Agony-Ball (Thanksgiving Edition)...

Hello, Constant Readers. We're back in the saddle today after much feasting and lazing. Here's a glance at the ups and downs of our alma maters, as well as a few (hopefully) spot-on predictions, in a special joint Thanksgiving Edition of The Agony Meter/Crystal Ball...

Choking on a bone: Southern Methodist
The 1-10 Mustangs have one more shot at a conference win: Saturday versus Southern Mississippi. But it's a tall order since the Golden Eagles are playing their best football of the season right now.

White meat or the beak: Arizona State
Can the 4-6 Sun Devils pull a disappointing season out of the fire and keep those bowl hopes alive with a win against UCLA? My gut says yes, but we'll find out Saturday.

About to pull on the wishbone: Boston College
A chance to play for the ACC title and a big-money bowl awaits, but BC must beat Maryland to get there. The Eagles' chances would be better if their starting quarterback, Chris Crane, hadn't broken his collarbone. Doh!

Now, for... The Crystal Ball (Quick Hits):

Friday games:

West Virginia at Pittsburgh. The Mountaineers squeak by and exact a measure of revenge. You may recall that Pitt upset West Virginia last year to knock the Mountaineers out of the national title game.

UCLA at Arizona State. The Sun Devils win a close one at home and train their sights on the, ahem, prestigious San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

Fresno State at Boise State. Fresno State will hang tough, but the Broncos will prevail in one of those typical WAC, ESPN2 Friday-night, high-scoring, no defense, smurf turf showdowns.

Saturday games:

UPSET ALERT: Georgia Tech at Georgia. It looks like an uphill battle for Tech on paper. But I'm not so sure. The Jackets are motivated as they are looking to end a years-long losing streak against their in-state rivals. Tech's defensive front will give Georgia's young offensive line fits. The Yellow Jackets' option offense also has so far made mincemeat out of fast, overpursuing defenses (read: Georgia). It all points to a Jackets' upset.

South Carolina at Clemson. Remember our warnings in August about how overrated Clemson was? Yeah. South Carolina wins with defense.

Virginia at Virginia Tech. Virginia will keep things competitive, but the Hokies are too much to handle at raucous Lane Stadium.

Kansas vs. Missouri (Kansas City). Missouri wins a game that will feature more touchdowns than punts. Beware Oklahoma... The Tigers are still lurking.

Auburn at Alabama. This is Auburn's last shot at glory, while the Crimson Tide has national title aspirations. Auburn's defense will hang tough, but the Tigers just don't have the offensive horses to pull off the upset. 'Bama wins.

Maryland at Boston College. If BC can limit its turnovers, I like the Eagles to win on the shoulders of the defense. If not, the Terps will score the upset.

Big Games:

Oregon at Oregon State. The absence of Oregon State's freshman sensation RB Jacquizz Rodgers will hurt. Still, the Beavers will air it out with success to beat their rivals at home and clinch a Rose Bowl berth. Take that Trojans and your hot Song Girls and your probable at-large BCS bowl berth!

CHARLIE WEIS'S JOB ON THE LINE ALERT: Notre Dame at USC. This is a big game in the sense that much is at stake and there are many story lines. Storied rivalry. Irish coach Charlie Weis's job is on the line. And the Trojans are hoping to play themselves into the national title game. Like everone in the universe, I think the swoon of the Irish will continue in an embarrassing loss to USC that will have Notre Dame's haters hating with full throat.

Biggest Game:

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State. All the ingredients exist for a possible Oklahoma State upset: Home crowd. Night game. National television audience. For those who think the Sooners will win in a rout, think again.

That said, the question is whether the Cowboys have the horsepower on both offense and defense to topple the white-hot Sooners. My answer is yes. Okie State's talent, of which they have lots, has shone at home this year. And given the rivalry and high stakes, I expect the Cowboys to be focused.

But all of that may not be enough. The Sooners play well on the road and have now reached a zone of focus that might give Tiger Woods pause. And no team, not even Texas, has so far neutralized Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, who slings the ball like a laser-guided bomb. Whether the Sooners will ultimately get to the national title game is unclear, but that is a discussion for another day. On this night, Oklahoma wins.

The Crystal Ball, Nov. 22.

Elimination weekend is here. We find out which teams stand to get goodie baskets and which teams don't. Many watchable games are on, so let's get to it...

ACC Quick Hits:

Just about every game this week means something in the standings, so we'll go through them lightning-round style:

(Thursday) Miami (Fl) at Georgia Tech. If QB Josh Nesbitt and RB Jonathan Dwyer play, I like Tech's chances at home. If they don't play, or only play sparingly, I choose the 'Canes.

Clemson at Virginia. Virginia wins in a nail-biter.

NC State at North Carolina. The Wolfpack puts up a fight, but the Tar Heels are too talented to lose.

Boston College at Wake Forest. The Deacons win at home in a game dictated by turnovers.

Duke at Virginia Tech. Tech wins easily.

Florida State at Maryland. The Seminoles are reeling after their upset loss to Boston College, while Maryland plays well at home. I like the Terps to win a close one under the lights in College Park.

Other games:

Syracuse at Notre Dame. The Irish win, but the Orange fight hard.

West Virginia at Louisville. The Cardinals have had trouble defending the run all season. They will again versus West Virginia. Mountaineers win.

Michigan at Ohio State. All signs point to a Buckeye mega blowout, but I think Michigan will keep things competitive in the first half.

Big Games:

Oregon State at Arizona. The Beavers are gunning for the Rose Bowl. This game is perhaps the biggest obstacle. I think Oregon State has just enough horses to win, but Arizona won't go down easily.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati. The Panthers scrape together a road win with defense and by converting on third down when it counts.

Bigger Games:

Brigham Young at Utah. The Utes are playing well and are now at home against their arch rival. Utah takes this one comfortably.

Michigan State at Penn State. The Nittany Lions sew up a Rose Bowl birth and the Big Ten title.

