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Each week this season, I will be posting a column previewing the upcoming weekend's Big East and
Top-25 matchups. All rankings are from the ESPN/Coaches Poll. Picks are against the spread, and
are for entertainment purposes only.

Last week: It's not the losing that bothers me. Really, 8-3 was about all I expected from this team. What bothers me is that we had all three games pretty much sewn up with nice big leads...and then blew them.

This week: Catharsis.

Not in action this week: Nearly everyone...

Friday, 12/4

Marshall (-11.5) vs. Toledo

Toledo isn't even the second best team in the MAC, that honor belongs to Miami (OH) at 10-1. Marshall should roll the Rockets here on their way to a second straight MAC title. This will put the Thundering Herd in the Motor City Bowl where (with any luck) they can whup up on a 7-4 Louiseville squad.

As an aside, note that a 6-5 UNC team is going to the Las Vegas Bowl to play 7-4 San Diego State. This bowl used to be where the MAC and Big West champions played each other. Miami (OH) defeated UNC and is more than likely staying at home for the holidays, even at 10-1. If I were on the Las Vegas Bowl committee I would be ashamed to show my face in public.

Pick: Marshall

Saturday, 12/5

BYU (off) vs. #13 Air Force

If AFA hadn't had a defensive letdown in their lone loss this year (35-34 vs. TCU), we'd have one more reason to decry the BcS rankings. BYU struggled early in the season, but finished strong behind, of all things, a dominant running game. This game should be an excellent primer on how to run a good ground-oriented offense. It's the early game on Saturday, and this should be a fun game to watch.

Pick: AFA

#1 Kansas State (-14.5) vs. #10 Texas A&M

Texas A&M is just like us folks, only they play in a different conference. When their defense doesn't create turnovers and score points on their own, their offense struggles. This is KSU's last best hope to make the Fiesta Bowl, and they need to run up some big points to get as much out of the computer ratings as they can.

Pick: KSU

#2 Tennessee (-13.5) vs. #22 Mississippi State

If one of the undefeateds is going to fall this weekend, I think it will be Tennessee. They've been very good this year, but Arkansas had them staggering and nearly beaten three short weeks ago. Mississippi State is a _good_ team, and Jackie Sherill will not them underestimate the magnitude of this game. I think Tennessee wins, but not easily.

Pick: MSU

#3 UCLA (-9.5) @ MIAMI (FL)

Well, so much for the Canes being the hottest team in the land. That was just downright embarrassing! It's possible that they'll use last week as motivation to get up for this game, but I think Syracuse just showed what a truly good offense can do to the Miami "D". UCLA's offense isn't led by Donovan McNabb, but it ain't bad.

Pick: UCLA

Army (-5.5) @ NAVY

Neither one of these teams is any good. Only a couple of years removed from Ron McAda and Chris McCoy, these service academies are back where they're supposed to be.

Pick: Middies

Other Things to Look For

Game of the Week to Watch: Heck, watch 'em all!

Upset Special: Mississippi State over Tennessee

Last week: 10 - 5

Season to Date: 136 - 118 - 4

Upset Special: 3 - 10