College Football Odds (ATS): Alabama Will Roll, Michigan Will Rebound

It was yet another average week for the 'Lady', as the site finished the weekend slate at 5-5, bringing the season total to 27-28.

You can revisit last week's picks here.

The BCS will release it's first set of rankings this Sunday, so expect a lot of good play from teams auditioning for a place in the top 10.

That said, it's time to offer another round of picks.

(All lines are courtesy of  VegasInsider.com).

1. Alabama vs. Ole Miss: Alabama (-20.5)

This actually seems like a ton of points to lend the Tide's way—even if they are playing in Tuscaloosa. That said, the Rebels aren't very good on defense.

Look for both Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to get something they didn't last week—running room—and look for the Tide to take out their frustration on the Rebels.

The Lady's Pick: Alabama

2. Michigan vs. Iowa: Iowa (-3)

As impressive as Iowa has been all season, save the loss to Arizona in week three, Michigan's offense is going to be tough to stop at home. Sure Michigan State came in and shut Denard Robinson down, but the Spartans have played the Wolverines well over the last few seasons and that loss wasn't really all that hard to see coming.

That said, Iowa has been nearly as effective, defensively, on the road as they have been at home.
Expect Mr. Robinson to rebound and steal a win from the Hawkeye's.

The Lady's Pick: Michigan

3. Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest: Virginia Tech (-22.5)

Wake Forest is atrocious, there is little doubt about that, but they have played a better brand of football over the last couple of weeks, and have nothing to lose by giving it all they've got against a Hokie squad that, honestly, still isn't all that impressive.

The Lady's Pick: Wake Forest

4. TCU vs BYU: TCU (-28)

TCU is good. BYU is bad. There is not much else you can say about these two teams or this match-up.
BYU's coach is currently wearing two hats (head coach and defensive coordinator) and that has to be tough, considering he's got a true freshman quarterback trying to run the offense.

The Cougars are a mess right now and, even though it seems crazy to think they will get beat by 28 points, that's what is likely to happen.

The Lady's Pick: TCU

5. Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State: Texas Tech (-3.5)

Texas Tech is still trying to find themselves under Tommy Tuberville, and it's not clear that they are anywhere near close to doing that right now—despite their 3-2 record.

The Lady's Pick: Oklahoma State 

6. Rice vs. Houston: Houston (-9)

As terrible as the defense of the Cougars is, the Owls might be worse. If Houston quarterbacks, David Piland or Terrance Broadway, want to get their respective games going, then this is the week to do it.

The Owls have little in the way of offense and don't defend well against the pass—a recipe for disaster when you're opponent specializes in air raids.

The Lady's Pick: Houston

7. Wisconsin vs. Ohio State: Ohio State (-4)

Hmmm, wonder what Bielema's card will tell him to do this week?

He better have a definite plan of action against the Buckeyes ,or he'll be the one feeling some kind of wronged after this game.

The Lady's Pick: Ohio State

8.  Auburn vs. Arkansas: Auburn (-3.5)

Auburn has been getting by on the grace and talent of Cam Newton—no doubt about it. However, the cardiac cats will have to go into arrest at some point, and it's highly possible that the Razorbacks will be just the team to send them rushing for the nearest ambulance.

The Lady's Pick: Arkansas

9. Georgia Tech vs Middle Tennessee State: Georgia Tech (-19)

This pick could come back to haunt me later, but, Dwight Dasher could end up being a problem for that developing Yellow Jacket defense. He's much better than he showed last week, and this could be just the game he needs to get his game back on the right track.

Georgia Tech will definitely win, but not by 19. 

The Lady's Pick: Middle Tennessee 


10. Florida vs. Mississippi State: Florida (-9)

Mississippi State might be scrappy but their quarterback situation leaves much to be desired. Expect the Gators to get back to their winning ways this weekend.

The Lady's Pick: Florida

Former Texas Tech Coach, Mike Leach, Has One Word For the SEC..."Aggressive"

In case you didn't know it, Mike Leach has a new job as an on-air analyst for CBS College Sports this coming season. He will be relegated to Conference-USA and Mountain West match-ups but I doubt he will ever be at a loss for words.

That said, he only had one word to describe the SEC when asked, on this CBS SEC Preview Show, what he thought of the conference that, as of now, is the toast of the BCS..."It's Aggressive".

