PSU UPDATE & A SATURDAY PREVIEW
Those of us wondering what Penn State would do with assistant coach Mike McQueary going forward. I think we got our answer on Friday afternoon. Interim University president, Rodney Erickson, said McQueary was put on administrative leave for the remainder of the season. Earlier in the day the word was he wouldn't be allowed at today's game against Nebraska because of death threats. I think he would have been fired along with Joe Paterno & university president Graham Spanier except for one thing. The Pennsylvania whistleblower law prohibits people who come forward & tell superiors of wrongdoing within any state organization. Penn State falls into that category, so he can't be fired, at least for a while. The team has a new receivers coach, which doesn't bode well for McQueary's future with the Nittany Lions.
After much denial on Thursday, Joe Paterno's son Scott, acknowledged his father has retained famous criminal defense attorney J. Sedgwick Sollars to represent him. Sollars' first order of business was to tell JoePa to zip it, no more talking to the media & that just one day after saying he intended to talk to the press & give his side of the story. That won't happen now. Paterno, as well as the others involved in the "non-action to save some kids" are looking down the barrel of some high dollar lawsuits. The university could take the largest hit financially.
I was talking to my mom yesterday & she asked if Chiefs' coach Todd Haley had shaved his beard off since his team lost last weekend & I said he did. Well I was wrong, Haley said on Friday he didn't want to talk about it anymore, the beard was staying. I have no idea why he's so testy about questions about his facial hair, he's the one who made an issue of it a month ago. Hey coach, how about trimming it up a little, the homeless look is growing old.
Here's a few of the games I'll be watching tomorrow.
#2 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech 11AM Versus
The Cowboys have to be very vigilant at this point, they must get to their "Bedlam" showdown with OU undefeated. Tech is the team that knocked the Sooners out of the box last month & they could do it again. If memory serves me, the Red Raiders are more dangerous at night the past 2-3 years. The 11AM kickoff is still nothing to get over confident about for OSU, but I expect them to be focused enough to handle Tech by more than 10-points.
#19 Nebraska at #12 Penn State 11AM ESPN
The ratings for this game will be huge, just for the curiosity factor, how will Penn State respond to the nightmare they've endured this week? I think Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has to be concerned about how intense this game could become. I believe Penn State comes out extremely focused & plays their best game of the season in front of 106,000 very supportive fans. The Cornhuskers are a 3-point road favorite, the lower ranked team is giving points. Not what you see very often, but this is a game I wouldn't bet on if you gave me the money to play. I'll be watching & I see the Nittany Lions really focused & very emotional, at least for this week. Penn State by 10.
#16 Texas at Missouri 11AM FX
The Longhorns have run roughshod over their last two opponents, literally. Texas has run for 880-yards combined versus Kansas & Texas Tech. That's bad news for the Tigers, who haven't defended the run well this season. The line has played well, but the linebackers have been a major disappointment. WR Jaxon Shipley, the Longhorn's leading receiver will not play, but considering they threw only 9 times last Saturday, it might not make any difference. Another factor that could hurt Mizzou is winds gusting up to 40 MPH, making it tough to throw the ball accurately. Texas is a slim 1-point favorite & I can make a case for the Tigers winning today, I just don't think they will, these teams are going in opposite directions right now. Texas by 2 points.
TCU at #5 Boise State 2:30PM VERSUS
A win here could really salvage the Horned Frogs' season. Their opening night loss to Baylor wasn't a big surprise, but the overtime loss to SMU was & it really wrecked what could have been a 10-11 win season. Beating the Broncos could keep the hopes for 10 wins alive. Sorry, I don't see it, TCU has lost their last three to Boise & I think it'll be four in a row later today. Boise State by 13.
Texas A&M at #14 Kansas State 2:30PM ABC
The Aggie roller coaster ride will continue today. They've had the lead in all but one game this season, sometimes double-digit halftime leads only to see it evaporate in a loss. They've lost their last two & I expect Kansas State to rebound & extend the Aggie losing streak to three. Tho A&M is favored by 6, I like K-State in a very close game.
