The Football Brainiacs

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–    With the off week, Sooner fans should take advantage of the stress free Saturday (in this case, Thursday, Friday, AND Saturday) and watch some games from around the country. On the off chance you have not had the chance to look at the slate of games, there are some potential dandies.

–    On Thanksgiving, a lot of people will be tuned in to the NFL game. I will be watching the LSU/Texas A&M game. Remember when the Aggies were in the CFP rankings? While it did not last long, they still were thought of as a top-10 quality team. Injuries and a fairly tough schedule now have the boys from College Station sitting at 8-3 and ranked #25. LSU is kind of mystery team. Arkansas blows the doors off Florida. The next week, LSU quickly disposes of Arkansas in Fayetteville. The next week? Florida stones LSU at the goal line in Death Valley and…well, the team that everyone was saying was the best three loss team in the country (whatever that means) now is hoping they don’t finish one game above .500. LSU’s defense is still pretty darn good. A&M still has some excellent players. This will be fun to watch. MCKINZIE’S PREDICTION: LSU 20 Texas A&M 17

–    On Friday, there are a couple of games in which I am particularly interested. I must confess to being a big Mike Leach fan. I love his style of football, his attitude, and his dry sense of humor. The Apple Cup, featuring Leach’s Washington State Cougars and Washington, kicks off at 2:30 Central. If you watched the Cougars take on Colorado last week, I hope you got a sense for how solid Wazzu truly is (because I am high on Colorado, no pun intended). It is also hard to know how good Washington truly is, or isn’t. These two rivals could give us the best game on the holiday weekend. The 10th ranked offense (WSU) versus a top 20 defense should make for some quality football. I want to believe Leach will have his guys ready, closing out the season at home. MCKINZIE’S PREDICTION: Washington State 31 Washington 27

–    Someone told me there is a big game in the Big 10 this week. While it isn’t the game being played at The Horseshoe, Minnesota and Wisconsin match two teams with 17 combined wins, with the Badgers being a team that will need to lose to get out of the way of the Sooners. The Gophers have quietly won eight football games, but lost to every opponent with a pulse (Iowa, Penn State, Nebraska). I think Wisconsin a tough squad. I like how they play. They are physical, don’t make many mistakes (2nd in nation with fewest penalties per game), and just come at you. Wisky is favored by two touchdowns, and while I think it will be a decent game at first, the Badgers will win by more than that. MCKINZIE’S PREDICTION: Wisconsin 38 Minnesota 13

–    I won’t lie and pretend I would have predicted TCU and Texas to come into Friday’s game with a combined 10 wins. Most believe it is a foregone conclusion this will be Charlie Strong’s last game holding the Longhorn reins. Texas churns out yards, but can’t seem to get the points to follow. TCU is an enigma to me. Score in bunches. Score nothing. Oh well. Way back in August, there were a few well-known sportscasters saying this game would be for the Big 12 title. Can’t fault them for going out on a limb, but man…talk about two teams that went in the tank as the season went along. Will the Longhorns rally behind their coach? Or is all hope lost? MCKINZIE’S PREDICTION: Texas 33 TCU 30

–    Baylor and Texas Tech is an interesting “dinner time” kickoff (Don’t judge me. I have small children). Tech is going to miss a bowl game, that much is obvious. The Baylor football team has had just a flat out weird situation this season. Something inside me says Patrick Mahomes is itching to put up some video game numbers (again). While Tech’s defense is beyond awful, being in Lubbock, last game of the season, etc., I think Tech pulls off the win and honestly, I think it might get ugly. Mahomes is 534 yards from 5000 passing yards for the season. Does he get it? MCKINZIE’S PREDICITION: Texas Tech 45 Baylor 27

–    Michigan travels to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes. No need to rehash how bad the Sooners looked against the Buckeyes, and everyone by now knows the offensive playmakers were not 100% healthy. Still, Ohio State is a very scary and dangerous opponent for a Michigan team that has not been on their “A Game” the last two weeks. John O’Korn looked pedestrian against Indiana and the offensive guy in me cringes to think about what the Scarlet and Grey might do to him this Saturday. Michigan still has a defense that will keep this an interesting ball game, but it is a tall order for a team not fully healthy…just ask OU. MCKINZIE’S PREDICTION: Ohio State 27 Michigan 17

–    The Iron Bowl has a chance to be surprisingly good. I say surprisingly but if you have been paying attention lately you know that a good game will not be super shocking. Auburn comes in a fairly hot team. They have a top 20 defense. They have the 5th ranked rushing offense. Oh, hey…Alabama only has the nation’s top ranked rushing defense. Same song, different verse. The game is in Tuscaloosa. The Tide seem invincible. Folks want us to believe Saban ripped the team a new one after a ho-hum performance last week against UT-Chattanooga and somehow Alabama will come out extra motivated. At this point of Alabama’s dominance, I will not pick against them. It would be foolish to do so. Do I think Auburn has a chance to keep it close? Yes, I do. LSU’s defense did a great job matching up with the Tide. The problem is, you might be able to keep Alabama from putting up a lot of points, but they may not give you a SINGLE point. Malzahn is a very good game planner and I expect he will have an innovative attack ready to go, but it just won’t be enough. MCKINZIE’S PREDICTION: Alabama 27 Auburn 10

–    Man, color me excited for the 6:30p kick off that matches up Utah and Colorado. The Buffs are 9-2. NINE and TWO. They are for real, in my opinion, and a tough draw for just about any one at his point in the season. Utah is a solid squad but going to Boulder right now is like going into the Lion’s Den wearing a pork chop suit. Colorado is in the top 15 in total defense and scoring defense. They are nasty and play like their hair is on fire (showing my age on that one). Watch their defense perform the way you believe that side of the ball should be played. MCKINZIE’S PREDICTION: Colorado 30 Utah 17

–    Florida and Florida State is one of my favorite games, each year. So much speed on the field, at least in most seasons. The Seminoles have had a disappointing season, as they were up toward the top of the polls at the beginning of year. Florida is coming off of a huge victory against LSU, and will play in the SEC championship game as the winner of the East. This a really tough game to end the season with for both teams. Here is what I will be looking for: 1. Is this the same Florida team who came to Fayetteville and was dominated by a “so so” Arkansas team? or 2. Will this be the Gators who shut down LSU on the road just last week MCKINZIE’S PREDICTION: Florida State 24 Florida 20

O/U Passing Yards for Patrick Mahomes: 525

O/U Rushing TDs for Auburn: 2

O/U Total Points in Apple Cup: 61

O/U Times Charlie Strong’s Future is Mentioned during a game NOT featuring Texas: 6

O/U Total Yards in LSU/Texas A&M Game: 410

O/U Total TD for Jalen Hurts: 3

O/U Times Jimbo Fisher’s “interest” in LSU job is mentioned during FSU broadcast: 2

O/U Rushing Attempts for Auburn: 45

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I truly hope your day is one that allows reflection, time with loved ones, and a spring board into a wonderful holiday season.