Thursday

Nebraska at Missouri (Nebraska by 3)

Steve: This is the biggest Big 12 game of the season so far, and the weather sounds like it will be a factor in this one. Nebraska hasn’t won in Columbia since 2001 and the Mizzou crowd will be hostile (i.e. very drunk), but Nebraska has played in a tougher environment already in Blacksburg. Plus, Mizzou hasn’t played anyone worth a crap this year. Nebraska 35 – Missouri 28

Beav: This is supposed to be a big measuring stick for Nebraska, but I don't see it. I'm not a believer in Missouri - their offense is not as explosive as it has been and they have struggled against very average Bowling Green and Nevada. Nebraska has looked good so far and has proven that they can go play well on the road. As long as their red zone offense can be productive this week, I think the Huskers win big. Nebraska 40 - Missouri 10

Saturday

Baylor at Oklahoma (Oklahoma by 25)

Steve: Oklahoma is hard to figure out this year both offensively and defensively. I would say they are the hardest team to pick games for in 2009. One thing they are consistent at is winning at home. Oklahoma 42 – Baylor 14

Beav: I think the Sooners use this game to try to get the offense back on track. While I am kind of down on OU this year, I still think they’ll put up a bunch of points on Baylor. Oklahoma 55 - Baylor 20.

Iowa State at Kansas (Kansas by 20)

Steve: I wrote in one of the first blog posts that Kansas should start 6-0, but their fans shouldn’t get too excited. Why? They have, by far, the easiest opening 6 games of any top 25 team. I am still not convinced they are not that good; however, you don’t have to be great to beat Iowa State. Kansas 35 – Iowa State 14

Beav: I'm not a believer in Kansas as a top 15 team, but that won't make much difference this week. Kansas 46 – Iowa State 10

Kansas State at Texas Tech (Tech by17)

Steve: Texas Tech is probably a close #2 behind Oklahoma as the Big 12’s biggest disappointment so far. Have teams finally figured out how to slow down Mike Leach’s offense? Possibly, and Kansas State does have a decent defense. Tech will win, but not cover. Texas Tech 31 – Kansas State 17

Beav: KSU has less talent than Sean Kingston, but they have a good coach who at least has them improving every week. Texas Tech, on the other hand, is on the verge of completely imploding. The coach is publicly sniping at players and the offense is really struggling. They seem to get worse every week, and I think it all comes to a head when they lose to the lowly Wildcats at home. Kansas State 31 - Texas Tech 30

Colorado at Texas (Texas by 32)

Steve: This is a terrible match-up for CU. Yes they “hung” with West Virginia, but Texas isn’t going to turn the ball over 3-4 straight possessions like WVU did. Texas will win huge, and Cody Hawkins will possible throw more picks than completions. Texas 52 – Colorado 10

Beav: CU is getting a little bit better...they have gone from 'laughable' to 'doormat' since beating Wyoming and showing up at WV. I don't see this being a 30 point blowout. Texas - 41 Colorado 21.

Oklahoma State at Texas A&M (Okie State by 8)

Steve: I watched the first 5 minutes of the aTm-Arkansas game and actually thought the Aggies looked decent. Then I turned back 1 hour later and they were losing by about 30 points. What the hell happened? Must have been massive suckiness. Oklahoma State 35 – aTm 20

Beav: I don't like OSU as a top 15 team either...if it weren't for the free fall of Texas Tech, OSU would be getting more attention as a disappointment. If they belong as a contender, there is no excuse for losing to Houston....but they are still good enough to beat aTm by double digits. Oklahoma State 31 - aTm 20

Other games of Interest

Oregon at UCLA (Oregon by 6)

Steve: Will the Oregon team that lost to Boise State or the team that smoked Cal show up? Either way, it won’t matter because UCLA kind of blows. Oregon 35 – UCLA 17

Beav: Oregon is back in the hunt for the Pac 10 title after last week's throttling of Cal. UCLA is a tough team to judge - they barely scraped by KSU at home, but they beat Tennessee on the road, and the Vols are better than most expected. I think Oregon has things clicking, at least at this point in the season. Oregon 38 - UCLA 24

Florida at LSU (Florida by 8.5)

Steve: For the love of all things, I hope that Florida loses if Tim Tebow plays. I don’t think I can handle any more of the Tebow love-fest. At the beginning of the season I implemented a personal Tebow ban: Any time people start discussing Tebow, radio or TV, I instantly change the channel. I get that he is an amazing person, but amazing person does not mean he is an amazing football player. Oh yeah, the game. Tebow won’t play, but Florida will cover because LSU is the most overrated team in the country. Florida 28 – LSU 14.

Beav: I saw on ESPN that Tim Tebow remains their front runner for the Heisman. Not sure how passing for 160 yards per game and rushing for about 70 yards per game makes a guy the front runner for anything. Remember when guys like Barry Sanders could win the trophy? Not anymore - apparently now you can win the Heisman with a stat line that reads like Trent Dilfer's in 2000 as long as you head butt a few linebackers and sound like a 4th grader doing show and tell when you talk to the press. If Tebow makes it through the season without a 3 or 4 INT game, the trophy is likely his. Ridiculous. Florida 34 LSU 14

Alabama at Ole Miss (Bama by 6)

Steve: I think Bama might actually be the best team in College football. I’m not a huge Saban fan, but this team of his plays football the way it should be played. Great offensive and defensive lines, and they pound the football. Alabama 28 – Ole Miss 14

Beav: Big week in the SEC's Western Division. This will go a ways toward determining who will meet the Gators in the SEC Championship Game. I think the Tide win this one, but 6 points seems like a lot to give in a SEC border war. Alabama 27 - Ole Miss 24

Michigan at Iowa (Iowa by 8)

Steve: Why I hate the Big 10: I heard a Big 10 blogger on ESPN radio say “If Iowa runs the table they are definitely playing in the National Title game.” That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. If Texas and either Florida or Bama run the table there is no way in hell an undefeated Iowa gets in the title game. Hopefully we will not be hearing such nonsense after Saturday. Michigan 28 – Iowa 21

Beav: I love the self perpetuating myth of the Big 10. Team A (Penn State this year) comes into the season WAY overrated, gets beaten by Team B (Iowa) who is then WAY overrated. Next step is where Team B loses to another average Big 10 team (because that's what average teams do), and then the talk begins about “running the gauntlet of the Big 10”. Same script every year. Michigan 31 - Iowa 20.