Biggest Game:

Texas Tech at Oklahoma. 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.

Crystal Ball (Express)

Alas, no time to wax poetic today, so a few quick picks for the weekend...

Notre Dame over Navy in a competitive one. I like the Irish run defense to stuff Navy when it counts.

Ohio State over reeling Illinois.

South Florida over Rutgers.

Texas over Kansas.

UPSET ALERT: Air Force over Brigham Young, which has its attention on next week's showdown with Utah.

North Carolina squeaks by Maryland.

Oregon over Arizona in a thriller.

USC over Stanford by at least five scores.

Florida State over Boston College, big. (tho', if B.C. can force some turnovers, it'll be closer.)

Bonus pick:

Cowboys over Redskins, with Dallas QB Tony Romo showing surprisingly little rust.

Crystal Ball Express (Thursday Edition)

Hi all. Expect a full-on Crystal Ball tomorrow. In the meantime, here are predictions for tonight's twin bill:

Virginia Tech at Miami. The Hokies are a much more efficient team with QB Sean Glennon running the offense. And they have found a running game in RB Darren Evans. But Tech has struggled on the road this season, while Miami has speed to burn on both sides of the ball. I wouldn't be surprised if Tech snatches this one late, but my gut tells me that the Hurricanes will prevail in a competitive slugfest.

Jets at Patriots. How about that QB Matt Cassel? When these two teams last met, Cassel was starting his first game in the Post Brady Injury era. Now, it's Week 11 and the division is at stake. The Jets are a hot and cold team --- much like their leader, QB Brett Favre. Which Favre/Jets Team will show up? The one that pummeled the Rams last week? Or the one that lost to Oakland in overtime a few weeks back? I think the Jets will show flashes of both of their personalities tonight. On the other side, the Pats will be efficient as always and maybe give up a big play or two. But I think New England will force Favre into some mistakes and has the offensive horses to squeak by.

Quick college basketball note: UCLA's senior guard Darren Collison is a sight to behold. In the Bruins' first game Wednesday against Prairie View A&M, Collison put up Chris Paul-like numbers: 19 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals. All of that came in only 28 minutes. One sequence against Prairie View went like this: Collison steals the ball. Collison drains a three. Collison steals the ball. That's downright Jordanesque. NBA scouts are drooling.

Crystal Ball Express...

Alas. Not much time today, so here's an abbreviated version of the Crystal Ball...

UPSET ALERT: Georgia Tech over North Carolina.

Ohio State over Northwestern.

Florida State over Clemson.

Oklahoma over Texas A&M, but it's closer than the experts think.

Penn State over Iowa, big.

Wake Forest over Virginia.

Florida over Vanderbilt, big.

USC over California.

Biggest Games:

Alabama over LSU, but it's closer than the experts think.

UPSET ALERT: Oklahoma State over Texas Tech. That's right. Cowboys WR Dez Bryant is the difference.

Crystal Ball Quick Hits...

There are a couple of key Thursday games that deserve our attention, so here goes...

Crystal Ball Quick hits:

TCU at Utah. Ted says: The game is in Salt Lake City. Advantage Utah. TCU's defense is nationally ranked. Advantage TCU. So, what's more important: Home crowd or defense? I say defense. TCU wins. Ian says: TCU often has poor luck in high-stakes games. However, Ian believes that TCU will beat Utah by a "respectable margin." "Not a blowout, not a close one."

Maryland at Virginia Tech. Ted says: Maryland has had poor luck in Blacksburg, which seems to transform into a House of Pain for opponents when Tech plays on Thursday nights. I say the trend continues. Tech wins. Ian says: "I'm going to go out on a sturdy limb and say Virginia Tech will win."

The full on Crystal Ball comes tomorrow... Thanks for reading....

The Crystal Ball...

The Crystal Ball has had a rough go of it as of late. Chalk it up to too many espressos at the dairy bar. Good games abound this week, including yet another blockbuster involving the Texas Longhorns. Let's get to it:

West Virginia at Connecticut. The Huskies will be motivated as they are probably thinking about last year (QB Pat White and the rest of the Mountaineers embarrassed UConn in Morgantown 66-21). But the Mountaineers are prone to turnovers and Connecticut is good at creating them. UConn will hang tough and have some success with RB Donald Brown, a future NFLer. But if the Mountaineers can keep turnovers to a minimum, West Virginia will win on the shoulders of its talented spread offense.

Tulsa at Arkansas. Here's a chance for the Golden Hurricane to showcase its prolific offense against an SEC team. Arkansas will have the home crowd on their side and keep things close for a while, but Tulsa is too talented offensively and has too much to prove to lose. Tulsa wins.

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame. Pitt hopes to pick up the pieces from a bad loss to Rutgers, while the Irish are playing confident football. If Rutgers QB Mike Teel can throw for six scores against Pitt's defense, Irish QB Jimmy Clausen can, too. I foresee a Notre Dame win, with Irish coach Charlie Weis utilizing playaction frequently -- a strategy used by Rutgers to great effect.

Florida State at Georgia Tech. At last, Tech coach Paul Johnson's triple option offense faces off against a speedy elite defense in Florida State's. I think both offenses will struggle. But Florida State's will be able move the ball at key moments, while Tech won't. Tech will hang tough at home, but the Seminoles will pull out the victory. (Of course, if the 'Noles turn the ball over frequently, something that's not out of the question, then all bets are off.)

Iowa at Illinois. The Illini are the Big Ten's version of Jekyll and Hyde. One week, they look like BCS material. The next, they are conference doormat material. This game could go either way. But since the Hawkeyes are playing well right now and Illinois isn't, I think Iowa has the advantage. Hawkeyes win a close one.

Nebraska at Oklahoma. On paper, this one looks like a complete blowout, and it may well be. But my Spidey sense tells me that Nebraska will be fired up for this rivalry game and play perhaps their best game of the season. Remember, the Huskers came within a nail's length of upsetting Texas Tech in Lubbock earlier this season when no one gave them a chance. Oklahoma is too talented to be denied, but the Huskers will make a game of it.

