Maddux Sports Blog

Tulsa (-7) at Arkansas - This one is simple. If Tulsa wins this one they will be in the driver’s seat to go 13-0. This is their last big test, and it is only a test because it is an SEC team. The Golden Hurricane should be fine here, and if they are then they could be a headache for BCS fans. They’ll be undefeated and they’ll want into the party. It will be interesting to see if they are allowed to play. It will be esppecially fun if these guys and Utah and Boise State were all to make it through unscathed.

Florida (-6.5) vs. Georgia - The World’s Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party is always fun, and especially now that these teams are both good, desperate for a win, and truly hating each other. I am not generally a huge fan of the style of football the SEC plays - I respect it but hate to watch it - but this game should be a joy to watch. The winner is likely heading to the SEC Championship game. The loser is playing for next year.

Washington (+46) at USC - This will be a terrible game, but it will be fun to watch in a train wreck sort of way. Washington is unbelievably awful. Their QB is hurt, their coach is a lame duck, and they have no talent anywhere on the field. This one could get really, really, really ugly. I hope so.

Utah (-7.5) at New Mexico - This sets up as a potential trap game for the Utes. New Mexico is a pretty solid team, especially at home. Utah needs to be on their toes to get through this one, and they may not be if they are looking ahead to a huge Thurday night game against TCU. The Utes obviously can’t afford to lose, so the stakes are very high.

Texas (-3.5) at Texas Tech - This is, in my opinion, the most interesting game of the year so far. You have the two extremes - an established, proven, conventional program, and an upstart team with a screwball offense that has gradually earned respect. Both teams can score like crazy, and neither plays much defense, so this will be a fireworks show. On top of that, the game is the biggest sporting event ever to be played in Lubbock, and the implications are huge - the winner is the temporary king of the brutal Big 12, and the loser has to lick their wounds. We don’t really know what we have in Texas Tech - they have played very well, but their biggest games are ahead of them. We know exactly what we have in Texas - a lot. They have been brutalized by a very rough schedule, though, and they wouldn’t be blamed if they were hurting physcally and mentally by now after the gauntlet they have had to run. If they win here and beat top 11 teams four weeks in a row they will be only the second team ever, and first in more than 60 years, to do so. This game has everything going for it, and could be an instant classic.

As we did last weekend, here’s a look at what I think are the most interesting top 25 games of the weekend. Not included on here is the obvious one - USC-Ohio State. If you’re not totally sick of hearing about that game by now then you are a better person than me. For the record, I think USC will win, but I think the line movement has been utterly ridiculous this week. It also doesn’t include perhaps the most interesting top 25 game of the week - Kansas-USF - because that one has already happened.

Nevada (+26.5) at Missouri - Missouri is going to win this one. That’s virtually certain. What will be interesting to watch, though, is whether Nevada can replicate what they did last week. That’s when they stifled and frustrated Texas Tech for a good portion of the game. The Tigers and Red Raiders are different teams, obviously, but they both have explosive, dangerous offenses. I’m not convinced that Nevada will be able to do it again. After all, the shut down is all relative - Texas Tech still scored 35 points. There is also potential for the Tigers to explode here. Either way, it will be interesting to watch.

UCLA (+8) at BYU - The Bruins have to get their heads screwed back on straight after they have had two weeks to read and hear just how impressive their first big upset win over Tennessee was. This will be a good opportunity to see what kind of control Rick Neuheisel has over his new team. It’s also a chance to see if BYU can bounce back from a disappointing performance against Washington last week. I would like this game more if it was at UCLA, but it is still a chance for us to see if BYU is for real. Or UCLA, for that matter. More than two-thirds of the public likes theBruins.

SMU (+36) at Texas Tech - Texas Tech hasn’t looked good so far, even though they have won twice. I am not alone in thinking before the season that the Red Raiders were a legitimate force in the Big 12. So far things haven’t looked quite right for the offense. This game against a hopeless opponent (with apologies to June Jones, who will turn this team around given time) will be a chance for us to see if there are actually problems with Tech, or if it has just taken them a while to find their stride. I really need to be convinced that Graham Harrell is healthy.

Wisconsin (-2.5) at Fresno State - This has a good chance to be the classic game of the weekend. I have really been impressed with Wisconsin. I knew they would be able to run the ball at will, but I wasn’t expecting the versatility that they showed last week by focusing heavily and successfully on the pass against Marshall. Fresno State has very high expectations this year, and they looked good beating Rutgers in their lone game (though UNC on Thursday showed that that isn’t as impressive as it could be). This is perhaps the biggest game ever played in Fresno, and the crowd is going to be out of control. I truly believe that this one could go either way. No matter what, it is going to be fun to watch.

UNLV (+24) at Arizona State - With apologies to a Rebels fan I know, UNLV stands no chance here. It probably won’t be very interesting. What I want to see, though, is how good Arizona State looks. Like they probably are, I’m looking ahead to next week. Georgia travels to Tempe next weekend. I’m not currently convinced that the Sun Devils really stand a chance, but a strong performance in this game could make it much more interesting, and could put a lot more play into the line.