Week 6 recap:Contenders and pretenders.

Well, everyone in the conference has played at least 1 game now, and while it's still far too early to make assessments on the season, we may at least know some teams that didn't appear to be what we thought they were during the non conference schedule.

That much became apparent in the Little Apple Thursday night when what was billed as an early season battle for the north title turned into a clubbing as Taylor Martinez ran wild and the Huskers ran over the K State Wildcats 48-13.  Martinez ran for almost 250 yards and 4 touchdowns, but continued to struggle with the passing game as he threw for about a buck thirty.  I still believe the hicks are going to struggle against a defense that can run, but I'm not sure when that's going to occur.  Possibly against Texas next week but I'm not at all sure the whorns have an offense that can keep them in the game against a stout Husker defense.  Nebraska opened as a 12 point favorite in this game.  I didn't expect the Wildcats to win but thought they might cover.  I was obviously wrong.  But, while Nebraska may have won the battle, K State won the war.  Never forget the N stands for knowledge.
Friday night, Oklahoma State traveled to LaFayette to take on the Ragin' Cajuns.  This was a dogfight in the first half as Okie Light trailed 21-17 at halftime.  OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden threw three 2nd half touchdown passes however as the Cowboys erupted for 37 points to pull away with a 54-28 win.  They came in as a 24 point favorite so they did manage to cover, which I'd predicted.

In Columbia Saturday night my Tigers came in as 13 point favorites.  Both my head and my heart told me the Tigers would cover this, but when you've dominated a really bad team that has shown signs of life this year, a little doubt crept into my mind.  Despite that little shred of doubt, I still predicted Mizzou to cover and win this, which they did.  However, I wasn't prepared for what unfolded as the Tiger defense pitched a shutout and won 26-0.   Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel has the Missouri defense flying to the ball and punishing people.  I always hear Andrew Gachkars name mentioned a lot and Saturday was no exception.  The defensive backs play has done a 180 from years past and the defensive tackles, Terrell Resonno and Dominique Hamilton were simply dominant in shutting down a Colorado rushing attack that had been quite productive before last night.  Blaine Gabbert suffered a hip pointer and was mostly ineffective after that but true freshman James Franklin got his first taste of conference football and led the Tigers to a touchdown and almost a 2nd before his pass which was intended to float over a defensive lineman floated a bit too close to him.  Got to remember that freshmen make mistakes but James play was really encouraging, and he showed some shiftiness on his runs.  The Tigers have a big test in College Station next weekend.  If the defense continues to play this well, then we should see a 6-0 team waiting in Columbia in 2 weeks waiting for homecoming opponent Oklahoma come to town.

Just when I was ready to annoint Baylor as a potential division player after they dismantled kansas last week, they showed me that yes, ku is indeed ku and Baylor is still Baylor.  They traveled to Lubbock to meet what appears to be a very vulnerable Texas Tech team.  Tech was a 2 point favorite but I was picking Baylor in the upset.  The Red Raiders were able to contain the Baylor rushing attack and Robert Griffin, despite another good night throwing the ball fell short as Tech won 45-38 and sent these girls, among their other fans home a little happier this weekend.

In Dallas, it was SEC vs Big XII as Texas A&M met the Razorbacks at Jerry Jones monument to conspicuous consumption as well as his own ego.  I really didn't think this was going to be much of a game as the hogs came in as 7 point favorites, but their defense played much better as the hogs held on to win by the spread, 24-17.  I got the winner right, but a push against the spread.  But at least it wasn't another loss for me.
In Ames the 10th ranked Utes of Utah, (clever huh?) rolled into town as 6 1/2 point favorites over the Cyclones.  I didn't think that was nearly enough as I predicted a 38-24 Utah win.  However, I wasn't prepared for the offensive show as Utah rolled to a 68-27 pounding.  Things aren't looking up for the Clones as they travel to Norman next weekend to take on the Sooners.
Finally, I went out of conference as Michigan hosted Michigan State as 4 1/2 point favorites over the Spartans.  I picked the Wolverines to cover in this one but it wasn't to be as State pulled the 34-17 upset.  I really just have to say, who cares?  Fuck the Big Ten.
So for the week I was again 5-2 straight up but a paltry 3-3 against the spread.  For the year I'm now 47-9 straight up and still slightly above water at 24-23 were I a betting man.  I'll have to get this thing out early again this coming week as once again we have a Thursday night game featuring the nationally acclaimed "Sunflower Showdown" in lawrence Thursday night featuring perennial powers Kansas State and kansas.  Have a great week folks.