The Thing You Never Knew You Needed But Now Can't Live Without - Week 6

It's October and that means grown man football has begun.  The Big 12 finally got their act together and spaced the games out over the day meaning that you can settle in and watch quality football from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.  College Football Saturday is the best thing ever.  (Though Ticket Oak is a close second). 

Big 12 Schedule

Mack Brown's past, present and future as yell leader #1.

11:00 a.m. FX: KU at K-State (extended preview available)
There is so very little to be excited about in this game.  If it's at all competitive, I will be steaming mad.  If it's a blowout, it will be sort of sad and pathetic in the second half.  I guess I'll get excited about the possibility of Daniel Sams getting to play?  I just hope no one gets hurt.  Prediction: 52-0, K-State.

2:30 p.m. FSN: Iowa State at TCU
This would've been the week that TCU lost their first game, regardless of Pachall's status on the team.  The defense is good, but the team is young and sloppy and not ready yet for 10 big games a year instead of 1 big game a year.  The game will be close, because Iowa State is just dreadful on offense, but this is the start of a very long year for the Frogs.  Prediction: 17-6, Iowa State.

2:30 p.m. ABC: Oklahoma at Texas Tech
Tech eked out a 24-13 win last week over Iowa State despite amassing close to 400 yards of total offense.  I still don't know what to make of this team on either side of the ball, but it seems like OU has more talent at the key skill positions in this match-up.  That, and Stoops has never - ever - lost 2 consecutive regular season games in his tenure at Oklahoma.  Prediction: 38-17, OU.

6:00 p.m. Fox: West Virginia at Texas
I have high, high hopes for this game but can't really figure out who to cheer for.  West Virginia drew Nick Saban's ire for their ridiculous "football" game last week and yet people are still falling all over themselves to anoint Geno Smith the Heisman of all Heismans.  I'd like to think that Manny Diaz has a really solid plan for stopping the Holgo machine, but I'm not sure his players have the discipline to execute it.  West Virginia would be happy to turn this into another shoot-out, but for the love of the game, I guess I'll root for Bevo.  Prediction: 38-35, Texas.

Best of the Rest

Spurrier always has a good ol time, doesn't he?  Even when he's throwing his headset, he looks like he's doing it because he wants to.  Good for you, Steve. 

11:00 a.m. ESPN: Northwestern at Penn State
Northwestern is 5-0 and the leader of the Big Ten Legends division.  Penn State... is having a bad year, despite playing mostly decent football.  Northwestern might very well win the Big Ten and go to the Rose Bowl and they'll get absolutely no credit or positive press for it.  Instead, ESPN will spin it into yet another diatribe about how slow Midwest athletes are.  Grrr.  Prediction: 28-14, Northwestern. 

11:00 a.m. ESPN: Arkansas at Auburn
I'm going to keep putting Arkansas on this list until they win a game.  How can they return so much talent at so many skill positions and still lose so badly week after week?  I mean, yes, John L. Smith is certifiable, and still really, really broke, but is he really that destructive? Prediction: 17-14, Arkansas.  Please.

2:30 p.m. CBS: LSU at Florida
I love crazy Les Miles and I love rooting against Florida.  It just makes Florida fans so mad.  Why so righteous, Gator fans?  You'll win the big games again someday.  (Poke poke poke).  Prediction: 28-20, LSU.

3:00 p.m. Big Ten Network: Michigan at Purdue
Purdue is also doing well in the Big Ten this year.  Technically they're behind Ohio State, but the Buckeyes are sitting out the postseason to appease the NCAA, so it's Purdue's to lose.  The Big Ten is Purdue's to lose.  It's a weird year up there.  Also, Brady Hoke does not deserve Denard Robinson and the missed opportunity is just tragic.  Prediction: 24-10, Purdue.

6:00 p.m. ESPN: Georgia at South Carolina
Georgia's defense magically evaporated last week against Tennessee.  If it happens again this week, I'm sure South Carolina would be happy to play along.  I always got the sense with Spurrier that he was just happy to roll with however you wanted to play the game.  Stifling defense?  Okay, us too.  Pass happy offense?  Sure, we can do that.  A game where all the points come from non-offensive players?  Sounds fun!  He's wild and I like it.  Prediction: Whatever Spurrier wants.  Also, 38-34, South Carolina.

6:30 p.m. NBC: Miami vs. Notre Dame
Have you been heeding my advice and watching Miami lately?  Seriously, just set your DVR to record Miami 4th quarters for the rest of the season.  It'll be the best decision you ever made.  Prediction: 28-27, Miami.

9:30 p.m. ESPN: Washington at Oregon
Washington pulled off the "upset" against Stanford last week which made Sarkisian and the Huskies relevant again.  Unfortunately, after watching USC struggle with Utah this week, it's starting to seem like USC just isn't all that good.  That's bad news for Washington because Oregon keeps proving that they are much, much better than anyone thought.  They'll slow play the first half and then go all-in on pocket 2's in the third, leaving you penniless at the exact height of your hope.  Them ducks are deadly.  Prediction: 45-14, Oregon.