Oregon at California. Here's a solid Pac-10 matchup that most of America won't see. Oregon played well last week against Arizona State, but the Golden Bears are tough to beat at home. If Cal QB Nate Longshore can avoid tossing any interceptions, I see the Bears coming out with a hard-fought win.

Big Game:

Florida vs Georgia (in Jacksonville). Last year, this game launched the 2008 Heisman campaign of Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno and set the Bulldogs upon the trajectory to greatness. That game, a Bulldog victory, featured a memorable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when the entire Georgia team ran out onto the field following a score. Both teams remain in the national championship hunt and have lots to prove, but you can bet Florida still keeps memories of last year's celebration. Gator QB Tim Tebow was hurt last year. He isn't now. I like Georgia's offense to keep things close, but a fired-up Tebow and a slightly better Florida D will prove the difference. Gators win.

Biggest Game:

Texas at Texas Tech. Texas continues its remarkable run of titanic Big 12 showdowns. They face arguably their toughest test Saturday: Playing on the road against a talented and highly-motivated Red Raiders squad.

Tech made a believer out of me last week when they put up 63 points against Kansas and shut down the Jayhawks' very good QB Todd Reesing. On the other side, we all know what Texas can do. And they are certainly battle tested, having beaten a murderer's row of Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State in consecutive weeks.

Like many showdowns, this game will come down to defense: Who can shut down who when it matters most? That question is particularly relevant to Tech, which for years has been unable to match good offense with good D. My Spidey sense tells me both defenses will step up to create a lower-scoring game than anyone expects. Tech's defense has looked solid as of late, while Texas has shown success in containing spread offenses. Tech will have some luck throwing to WR Michael Crabtree. But in the end, this game will come down to Texas QB Colt McCoy making plays with both his arm and his legs. Texas wins a competitive game.

The Crystal Ball (Director's Cut)...

It's the last weekend in October, a time when the weather starts to get cold and the games start to get serious. Before we start, a few words about last week.

Some real good foretellings: TCU over Brigham Young (an upset foreseen by both Ian and myself); Virginia over North Carolina; Georgia Tech over Clemson; Georgia over Vanderbilt (with Bulldog RB Knowshon Moreno running wild.)

Now for the tough ones: As you may recall, I picked Michigan State over Ohio State and Ole Miss over Alabama. The Ole Miss pick was almost correct. They had a good chance of springing the upset if not for several costly turnovers (They lost 24-20).

The game between the Buckeyes and Spartans was a different story. Ohio State romped 45-7. But hear me out: I'm convinced this game would have been much closer if not for a key turnover early on. With the Bucks up 7-0, the Spartans were cutting through the OSU defense like butter when, lo! Buckeye fumble recovery. Ohio State quickly scores and Michigan State finds itself down and dispirited. The Spartans would eventually commit four more turnovers. In the end, sports is all about momentum. Ohio State captured and held it on Saturday.

Anyway, past is prologue. Time to summon the Crystal Ball...

Thursday quick hit:

Auburn at West Virginia. The Tigers are in disarray, having lost three of their last four. Though the Mountaineers also have struggled at times this season, their spread option offense seems to give speedy, overpursuing defenses fits (read: Georgia, Oklahoma, Auburn). Plus, the Mountaineers have had this nationally-televised game circled for some time and will be on a mission to prove that their struggles are but temporary. West Virginia wins.

Saturday foretellings:

Boston College at North Carolina. Here's a key ACC matchup that no television market will care to watch except for viewers in Boston and Raleigh-Durham and, ahem, at least one blogger in Dallas. North Carolina will attempt to run the ball, but they'll have a hard time doing so against B.C.'s stout front seven. If B.C. can avoid turnovers and blocked kicks (not a given), the Eagles will win. If not, it's the Tar Heels. No pick.

Illinois at Wisconsin. Boy, did this game look good on paper about two months and six losses ago... I foresee a big game for the Illini and QB Juice Williams that will push embattled Badgers coach Bret Bielema further onto the hot seat.

Baylor at Nebraska. I mention this game because, while I believe Nebraska will win, I think Baylor will keep it close into the second half. The Huskers have had problems containing running quarterbacks and the Bears just happen to have a good one in QB Robert Griffin.

BLOWOUT ALERT: Oklahoma at Kansas State. The real question here is not who will win but, rather, how big of a Sooners blowout will this be? Answer: Huge. When comparing teams, I often look at the resume of each. Oklahoma's worst game: a tough, 10-point loss to No. 1 Texas. K-State's worst game: a 30-point drubbing at home to Texas Tech. Or maybe it was the 11-point loss at Louisville. Or the 8-point scrap-and-claw victory against lowly Louisiana-Lafayette... You get the picture. Sooners win big.

Virginia at Georgia Tech. An interesting game for ACC aficionados. Both of these teams are on mini winning streaks. The thing to note here is that the Cavaliers are a vastly different team on the road (read: They stink). This game is in Atlanta. You do the math. Yellow Jackets win.

Big games:

Virginia Tech at Florida State. This is a matchup of the ACC's past (Florida State) and its present (Virginia Tech). The Seminoles are starting to put things together, while Tech's offense has struggled as of late. The X-factor, as is often the case in games against the Hokies, is turnovers and special teams play. Florida State's offense is talented, but also young and turnover-prone. I think Virginia Tech will make some plays on defense and maybe block a kick. Tech QB Tyrod Taylor, meanwhile, will do just enough to win. The Hokies win a tight one.

