Urban Myer, wow what a year it's been.  Notre Dame flew their "look what we have" jet into Salt Lake City and did everything but throw rose pedals at the feet of king Urban hoping to bring him to South Bend and save the program.  Well, I think it's safe to say the Irish football program is saved, but Urban, you don't need to bluff when you're holding a royal flush.  So off to Gatorland he went and it appears he will only have a competitive, middle of the pack team for years to come.  Talk about missing the boat!  Why will Florida never win an SEC championship you ask?  Because as I've already said, the more things change, the more they stay the same.  With Michael Jordan "it had to be the shoes" and with SEC football, "it's gotta be the visor."
    
Yes, the ole' ball coach is back as the bully of the neighborhood.  It's funny, that pencil neck Lou Holtz sits on the set of ESPN telling all of the pigeons in their living rooms what will happen from game to game.  I give "Golden Lou" no credibility.  Yes, he did win a National Championship with Notre Dame in '88 but come on; in those days anyone could recruit and win there.  Then in the 90's the college game changed and Holtz became obsolete.  The proof is in the putting.  He accomplished nothing at South Carolina and left the program engulfed in flames.  Now Steve Spurrier has taken over on the Gamecocks sidelines and folks, it appears the' Cocks are going to be an ATM machine for us for many years to come.  If he can do what he's done with Holtz's second tier players, wait till he builds his own empire from top to bottom.  Somehow I think coaches from Starksville, Miss. to Athens, Ga. are going to be losing a lot of sleep when recruiting season rolls around.  Steve, I hated you in the 90's but I'll be well aware of the South Carolina lines on the board next year.
    
It's sad what I see when I look out my window these days.  The guy next door just walks around like a ghost with no direction.  The other day he was cutting down some skinny pine trees and bringing the logs into his basement.  I went over and brought him a beer and asked what he was doing.  He proceeds to tell me that it's gotten so bad that his wife left early to stay with her parents for Thanksgiving and that money is so tight, he needs to burn the trees in the yard for heat.  I tell him that pine doesn't burn well and that it will stink up the house, his reply.damn Army.
    
I knew that the guy was a service veteran but I didn't know the details.  As it turns out he was in the Navy back in the 70's and has a deeply imbedded hatred for the Army.  He goes further on to tell me that he has been betting against Army football for the last month and he's been losing his shirt.  Burning the trees he and his wife planted on their wedding day is what it has come to.  My god, the poor guy.  Knowing that his phone has been shut off, I told him to just come over on Saturday morning and we'll see what we can do.  Picking winners is one thing; now we're trying to save a marriage, talk about pressure. This must be how Phil Fulmer walks around these days.
    
While raking leaves this week, there are only two questions rattling inside my head.  Will my turkey be 26lbs. or 30, and what team will win me the money to pay the Big Y clerk, and bail out Arnold?  USC vs. Fresno State? Na, stay away.
 
Michigan vs. Ohio State? Never touch that game.  Notre Dame should kill(didn't you used to be Syracuse Football) but after Brady Quinn throws his 4 T.D. passes he'll be smiling for the cameras, and we all saw how the Irish blew an easy cover last week.  This week we'll go back to an old friend whose back on track these days.  Let's show some guts and venture into Big 12 country once again.
    
After a 2-3 start out of the gate, the Oklahoma Sooners have won four in a row.
 
After owning teams for the last five years and winning championships and Heisman Trophies, the Sooners came back to the pack this year.  It happens. After five gold medals and numerous world records eventually someone beat Carl Lewis. (Ben Johnson not withstanding).  Oklahoma had been so dominant for so long, the system had to replenish.  It took a while for the red shirts to fade out on offense but after getting their feet wet, they're back diving in the deep end.  I'll say it again; the more things change the more they stay the same.  This is college football, not rebuilding the Mayflower.
    
In the five previous meeting between Oklahoma and Texas Tech in this decade, the Sooners have been favored in each of them by an average of 18 points.  This week, Oklahoma goes into Lubbock, TX. as a 71/2 point underdog.  Things that make you go hmmm.  Six weeks ago, Texas Tech went into Nebraska as a 5 point favorite and was luck to escape with a 3 point win after scoring a last minute touchdown for the come from behind 34-31 victory.  Two weeks ago, Oklahoma also went to Nebraska as a 2 point favorite and won the game 31-24, but it wasn't even that close.  Oklahoma controlled the game from start to finish.  The Cornhuskers blocked a field goal to give them some life, but that was about it.
    
On October 29th Baylor held the grenade throwing Red Raiders to 6 points through three quarters before the Tech athletes rose to the top for 22 points in the 4th quarter.  Last week, Oklahoma State (as 23 point dogs) got their first conference win by shutting down Cody Hodges and holding them to just 17 points.  What this screams at us is that for all the super sized numbers Texas Tech has a reputation for putting up, they can be shut down.  Let me ask you this question.  Name the coaches of Baylor and Oklahoma State?  Exactly!  If two unknowns can put together game plans to defend Texas Tech, don't you think it's safe to say that Bob Stoops can come up with a scheme or two?
    
Here's another one for you to put in the college football safe in your head.  What did Mike Leach do for work before becoming the head coach at Texas Tech? No, not managing a Wendy's, he was Bob Stoops offensive coordinator during his first two years at Oklahoma (1999-00).  With that in mind, Leach has to prove to me that he can beat his old boss before I'll believe it.  Coach Stoops said in his press conference this week that they had a difficult time stopping the Texas A&M option game last Saturday, which resulted in the Sooner D giving up 30 points to the Aggies.  Well, last I knew Texas Tech doesn't run the option, so that shouldn't be a problem this week. 
    
With everything I've said, I will go on record as saying that I am luke warm towards the under 59 in this game, but not warm enough to heat Arnold's house. I think that Oklahoma wins this game and plays themselves into the Cotton Bowl, but will take the 71/2 points and feel quite strongly that the Navy vet. and I will be on the right side of this one.  If all goes well, Arnold will sleep in comfort and the Big Y clerk will get a tip next week.  I've decided to go with the 30 pounder after all.  So hey, tell the guy next door and keep an eye on the trees in your neighborhood.  And by the way, Army's giving 6 to Arkansas State this week.  Thank god that one won't be on TV.