Weekend thoughts...

NORMAN, Okla. --- I spent part of Saturday at this educational outpost on the open plains. Amy and I, on our way back from a weekend in Oklahoma City, took a spin around campus about two hours before kickoff of Oklahoma-Texas Tech.

To say that Oklahoma's Owen Memorial Stadium is intimidating in person is like saying Mount Everest is a wee-tough climb. Undefeated Tech found out the hard way, getting blown to smithereens. Having now been to Norman and seen the unbridled passion, the middle-of-nowhere canyon-like stadium, the series of national championships painted on the scoreboard, all of first hand, I do not believe the Sooners can be beat there.

Jake foreshadowed Oklahoma's win last week. The Crystal Ball took it a step further. Here is the prediction word for word... We don't call it the Crystal Ball for nothing:

"The Red Raiders have cheated death in 10 straight games, but payment has come at last.

I believe in Tech and all they've accomplished. QB Graham Harrell and WR Michael Crabtree are studs and the team's No. 2 ranking is well deserved. But on the road against Oklahoma, watch for Tech's secrets to be laid bare.

The Sooners always show up in force for these conference showdown-type games and, now, they have had two weeks to prepare. I've picked against Tech the last few weeks, but my Spidey Sense tells me the team's karma is about to change. Football giveth and football taketh away. You read it here first: Oklahoma wins in a blowout."

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit mentioned during the game that he didn't think anyone could have predicted such a lopsided outcome. Well, he didn't read 3Fans.

Now, for some quick hits:

Ambush in waiting: Missouri. Twice beaten by Oklahoma last year, the Tigers have quietly waited in the weeds for their chance at revenge and to show the nation that they are, indeed, an elite team. I foresee a pumped up and focused Mizzou against whoever wins the Big 12 South: Watch out Texoma Tech.

Big Bowl matchups I'd love to see: USC versus Florida, Oklahoma-Texas versus Florida, Texas Tech versus Utah.

Big Bowl matchups I'd hate to see: Cincinnati versus Georgia Tech, Cincinnati versus Utah. In fact, any game involving the (yawn) Bearcats.

Most inconsistent team of the century: Maryland. Loses to Middle Tennessee State by 10. Beats California by 8. Loses to Virginia by 31. Beats Wake Forest by 26. Loses to Virginia Tech by 10. Beats North Carolina by 2. Loses to Florida State by 34. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

If I were a Wall Street Man, I'd short sell: Alabama. They're good, but they're not national championship good. Watch for them to get exposed Texas Tech-style against Florida in the SEC title game.

Overrated: Utah, Boise State

Underrated: Georgia Tech, Cincinnati

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