Tulsa (-7) at Arkansas – This one is simple. If Tulsa wins this one they will be in the driver’s seat to go 13-0. This is their last big test, and it is only a test because it is an SEC team. The Golden Hurricane should be fine here, and if they are then they could be a headache for BCS fans. They’ll be undefeated and they’ll want into the party. It will be interesting to see if they are allowed to play. It will be esppecially fun if these guys and Utah and Boise State were all to make it through unscathed.
Florida (-6.5) vs. Georgia – The World’s Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party is always fun, and especially now that these teams are both good, desperate for a win, and truly hating each other. I am not generally a huge fan of the style of football the SEC plays – I respect it but hate to watch it – but this game should be a joy to watch. The winner is likely heading to the SEC Championship game. The loser is playing for next year.
Washington (+46) at USC – This will be a terrible game, but it will be fun to watch in a train wreck sort of way. Washington is unbelievably awful. Their QB is hurt, their coach is a lame duck, and they have no talent anywhere on the field. This one could get really, really, really ugly. I hope so.
Utah (-7.5) at New Mexico – This sets up as a potential trap game for the Utes. New Mexico is a pretty solid team, especially at home. Utah needs to be on their toes to get through this one, and they may not be if they are looking ahead to a huge Thurday night game against TCU. The Utes obviously can’t afford to lose, so the stakes are very high.
Texas (-3.5) at Texas Tech – This is, in my opinion, the most interesting game of the year so far. You have the two extremes – an established, proven, conventional program, and an upstart team with a screwball offense that has gradually earned respect. Both teams can score like crazy, and neither plays much defense, so this will be a fireworks show. On top of that, the game is the biggest sporting event ever to be played in Lubbock, and the implications are huge – the winner is the temporary king of the brutal Big 12, and the loser has to lick their wounds. We don’t really know what we have in Texas Tech – they have played very well, but their biggest games are ahead of them. We know exactly what we have in Texas – a lot. They have been brutalized by a very rough schedule, though, and they wouldn’t be blamed if they were hurting physcally and mentally by now after the gauntlet they have had to run. If they win here and beat top 11 teams four weeks in a row they will be only the second team ever, and first in more than 60 years, to do so. This game has everything going for it, and could be an instant classic.
