It’s Thanksgiving Week, which means three things: Food, Football, and Cheerleaders! While everyone else is piling plates of food and stuffing their faces, the cheerleaders will be the only ones brave
enough to bare their sexy stomachs come Saturday. All the rest of us will be eating turkey sandwhiches as we watch the Big 12 South Story unfold over the course of the holiday weekend. With potential look-ahead games looming in Bama and Tallahassee, Notre Dame trying not to look stupid(er), and the Big Ten at home waiting to sneak up the BCS ladder, what could be better than a breski in your hand, the game on the big screen, and hot southern chicks on sideline.
Check out the picks (and the chicks) after the jump!
No. 1 Alabama (11-0) vs. Auburn (5-6)
The undisputed number-one team in the land goes into its yearly grudge match against a hated rival with plenty on the line this week. Nick Saban will have to make sure his squad isn’t looking ahead to the SEC Championship Game against No. 4 Florida, or else the Auburn Tigers will knock them off their perch atop the BCS standings.
No. 2 Texas (10-1) vs. Texas A&M (4-7)
While the Longhorns are currently sitting pretty in the all-important number-two spot in the BCS standings, they will have to bring a lot to the table this Thanksgiving to avoid a third straight upset defeat at the hands of the struggling A&M Aggies. Texas is currently in a three-way tie for first in the Big 12 South, so a loss would basically end their season and destroy their hopes for a shot at a BCS berth.
No. 3 Oklahoma (10-1) @ No. 12 Oklahoma St (9-2)
Coming off a dominating home win against Texas Tech to stay in the running for a shot at the Big 12 Championship and a BCS title game berth, the Sooners must once again take down one of the nation’s top teams. Oklahoma travels into the dangerous backyard of the blood rival Cowboys with the season on the line. It doesn’t get much better than this match-up in this second edition of Rivalry Week.
No. 4 Florida (10-1) @ No. 20 Florida St (8-3)
Much like Bama, Florida must be focused on their rivalry game this week to avoid a look-past game now that they know they will be meeting up with the Crimson Tide for the SEC title and likely a trip to the national title game. Florida has been shattering lives the past two months, ever since a botched PAT cost them an undefeated record. The Gator Vengeance Tour 08 continued last week as they annihilated Citadel, 70-19, and Florida State has their fingers crossed that Urban Meyer takes it easy on them.
No. 5 USC (9-1) vs. Notre Dame (6-5)
USC gets the right to further embarrass Charlie Weis this Saturday, but will likely be peering up at the scoreboard to follow the Oregon at Oregon State matchup that will determine the winner of the Pac-10. While we all thought it was hilarious when USC dropped its road game in Oregon State, it now appears somewhat legit since the Beavers still haven’t lost since then. But here is the question. Is it really possible for the Trojans to play in the BCS title game, despite not winning the Pac-10? Doesn’t that seem backwards to you? How is that fair? Obviously, that’s never happened before, but it is extremely possible since the national media is obsessed with Pete Carroll and his boys.
No. 6 Utah 12-0 is done, MWC Champs
Utah took apart BYU in the Mormon Super Bowl last week, 48-24, and finished the season a perfect 12-0 as Mountain West Conference Champions. They await their fate and a BCS bid.
No. 7 Texas Tech (10-1) vs. Baylor (4-7)
The lowest BCS ranked team of the three one-loss Big 12 South teams has the easiest opponent this week. They get to crush Baylor Saturday afternoon and wait to see whether or not they are headed to a Big 12 Championship Game matchup against Missouri.
No. 8 Penn State (11-1) is done, Big Ten Champs
Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions finished up their season strong last week, blasting the Spartans of Michigan State, 49-18, to capture the Big Ten title. Now they wait to see if they have a date in the Rose Bowl, or if they pull a Ohio State and slide into the BCS title game. After Ohio State’s last two stinkers in the title game, don’t expect anyone to vote Penn State higher than the Rose Bowl.
No. 9 Boise State (11-0) vs. Fresno State (7-4)
With only Fresno State standing in the way of another undefeated season, the Broncos will be amped up under the Friday Night Lights this week, trying to put an exclamation point on another WAC
championship.
No. 10 Ohio State (10-2) is done, 2nd in Big Ten
While this season may be viewed by some as a disappointing season for the Buckeyes, they finished up in style by putting a hurt on the hated Michigan Wolverines. The 42-7 romp was the biggest deficit in The Game since 1968, and now Ohio State will sit back and try to Urban Meyer/weasel its way into a BCS bowl game.
