KU on top of the FBB leaderboard….I wouldn’t have “bet the house” on that one in August. But then again, not all of us can be as bold as RObert.
- Baylor at KU(-27)
- Iowa St at Texas (-16)
- tamu at Tech (-8.5)
- Louisville (+10) at Cincy
- Wildcard: mizzou (+10.5) at ou Yes I realize we covered both WC teams last week but this is the headliner AND a pivotal game for three of the four FBB squads.
Baylor at KU
Predictable let-down pick with KU coming off the win in Manhattan. That said, the lowlight of the last 25 years occurred in Waco last season when the Hawks gave up 18 pts in the fourth quarter. Since that melt-down on the Brazos the Jayhawks are 8-1 and have been itching to get a shot a redemption. If the Flying Manginos are to maintain the respect gained over the last six days they cover in a convincing manner. Look for KU’s secondary to be tested — recall how bad they were in 06 — and should they step-up the Hawks will cover while still playing it conservative.
Iowa St at Texas
UT fans are still trying to get that bitter Chizek taste out of their mouths…and no better way to do it than to blow out the lowly Clones. Texas will win by 14 and the UT faithful will be dissatisfied.
tamu at Tech
I tout the “system” as much, if not more, than anyone but the pride of Plainview (Crabtree) is a player in anyone’s program. Coupled with one of the great Big 12 coaches of all time Tech covers at home…8.5 is a lock.
Ville at Cincy
I will continue to ride the Cards only because the Big East is so jacked. I mean..UConn…come on. Cards win…and obviously cover.
Wildcard: mizzou at ou
Daniels picks apart the OU secondary, the same secondary exposed by the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa. The OU offense – as they need a statement game – puts on an clinic against a weak tigger D. This should be a good one. OU is the popular pick in Norman but I like mizzou to cover.
The Baker Galleries 
First off, I know KU is a pretty good team that would rival UK as a middle of the pack SEC team this year… It’s hard to deny an undefeated record, even though their biggest win was vs a currently unranked K-State team… That being said, awarding KU the top FBB team this year might be stretching it a bit… Not as bad as the joke of awarding Al Gore with a Nobel Prize for his sham documentary, but pretty close…
Seriously, is their a bigger hypocrit on the planet…??? Dude lives in a 10,000 sq’, 20 room house in Carthage, TN (one of three palacial estates he owns) that sits on top of a zinc mine that Gore receives $20,000 a year in royalties from… Tennessee has cited the zinc mining company for adding large, unhealthy quantities of barium, iron and zinc to the nearby Caney Fork River. Not too mention he jets around the world in a private 737 which as far as planes go, is not one of the worst, its the worst at polluting the air, and tells us low-lifes that we shouldn’t be driving to work… C’mon Al, we ain’t that dumb (well, save Lubbock, TX)… BTW, these stats weren’t derived from some right-wing whacko publication… They came from USA Today, which, feet held to the fire, leans more left than right…
This is their quote:
The issue here is not simply Gore’s hypocrisy; it’s a question of credibility. If he genuinely believes the apocalyptic vision he has put forth and calls for radical changes in the way other people live, why hasn’t he made any radical change in his life? Giving up the zinc mine or one of his homes is not asking much, given that he wants the rest of us to radically change our lives.
Now to the business at hand:
Baylor at KU(-27)
The ultimate letdown game… Big road win last week vs in-state rival, going home with a huge number to cover vs a not-so-bad Baylor (compared to previous Baylor teams) team… I think the Hawks win it somewhat comfortably, but not by 27… I’ll take the Bears with the cakey 27 points…
Iowa St at Texas (-16)
Texas, on a 2 game bender, heads home vs the Chizclones… I’ll take Texas all day here against a pretty small number considering Iowa State got waxed by Kent State this year, in Ames, by 9 points… Horns cover…
tamu at Tech (-8.5)
T&M was the 3rd most overrated team going into this season… I’ll take Tech here to waste the Aggies and cover the number… Hell, 8.5 points to Leach is nothing more than a double reverse and a fake FG… Tech is a dropped TD pass away from being undefeated and in the top 10…. Tech is the selection…
Louisville (+10) at Cincy
Add UL to A&M and Michigan and you have the “way overrated in the summer” trifecta club… How can anyone take UL with a defense who gives up more yards and points than Britney Spears gives up shag…??? Cincy is undefeated and has this game circled, esp. since UL has beaten the Bearcats 7 0f the last 8 years, including a 70-7 pasting a couple years ago (damn, I was there… Those were the days; thanks Krapthorpe)… I know it’s been said before, but he was handed the keys to the Porsche, he wrecked it and now we are stuck with a rental…Alas, Cincy wins and covers…
Wildcard: mizzou (+10.5) at ou
Big game for both… OU is back in NCAA title contention with the USC loss and they know there can be no more slip ups… Mizzou has a witch in Jeremy Maclin… As much as you can despise Mizzou, it’s hard to ignore Maclin who is working his way onto some Heisman lists for next year… Of course, he and they haven’t faced a D like the one Stoops puts on the field, and just as UK faced vs South Carolina last week, the crystal ball might be a breaking in Norman Saturday… I like OU to win, but I think Mizzou has just enough offense to stay within the number… Take the Tigers to cover…
Ran a little long today, but I was just gabberflasted this morn with the Al Gore news…
Oh well, back to the real world of college football..