Was Texas Playing 'Chicken' With Dan Beebe All Along?

It was announced this morning that the Texas Longhorns, along with the coat tail riding contingent of Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State, have decided to accept the Big 12's proposal and stay in the Big 12.

Well, Yippee.

Here's the thing, who doesn't believe that the Longhorns were simply angling for more money and a better shot at getting their own network all along?

Think about it, not only did the money pot get bigger with the exodus of both Colorado and Nebraska, who will be forced to pay $17 million each for their transgressions, but the introduction of the league's intent to allow institutions to pursue their own separate television deal had to be the cherry on top for the Longhorns.

It's no secret that the Longhorns wanted to pursue their own network—a la the YES Network of the New York Yankees—but the Big 12 didn't seem open to that possibility. Dan Beebe skirted the issue time and again while, all the time, Texas was fuming and trying to figure out how to make it happen.

Enter the rumors of a Big Ten or Pac-10 raid of the Big 12 and VOILA!,  there's enough leverage to make the Big 12 and Dan Beebe rethink their stance on how revenue is distributed and how much liberality they will give each team in pursuing their own method of making money.

As an added bonus, both Nebraska and Colorado got scared silly enough to leave altogether. By doing so, the Big 12 North just got a lot less competitive and the money to be gained from any deals struck hence forward just got sweeter.

All of this led me to wonder, if Texas wasn’t just playing a very deceptive game of poker with Dan Beebe from the start?

In truth, most of what any of us heard about the expansion deals came from one of a few random sources, none of whom were in a position to make a decision on the fate of Texas or the Big 12.

Orangebloods.com set off this firestorm early on and by last Friday it was at a full blaze as the sports world essentially jumped on the story and ran.

Seriously, think long and hard about it, what did any of us read about Texas, the Big 12, or the Pac-10's invitation to the Longhorns that did not originate from Orangeblood's, Chip Brown? He was the primary source in just about every breaking news story regarding this situation and he is, of course, the source of the most recent news that Texas will stay in the Big 12 today.

Despite a conflicting report offered by ESPN's Joe Schad, that Texas will bolt for the Pac-10 for the academic prestige over the money, it makes sense that the Big 12 stay configured as a ten team league than go to a 16 team Pac-10 where their financial options would be somewhat restrained.

The Pac-10 is looking to expand their market share in hopes of securing more revenue from television. However, there is no deal in place yet, and any team joining the Pac-10 is doing so on good faith—nothing more.

Further, the Pac-10 is not going to allow Texas to pursue a Longhorn Network if they come over which—in my opinion—is what they truly want to do.

So, why join and split the money 16 ways, deny your program the option of netting an additional$3-5 million in television revenue through developing your own network, and risk disrupting your fanbase, just to join with the Pac-10 for academic reasons?

It just doesn’t make sense.

Now, I admit, all of this conjecture could be proved wrong a day or so from now, but for the moment, it makes more sense for the Big 12 to stay together than break apart.

Should Texas A&M Just Say: "So Long To The Orange And The White"?

The Aggie War Hymn, once considered to be the No. 1 college fight song in America, has meaning again on a national level. Here is an excerpt from the famous fight song:

Good bye to texas university
So long to the orange and the white
Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies
They are the boys who show the real old fight
"the eyes of Texas are upon you"
That is the song they sing so well
Sounds Like Hell
So good bye to texas university
We're gonna beat you all to…

The sentiment is fitting, considering the Aggies are seriously considering an offer to move to the SEC. 
Nothing has been set in stone yet but, as of this posting, the possibility was one with legs.

Here is the gist: there is an offer on the table for Texas to move to the Pac-10—assuming the last minute efforts of Dan Beebe to save the conference aren't thought to be "too little too late"–and they will, supposedly take Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State along for the ride.

The last slot, because the Pac-10 is trying to become the Pac-16—was presumed to be A&M's for the taking, if they wanted it. However, A&M is thinking of their own situation, financially, and may break from their rival school altogether. If they do, it would end a 100-year old rivalry game that, in the minds of many, has defined the Aggie program.

In response to that possibility, many alumnus, legislators, and fans of the program are hoping the Aggies will eschew the SEC's offer and stay on the coat tails of Texas.

The obvious solution would be for the Aggies and Longhorns to continue their rivalry as non-conference foes, right? The only problem there is Texas has already made it clear that, if the Aggies don't follow them then, they won't be playing any more reindeer games from now til' forever—if they can help it.

