Did I say Rangers in 6?

I thought I was walking the party line by taking the easy 'Rangers in 6' line the other day. Just goes to show that you need to stick to your guns when picking sports outcomes. And my guns (the last two weeks especially) have been college football games. Vegas didn't see it coming last week, but we took those top-25 matchups and rocked the spread. 3-1 (no thanks to Okie State's stellar defense) against the number and a road-scared 2-2 picking winners.

But, this week is when it gets interesting because the whole BCS Rankings could (cue the Fresh Prince) get flipped, turned upside down. The top 5 ranked BCS teams playing this weekend all go on the road this weekend, and while I am not too concerned about some (relax Auburn and TCU fans), this whole thing is setting up to be a jumbled, garbled mess of scary come Halloween night. And, I have reached that point with the BCS (is there an echo on this blog?)... Blow it up.

Now, to my tease from earlier this week: Lou Holtz said something I really agree with on Mike & Mike a few days ago. That, in itself, is a bit of an amazement. The coach is in the same league as Lee Corso, and should get their own network sitcom, played by William Shatner, because the sh!$ they say is hilarious. ESPN knows this, which is why actual, researched, level-headed analysts flank them on every show. (And, to be fair to Corso, he doesn't have NCAA violations following him from every coaching job like a lost puppy)

Anyways, Holtz made the remark that the simple fix to the national championship dilemma is simple. Play all of the games the way they are right now, with BCS bowls, etc. Just play all of the big ones on New Year's Day, like the old-school way. Then, run the polls again, take your top 2, and play 'em together one week later to get your champion. Of course, changes would be tweaked. You'd have BCS #1 playing #4 or something in one New Year's Day game. (We've got time to figure it all out, people) But, the BCS still makes money, you and I get an and-1 game and less fussing over who got left out.

Back to this season... We are setting ourselves up to have at least one of the following scenarios play out:

1. At a minimum, a very good one loss team gets hosed (Alabama, Michigan State, Oregon, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Missouri, Auburn, Stanford and TCU/Utah fit this bill, potentially)
2. Somehow, a Boise State - TCU undefeated showdown happens again, with the power conferences left out of a title shot
3. An undefeated Boise State or TCU doesn't get a chance... AGAIN

I am still convinced that a rested Crimson Tide team is, hands-down, better than anybody in the country. Almost as convinced that what Oregon does on offense is illegal in some capacity. But, will the polls punish teams who get punished the most in scheduling? If not, we punish a mid-major program that can't control it's situation. I am Switzerland and side with both. For now, we just enjoy the games and see how it all plays out... Oh, for the record, I think scenario #1 up there is coming, and coming fast, starting this weekend...

#8 Utah @ Air Force +7

This is a perfect example of the difference between the mid-major conferences and the power conferences. Air Force is a good Mountain West team. Their option offense will create some confusion and some problems. But, Utah will win. In fact, Utah will cover. It won't be easy early, but 60 minutes is more than enough time for a team like Utah to pull out the game. Air Force is the 4th best team in the MWC. If this was the SEC, the exact same comparison would be Alabama (2nd best team, in record) going to South Carolina (4th best team). We know how that turned out. Advantage, corrupt system.

Utah 38, Air Force 24 - With the TCU date looming the following week

#2 Oregon and USC +7

Wow! Getting a touchdown at home. I hope the house for Reggie Bush's parents was crib-tastic! Oregon is a facsimile of themselves away from home, and this game is on grass, not recycled tire grass. But, the Trojans just aren't striking the fear into anybody right now. I like their offense, and it's hard to pick against a Monte Kiffin defense, but USC is not built to guard the spread. Their dominant teams recently always got shocked by a team like Oregon. And those two deep safeties and linebackers just can't cover the Ducks' speed. This is really a tough one, because Oregon has to lose one game this season. It is going to happen. Is it in the Coliseum? I'm hedging...

Oregon 42, USC 38

#5 Michigan State @ #18 Iowa -6.5

I neither have anything creative or factual to back this up, except for the fact that, in this wild season of college football, the Spartans have to lose this game. They aren't good enough to be an undefeated Big Ten team, and Iowa is better than a 2-loss team. Oh, and the Hawkeyes are pissed about last weekend.

Iowa 27, Michigan State 20

#6 Missouri @ #14 Nebraska -7.5

I feel even more strongly about this one than the Michigan State loss. For every reason that I KNEW the Tigers would beat Oklahoma last weekend, they will get destroyed in Lincoln. I still don't know how the Huskers got beat at home by Texas, but this team is on a mission, and the black shirts likely got scolded for the 40-spot they gave up against Okie State. The spread says it all. Even Vegas knows this will get ugly for a top-10 team.

Nebraska 38, Missouri 14

And, come early next week, we will sort it all out. Season: 30-11 picking winners; 27-15 against Vegas (Don't bet; just have fun)