DO IT AGAIN IN WEEK TEN

We Making Mo Money

After a 7-1 mash up two weeks ago, we went a more modest 5-3 last Saturday with a couple of games just a hair away from going our way. But that's how the football bounces.

Penn State rallied late to hold off Iowa and the Cowpokes of Okie State beat the Longhorns late, 38-35. We did cash in on our UPSET SPECIAL of Washington State over Stanford so all is good. We made a few bucks and, hopefully, you did, too.

SIDELINES

• Lane Kiffin is apparently looking at numerous SEC teams as an offensive coordinator, including Tennessee. Would Fulmer let him come back to Knoxville?? We think not. Unless Jeremy Pruitt, who coached with Kiffin at Alabama, insists on such a move.

• Rumor has it that bad boy Butch Jones is interested in the Maryland job, which we think would be a positive move for the Terps. It would also lighten the multi-million dollar buyout that Tennessee is saddled with. Hope he ends up in College Park. And that cigar he was puffing on a few weeks ago...we know where he can stick it!

• As heard at this week’s press conference, Nick Saban was asked what he will choose during the coin toss at LSU – kick or receive. His response: “I hope we elect to kick ass, is what I want.”

Two Bit Joe calling the Dawgs

• They say payback is hell, especially when your Gators get skinned by the Bulldawgs. That's what happened when Two Bit Joe lost his bet with Kirby Girl, who dished it out all week long in some fun work place harassment. Too bad there wasn't a cheerleader outfit in the mix.

The Huskers travel to Columbus tomorrow hoping to upset the Buckeyes who are trying to forget the butt kicking they received two weeks ago courtesy the Boilermakers. To better understand the current state of Husker football, we’ve reached out to one of our long time Big Ten reps, Harry Husker, to give us some insight. So let’s go Inside The Huddle™ for Harry's thoughts on what’s happening in Lincoln.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE™ with HARRY HUSKER

For a lifetime Husker fan, being ask to write a short “ditty” on Cornhusker football was a daunting task this year. When WWW asked me, I don’t know if they heard the split second hesitation in my voice over the phone because this is somewhat akin to writing the obituary for your dying best buddy, who is nowhere near death! 

Studio 54 regular, Harry Husker

        

So, keeping it semi-short, we Bug Eaters have gone through a succession of ADs and head coaches (after Solich) who collectively had a severe case of anal cranial inversion when it came to Nebraska football, state psyche, and tradition. Callahan, Pelini, and Riley are good coaches, but the fit at Nebraska was like a ballerina trying out for nose guard. 

Like any corporation, the “board” can get it wrong in picking the senior executives. They got it right with Frost and Moos. They understand the sport has gone by the days of Bob Devaney and the Cornhusker game needs to adapt to the game of today, not forgetting that all that worked in the 60’s through the 90’s does not need to be trashed.

Scott will be the new Dr. Tom Osborne, who remembered what Bear Bryant said after the Tide thrashed the Devaney Cornhuskers 34-7 in the 1967 Sugar Bowl “a good, quick, small team can beat a big slow team every time.”  Then when Osborne, after changing Cornhusker recruiting and training, beat Bama 38-7 in the 1972 Orange Bowl, to paraphrase Bear Bryant quote, “the big quick guys will of course win.”

Scott Frost knew what the program he inherited in Lincoln was going to be, understood the work was multi-year, and he commented pre-season, “a two or three-win season is not out of the realm of possibility for the Huskers.”

Most of the faithful understand the task Mr. Frost has ahead of him and the fans will keep filling Memorial Stadium (366 consecutive sellouts of 90k dating back to 1962)

The tradition and hard work that built the program which produced three Heisman winners and five national title teams, the last one quarterbacked by Scott Frost of Wood River, Nebraska, population 1600, WILL BE BACK.

This Saturday the Cornhuskers play the Buckeyes, the spread of 17½ points (editor’s note: the spread has moved to 18) seems to point out the bookies have a little more respect for team from Lincoln, Nebraska.  WWW might differ from this but I will take the points and Nebraska.  GO BIG RED!!!!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK TEN

LOUISVILLE @ #2 CLEMSON…this could be a trap game for the Tigers as they look ahead to next week’s game against Boston College that could determine the ACC Atlantic Division. With a struggling Louisville, the Tiger’s biggest challenge will be complacency. Clemson will dominate both lines but the 38.5 point spread is just too tempting to pass up because we think Bobby Petrino will squeeze out a couple of TDs to make things interesting. So….in an an UPSET SPECIAL, take Louisville and the points.

