Week 13 Thanksgiving Musings (1st edition)

Sorry these are posted after the fact. Nobody reads this anyway.

Last week started bad with Okie St shitting the bed, got good through most of the day Saturday, then completely fell off the map during the night games. The musings ended up 7-6 after all four night games failing miserably, which results in an overall record of 81-77-3. I can't say that I'm all that disappointed in Oklahoma and Oregon losing, especially Oklahoma, as I've been able to brew up a healthy amount of disdain for them. As much as I dont want to see a rematch, at this point it looks pretty inevitable that LSU and Alabama are on a collision course for New Orleans. It's unfair to LSU, but what can you do? Actually, LSU is in a very tough spot because if they lose, it will be at the worst possible time. Consider this: If they lose to Arkansas, they are going to be eliminated from contention, due to the fact that Arkansas is ranked as high as they are. If LSU loses and Alabama wins, the voters will almost certainly move both Bama and Arkansas up. Arkansas will be #2, and in the catbird seat They won't have to play in Atlanta, as Bama will play Georgia. LSU, after dominating the regular season, will be out, and Arkansas, by virtue of one solid win all year, will be in to play a Bama team that drilled them earlier in the year. Fair or not, that's the way it will probably work out. Wisconsin is probably kicking themselves. If they could play pass defnse inthe final minute, they'd be in position to be playing for a title.


1. @Texas A&M -8 v Texas: Big rivalry game here, so it's obviously dangerous to be laying more than a score, but I think this sets up as a bad matchup for Texas. They are struggling mightily on offense against decent defensive squads, as they last road outing against Missouri suggests. Their M.O. is to run it, and try to manage the game with a short passing game, since their young QBs are either not capable, or not allowed to go downfield. They will not be able to run it in Kyle Field against A&M. The Aggies are ranked 4th in the country against the run, and have stopped much better offenses than Texas from running effectively. Also, Texas's top 2 running backs are injured. Throw in the fact that A&M is tops in the country in sacks, and you realize that things do not bode well for Texas once the Aggies start pinning their ears back.Texas has been good on defense, but generally only against weak passing attacks that are skewed toward a running style. Oklahoma and Oklahoma St rung up points on them, and A&M is more in that vain than teams like Kansas and Kansas St who Texas had their way with. I think if A&M can manage 21 points, they'll be able to cover this number. This is also the last game for this rivalry for awhile, so you can be sure that Texas will get the Aggies' best shot. They'll get the 12th man's best shot too.

I'll have the Friday games later...take care and have a great Thanksgiving.