UPSET ALERT: USC at Arizona. There's no middle ground with this game. Either it's a Trojan blowout or Arizona springs the upset. I pick a Wildcats upset. Why? All the ingredients are there: Late night Fox Sports game. Rowdy U of A crowd. Electric desert atmosphere. And the Trojans are probably patting themselves on the back following their 69-0 pasting of Washington State. Moreover, I think Arizona Coach Mike Stoops will cook up some goodies in his game plan (perhaps some 'wham' blocks by the receivers ala Oregon State). In fact, if you look closely, the Wildcats have a cast of characters similar to Oregon State's: Small quick scat back (Nick Grigsby), mobile quarterback (Willie Tuitama) and a clutch senior wide receiver (Mike Thomas). USC might as well be an NFL team, we all know that. But Oregon State's win earlier this season showed that the Trojans are vulnerable. I think USC will show its soft underbelly again on Saturday.

UPSET ALERT: Texas Tech at Kansas. I am a believer in what Tech Coach Mike Leach has put together in Lubbock. But this season's magic carpet ride will end in Lawrence, where Kansas QB Todd Reesing and a hostile crowd awaits. This game will come down to Tech's inability to contain the big play and stop Kansas on third down. Despite Tech's best efforts, Kansas will pull the upset.

Georgia at LSU. Just as I liked how Georgia matched up with Vanderbilt last week, I like how LSU matches up with Georgia this week. I foresee LSU shutting down Bulldog RB Knowshon Moreno and blitzing QB Matthew Stafford to kingdom come. I also think that Georgia's defense, as fast as it is, has a tendency to overpursue and is vulnerable to gadget plays. It just so happens that gadget plays are Tigers Coach Les Miles's specialty. LSU wins a close one at home.

Biggest games:

Oklahoma State at Texas. Doesn't it seem like Texas plays a big game every week? Saturday is no different: Oklahoma State is the real deal. Most analysts are predicting a comfortable Texas win, but I don't buy it. After beating No. 1 Oklahoma and crushing an elite Missouri team, Texas is vulnerable to an emotional letdown. I think Oklahoma State will play Texas closer than anyone has so far. Still, that doesn't mean the Cowboys will win. Texas and QB Colt McCoy are just too good for that to happen. The Longhorns take a tough-fought one.

Penn State at Ohio State. At last, we get to the weekend's centerpiece. This is one of those classic "trench" games. Who will win the trench battle? Both defenses are stout, so it's a tough call.

I am a believer in Ohio State's defense. I'm especially a believer in the Bucks D when it is playing at home under the lights with the whole nation watching. Penn State's got a pretty darned good offense with QB Daryll Clark manning the controls. But remember: He's still young. And Ohio State's strength? Forcing turnovers.

I like Penn State's defense, too. But the Nittany Lions have yet to face a rushing attack quite as dynamic as Ohio State's. I'm pretty sure the Buckeyes will look to unleash RB Beanie Wells and wunderkind QB Terrelle Pryor on the ground. Penn State struggled at times to contain the option running of Illinois earlier this season. And that was at home. It'll be close, but I think Ohio State has the horses to pull off the upset and (ugh) jump back into the national title chase. Buckeyes win.

The Crystal Ball...

Another week of predictions is upon us. Before we get to it, a few thoughts on some lingering topics...

Dallas Cowboys. What a circus. Having lived in Dallas for over a year now, I can safely conclude that the Cowboys are the anti Patriots. That's not to say the Cowboys aren't talented. They are, in fact, loaded. But what a carnival this team is: Pacman Jones and his alleged drinking problem. T.O.'s penchant for crying. Jerry Jones and his stretched face. Romo's finger. Jessica Simpson's skybox dances. And now WR Roy Williams. Tell me this isn't the opposite of Patriots, Inc., where everything is run like Microsoft and handled in house.

Boston Red Sox. As much as I hate to say it, this team is in dire straits. (In fact, this is one of the few predictions the Crystal Ball had correct last week.) Starting pitching has deserted them. And they are really missing the middle-of-the-lineup pop of Manny Ramirez. It pains me to see this team flailing away, waiting for the big hit that just won't come. Face it, folks. Manny's the difference and now he's gone.

Now to the college gridiron, where many good games await. The Crystal Ball's Spidey sense foresees a weekend of upsets that will roil the rankings. For the Ball's sake, here's hoping for a better week than the last one...

Thursday quick hits:

Florida State at North Carolina State. NC State has a history of playing the Seminoles tough, especially in Raleigh. But the matchups just don't favor the Wolfpack this time. Florida State is just too fast on defense. 'Noles win.

UPSET ALERT: Brigham Young at Texas Christian. A game with lots of Mountain West Conference ramifications. TCU plays well at home and I don't trust BYU on the road (They struggled against Washington and Utah State.) The Cougars are playing with the highest stakes in the balance (undefeated season, BCS berth). That pressure will begin to seep into their play this week, especially late. Humiliated at Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago, TCU is spoiling for redemption. I think they get it. The Horned Frogs pull the upset and dash BYU's big bowl hopes.

Saturday:

Georgia Tech at Clemson. Game One of the Post Bowden Era does not bode well for Clemson. Georgia Tech's strength is its defensive line and Clemson's weakness is its offensive line. The Yellow Jackets will win this one in the trenches.

Texas Tech at Texas A&M. The Aggies are a team desperate for a win, but Tech just has too much offensive talent to be denied. Following a scare against Nebraska, Tech stays focused and routs A&M.

UPSET ALERT: North Carolina at Virginia. After a putrid opening to the season punctuated by that big loss to USC, Virginia has turned it around. In fact, they have now become tough to beat at home. UNC is coming off of a big win against Notre Dame and recently got news that the team's top deep threat, WR Brandon Tate, is out for the year. I think Virginia is hungry and UNC is still thinking about the Irish and what to do without Tate. Virginia springs the upset.

UPSET ALERT: Ole Miss at Alabama. Everything points to the Crimson Tide. They're at home, rested and ranked No. 2 in the nation, while Ole Miss is coming off of a loss to South Carolina. Call it a hunch, but I think Alabama's still got a little ways to go before coach Nick Saban brings them to the promised land. If Ole Miss can beat Florida, they can win in Tuscaloosa. The Rebels pull a major upset and shake up the polls.

