Okay,

I have slept it off, went to church (really struggled to focus but at least I'm honest), wife said everythings gonna be alright, and my 15 month old son is beating his cold which means its time for this Marine and the rest of us BONers to don our "Go Oklahoma (sucks)" hats and t-shirts and get down to business.

Point #1 There is still a lot of football left to play by a lot of different teams.  If last year was any indication than the month of November will usher in change ( and not just for the presidency) than hold on for a very bumpy ride.  Turkey anyone?

Point #2 We are not out of anything!  You better believe that.  My HS football coach once said as we were about to get on the bus to play Converse Judson, "If you don't think we can beat these guys than don't get on the bus"!  Get out of my way 54b and PB...I'm getting on this bus first!

Point #3 We could easily finish the year 11-1 and in the Big XII Championship with a berth in the BCS Championship waiting for us.

So here I go, feet first... if you're game, come along with me. The water is warm and very clear.

Let's take a look at the who is in front of us in the polls and what I expect to happen.  Call me crazy but I do consider myself a borderline addict of college football and not just because of my beloved Horns.  I am going to go with worse case scenario here which in this case is the USA Today Nazi poll.  (I am pretty sure that the BCS is gonna show our Body of work some respect but we shall see tomorrow).  The AP, who I have always trusted more just because they are pretty good at doing this since they have been at it since 1861 A.D., seems to get it right.  I'm not sure why the Coaches poll put us so low at #7 but it is what it is. So, in order:

Alabama Still has to play(in order): @LSU, Missisippi State, and Auburn    I see the Crimson Tide losing at LSU.  They will blast the Bulldogs and the Tigers/War Eagles and they WILL be the SEC West Champion. How do the Longhorns benefit? A loss in November for the Tide drops them a heck of a lot lower than it did us.  As we get further into November this is gonna be the case for anyone as you all already know.  If they lose at LSU on Saturday, as I predict,  they are out of the top 9, the best they can hope for is #10 even in a close loss and assuming they win their last two, which I think they will even with a rival game like Auburn in the Iron Bowl.  Mark my words on this.  Alabama just hasn't done it for a lot of people and they have been suspect.  Even if they win out my money is on them getting BLASTED by a very good Florida team in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. 

Penn State Still has to play(in order): @Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan State. I see the Nittany Lions losing one more maybe 2 but I'm not sure where the second one is.  At Iowa is a strong possibility but I don't quite see it yet.  If they can go into the Horseshoe and win; they can win there.  They will paste Indiana but they WILL lose when the host Sparty and Happy Valley will be shocked.  You guys want to see a CRY PICTURE, watch that game and you will see plenty!  PB, lets put some money on that one.  How do the Longhorns benefit?  A Penn State loss anywhere means they are out and they fall way past us...PERIOD.  The Big 10 is more like the Little 10 this season but they could win out in which case that hurts us big time!  This is one of the most important of all these scenarios and teams...WE NEED PENN STATE TO LOSE A GAME! 

Texas Tech Still has to play(in order): Oklahoma State, @Oklahoma, and Baylor.  I honestly see a 70-30 chance of Tech losing to the Pokes at home next weekend and then, even though they get a bye week, they WILL lose to Oklahoma in Norman.  They will blast Baylor but Tech loses at least 1 more.  How do the Longhorns benefit?  This one is the most talked about simply because our loss is so fresh but it also has the most of our investment.  #1, we need Tech to lose twice, which they very could well do which puts us into Kansas City against (most likely) Mizzou. But even if they just lose at Oklahoma, they drop outside the top 5.  That game is in 3 weeks.  Im not on drugs!  They lose to Oklahoma (who still sucks) and they are outside the top 5 maybe even the top seven.  Who wants to bet me on that statement?  #2, Yes, that would mean they go to KC instead of us but a one loss Tech means they are out of it.  They could lose 1 more, go to KC and win the Big XII but not go to the BCS title game.  I honestly feel this is a likely scenario if some other things dont play out.  They are just starting their gauntlet.   

Oklahoma Still has to play(in order): @Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and @Oklahoma State. Oklahoma (sucks) wins against A&M easily, beats Tech, but loses to the Pokes.  How do the Longhorns benefit?  The Big XII South canablizes itself as expected.  The SEC East has been doing this for a while now and its our turn at feasting on each other.  I think, even if Oklahoma wins out thats still good for us granted we get to KC.  It weighs heavily on the BCS in our favor if they win out.  A win against OKST doesn't hurt us nearly as bad  vice them not beating Tech.  They have to beat Tech!  I will say it only once, "Go Sooners".  I cant' believe I just wrote that.  I feel so cheap and dirty!  someone hold me.....sob

Florida Still has to play(in order): @Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Citadel (Go Bulldogs) and @Florida State.  Florda blasts everybody and wins the SEC Championship and gets a berth in the BCS game in Miami.  They are very good gang as you all have seen for yourself.  When they lost to Ole Miss at home I was shocked but I said to the Mrs ("if they dont lose again they go to Miami").  I said it then and I say it now.  They win out and they are in.  How do the Longhorns benefit?  This is who we play for the title!  A loss helps, of course because it elimnates them completely but my money says Florida is in the title game.  They will beat whoever the West sends to Atlanta.  PB?  How much cash baby?  How much?

USC Still has to play(in order): California, @Stanford, Notre Dame, and @UCLA.  They win out hands down.  This is my wild card.  They aggravate me more than anyone else today.  The one thing we have going for us is that they play in the Soft 10 (Pac 10).  If they lose they are out of it but that's a BIG IF!!!  How do the Longhorns benefit?   I'm not real sure.  I dont see them winning out as affecting us to bad to begin with simply because their SOS (strength of schedule) is so darn weak!  if they win out they are ahead of us in the coaches poll but not the AP which doesnt count for anything in the BCS which is a felony but the BCS does have us ahead of them anyway.  I will gladly take a USC loss just to remove them from the room!

SubTotal:   We need the OkSt, OU, Tech 3-way shootout to continue in this order: OkSt beats Tech.  Tech loses to OU (sucks).  OU loses to OKSt.  That is what we need the most.  Folks, the above scenario has potential for happening just like that.  Thats not subjectivity or myopia talking...thats objectivity.  If, OU wins out, that still puts us in a good spot with the BCS but not the polls.  So, forget the polls.  I would however feel safer (BCS Poll) with an OU loss ONLY to OKST. 

TOTAL:  I know, this could only be written by a Longhorn fan, right?  You're right!  This is what we need to happen...Hands Down.  It very well could.  If Tech, Penn State and Alabama lose at any point during the rest of the regular season not only does that help us towards getting to the Big XII Championship we are also back in it for the National Championship! 

The Marine predicts:  Florida vs. Texas for the BCS National Championship.  (we wear white and Florida wears Blue Jersey's with blue Trousers). 

Call me Crazy but last year was CRAZY!!!  App State beats Michigan in Ann Arbor...Colorado beats OU/KState beats Texas on the same day....Stanford beats USC....South Florida gets as high as #2 and South Carolina gets as high as #6...# 2 West Virgina loses with a berth in the title game waiting for them...come on man, that Crazy!

Semper Fidelis and Hook'Em!