My first and only response to that is this: "To heck with Texas!"

More and more, as the days  go by and the rumors swirl, you get the feeling that the Longhorns have a bit of a god complex.  It looks unattractive, annoying, and extremely distasteful on them and I am puzzled at how long they have been able to railroad other teams—legally—without said teams exploding into a million little pieces.

Why on earth any team should feel the need to kiss the Longhorn's backside, is beyond me. Yet, at every turn of the expansion talk, you hear about the Longhorns intentions and what they want in a deal.

Even more, the Aggie fans that state their team is nothing without Texas, give even more credence to the idea—insane.

Note to all those teams: tell the Longhorns to get bent and then you (Oklahoma, A&M, Baylor, etc.) need to, sorry, grow a pair. 

I mean, seriously, despite the power, money, and prestige the Texas program brings to the college football negotiating table, shouldn't an institution want to stand on it's own two feet?

Don't get me wrong, as an SEC fan, I know the importance of rivalries and tradition—both are a staple in the SEC. However, I do not condone one team holding another hostage just because it can. Face it, folks, Texas is a bully and all they seem to do is make life difficult for every team around them—it's any wonder the Cornhuskers left for the Big 10.

In my opinion, the SEC is fine as is and expansion is not necessary. Leave well enough alone and let the Joneses' keep trying to keep pace with you. Don't react and start trying to pull rabbits out of hats. There is nothing wrong with the SEC and, to echo a common southern refrain. "if it ain't broke..."

Who knows what will happen over the next hour or two? Who knows how all of this will eventually shake out? These days, the information is nearly useless almost as soon as you have read it.

Either way, changes are happening and it's time that the programs who want to play with the big boys start playing with their own equipment because the Longhorns are clearly not playing fair.

A Texas to Big Ten Move Is, Perhaps, The Dumbest Thing I've Ever Heard

Why on earth would Texas consider moving to the Big Ten?

I'm perplexed by the idea and have bantied it about quite enough at this point so, I am posing the question to other common sense-filled beings—why would Texas make the jump from the Big 12 to the Big Ten?

I understand that there is money in doing so; that by adding Texas to the Big Ten, the revenue of the conference increases substantially based on their having secured every major television market that matters—save New York. I realize that the almighty dollar is at the root of all this expansion evil.

That said, I also know that Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan aren't the only teams in the Big Ten who would be given the opportunity to play Texas if they did join. There are, after all, eight other teams that make up the Big Ten (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan State, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, and Wisconsin) and nearly all of them would play Texas at some point.

So, in seriously considering that fact, be honest, who really wants to see Texas play Indiana, Minnesota, or Illinois?

I mean, because, obviously, the Longhorns would have to fill out that 13 game schedule with at least 5-6 other conference match-ups, right? You can't play the big boys every week.

There would be just as many bad match-ups in the Big Ten as there are in the Big 12. The difference would be that Texas would seem alarmingly out of place playing Minnesota as opposed to Oklahoma State.

Even more, what becomes of the Red River Rivalry? Would Oklahoma still play Texas every year?

Of course, the obvious answer is yes, since the two teams have played each other since 1900 but, if the Sooners moved to the Pac-11, which is looking to become the Pac-16, would the rivalry hold as much weight as it has since 1996 when they became part of the same conference?

After all, the 'Red River Rivalry', for many years, was the deciding factor in who would go to the Big 12 Championship Game and represent the Big 12 South; with that implication gone, would that game matter more or less to the college football fan?

Which leads to my next question: Why would Texas want to give up it's Big 12 dominance in exchange for Big Ten parity?

The Big 12 as it's configured right now is Texas, Oklahoma....and everybody else. Period. Nebraska is on the upswing and Texas Tech is always lurking but, in truth, nobody can touch Texas or Oklahoma in terms of success, recruting, or popularity in the Big 12. So why leave?

Texas doesn't need the money and they wouldn't be done any favors by joining another conference. If anything, Texas is bringing more to the table no matter where they go, so what's in it for them?

It just seems like a whole lot of trouble to go through when the formula isn't broken.

For my money, let Colorado go and be the second coming of Oregon State in the Pac-11, but where the chatter about the rest of the Big 12 jumping ship and joining other is concerned, I only have one thing to say: just don't mess with Texas.