The NoTex Rant: Weekend TV Preview

- Use this to avoid any and all contact with loved ones, most notably wives/girlfriends.

Last Week's Record - 13-10-1
YTD - 44-31-3

Thursday

Southern Miss at Boise State (-10) - ESPN - 6:30 pm
Last year's media darlings at home on the blue turf taking on an inferior C-USA opponent. Southern Miss played Tennessee tough on the road before losing by 20. But Tennessee sucks. Give me the Smurf Turf.
Pick - Boise State -10

Friday

West Virginia (-7) at South Florida - ESPN2 - 7 pm
The game I'm really looking forward to. I should be knee deep into some dice in Shreveport during this game. South Florida has been getting good for the past few years, not just this year. They beat West Virginia in Morgantown last year, so they know how to defend that option. It's at home, this year's SFU team is better, and has tons of momentum right now in their program. WVU finally gets exposed and joins Louisville in the overrated, no defense club.
Pick - South Florida +7

Saturday

Notre Dame at Purdue (-22) - ESPN - 11 am
My lock of the day. Notre Dame sucks. Purdue at home could score 40 points on anyone. This gets ugly fast, and it keeps ND on that path to 0-8.
Pick - Purdue -22 (DOUBLE PLAY)

LSU (-40) at Tulane - ESPN2 - 11 am
Anytime the #1 team in the nation is on TV, you have to watch. No comments here.
Pick - LSU -40

Penn State (-3) at Illinois - Big Ten Network - 11 am
Upset alert. Illinois doesn't have a bad team. Good, athletic QB. Good coach who's stockpiling talent. At home. An overrated opponent. Give me the upset and give me Illinois going 4-1.
Pick - Illinois +3

Baylor at Texas A&M (-17) - Versus - 11:30 am
Both come in with 3-1 records. Both have records that look better than they actually are. Baylor historically has played ATM tough, losing by 10 in 2006, 3 in 2005, and winning by 1 in 2004. They won't win this year, but they won't get beat by 17. Is ATM capable of beating anyone by 17?
Pick - Baylor +17

Oklahoma (-22) at Colorado - FSNSW - 11:30 am
Oklahoma finally goes out of the state to play someone. One of the most picturesque settings for a college stadium and campus. If the fans weren't such classless idiots, would be one of the most desirable locales to either go to school at or to take a roadtrip to watch a game. I just can't see CU staying close. Hell, Florida State beat them in Boulder. What do you think OU's going to do?
Pick - Oklahoma -22

Kansas State at Texas (-14.5) - ABC - 2:30 pm
The question you have to ask is....was the Rice game an aberration and will they go back to being an average team? Or was the blowout something that awoke the sleeping giant and they'll go back to dominating from here on out? I'm going with the first scenario. KSU may not be great, but they're decent. And Texas is vastly overrated.
Pick - Kansas State +14.5

Michigan State at Wisconsin (-7.5) - ESPN - 2:30 pm
I don't think Wisconsin will cover or blow anyone out all year. The Citadel put 31 points on them. UNLV almost beat them in Las Vegas. Washington State (who got murdered by USC) played them tough. Iowa (who lost to Iowa State) lost by 4 there. I'm betting all this crap catches up with them and Michigan State leaves the cold out their hot and cold personality this week.
Pick - Michigan State +7.5

Louisville (-9) at NC State - ESPNU - 2:30 pm
No reason to watch this game except for a time kill during commercials of the Texas-KSU game. But if you need a reason, I guess it should be to either watch the continuing free fall of Louisville, and to see a pretty good QB in Brian Brohm. NC State is really bad however. Louisville puts some points up and wins easily.
Pick - Louisville -9

Alabama at Florida State (-2.5) - CBS - 4 pm
A very odd game site (Jacksonville, FL) and start time (4 pm). It's a neutral site on paper, but no way it's neutral geographically. Florida State's pretty bad, Alabama's decent. So even though it's a road game for Bama, give me SEC over ACC, especially if I'm getting points.
Pick - Alabama +2.5

UCLA at Oregon State (-1.5) - FSNSW - 5:30
The weekly PAC-10 FSN midday matchup. These teams seem to be very evenly matched. The PAC-10 is like the NFL, you never know which team is going show up, and anyone can beat anyone every week. The line has shifted 3 points towards OSU in the past week, as UCLA opened as the 1.5 point favorite. And since they were both sleeper picks of mine before the season, I'm even more confused. UCLA has re-inserted Ben Olson at QB, has the better defense, and has more talent overally. Although OSU isn't far off on talent, they still have issues at QB. So the edge would have to be at QB. I'd say enjoy the offense, enjoy the great Oregon scenery and redwood trees, and enjoy PAC-10 football. And I guess take UCLA.
Pick - UCLA +1.5