Michigan at Penn State. If there were ever a game to pity Michigan, this would be it. Michigan is struggling, while Penn State is playing lights-out football. Add that to the fact that the teams will be playing before a jacked up, clad-in-white Nittany Lions' crowd. I foresee a rout of epic proportions coming for Michigan and its fans. Penn State wins big.

NEAR UPSET ALERT: Baylor at Oklahoma State. College football giveth and college football taketh away. Poor Oklahoma State. Sandwiched between nationally-televised showdowns with Missouri and Texas sits this game against Baylor. No matter what the coaches do, the Cowboys are going to come out flat. The Bears are getting better with every game, especially on offense. Oklahoma State, I think is too talented to be upset here. But if the Cowboys ride into this game with a light heart, they will lose. Cowboys win, but I would not be shocked to see Baylor sneak up on them.

LSU at South Carolina. The Tigers lost big at Florida last week. Now, here come the Gamecocks, who are playing at home and have won four in a row. If you look hard at LSU's schedule, they really haven't beaten anyone. South Carolina, meanwhile, is a couple of fumbles away from being undefeated. I think this is one of those "wheat-from-the-chaff" games. Wheat: South Carolina. Chaff: LSU. Gamecocks win.

Virginia Tech at Boston College. Ah, my alma mater playing in prime time against the team I love to hate: the Hokies. Alas, if only the matchups were better for the Eagles. The Hokies will roll big time if they create turnovers and wreak havoc on B.C.'s special teams (a very real possibility given that the Eagles have weak kickers). B.C.'s strength is its defensive front seven, which will prevent Tech from running the ball with any sustained success. The Eagles have a chance if the defense plays well and QB Chris Crane keeps interceptions to a minimum. We'll find out on Saturday. No pick.

Big games:

UPSET ALERT: Ohio State at Michigan State. The Buckeyes will focus on stopping Spartan RB Javon Ringer and they may well do so. But Ringer and Michigan State will make more plays on offense than Ohio State. You heard it here first: It'll be darned close, but the Buckeyes go down in East Lansing.

Kansas at Oklahoma. If only we could have seen this showdown last year, when both Kansas and Oklahoma were ranked in the Top 5. I'm a believer in Kansas QB Todd Reesing, who might make things interesting. But the Sooners have too much talent and too much to prove to lose at home. Oklahoma wins.

Vanderbilt at Georgia. The Commodores have had a good ride, but I fear for their defense. Bulldogs RB Knowshon Moreno is due for a big game. What better time than against a Vanderbilt defense that is vulnerable against the run? Moreno and Georgia QB Matthew Stafford provide too much firepower for the Commodores to handle. Bulldogs win.

Biggest game:

Missouri at Texas. Oh Mizzou. There may be bigger upsets on paper. But, in my estimation, Missouri's loss to Oklahoma State was an absolute shocker. Let's be clear: The Cowboys are very good. But until last week, Missouri's offense looked darned near unstoppable.

In upsetting the Tigers, the Cowboys laid out a blueprint for stopping Missouri's juggernaut spread offense: Harass the receivers to disrupt their timing. Shut down the run. And force the Tigers into unmanageable third-and-long situations. Oklahoma used a similar strategy to beat Missouri twice last year. Texas will likely try the same thing.

Against Oklahoma, the Longhorns showed they are the real deal. The team is stacked on offense and defense (and special teams, for that matter). They can move the ball, shut down opposing offenses in key spots and hatch game plans that work. Missouri QB Chase Daniel won't quit until the final whistle, but the karma, talent and game plan will be with Texas. Longhorns win.

The Crystal Ball thanks you, constant readers...

Before The Crystal Ball jumps into predictions for the week, here's a quick shout out to all the readers we've accumulated over the last three-plus months. This blog was started by three fans that had a jonesing to chat sports (and, mostly, college football). Along the way, though, we've carved out some good features. So kudos to the bloggers, and thanks for reading.

First off, some baseball predictions...

I like the Dodgers over the Phillies in the National League. L.A. is playing typical Joe-Torre playoff baseball: They harass the opponents' starting pitching early and then wreak havoc on the bullpen. The acquisition of Manny Ramirez also has given the Dodgers' lineup and fanbase a major jolt.

In the American League, I'll, of course, be rooting for the Red Sox. But my Spidey sense tells me the Rays are too hungry and talented to be denied. Tampa Bay did not back down at all in their trips to Boston this year. In fact, they seemed to relish the challenge of playing against the World Champion Sox in hostile Fenway Park.

Okay, now for the college gridiron...

Colorado at Kansas. On paper, these teams are evenly matched. But consider the fine print. Colorado has so far struggled on the road. And Jayhawk QB Todd Reesing, a junior, is seasoned enough to bring Kansas back should they fall behind early. Colorado does not have that luxury. Kansas wins by at least a touchdown.

South Carolina at Kentucky. There must be something in the water in The Palmetto State. South Carolina and Clemson are the most inconsistent teams in college football. Which South Carolina team will show up? The one that beat Ole Miss on the road last week? Or the team that struggled against Wofford? The Gamecocks have won three in a row, which makes me skittish about picking them to win a fourth. Moreover, Kentucky is a team brimming with confidence after its almost-upset against Alabama. Kentucky pulls out a low-scoring win.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State. Vandy's magic carpet ride continues for one more week, but it will be a hard-hitting affair against a solid Bulldog defense. The Commodores eke out a close one.

Nebraska at Texas Tech. The Huskers are reeling following a 52-17 annihilation at the hands of Missouri. The pain gets worse against Tech. In Lubbock, the Red Raiders win in one of those defense-free, 63-35-ish games.

