OKLAHOMA STATE (-2) at KANSAS STATE
OSU's first-string defense didn't allow a touchdown thru the first three weeks of the season. Then the competition got tougher. The Houston Cougars bombarded the Cowboys for 509 yards on Sept. 23.
Despite that setback, we still believe that OSU is greatly improved on both sides of the ball. DE Nathan Peterson, who appeared headed for a great career as a true freshman, is healthy again and the LB corps has been significantly upgraded. On offense, QB Bobby Reid has elevated his game and WR Adarius Bowman has been as good as advertised.
KSU went belly-up in the red zone at Baylor. The Wildcats have scored only three touchdowns in their last three assignments. Prize recruit Josh Freeman gets the nod at QB today. Although Freeman has a big upside, Ron Prince appears to be pushing the panic button. On the season, Freeman has completed only 14 of 47 passes with four interceptions.
The KSU program was on the decline before Bill Snyder bid his adieu. The stunning upset of Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 title game was the last hurrah. Since that juncture, the Wildcats are 4-13 SU in league play. Coming off a bye, the more explosiive Cowboys should lasso this mangy cat.
RECOMMENDATION: Oklahoma State minus the points.
STANFORD at NOTRE DAME (-31)
In last year's meeting, Stanford had Notre Dame on the ropes before succumbing 38-31. However, the game wasn't nearly as close as the final score. The Irish racked up 663 yards.
Stanford brings far less to the table today. The receiving corps has been decimated by injuries. The starting wideouts at UCLA were a walk-on and a true freshman. QB Trent Edwards is highly skilled, but his protection has suffered with the loss of center Tim Mattran and burly blocking back Nick Frank.
Notre Dame has defensive chinks, but the Stanford "D" is conspicuously softer. Opponents are averaging 54 snaps per game, the second-highest total in the country. The erosion was inevitable. The Cardinal had nine defensive players picked in the last two NFL drafts.
With a bye next week, Charlie Weis has little reason to ease up on the throttle. Moroever, Weis has something of a fiduciary responsibility to Brady Quinn to leave him in the game until his numbers satisfy the expectation of a Heisman frontrunner.
RECOMMENDATION: Notre Dame minus the points.
OREGON at CALIFORNIA (-5 1/2)
Marshawn Lynch splintered OU for 189 rushing yards last year, but it wasn't enough to get Cal over the hump in a game decided in overtime. Lynch figures to have another solid outing against an OU stop-unit hit hard by injuries up front. However, we look for the Ducks to bring home the bacon in a high-scoring affair.
By our reckoning, OU has the nation's top offensive line. The unit has allowed only one sack thus far, allowing Dennis Dixon to blossom into a first-rate triggerman. In 243-pound WR Jaison Williams, the Ducks have a weapon that was lacking last year. Williams poses a big dilemma for a Cal secondary that lost a key component when Tim Mixon was lost for the season before the opener at Tennessee. The Bears might also be without physical safety Thomas McCoud, whose bum knee kept him out of the lineup last week.
Mike Bellotti is 2-1 vs. his former assistant Jeff Tedford. Bellotti is 7-1 SU overall vs. the Golden Bears since arriving in Eugene. The lone defeat was a 1-point setback in a game where the Ducks were dressing as a 20-point dog. Bellotti recruits the Bay Area heavily, where he has boated such talents as the aforementioned Dixon.
RECOMMENDATION: Oregon plus the points.
OSU's first-string defense didn't allow a touchdown thru the first three weeks of the season. Then the competition got tougher. The Houston Cougars bombarded the Cowboys for 509 yards on Sept. 23.
Despite that setback, we still believe that OSU is greatly improved on both sides of the ball. DE Nathan Peterson, who appeared headed for a great career as a true freshman, is healthy again and the LB corps has been significantly upgraded. On offense, QB Bobby Reid has elevated his game and WR Adarius Bowman has been as good as advertised.
KSU went belly-up in the red zone at Baylor. The Wildcats have scored only three touchdowns in their last three assignments. Prize recruit Josh Freeman gets the nod at QB today. Although Freeman has a big upside, Ron Prince appears to be pushing the panic button. On the season, Freeman has completed only 14 of 47 passes with four interceptions.
The KSU program was on the decline before Bill Snyder bid his adieu. The stunning upset of Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 title game was the last hurrah. Since that juncture, the Wildcats are 4-13 SU in league play. Coming off a bye, the more explosiive Cowboys should lasso this mangy cat.
RECOMMENDATION: Oklahoma State minus the points.
STANFORD at NOTRE DAME (-31)
In last year's meeting, Stanford had Notre Dame on the ropes before succumbing 38-31. However, the game wasn't nearly as close as the final score. The Irish racked up 663 yards.
Stanford brings far less to the table today. The receiving corps has been decimated by injuries. The starting wideouts at UCLA were a walk-on and a true freshman. QB Trent Edwards is highly skilled, but his protection has suffered with the loss of center Tim Mattran and burly blocking back Nick Frank.
Notre Dame has defensive chinks, but the Stanford "D" is conspicuously softer. Opponents are averaging 54 snaps per game, the second-highest total in the country. The erosion was inevitable. The Cardinal had nine defensive players picked in the last two NFL drafts.
With a bye next week, Charlie Weis has little reason to ease up on the throttle. Moroever, Weis has something of a fiduciary responsibility to Brady Quinn to leave him in the game until his numbers satisfy the expectation of a Heisman frontrunner.
RECOMMENDATION: Notre Dame minus the points.
OREGON at CALIFORNIA (-5 1/2)
Marshawn Lynch splintered OU for 189 rushing yards last year, but it wasn't enough to get Cal over the hump in a game decided in overtime. Lynch figures to have another solid outing against an OU stop-unit hit hard by injuries up front. However, we look for the Ducks to bring home the bacon in a high-scoring affair.
By our reckoning, OU has the nation's top offensive line. The unit has allowed only one sack thus far, allowing Dennis Dixon to blossom into a first-rate triggerman. In 243-pound WR Jaison Williams, the Ducks have a weapon that was lacking last year. Williams poses a big dilemma for a Cal secondary that lost a key component when Tim Mixon was lost for the season before the opener at Tennessee. The Bears might also be without physical safety Thomas McCoud, whose bum knee kept him out of the lineup last week.
Mike Bellotti is 2-1 vs. his former assistant Jeff Tedford. Bellotti is 7-1 SU overall vs. the Golden Bears since arriving in Eugene. The lone defeat was a 1-point setback in a game where the Ducks were dressing as a 20-point dog. Bellotti recruits the Bay Area heavily, where he has boated such talents as the aforementioned Dixon.
RECOMMENDATION: Oregon plus the points.
