NCAA Week 13

Arizona: Hires RichRod!  Good for RichRod. . .there's no question RichRod was stabbed in the back by the Lloyd Carr wing at U-M. . .everything was negative from Day One with RichRod. . .the black cloud never left him. . .and while I eventually tired of his inability to field even a mediocre defense or special teams, and he ultimately must take responsibility for the terrible 15 - 22 record, it must be noted he handled all the back-stabbing, the negativity, the all-around ill will from most of the state of Michigan with class [a bit of an eccentric, backwoods kind of class, but class nonetheless].  And his ability to construct a dynamic offense cannot be questioned. Arizona should be a good fit for RichRod, he should be able to put together a big offense quickly out there, but he's inheriting a team with a lousy defense. . .I doubt he'll be brining Greg Robinson with him. . .the one big choice he has to get right is Defensive Coordinator. . .if he makes the right hire, if he can lure his old buddy Jeff Casteel from WVU, he should have no problems competing in the Pac Whatever It Is. . .Rich Rod is a likable fellow, a decent guy who deserved better from the *Michigan Family,* and I would love to one day see a Michigan - Arizona Rose Bowl. . .what a great story that would be. . .the grudge match of the Age.  Good luck, RichRod!

Texas +8 at Texas A&M: Now that they've flopped away their season, and are firmly entrenched with nothing to play for but a marginally better Flea Bag Bowl, A&M should hammer their soon-to-be-former big rival, giving Texas another poor season, and setting the stage for Longhorn Nation handwringing over Mack Brown fatigue: how many games does Mack have to win next year before his seat gets hot?  Texas A&M.

Iowa +9 1/2 at Nebraska: Way back in my first message here I said: We’ll see just how shitty the Big 12 really is, after Nebraska, the preseason pick to win the Big 10, loses at least 3 Big 10 games. 3 in the bank, already.  The Big Whatever It Was is a soft conference, as evidence by Nebraska. . .they supposedly had a tough defense, but nobody in the Big 10 had any problem moving against them. . .even Ohio State ran up and down the field on them. . .Nebraska was too soft for the mediocre Big Ten, and they had a mediocre conference season, and now they wind up playing Iowa, a typical Big Ten team--not very good, but well-coached, particularly on defense.  Iowa should be able to cover, and I wouldn't be surprised if Iowa gave Nebraska one last slap in the face in their first Big Ten season.  Iowa.

Ar-Kansas +13 at LSU: The BCS experts say that even if Ar-Kansas beats LSU, LSU would still get the nod to play Alabama in a Paint Dry Bowl II BCS title game. . .huh?  How the hell is that even possible?  They need to have a human selection committee for this thing, instead of some dumb *mathematical* formula that rewards a losing team with the Grand Prize.  I'll be pulling for Ar-Kansas and Auburn to blow-up the BCS this weekend.  LSU.

Georgia at Georgia Tech +6: Tech has lost to all the good teams on their schedule, except a fading Clemson.  Georgia has won 9 in a row and won a spot in the SEC Title game.  Georgia's run defense has been outstanding, they are now #2 in the nation, trailing only mighty Alabama.  They'll get a test in this one, going against the #2 rushing offense in the nation.  Georgia.

Ohio State +8 at Michigan: A day before Jim Tressel was fired, who would have imagined OSU would enter this game an 8 point underdog?  But OSU has fallen to mediocre status in a swift fashion, and now poor Luke Fickell has only this game to save this season from being a bitter memory.  If he beats Michigan, he'll still be fired. . .Urban Meyer is already talking about the job openly, drama queening it by moaning what a tough decision he'll have to make. . .sure, coach, sure. . .but if Fickell could win this game, he'll at least have one pleasant memory for himself of his one no-way-to-come-out-of-it-alive season as Head Coach in his dream job.  Brady Hoke's dream job, season one, has been a success, nobody is complaining about the 9 - 2 record, as he has restored Michigan to its Lloyd Carr status. . .but if he should lose this game to a broken OSU team, it will definitely be a HUGE disappointment. . .Michigan has lost 7 in a row, they need to break that streak before Meyer gets the Buckeyes retooled.  I wouldn't say there is pressure on Michigan to win this game, but there is an expectation. . .the 10 win season, a decent bowl, and finally a win over OSU. . .to lose to a lousy Buckeye team will be a sour ending to what has been a very sweet first season for Brady Hoke.  Michigan stopped Taylor Martinez last week, and Braxton Miller is all OSU has, so you would think Michigan should win fairly easily. . .but never underestimate Denard Robinson's ability to turn the ball over and keep the other team in the game.  If Michigan wins, it won't be by 8.  Ohio State.

Alabama at Auburn +21: Why is Trent Richardson a Heisman candidate, and not Wisconsin's Monte Ball?  Richardson is another Mark Ingram. . .another over-rated college plowhorse, who in the NFL will be nothing but a Carousel Horse.  Compare Richardson's stats to Ball, and you will see Ball is the better player.  Anyway, Auburn lost BIG to Georgia, LSU and Ar-Kansas, why should Alabama be any different?  It's a rivalry game and you throw out the records, blah, blah, blah.  But Georgia Southern showed if you don't play afraid of Alabama, you can actually make some yards on that defense.  I think Alabama's been a little over-rated all season. . .they really only played two good teams. . .they beat Ar-Kansas easily and lost to LSU. . .both at home.  Auburn won't win, but if they don't wet their pants in the lockerroom prior to the game because it's Alabama, they could cover.  Auburn.