Notre Dame at North Carolina. We'll find out which of these up-and-coming teams has progressed more. I think QB Jimmy Clausen is becoming a star, but I also think the UNC pass rush will get to him. What's more, Tar Heel WR Brandon Tate is too quick for the Irish defense. Notre Dame will play hard, but the eager Tar Heels want to make a statement. They will by beating the Irish.

Arizona State at USC. How does ASU pick up the pieces of an excruciatingly disappointing season? Beating USC would help, but it ain't going to happen. ASU's offense is struggling. And even if the Sun Devils catch the Trojans on an off day, USC has the talent to compensate. Trojans win big.

Big Game:

Oklahoma State at Missouri. Exactly how good are the 5-0 Cowboys? They've been dropping 50-spots on inferior competition at home. My feeling? You can't score if you don't have the ball. And, I can assure you, Missouri's offense will move the ball with buttery ease against Okie State's soft defense. The Cowboys might score a few touchdowns, but don't be surprised to see Missouri put up 50, maybe even 60, points this week in an ol' fashioned rout.

Bigger games:

Penn State at Wisconsin. We'll see how good the Nittany Lions' Spread HD offense really is against the Badgers' stout defense. Wisconsin will have the home crowd on its side, but I think the difference will be Penn State's defense, which will shut down the Badger O. Penn State wins a tough-fought affair.

LSU at Florida. The time has come for another UFC-like smackdown in the SEC. Both teams are loaded, of course, especially on defense. The key, I think, will be quarterback play. I remain unconvinced that Gator QB Tim Tebow can direct passing drives in the crunch. What makes him so dangerous is his ability to move the chains with his legs, particularly in short yardage situations. LSU has bigger QB problems of its own. Bolstered by the home crowd and Tebow's running prowess, Florida pulls out a close one.

Biggest game:

Oklahoma vs. Texas (in Dallas). This is a fantastic matchup with all kinds of conference title and national championship ramifications. (And, just think, the game will be played just a few miles from my house...)

Showdowns like this are all about matchups. Both teams are stacked from head to toe. A closer look at the offenses, however, yield some important differences. Oklahoma has won with a balanced attack. Texas has won on the arm, and legs, of QB Colt McCoy. In fact, the boyish-faced McCoy is Texas's leading rusher with 317 yards.

The lack of a reliable running game will cause problems against a stout OU defense that will undoubtedly unleash blitz after blitz upon McCoy. Without a running game to fend off the dogs, I don't like Texas's chances. The Sooners will try to go for the jugular early with some deep passes. The Longhorns are far too talented to be daunted. Yet, in the end, I think Oklahoma's offensive balance will prove the difference. Sooners win.

The Crystal Ball envisions "Blowout Weekend 2008..."

Last weekend was all about unlikely upsets. This weekend, I think, will be defined by the in-conference blowout. Let's get to it...

Penn State at Purdue. Penn State's offense is clicking, while Purdue's defense is struggling. That's not a good combination. I foresee a Nittany Lion blowout. This one is over by the half.

Rutgers at West Virginia. Mountaineers QB Pat White can make plays with his feet, while Rutgers is still struggling to find a gamebreaker on offense. Rutgers will give West Virginia all it can handle in a shootout. But having White at the helm gives West Virginia the advantage.

Florida State at Miami. The Seminole defense is an elite unit. So is Miami's. Which will give in first? Both offenses will struggle, but Miami will have a tad more success in moving the ball than Florida State. The Hurricanes win in a low-scoring affair.

Texas Tech at Kansas State. The Red Raiders finally get a taste of conference competition. Tech will be tested, particularly on defense. Their offense, however, will prove too much for the Wildcats. It's close until the fourth, when the Red Raiders start running up the score for BCS purposes.

UPSET ALERT: Auburn at Vanderbilt. We all know Auburn is a solid team. Yet the Commodores have the talent on offense and defense to pull of the upset. With the home crowd behind them, I think they will.

Texas at Colorado. Texas is just too stacked for the Buffs, even in the thin Colorado air. If Texas comes out focused, I envision the Longhorn offense putting up 50.

Oregon at USC. The Trojans will be angry and focused after their loss to Oregon State. We will see a USC team bent on vengeance steamrolling the Ducks, who have so far this season struggled on the road.

Ohio State at Wisconsin. This is a showdown of overrated teams, in my opinion. Ohio State will be hard-pressed to move the ball on Wisconsin's solid defense. But the Buckeyes have freshman sensation QB Terrelle Pryor. He will make the difference when the chips are down. A close Buckeyes win.

Missouri at Nebraska. QB Chase Daniel and Missouri will get their first test against a Husker team bolstered by a raucous home crowd and the memories of last year's blowout Tiger win in Columbia. Nebraska will definitely be able to move the ball against Missouri's mediocre defense. The key is whether Nebraska can pressure Daniel and disrupt Missouri's offense, which is based heavily on timing routes. I don't think the Husker D is up to the task. Bolstered by burner WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri wins running away.

The Crystal Ball smells autumn...

What does Oregon State's upset of USC mean for the weekend? More upsets? Or do the entrenched powers dig in to make sure it doesn't happen to them?

Maryland at Clemson. A big one for Ted Kim-Boston College-ACC Atlantic Division purposes. Maryland is playing well, but Clemson always plays better when they rub that rock and run down that hill at home. Advantage Tigers.

North Carolina at Miami. Time to see how far North Carolina has come. Miami is brimming with confidence after their thrashing of Texas A&M. Speed on offense is the difference here. Miami wins.

Arkansas at Texas. Arkansas will put up a better fight than they did last week against Alabama, but the Razorbacks are no match for Texas, especially in Austin.

Ole Miss at Florida. Ole Miss will give Florida more than the Gators bargained for. But Florida is virtually unbeatable at home with Tim Tebow at quarterback.

Colorado vs. Florida State (in Jacksonville). Florida State's defense is stout and will get to Colorado QB Cody Hawkins all game long. The Seminoles have had problems moving the ball, but I think they will be able to move it enough to win.