BTW, what’s your Patriots/Cowboys pick… I think the Pats will light the ‘Boys up, but I’d really like to see NE lose… Go Colts.
Peace
Baylor at KU (-27)
On the FD of Barking Carnival they show Mangino picking his nose during a game with the headline “Henry James picks the Big IIX N winners.” For christ sake, they have one televised game all year and he’s picking his nose? Eeeuuw. Regardless, KU is ranked higher than Texas right now so I just need to take a back seat and acknowldge that creampuff schedules pay off, and perhaps it is I who should be looking forward to basketball season at this point.
As BC says, “The Jayhawks are ranked in the Top 5 in the nation in both total offense and total defense. They’re not nearly that good at either, but they’re at least solid at both. Todd Reesing is a poor man’s Chase Daniel. Mark Mangino is a poor man’s Jupiter.” Every week I bet against the Hawks, I paid dearly (both personally and on the points), so I am going for it. KU covers against the bear claws.
Iowa St at Texas (-16)
Seriously, check out the live blog on the OU game. http://www.barkingcarnival.com/henryjames/liveblogging-ou
I don’t need any original material this year ’cause these guys are so damn funny. A few snippets to entice the busy FBB reader.
“I have a case of Oklahoma Suks beer from Independence Brewery in Austin. Every time the broadcast shows Mack Brown clapping, I’ll drink a bottle. Every time it shows Bob Stoops yelling, I’ll break one over my head. I’ll either be drunk or dead by halftime.”
“Oh shit. Ryan Palmer bats away the pass on a single coverage deep ball to Malcolm Kelly. Little people can do stuff.”
“McCoy has happy feet. Maybe by design. Only way to make a play is to go off schedule. After the game, Ricky Schroeder will cry over his lifeless body in the dressing room.”
Ok, I’m done. If Texas has any pride left, I have to go with the ‘Horns to cover.
tamu at Tech (-8.5)
Once again, Tech covers. Duh. CK. Nice little piece on Crabtree for bones. http://www.barkingcarnival.com/henryjames/how-legit-is-texas-techs-michael-crabtree
Louisville (+10) at Cincy
Syracuse flashbacks. Cincy covers.
Wildcard: mizzou (+10.5) at ou
This is a tough one – have to go pick up LM – I’m going with the Sooners to cover (how dumb are those wagon hats, but I guess that’s what they wear in Rome, right Blaine?)
Baylor at KU(-27)
A huge number to cover away from home. As RObert said, this is the ultimate let down game after a big victory last week in Manhattan. The Bears cover.
Iowa St at Texas (-16)
Yawn. After a 4 game Big 12 losing streak, dating to last year, the Horns get back on track and cover.
tamu at Tech (-8.5)
I love this game every year. After A&M “distanced” itself from coach Fran this week in a press conference about his private email to select alums, this is the beginning of the end for Fran. A&M will give a great effort, but Tech wins and slightly covers.
Louisville (+10) at Cincy
Still love the ‘Ville, but have to go with head over my heart. Cincy wins and covers.
Wildcard: mizzou (+10.5) at ou
If playing at Mizzou, I would give them a chance. In Norman, a close game, but OU will wear them down in the 4th and win. Picking Mizzou to cover the 10.5.
A hush comes over the Baker household with promises of a Kansas mention on CGD. Nothing else can happen. Jude must be watched by someone else. Brent must hear what the esteemed CDG crew has to say about his mighty, undefeated Jayhawks. For the next 4 minutes they proceed to rip the KU schedule, summed up by Fowler’s brutal, but accurate assessment “Kansas’ schedule is an embarrassment.” Ouch. Brent looks dejected, and mutters something about the strength of the 2008 schedule. But this isn’t 2008, is it?
I got your back B2… They can dog KU’s schedule all they want… They’ve waxed everyone on it, and except for K-State on the road, they’ve done it by alot of points… I’m a believer that the Hawks might just be playing OU in the title game… Alot will shake out the next 2 weeks on the road vs good teams (at least at home)… If KU can do what OU couldn’t (beat Colorado in Boulder) then they might have to be taken seriously… Sets up for a nice weekend a mere 6 days away…
BTW, where the hell is Blaine???
As I was late in getting the line-up out this week Blaine’s busy schedule didn’t allow for him to get the picks in. Yes….four of the five teams are the same w/w and four of the five FBB participants found five minutes in their schedules to get their picks in but Blaine has called for a special exception and left his picks on my vm.
I’m taking it into consideration.
To the KU point….let’s see how KU handles this new found success. Given the way the conference is playing out getting to 9-0 is feasible…but not likely. CU should be on par with the game in Manhattan but without the luxury of having two week to prepare. Should be a good one.