thanks for not making us look like fools by letting you post again. I know yours isn’t always the popular opinion, but it is needed, and a fresh voice is always good for any community.

To orange dream, thanks for letting us into your world a little bit more this year. It seems like you have posted from every corner of the world this year, so I’d love to hear more about your travels sometime. It was great to see you and your crew at a tailgate to put a face to the name, hopefully you can make this a regular occurrence.

To Colin, thanks for stepping up at the Arkansas tailgate when we all thought we would be dead in the water. The pork tenderloin was absolutely outstanding. Thanks for all you do for the tailgate, and thanks for the witty one-liners that I always chuckle about when I think about it again the next day.

To Jerry, thanks for doing all that you do for the tailgate, and sorry that you threw your back out at the tailgate doing what others should have been helping you do. Thanks for getting our satellite up and running, we might still be staring at a blue screen if it wasn’t for you.

To Donny, thanks for watching out for the TV at tailgates, and for your always humorous demeanor. It’s always a great time when Donny is around, except when you begin talking gibberish, but can’t we say the same thing about all of us?

To Pickle and Mark, thanks for coming back to us this year. It is always a better time when Mark, Pickle and their crew are around, and this year has been a hell of a time. Thanks for the beer on the all-night tailgate excursion, Pickle, that was very, very welcome.

To RC Horn, thanks for the stories of 70’s/80’s Texas football. They’re priceless.

To Blondie, thanks for linking to my blog and for being a faithful reader. You were my first commenter!

To McKinney Horn, thanks again for showing us a good time at the Anatole on Texas/OU weekend. Hey, do you remember that we beat Oklahoma that day by 10 points on a neutral field? Keep up the good karma, and I hope things turn out well for you.

To dahorns, thanks for the heads-up about the tailgate situation this year. You saved our lives. Thanks for always looking out for us, you’re a good friend and even a better person. I hope you win the barbeque cookoff this year!

To Reinheitsgebot, thanks for being a good dude. It’s always fun to talk to you at the tailgates and get a good story out of you. I’ve learned some unique things from you over the years and I’m sure it will continue.

To coryomfs, thanks for keeping the “Running into Cory at the Exes Tent at TX/OU” streak alive.

To TheDean176, thanks for some great tales of parties at Matt’s house. Thank you also for your devotion to the two greatest professional sports franchises of all-time, the Dallas

To ChuckNorrisHorn, thanks for furthering the beer sales in the great game of baseball.

To Bevo71, thanks for making it to a tailgate! It was great to see you, Bev. I know this holiday season will be tough for you, but know that we’re all thinking about you.

To AtlLonghorn, thanks for being one of the most passionate sports fans on this board. I enjoy your weekly football post, and like that you keep this board going sometimes when people are being shy.

To eochs, thanks for getting the site up and running again, and for offering room and board at Casa de Ochs for the Fiesta Bowl if it should come to that. I look forward to the improvements coming down the line, and congrats again on the pending nuptials.

To Makaveli, thanks for the political analysis during this election season, and for the always entertaining random sports points. We need more Makaveli around these parts.

To U2-Horn, thanks for the electronics posts, and for being our resident Uniform Czar. I always get nervous when I see that U2-Horn has replied to one of my posts because I panic and think about what I could possibly have typed wrong.

To Music City Mafia, thanks for representing the Horns out there, and for the always well thought-out posts. One of these days we’ll have to put a face to the name.

To Randall Bowers and Marlon, thanks for providing to the tailgates and for the entertainment factor. You’re both good people.

To Janet (Pickle’s mom), thanks for coming to our TX/OU dinner! It’s always a joy to see you around, except when you were drinking more beer than I was at the Old Mill after the game!

To Pope, thanks for being Pope. What is there not to thank you for? Thanks for destroying that chair I didn’t like anyhow, thanks for guarding the keg during the game, thanks for bringing good folks to the tailgate, and thanks for bringing good football talk to the tailgate. Always a good time when Pope is around.

To Anonymous readers of The Week That Will Be, thanks for taking the time to read this every week. Most of you get the column forwarded to you, and I appreciate the comments I hear. It makes it worth the time that it takes to write this thing every week.

To Orange Margarita and Silverado, thanks for raising the cutest niece in the world. Now we just need to get her to wear more orange.

