The Agony Meter... plus other thoughts

Here it is, a day late... A quick look at the tribulations of our alma maters.

Heaping dose of agony: Southern Methodist
The team put itself in a position to upset Houston, only to give away the game at the end on defense. It would have been the team's first conference win. Instead, the Mustangs drop to 1-7 and gnash their teeth once more. No one said rebuilding would be easy, but garn!

Some agony: Arizona State
A bye week takes some of the sting off of a disheartening four-game losing streak. But at 2-4, the Sun Devils will have to get moving if they want to give themselves any chance at a bowl game.

A dash of agony: Boston College
Yes, B.C. upset Virginia Tech on national television. It's hard to complain about that. But, boy, was it U-G-L-Y. The Eagles gave up five turnovers, including two pick-sixes. Yet they still won. Catholic fortune? Hokie bad luck? Or a sad commentary on both of these supposed ACC powers? We report. You decide.

If I were a Wall Street man, I'd short sell:

Phillies' closer Brad Lidge. He's solid, there's no question. But my Spidey Sense tells me he's due to get lit up and blow a game or two during this World Series.

Penn State. This team is very good and deserves its high ranking, but I'm done drinking the Kool Aid. After watching this team struggle against Purdue and Michigan, I can't see them making it to the Promised Land unscathed.

Oklahoma State. Good? Absolutely. Top Ten quality, even. But a national title contender? C'mon. Sell high now, before it's too late.

Your portfolio is trash if you haven't already sold:

Dallas Cowboys. What a disaster zone. If you recall, we put the Cowboys on our "short sell" list a few weeks ago. Look at how things have played out... Pacman. Romo. Jerry. St. Louis. Yada, yada, yada. The implosion would almost be sad if it weren't so twistedly amusing (said the diehard Patriots fan).

Overrated: Texas Tech, Tennessee Titans

Underrated: Ohio State, Tulsa, The Atlantic Coast Conference

Fine Nine: Texas, USC, Oklahoma, Penn State, Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Georgia

Nintendo Stat of the Week: 36 (First downs made by Tulsa in its 77-35 rout of UTEP on Saturday.)