Well, my Beloved Pitt "Panthers" are roundly expected to lose this Saturday at Oklahoma State. The bookies have the "Boone Pickens" as 6.5 point faves and the bookies are usually correct. I agree (which probably casts a pall of doom over them), I think Okie State will win. I thought those were two flawed, mediocre teams playing by the Confluence last Saturday.
But my God, the waters were not still on the Plains last week, huh? Them "Chippewas" showed Mike Gundy who the "Man" was. Well: a totally fluky play that Central Mich. shouldn't even have been allowed to run! Yes, but, Oklahoma State had no business allowing CMU to be that close in the closing seconds, c'mon. That is true. Pitt last week was better than CMU last week. That is true.
I pay attention to what local pencils think of the teams they cover. So there's this from the Tulsa World:
But my God, the waters were not still on the Plains last week, huh? Them "Chippewas" showed Mike Gundy who the "Man" was. Well: a totally fluky play that Central Mich. shouldn't even have been allowed to run! Yes, but, Oklahoma State had no business allowing CMU to be that close in the closing seconds, c'mon. That is true. Pitt last week was better than CMU last week. That is true.
I pay attention to what local pencils think of the teams they cover. So there's this from the Tulsa World:
Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State (-6.5):If Pitt is within seven points at the end of the game, then Gundy, who has coached several late-game collapses, might want to take off his headset and let someone else make decisions. Pitt by 10.
Pitt by 10? PITT BY 10?!
I pay more attention to what Stewart Mandel thinks and his predictions are not out yet (they will be later today).
I'm going with my often wrong-always certain gut. Oklahoma State by 10.
Temple at Paterno Sandusky. This one will not be close at the end. PSU is a 9-point fave; the "Bowels" are coming off a comprehensive defeat at home to the "Dark Knights" of Army. Matt Ruhle is a better coach than James Franklin and the "Bowels" evacuated on the "Pedobears" last year in Philly but college football is ahistorical. This is not the same Temple team and Ruhle is not that much better than JF. It will be close for a half, though. Jimmy will have his team unprepared as usual and Ruhle and his coordinators will assist him but Trace McSorley is the new PSU QB and he's a keeper and Saquon Barkley is the old running back and in the end they will deliver and cover the point-spread and on the day PSU honors Paterno who coached his first game at his namesake "university" fifty years ago.
Should either Mike Gundy or James Franklin have the audacity to lose Saturday they will not be fired immediately but will be coaching the remainder of the season to save their jobs.
Ohio State at Oklahoma. Stewart Mandel has made his picks (he doesn't treat of the Pitt-OKS game :( ) and both he and that Tulsa World guy pick the "Laters." Who got wasted by the Houston, "We Have a Problems". Who are 1 1/2 underdogs to THE University of Ohio State. Who wasted Bowling Green and some other bite school, I don't remember. No. Urban Meyer is a better coach than Bob Stoops and OSU is a better team. The "Buckeyes" are going to buck up OU.
Florida State at Lewisville. Half-Ass U is a two-point pick and will win.
Michigan State at Notre Dame du Lac. The "Fighting Potato Eaters" are a 7 1/2 pick. They will win but Gang Green will cover.
Oregon at Nebraska. Mandel says Nike's defense is offensive and picks the "Cornshuckers" to win and cover as 3-point faves. They will do neither.
Temple at Paterno Sandusky. This one will not be close at the end. PSU is a 9-point fave; the "Bowels" are coming off a comprehensive defeat at home to the "Dark Knights" of Army. Matt Ruhle is a better coach than James Franklin and the "Bowels" evacuated on the "Pedobears" last year in Philly but college football is ahistorical. This is not the same Temple team and Ruhle is not that much better than JF. It will be close for a half, though. Jimmy will have his team unprepared as usual and Ruhle and his coordinators will assist him but Trace McSorley is the new PSU QB and he's a keeper and Saquon Barkley is the old running back and in the end they will deliver and cover the point-spread and on the day PSU honors Paterno who coached his first game at his namesake "university" fifty years ago.
Should either Mike Gundy or James Franklin have the audacity to lose Saturday they will not be fired immediately but will be coaching the remainder of the season to save their jobs.
Ohio State at Oklahoma. Stewart Mandel has made his picks (he doesn't treat of the Pitt-OKS game :( ) and both he and that Tulsa World guy pick the "Laters." Who got wasted by the Houston, "We Have a Problems". Who are 1 1/2 underdogs to THE University of Ohio State. Who wasted Bowling Green and some other bite school, I don't remember. No. Urban Meyer is a better coach than Bob Stoops and OSU is a better team. The "Buckeyes" are going to buck up OU.
Florida State at Lewisville. Half-Ass U is a two-point pick and will win.
Michigan State at Notre Dame du Lac. The "Fighting Potato Eaters" are a 7 1/2 pick. They will win but Gang Green will cover.
Oregon at Nebraska. Mandel says Nike's defense is offensive and picks the "Cornshuckers" to win and cover as 3-point faves. They will do neither.