TCU at Oklahoma. TCU is solid, but Oklahoma is on upset watch since the Horned Frogs beat the Sooners in Norman just a few years ago. I think TCU keeps it close, but Oklahoma pulls away in the second half.

Virginia Tech at Nebraska. Another measuring-stick game for two teams that are works-in-progress. Who wins the trench battle? That's the key. Nebraska has only played cupcakes, while Virginia Tech has already played some tough teams. If the Hokies get consistent quarterback play, they win handily.

Illinois at Penn State. Penn State wants to show that their blowout of newly resurgent Oregon State a few weeks ago was no fluke. The Crystal Ball foresees the Nittany Lions teeing off on Illini QB Juice Williams and unleashing their new Spread HD offense for 50-plus points.

Alabama at Georgia. Holy smackdown. Mid-game adjustments will be key. We all know that Georgia's offense is stupendously talented. That said, the Bulldog O' doesn't match up well with Alabama. Georgia's weakness is its young offensive line, while 'Bama's strength is its D. In many ways, Georgia is but a more talented version of Clemson: talent at the skill positions, but a young line. Tide Coach Nick Saban, I think, will blitz Georgia to kingdom come and have some surprises on offense. Can Georgia adjust? My sense is not in time. 'Bama pulls off the road upset.

The Crystal Ball: Haiku Review...

A summary of The Crystal Ball's Saturday predictions...

Iowa beats Pittsburgh in a no-offense slugfest.

Alabama beats Arkansas with offensive balance.

UPSET ALERT: Troy gives Ohio State a run for its money in Columbus.

Florida handles Tennessee in Knoxville.

Miami's speed and defense help the Hurricanes beat Texas A&M.

Michigan State forces Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen into some poor decisions and the Spartans beat the visiting Irish.

Virginia Tech beats North Carolina with speed on defense.

Utah beats Air Force with offensive balance.

UPSET ALERT: Ball State beats in-state rival Indiana. The Cardinals will rely heavily on screens and draws.

TCU runs over SMU in Dallas, but the Mustangs show signs of improvement offensively.

Florida State take an early lead over Wake Forest and then hold on for dear life.

LSU beats Auburn by converting on third down when it counts.

Arizona State keeps it close early, but Georgia pulls away and wins comfortably.

The Crystal Ball: "Yay for Cooler Temps" edition

Fall is just about here, which for Texas means 85-degree afternoons and nights in the 60s. After suffering through nastacularly hot weather for the last six months, I'll take it... Cooler temps means football season is ramping up. And with a big weekend here, the Crystal Ball is feelin' it. Some predictions:

Iowa beats Pittsburgh at Heinz Field on the strength of their defense, but it's close. I foresee one of those anemic-offenses, no-one-can-convert-on-third-down kind of games.

Alabama is clearly better than Arkansas this year, but Nick Saban's teams tend to show inconsistency once conference play starts. Still, I think 'Bama handles the hostile Hog crowd and beats Arkansas with offensive balance.

UPSET ALERT: Watch for Troy to give Ohio State a run for its money in Columbus. Ohio State is coming off a bad loss and Troy is hungry and has the talent and offense to pull off the upset. If Ohio State comes out angry and uses QB Terrelle Pryor early and often, I think the Buckeyes win. If the Bucks look like they are sleepwalking and feeling sorry for themselves, then I predict upset city.

Florida handles Tennessee in Knoxville, but it's one of those classic afternoon-on-CBS, SEC slugfests that comes down to defense and special teams. Florida's defense and special teams are better and that makes the difference.

Texas A&M will be fired up in College Station, but Miami's speed and defense help the Hurricanes overcome an anemic passing game to win.

Michigan State forces Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen into some poor decisions and the Spartans beat the visiting Irish by more than a touchdown.

Virginia Tech at North Carolina. A tough one. One week, North Carolina barely survives against McNeese State. The next, the Tar Heels hit the road and crush Rutgers on national television. What's the Crystal Ball to do? As the experts say, always put your money on defense: Virginia Tech's D has gotten better and is certainly much stouter than the one Rutgers puts on the field. The speed of the Hokies neutralizes Carolina's burning WR Brandon Tate and Virginia Tech wins in Chapel Hill.

An interesting league matchup in the solid-as-a-rock Mountain West: Utah (3-0) at Air Force (3-0). The cadets will raise a fury in the stands, but I think Utah has too much offensive balance to lose.

UPSET ALERT: An inspired and surprisingly talented Ball State team beats in-state rival Indiana. The Cardinals will rely heavily on screens and draws.

TCU runs over SMU in Dallas, but the Mustangs show signs of improvement offensively.

Is Florida State good enough to knock off Wake Forest at home? I say yes, but it's awfully close. In fact, I would not be surprised if the Deacons steal one at the end. Wake has a lot of heart and a good junior QB in Riley Skinner. The Seminoles take an early lead and then hold on for dear life.

Now for the Big Ones...

Many have focused on defense in the LSU-Auburn showdown. Both Ds are stacked, yes. That said, I think it will come down to who can convert on third down, especially when the stakes are highest. The answer is LSU.

Georgia at Arizona State. A big game for both teams. Georgia can chalk up a successful "road test" and solidify its Top Five standing. Arizona State can infuse some pride into the Pac-10 and reestablish itself on the national scene. The crowd will be into it early, but I think Georgia is just too talented and balanced offensively to lose. ASU and QB Rudy Carpenter will do their best, but the Bulldogs win comfortably.

Rankings Review, Sept. 15 / Crystal Ball, in retrospect...

Ohio State plummets and USC consolidates first-place votes in the new polls. I'm surprised at how impressive voters thought South Florida's win over Kansas was. The Bulls are now at No. 12 (and clearly overrated). Good news? Kansas is roughly where it should be: No. 19ish.

Most overrated in the polls: Missouri at No. 6. The offense is potent, yes. But who have they played? This is a team that gave up six touchdowns to Illinois. On Saturday, Louisiana-Lafayette held Illinois to 20 points and almost pitched the upset.