To rtapia, thanks for bringing the Wii to the all-night wait for tailgate spots event. That was fun. We’re honored to have our tailgate next to you guys, it really is the best seven days out of the year.

To BarryBnds, thanks for the entertainment factor. It’s always a good time when Kyle is around, just watch out for those Joe T’s margaritas.

To Markaholic, thanks for the Tito’s and the A&M tickets. Hopefully when the kids get a bit older we’ll see you and Amy more often.

To 12ozLongneck, thanks for keeping us up to date on everyone’s transgressions during the debate and for coming to the TX/OU dinner. We hope to see you around the tailgates more often next season, seems like every game someone asks about you.

To Bucharest, thanks for being versatile. It seems like you’re always in that area where you get to the tailgate early enough to beat most everyone else but a little later than the regulars, so you’re one of the first people to call when we need something that we forgot, and you never complain. You also bring a great crew to the tailgate, lots of fun people who contribute as much as anyone. And thanks for the bottle of Maker’s, THAT is always very appreciated.

To Mr. Peabody, thanks for sticking around here. We might not be too happy with you right now with all the BCS drama, but you know we all consider you a great friend with interesting tales of getting thrown out of restaurants at lunch and the like. You have a beautiful family and we wish you and yours the best.

To OKCLonghorn, thanks for the text messages declaring your love for the Longhorns and Cowboys, and even the ones about the Spurs. It was great to see you guys at TX/OU (hey remember when we won by 10 points on a neutral field?), and I’m glad we didn’t scare Debi off (no offense).

To beam, coke & horns, thanks for the satellite. That was very clutch. You seemed to be around more this year than past years, and it was all a great time. We’ll forever boycott Sholz’s in protest. We wish you and Kym the best.

To BevoisaSoxFan, thanks for being Arch! You are truly one of the nicest and most genuine human beings I know, and you’re always there to help us set up the tents or whatever when we need it the most. And also you are our resident New England Foilage expert, so you’ve got that going for you. Congratulations on your gorgeous daughter Pilar and we wish you and Sylvia the best.

To SmoothLonghorn and Lindsey, thanks for all you do. You’re always there to help set up the tents, and somehow you find the time to make jello shots for a bunch of people that you don’t know. It gets overlooked far too often, but thanks.

To hornbybirth, thanks for getting your ass down to Texas. You’re also one that is eager to do whatever needs to be done, and that is appreciated. We are all still thinking about Shawna, make sure to tell her that we’re all rooting for her. I know it might be difficult to be away from her family, but I hope that she has found a surrogate family down here.

To El Aitch Bee, thanks for the Aggie post, and thanks for showing your face around these parts. You know you are always welcome, and you know where to find us.

To 93 Horn, thanks for…it might be easier to list the things that we can’t thank you for. Thanks for storing the trailer, taking care of the trailer, storing the pit, taking care of the pit, hauling both of those things to the tailgate each and every week, and then hauling both of those things AWAY from the tailgate each and every week. Thanks for cooking, for being our money manager, for securing the tailgate television, I could really go on. So just know from all of us…thanks.

To Vicki, thanks for all you do! We made your job a little easier this year by not making you drive down from Rockwall at the crack of dawn to help secure the spot, but that didn’t hamper your enthusiasm to help out in the way you always do. Thanks for the food, for fronting the money for the spots for the whole year, for setting up and tearing down each and every week, the list really goes on. We all love you, Vicki, and love you even more for the smiles you put on our faces each week with another tale of a big win in Shreveport or a witty one-liner delivered with that hand on the hip.

To Bob and Marie, it isn’t fair that you guys get lumped together all the time, but that’s just the way it is. Thanks for the food, thanks for setting up and tearing down each and every week, and thanks for being the heart of the tailgate. It was really strange to look around at the Arkansas game and not see you guys there (or Brian), so let’s not make a habit of that. We all really appreciate all you do, and we love you guys.

To Ernest, thanks for coming around more this year. We still got some work to do, but we’ll get there.

To Eric, thanks for being a great friend. It seems like I’ve talked to you almost every day with hand-wringing over the Mavericks and Longhorns in recent weeks, but it is always a pleasure with your humor and wit. You are a man of strong faith and convictions, Eric, and we all appreciate that. We hope to see more of your family at a tailgate next year, and we’ll begin preparing our vocal chords for the Canary Hut before the ULAMon game next year.