#7 Oregon at #4 Stanford 7:00PM ABC
This game is for the North Division crown. Oregon is missing defensive starters & Stanford is without their most dangerous WR & leading receiver at TE. Oregon wants to run their fast break offense every time they have the ball. They are the 5th ranked rushing team in the land. But not to worry, Stanford is ranked 17th, averaging 224 per game. I believe this will be vital for the somewhat under-manned Cardinal offense. RB Stepfan Taylor needs 125+ yards to keep the defense off QB Andrew Luck who'll be operating without two of his best receivers. This is second biggest game of the season so far & unlike last week's "Game of the Century" between LSU & Alabama, I expect some scoring in this one. Stanford 27 Oregon 24
After much denial on Thursday, Joe Paterno's son Scott, acknowledged his father has retained famous criminal defense attorney J. Sedgwick Sollars to represent him. Sollars' first order of business was to tell JoePa to zip it, no more talking to the media & that just one day after saying he intended to talk to the press & give his side of the story. That won't happen now. Paterno, as well as the others involved in the "non-action to save some kids" are looking down the barrel of some high dollar lawsuits. The university could take the largest hit financially.
I was talking to my mom yesterday & she asked if Chiefs' coach Todd Haley had shaved his beard off since his team lost last weekend & I said he did. Well I was wrong, Haley said on Friday he didn't want to talk about it anymore, the beard was staying. I have no idea why he's so testy about questions about his facial hair, he's the one who made an issue of it a month ago. Hey coach, how about trimming it up a little, the homeless look is growing old.
Here's a few of the games I'll be watching tomorrow.
#2 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech 11AM Versus
The Cowboys have to be very vigilant at this point, they must get to their "Bedlam" showdown with OU undefeated. Tech is the team that knocked the Sooners out of the box last month & they could do it again. If memory serves me, the Red Raiders are more dangerous at night the past 2-3 years. The 11AM kickoff is still nothing to get over confident about for OSU, but I expect them to be focused enough to handle Tech by more than 10-points.
#19 Nebraska at #12 Penn State 11AM ESPN
The ratings for this game will be huge, just for the curiosity factor, how will Penn State respond to the nightmare they've endured this week? I think Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has to be concerned about how intense this game could become. I believe Penn State comes out extremely focused & plays their best game of the season in front of 106,000 very supportive fans. The Cornhuskers are a 3-point road favorite, the lower ranked team is giving points. Not what you see very often, but this is a game I wouldn't bet on if you gave me the money to play. I'll be watching & I see the Nittany Lions really focused & very emotional, at least for this week. Penn State by 10.
#16 Texas at Missouri 11AM FX
The Longhorns have run roughshod over their last two opponents, literally. Texas has run for 880-yards combined versus Kansas & Texas Tech. That's bad news for the Tigers, who haven't defended the run well this season. The line has played well, but the linebackers have been a major disappointment. WR Jaxon Shipley, the Longhorn's leading receiver will not play, but considering they threw only 9 times last Saturday, it might not make any difference. Another factor that could hurt Mizzou is winds gusting up to 40 MPH, making it tough to throw the ball accurately. Texas is a slim 1-point favorite & I can make a case for the Tigers winning today, I just don't think they will, these teams are going in opposite directions right now. Texas by 2 points.
TCU at #5 Boise State 2:30PM VERSUS
A win here could really salvage the Horned Frogs' season. Their opening night loss to Baylor wasn't a big surprise, but the overtime loss to SMU was & it really wrecked what could have been a 10-11 win season. Beating the Broncos could keep the hopes for 10 wins alive. Sorry, I don't see it, TCU has lost their last three to Boise & I think it'll be four in a row later today. Boise State by 13.
Texas A&M at #14 Kansas State 2:30PM ABC
The Aggie roller coaster ride will continue today. They've had the lead in all but one game this season, sometimes double-digit halftime leads only to see it evaporate in a loss. They've lost their last two & I expect Kansas State to rebound & extend the Aggie losing streak to three. Tho A&M is favored by 6, I like K-State in a very close game.
#7 Oregon at #4 Stanford 7:00PM ABC
This game is for the North Division crown. Oregon is missing defensive starters & Stanford is without their most dangerous WR & leading receiver at TE. Oregon wants to run their fast break offense every time they have the ball. They are the 5th ranked rushing team in the land. But not to worry, Stanford is ranked 17th, averaging 224 per game. I believe this will be vital for the somewhat under-manned Cardinal offense. RB Stepfan Taylor needs 125+ yards to keep the defense off QB Andrew Luck who'll be operating without two of his best receivers. This is second biggest game of the season so far & unlike last week's "Game of the Century" between LSU & Alabama, I expect some scoring in this one. Stanford 27 Oregon 24
Comments