Dear Readers, LWN wishes you all a happy and prosperous Thanksgiving.  Remember to spend time with your loved ones.  Let them know what you are thankful for.  Also, wonder out loud what the Native Americans are thankful for.  Perhaps the white man coming to the New World, stealing their land, destroying their envirnoment, giving them small pox, and forcing them into casino management.

Enjoy your turkey.

HEADLINES

1.  Happy Trails Lloyd Carr!  Now watch the dominoes fall and LWN’s coach picks come to fruition.

2.  Nick Saban is an idiot.

Saban, trying to be deep and relevant was trying to tell the media that his team needed to overcome adversity.  So what did he do?  He mentioned other adverse conditions- 9/11 and Pearl Harbor.  Granted I am not insinuating that Saban was trying to say losing to UL-Monroe is the same, but he is dumb for mentioning that.  For someone that is regarded in many circles as a great wordsmith, Saban unleashed the 9/11 remark, looked almost stunned when he said it, then went on to reference Pearl Harbor.  What a mess.  Good luck beating Auburn.

3.  Purdue player arrested again

Purdue WR Selwyn Lymon was kicked off the team this week after he was arrested for his second DUI this year.  The Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars front office’s have been trying to get Lymon’s agent on the phone immediately. 

4.  Penn State must disclose Joe Pa’s salary.

Who cares.  The man did pay/raise money for a library on campus. 

                                                                                                                                                    

LET’S REVIEW

1.  Dixon out, Stoops’ defense rises to the challenge, USC in line for another PAC 10 title.

2.  Penn State loses after holding a 17 point lead over Michigan State.  Kaplan572 now owes me $25.

3.  Ball State crushes Toledo.  Duh.

4.  UB loses, I am right.  Turner Gill may not be in line for a major coaching job yet.  Rejoice Western NY.

5.  I use my reverse psychology and Indiana wins the Old Oaken Bucket.  Now to see if a bowl game trip is feasible for LWN.

6.  Wow Louisville, you suck.  Rumors now swirling that UL headman Steve Kragthorpe is going to SMU to further plunge them down the toilet.

7.  Hawaii beat Nevada, was that in question?  I took it money-line so it paid almost nothing.

                                                                                                                                                      

PICKS

1.  USC +3 @ ASU:

It’s hard to argue against this match-up being the key contest of the week, unless you live near the Missouri Kansas border.  But I will get to that later.  At stake, the PAC -10 title.  History tells us this will be a USC win and I am inclined to agree.

Keys of the game- brought to you by my 1996 Subaru Impreza

For USC-

1.  Booty or Sanchez, Sanchez or Booty.  It looks like Booty is the man in SoCal, but I really think Sanchez would have the better game.  You see Sanchez is the better player, but Pete Carroll is loyal to anyone who shuts their mouth about all the extra benefits to players that shut their mouth.  Booty is a f-in SOLDIER (insert your favorite Kellen Winslow JR. impression).

2.  Rushing the ball will be key.  Look for Chauncey Washington to get most of the work after his 220 yard day against Cal.  I predict a 157 day on the ground for him.

3.  USC D-  They need to be swarming.  ASU has speed at the skill position positions and Rudy Carpenter is consistent.  Something Sam Keller could not prove he was.

For ASU-

1.    Keep Carpenter upright.  USC has blazing speed on defense.  Carpenter will make the plays if given time.  Play action slows an over pursuing defense down.  Just a thought.

2.  ASU will give any tailback the ball.  Watch for this trend to continue.  Keegan Herring, Dimitri Nance, Preston Jones can all run the ball.  Will Ryan Torian return?  Not sure, but subbing backs to keep them fresh is a smart move against this defense.

3.  ASU D-  Troy Nolan, Robert James and Justin Tryon have been key components of the ASU defense this year.  Between them, they have 12 INTs.  The secondary must cover well man-to-man so that the safeties can key on run support. 

USC wins late.

USC 28 - ASU 24

                                                                                                                                                       

2.  Tennessee +3 @ Kentucky:

I still think Eric Ainge sucks, but I think Kentucky sucks more.  I don’t care if they are at home, on the road, playing at Church hill downs Kentucky is less predictable then UT.  The Vols avoided a HUGE home loss against Vandy.  They rebound in a close one.

UT 31 - UK 28

                                                                                                                                                          

3.  AND NOW FOR MY

Missouri +2.5 @ Kansas

Missouri wins because they have more defense than Kansas!

Mizzou 41- Kansas 35

*Side Note-  This rivalry is SUPPPPPER SERIAL!  Don’t buy it?  Scroll down a bit.

THEY ACTUALLY KILLED EACH OTHER!  Not in football, but in real life.

                                                                                                                                                         

4.  Virginia Tech -3.5 @ Virginia

I think Va Tech makes a simple business trip to Charlottesville in this one to dispatch the Cavaliers.

Va Tech 28 - UVA 21

                                                                                                                                                             

UPSET OF THE WEEK AND ALMA MATER PICKS

1.  UB -1 @ Kent State- Buffalo 17 - KSU 28

2.  South Carolina OVER Clemson 23 - 14

                                                                                                                                                           

Results

Last Week 4-3

Overall 31-33