To Seth, thanks for being Seth. Who knew that one of your outlandish claims would actually work out this year (McCoy > Tebow), but that is essentially “Seth” and why we keep you around. Congrats on your offer from Booz, you more than deserve it. It sucks that you’ll be away from us for the time being, but you know our number and the door is always open.

To Chay, thanks for being Chay. The tales of nights on the town, the football discussions, the move to El Campo and back and funny white guy dancing, it is all that makes Chay. It seems like we’ve hung out a lot this year between the River Inn, the 4th of July and all-night tailgate spot securing, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

To Jeremy, thanks for Ticket drops, for football commentary, for great tales like the trip to Rhode Island, for keeping your boy in line and most of all being one of the most loyal and caring friends that I know.

To Drew, thanks for being there. We said some things, but I think we’ve become better friends this year and for that I am grateful. I wish you all the luck in the world with Kristina, she really brings out the best in you. Thanks for all the things you do for the tailgate, including getting the sponsor beer, and thanks for being a good friend for all of these years.

To the Driggers family, thanks for being excited that I am joining the family.

To Robbi, thanks for saying yes. 

Facebook News Feed

Kelvin Sampson and the NCAA are no longer in a relationship.

Notre Dame Fans have listed throwing snowballs at our players in their interests.

The National Media with Common Sense has joined the group 45-35, lest we forget.

Bob Stoops is done campaigning for the BCS, right after I tell you that we beat Tech by 44 and they beat Texas.

Kansas State is bringing back Bill Snyder. No word on Michael Bishop.

Notre Dame wants to fire fatass but it will be expensive. Spare a dollar?

Minnesota has removed “A Bowl Game” from their interests.

Texas Tech 2008 has joined the group Texas Tech Teams That Can’t Win on the Road.

On to the games...

We’re going to do this a little differently this week. With the special TWTWB, we’re going to add a section to each game capsule with what interests Texas best as far as BCS positioning…

Florida -16.5 @ Florida State:

What helps Texas: There are two schools of thought to this:

A.) Florida State wins: Florida falls, and then if they knock of Alabama in the SEC Championship game, then Texas perhaps gets to go to the national championship game despite what Texas Tech and Oklahoma does, in fact they might play one of those teams there. That is if you trust voters to leave a SEC team out of the national championship game, which I don’t.

B.) Florida wins…in a blowout: If Florida were to pull an OU/TT on Florida State, then there is the thought that some of the voters that have Oklahoma in front of Florida in the coaches poll will be forced to change their vote back to Florida. In this scenario, Florida gains votes, while OU loses them, and Texas (since presumably most voters have Florida in front of Texas anyhow) stays the same. Any change in points helps.

Florida has won four in a row in this series, and are coming off a blowout win last year in Gainesville. The Gators’ speed has been much discussed in their 7 game winning streak, but they meet a team in Florida State which might have the defense to contain it.

FSU stays tight for a while, but Florida is just a better team.

Florida 31 Florida State 23
ATS – Florida State
SU – Florida

Auburn @ Alabama -14:

What helps Texas: Much like the scenario above, Texas could sneak into the national championship game if Alabama loses to Auburn and then beats Florida, but again, I’m not sure the voters would allow a SEC team to be shut out. Alabama losing would free up more votes, but they would probably be evenly distributed to OU, Texas and Florida.

It’s probably in the Longhorns’ best interests for Alabama to just go ahead and win, so the voters don’t have the opportunity to vote OU #1 again.

Fun Fact: Alabama has never beaten Auburn on the University of Alabama campus. They are 0-6 lifetime against the Tigers at home.

But this is the year to do it.
Auburn played better against Georgia, but still managed only 13 points, which didn’t help their 107th ranked scoring offense. Alabama’s defense is tough and nasty, and will be geared up to end their six game losing streak to Auburn.

Auburn’s defense and Alabama’s offense is a good match-up for the Tigers, which is why it will be a close game.