Most underrated in the polls: Vanderbilt at unranked (They've only beaten three solid teams: Miami (Oh), South Carolina and Rice.)

Why are these teams getting votes? Ball State, Northwestern.

A review of how The Crystal Ball did:

The Crystal Ball has a sixth sense:

"Tulane is better than people think. They held Alabama to 20 points last week --- something the vaunted Clemson Tigers could not do. I still think East Carolina wins this game because they have the better offense, but it's a close one."

"The pro-Huskie crowd will scream its lungs out, but to no avail. Oklahoma does a woodshed job on Washington. I predict an ugly score, and even uglier sports columns calling for Ty Will's firing on Sunday."

"Fresno State has been pointing to this home game with Wisconsin for some time, but Wisconsin has heart and is well conditioned. My prediction: The game goes into the 4th quarter close. Ultimately, I think Wisconsin pulls it out because they have a slightly better offense. But I would not be surprised to see the Bulldogs snatch one here."

"Ohio State at USC...I think the Ohio State defense keeps it close early on. I also think coach Jim Tressel will have some tricks up his sleeve involving freshman sensation QB Terelle Pryor. But USC is just too talented to be stopped. The Trojans win comfortably."

The Crystal Ball was kind of right:

"Vandy jumps out early on Rice and withstands a furious late rally from the Owls, who are well conditioned and tend to play their best football in the 4th quarter."

"Texas Tech puts up a big number on SMU in Lubbock. The spread is 36.5, but given how poor SMU's defense is, I think Tech will cover."

"Missouri beats Nevada in Columbia. It's close in the first half, but Mizzou turns it on in the second half and adds a couple of TDs late to make the final score pretty for the newspapers."

The Crystal Ball was sniffing glue:

"Cal at Maryland... This one is not even close. Cal unleashes an offensive storm on the Terps and puts up a big, big number."

NFL Quick Notes: The Cleveland Browns are a mess. Unless they get it together in a hurry, I predict an ugly season this year.... I think RB LaDanian Tomlinson of San Diego is running out of gas. His body has taken such punishment over the years and it's starting to show.... Minnesota's stellar young RB Adrian Peterson is going to get hurt this year. He runs with abandon. But his greatest strength also could be his undoing.... Aaron Rodgers is playing out of his mind. The Green Bay QB is accurate and making all the right decisions. But will it last? .... Patriot QB Matt Cassel is no substitute for His Holiness, Tom Brady. The Pats will win some games this year because of defense and sheer will. But they are kidding themselves if they can compete with the elite with Cassel calling the signals.

Crystal Ball, Hurricane Edition...

Here are some early, abbreviated predictions for the weekend lest we lose power come Saturday... Knowing our luck, the Dallas metro area will go dark just as Ohio State is kicking off at the L.A. Coliseum...

Vandy jumps out early on Rice and withstands a furious late rally from the Owls, who are well conditioned and tend to play their best football in the 4th quarter.

Texas Tech puts up a big number on SMU in Lubbock. The spread is 36.5, but given how poor SMU's defense is, I think Tech will cover.

Missouri beats Nevada in Columbia. It's close in the first half, but Mizzou turns it on in the second half and adds a couple of TDs late to make the final score pretty for the newspapers.

Baylor takes care of Washington State. Yet there is a wildcard: If Hurricane Ike interrupts the game with wind and rain, anything can happen.

Tulane is better than people think. They held Alabama to 20 points last week --- something the vaunted Clemson Tigers could not do. I still think East Carolina wins this game because they have the better offense, but it's a close one.

The pro-Huskie crowd will scream its lungs out, but to no avail. Oklahoma does a woodshed job on Washington. I predict an ugly score, and even uglier sports columns calling for Ty Will's firing on Sunday.

Fresno State has been pointing to this home game with Wisconsin for some time, but Wisconsin has heart and is well conditioned. My prediction: The game goes into the 4th quarter close. Ultimately, I think Wisconsin pulls it out because they have a slightly better offense. But I would not be surprised to see the Bulldogs snatch one here.

Cal at Maryland... This one is not even close. Cal unleashes an offensive storm on the Terps and puts up a big, big number.

Now the big one... Ohio State at USC...
I think the Ohio State defense keeps it close early on. I also think coach Jim Tressel will have some tricks up his sleeve involving freshman sensation QB Terelle Pryor. But USC is just too talented to be stopped. The Trojans win comfortably.

Crystal Ball Part II: Sizing up Saturday...

The weekend is upon us and the Crystal Ball has some predictions to make:

Washington gives BYU a run for its money, but loses.

Cincinnati keeps it close against Oklahoma... in the first half.

Florida absolutely crushes Miami in the Swamp, sinking the ACC even lower than it already is. Gator Percy Harvin runs buck wild.

Stanford keeps things competitive but ultimately loses against Jake's boys from Arizona State.

Bowling Green beats Minnesota and skirts the Top 25.

Wake Forest, its misdirection plays neutralized by SEC speed, nevertheless squeaks one out at home against Ole Miss.

Texas Tech plays a closer than expected one at Nevada.

Ian's gang SMU rebounds and runs up the score June Jones-style against Texas State.

Crystal Ball: The Giants are a one hit wonder...

NFL Thought:

As a proud former New Jerseyan, I'm all for NYC, the Manning family, the Meadowlands, yada yada yada. But, I'm sorry: To say that the New York Giants are anything but a playoff flash-in-the-pan is foolish. They are Menudo in pads. The Colorado Rockies of football. Michael Phelps in about 15 minutes from now. Sure, they may beat the Washington Redskins tomorrow in the NFL opener tomorrow. But is that because the Giants are destined to repeat? Or is it because Danny Snyder's team is destined, yet again, for 7-9ish?

No D-Line. No more sneaking up on people. No Manning karma.

You heard it here first from The Crystal Ball: The Giants don't make the playoffs this year.