USC (-20.5) at Washington - ABC - 8 pm
ESPN/ABC sure does have a love affair with USC don't they? This makes it 3 straight Saturday nights of primetime, national TV exposure. They're going to puke in their mouths if they don't make it to the BCS Championship. Washington had a ton of momentum to start the season, and quickly was ushered back down to reality with a bad loss at home to Ohio State and a double digit loss in the Rose Bowl the week after. Although I love their QB, I can't see them hanging with USC. USC seems to be a very focused team right now.
Pick - USC -20.5

Auburn at Florida (-18.5) - ESPN - 7 pm
A disappointing team (Auburn) takes on a surprisingly good team (Florida). I didn't think Florida could reload as well as they did. I didn't think Tim Tebow could be as good as he's been. And I underestimated Urban Meyer. And don't even get me started on Auburn. I hate that team. Afraid to blow anyone out, afraid to use their athletes to gain an advantage, and content to play Parcells-ball and win games 10-7. They get bent over and pounded in The Swamp.
Pick - Florida -18.5

Ohio State (-23.5) at Minnesota - ESPN2 - 7 pm
I underestimated Ohio State as well. They're playing really good ball right now. And Minnesota may have taken Northwestern or Indiana's spot as the worst team in the Big 10. Ohio State, much like Florida, appears to have reloaded quite well. Blowout in the dome.
Pick - Ohio State -23.5

BYU (-5.5) at New Mexico - CSTV - 7:30 pm
Should be a fun game to watch, tons of offense, good setting, and good BYU uni's.
Pick - BYU -5.5

Since no Crown Game this weekend, here are some other games of note not on TV.

Cal at Oregon (-5.5) - ABC Regional - 2:30 pm
For those with Gameplan, you can watch this game. And I guarantee a 10 times better game than the Texas/KSU game. This should be the game of the day. Tons of offense, great QB play, DeSean Jackson, Oregon scenery, and a top 10 matchup. The way Oregon's playing right now, I can't bet against them. Even though Cal's playing lights out too, I can't go against what Dennis Dixon is doing at QB for Oregon. Give me the home team.
Pick - Oregon -5.5

Clemson (-3) at Georgia Tech
Clemson finally has a decent QB after a few years of spares. They've always had the bad ass running backs. And that will make all the difference in the world. Georgia Tech will continue to be overrated and should drop out of the Top 25 after another home loss.
Pick - Clemson -3

Sunday

St. Louis at Dallas (-13) - FOX - 12 pm
This game shouldn't even have a line on it. Bulger's ribs are busted. Steven Jackson's out, with some rookie starting in his place. This is the most sure-fire game I've seen in a while.
Pick - Dallas -13

Denver at Indy (-10) - CBS - 3 pm
Denver somehow lost to Jacksonville at home. They should have lost to putrid Buffalo in week 1. No way they stay close on the road in Indy, especially with Manning's history of success against these guys.
Pick - Indy -10

Philadelphia (-3) at NY Giants - NBC - 7 pm
I think Philly and Dallas are the most talented teams in the NFC. And I think Philly will take last week's game and really take off the rest of the year. I can't stand everything about both of these teams - fans, location, QB's, etc. But Philly was my NFC pick before the season, and I think they're going to start playing like it.
Pick - Philadelphia -3

Other Games I like

Chicago (-3) at Detroit
Dusty Dvoracek, Mike Brown, and Tommie Harris are out. Lance Briggs is hurting. Brian Griese, although better than Grossman, doesn't scare me. Adam Archuleta could be the most overrated player in the league. Detroit could put up 40 on these guys. The Super Bowl hangover continues.
Pick - Detroit +3

Pittsburgh (-6) at Arizona
One of my betting sleepers before the year. I thought Pitt would bounce back nicely this year with the Super Bowl hangover gone and some key guys healthy. Arizona sucks.
Pick - Pitt -6

Green Bay (-1.5) at Minnesota
Brett Favre can set all the records he wants, but he still can't play in domes for some reason. They might be the most overrated 3-0 team in league history. No way they go 4-0, no way.
Pick - Minnesota +1.5

Seattle (-2) at SF
Seattle, along with Pitt, was another betting sleeper of mine. They just needed to get healthy and get over the hangover. Now they're healthy and ready to rock.
Pick - Seattle -2

- I'll be here tonight