Week 12 recap:The Clone Wars.

It was a little taste of winter last night in Ames when Missouri rolled into town seeking their 9th win of the season.  The Cyclones were a desperate team, needing a win to extend their season with their second straight bowl.  It wasn't frigid, but the weather obviously played a part as both offenses struggled in the passing game.  However, tight end Michael Egnew was able to pull in 7 passes including a 1st quarter touchdown and the Tigers defense did the rest, as Missouri held on for a 14-0 win.  Missouri came in as an 11 point favorite and I knew this would be a tough game.  Ok, I thought it would be a tough game, and uncharacteristically I was right.  However, I didn't think the Tigers would cover the spread, and there I was wrong.  However, for the week I went 6-1 straight up and 4-1 against the spread.  (2 games had no lines)  For the year I'm 71-20 straight up and 41-40 vs Vegas. 

A big game that I nailed happened in College Station Saturday night as hick nation rolled into town as a 2 1/2 point favorite.  It was vintage Bo Pelini as he drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag to go with 15 other Nebraska penalties.  You don't have to be Nostradamus to see that sooner or later this is going to end badly for Pelini.  His volatile temper and complete inability to control it is sooner or later going to cause him to punch a referee.  Do I think the refs played a part in the corn loss?  Absolutely.  I also think that when you're constantly in someones face, sooner or later they're going to retaliate.  I have a feeling that Dr. Tom is going to be taking Pelini behind the woodshed this week for a little tough love.  Whether it does any good or not is another story.  The loss prevented the corn from clinching the division title, but they'll have another chance next Friday when they host a suddenly rejuvenated Colorado.
Speaking of the Buffs, they hosted K State yesterday, still clinging to a faint hope of reaching bowl eligibility.  There was no line on this game, but I fully expected the Wildcats would put Colorado out of their misery.  However, tailback Rodney Stewart rushed for 195 yards, caught 2 passes for 50 and threw a 23 yard touchdown pass as the Buffs swept past the kitties 44-36.  Interim head coach Brian Cabral is making a strong case for the job as Colorado is 2-0 since firing Dan Hawkins.  If they somehow can pull out a win next week in Hooterville, I don't see why he wouldn't get the opportunity.

The season will soon mercifully end for the folks in larry.  Yesterday on their senior day, the ku crowd, many of which were disguised as empty seats, watched the beaks give it everything they had, only trailing the 9-1 Oklahoma State Cowboys 20-14 at halftime.  The 2nd half was another matter however, as the beaks managed 6 yards of offense in the 3rd quarter and fell 48-14, which was remarkably close to my prediction of 48-13.  Next week the Cowboys host Oklahoma in bedlam, for the right to play the Big XII title game, while the beaks drive up the road 30 miles for their season finale at Arrowhead against my Tigers.

The season ended at the right time for Baylor as they hosted Oklahoma in their finale.  I'm glad the Bears are going to be playing in a bowl game, but they aren't quite ready for prime time yet as they fell 53-24 to a Sooner team that showed they aren't quite ready to concede the south to their cross state rivals just yet.  The Bears will be able to continue practicing while they await the decision on where they go, which is a very good thing for their program.  I don't know who will select them, but they better be ready for thousands of rabid Baptists coming to party hard.
In one of the week's 2 non-conference tilts, Texas Tech notched their 6th win against a hapless Weber State team 64-21.  If the Red Raiders are selected for a bowl game, and I have no reason to believe they won't be, it will mark their 17th straight bowl appearance, top streak in the conference.  Tech closes their season at home next week against Houston.

The other non conference match up was in Austin, where the longhorns faced a Florida Atlantic team that isn't going anywhere this bowl season.  The whorns flexed their muscles in a 51-17 win that was probably their 2nd best performance of the year, outside of that glorious Saturday afternoon in Lincoln when they revealed the first chinks in the husker armor.  Thanksgiving day Texas will close out their season at home against Texas A&M.  It's a chance for them to assume the role of spoiler, which is usually the part the Aggies play.  It also would give them their 6th win, and God knows, this Texas team needs the extra practice.
I'll have to get started early for next weeks games, since we have a Thursday and Friday matchup.  Have a great holiday week folks and we'll talk about Wednesday or so.