Alabama 27 Auburn 17
ATS – Auburn
SU – Alabama

Baylor @ Texas Tech -21:

What helps Texas:

Baylor winning puts Texas in the Big 12 Championship game as the Big 12 South representative, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

But I wouldn’t get too excited about that possibility. Yes, Baylor coach Art Briles has brought instant respect to a program long dead of respect, and he has always been rumored as the next Texas Tech coach, but Baylor just doesn’t have the horses to go on the road and get this one.

Tech will be a bit upset about what happened last week, and I fear Baylor will fear the wrath. Robert Griffin might give Tech some fits, but they need a few more of him.

Texas Tech 48 Baylor 20
ATS – Texas Tech
SU – Texas Tech

Kansas v. Missouri -15:

What helps Texas: Go Missouri. That is the Longhorns’ best victory that Oklahoma doesn’t have, so Missouri needs to win win win.

This one doesn’t quite have the allure that last year’s #2 vs. #3 36-28 match-up has, but this one is still a hot local rivalry game. Kansas enters the game having lost four out of five games, as their defense has gone south this year, giving up 188 points in those four losses (47 ppg). Missouri has quietly won four in a row against the cellar dwellers of the Big 12 and enter this game having already clinched a Big 12 Championship game berth.

I don’t see the Jayhawks being able to hang here. Missouri is averaging 100 more yards of offense in the last 3 games, I think they keep it going here.

Missouri 48 Kansas 31
ATS – Missouri
SU – Missouri

Oklahoma -7 @ Oklahoma State:

What helps Texas: There is the thought out there that OU can win a close one and Texas can still go to the Big 12 Championship, but it will be close, and probably too close to feel comfortable about. All hope isn’t lost in that case, but don’t put all of your apples in that basket. An Oklahoma State win would put Texas Tech in Kansas City, sure, but will voters put Tech in above Texas, even if the Red Raiders win the Big 12? Do the voters want to vote a team in that lost by 44 points just a couple of weeks prior? And if Tech loses, well Texas fans can pack their bags for South Beach.

So all hope is not lost either way, but I feel more comfortable rooting against OU, don’t you?

The Sooners have won five straight in this series, but look at these games in Stillwater:

2006: Oklahoma 27 Oklahoma State 21
2004: Oklahoma 38 Oklahoma State 35
2002: Oklahoma 28 Oklahoma State 38
2000: Oklahoma 12 Oklahoma State 7

So in the Bob Stoops era, OU’s biggest win in Stillwater has been a 6 point win in 2006. Add to that the fact that this is a night game and that OSU had the week off last week to heal up, while OU put it all on the table against Texas Tech.

Which OU defense shows up in this game? The one that allowed 31 points to Kansas, 35 to Kansas State, 28 to Nebraska and 28 to Texas A&M, or the one that allowed only 21 points to high octane Texas Tech?

And which Oklahoma State team shows up? The one that climbed all the way up to #6 in the rankings this year, or the one that went to Lubbock and completely fell apart?

I expect OSU to put up a game here. The way to beat the Sooners is to be physical on the ground and control the running game. The Cowboys have the #7 rushing attack in the land, and have had 2 weeks to heal Kendall Hunter and find holes in the OU rush defense.

Oklahoma State’s pass defense needs to step up, however, because if they don’t, then OSU will be too far behind to even bother running the football.

It wouldn’t surprise me a bit to see an upset here, but OU’s offense is just playing too well right now to bet against.

Oklahoma 38 Oklahoma State 28
ATS – Oklahoma
SU – Oklahoma

Texas A&M @ Texas -35:

2006: Texas A&M 12 Texas 7
2007: Texas A&M 38 Texas 30

We’ve waited 365 days to get that bitter taste out of our mouths…and now the Horns have waited 2 days to get the BCS bitter taste out of their mouth.

How bad are the Aggies?

They rank 110th in the country in rushing offense.
They rank 115th in the country in rushing defense.
They rank 100th in the country in passing efficiency defense.
They rank 113th in the country in total defense.
They rank 112th in the country in scoring defense.
They rank 105th in the country in turnover margin.
They rank 102nd in the country in sacks.
They rank 111th in the country in sacks allowed.

So that’s 8 major categories in which they rank in the 100’s (out of 119).

Texas needs this one, and they need it big.

Colt McCoy gets on the jet to the Downtown Athletic Club in New York.

Texas 55 Texas A&M 13
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas

Random Hot Dallas Chick



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