Cats are hungry for title

#6 GEORGIA @ #9 KENTUCKY…when was the last time the Wildcats were in the Top Ten…football not basketball?  The winner of this game is the heir apparent to the SEC East , earning a shot at Alabama in the SEC CG (assuming Bama slips past pecky LSU). Kentucky has dazzled the college football world with its number one ranked scoring defense, giving up just 13 points per game. They needed a last second TD last week to squeek by Mizzou, so they know how to win the tight ones. Key to the game: rb Benny Snell. When he carries 16 times or more, the Cats are 18-4. When he carries 15 time or less, the Cats are 3-9. So look for a steady diet of Snell tomorrow. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Cats bite the Dawgs!

#13 WEST VIRGINIA @ #17 TEXAS…the winner of this game will have the inside track to the Big 12 conference championship game. Mountaineer qb Will Greir will lead the charge for WVU, and will be looking to get the ball out to a great fleet of receivers including, David Sills, Marcus Simms, and Gary Jennings. You’ll hear their names all afternoon, especially going against a Texas secondary that was chewed up last week by Oklahoma State. This will be super tight. But in an UPSET SPECIAL, we’re going with West Virginia.

#14 PENN STATE @ #5 MICHIGAN….after an opening loss to Notre Dame, the Wolverines have been on a winning ride with seven consecutive wins. Qb Shea Patterson has been a big boost to the offense and the defense ranks among the best in the country, limiting opponents to less than 24 points per game. So this should be interesting. Because the Penn State offense averages 41 points a game and qb Trace McSorely is one of the best. This will be tight. But the Wolverines will beat the kitty cats of Penn State.

NEBRASKA @ #17 OHIO STATE…no one is more anxious to start this game then the Buckeyes who were pounded 49-20 by Purdue two weeks ago. They’ve had a bye week to stew even more. Meanwhile, the Huskers are sporting a two game win streak after losing some fairly close games to Colorado, Troy, and Northwestern in OT. So a few points could have changed the narrative for this game significantly. Key to this game is OSU’s ability to get back to their run game which has faded of late. It’s important because the Bug Eaters are susceptible to the run, allowing 166 rushing yards per game. Michigan gashed them for 285 yards and Wisconsin ripped off 370 yards. So look for Urban Meyer to establish the run early and often. Nebraska will counter with a very dangerous dual threat qb, Adrian Martinez. This could be a game in which the Cornhuskers sneak up on the Buckeyes. But we think Meyer will have his crew ready to wreak havoc on Frost’s Huskers.  Take Ohio State over Nebraska.

DARTMOUTH @ PRINCETON…both teams are sporting perfect 7-0 records and are headed to an Ivy League title showdown. The Tigers whupped Cornell last week, 66-0, and rolled up an impressive 504 yards of offense. The average of 50 points per game. Meanwhile, the Big Green have scored over 35 points per game so they can make some noise as well. We like Princeton, especially after watching them defeat Harvard two weeks ago. Put your greenbacks on Princeton.

#1 ALABAMA @ #3 LSU…this promises to be the best game on Saturday as these two titans clash for the SEC West title and a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. As usual, Bama is rolling along and dishing out a lot of pain along the way, winning games with a minimum margin of 22 points in their 8 wins this season. But LSU plays pretty good defense so qb Tua Tagovailoa will have his work cut out for him. But can the Tiger secondary, ranked 5^th nationally against the pass, limit Tua and his receivers? The Tide has too many weapons and a head coach that absolutely hates to lose. Take the Tide over the Tigers in the Red Stick.

#4 NOTRE DAME @ NORTHWESTERN…the Wildcats are coming off a big upset over Wisconsin and are pumped to host the Irish in Evanston for the first time since 1976. The key could be NU’s qb Clayton Thorson. He’s improving but will need a lot help, especially from his offensive line in slowing down Notre Dame’s front seven. Hopefully, for Wildcat fans, the team is not looking past the Irish to next week’s game with Iowa that will decide the Big Ten West title. It’s going to be close, but put your chips on the Irish. Notre Dame over Northwestern.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK™