The Wizard Of Odds

Football

Longhorns

Is Major Applewhite the loser in the head-coach-in-waiting scenario?

The Longhorns are thrilled about Muschamp's new position.

"You could see it from Day 1," Brian Orakpo said. "This guy is a player's coach. Every player loves a coach that understands him, that is very demanding, but has a lot of fun with the guys and has a great game plan going into each game.

"He's a great guy on and off the field. Like I've said all the time, he teaches with great enthusiasm each and every day, great passion, and has a way to really get the best out of each player. That's what I feel he's going to bring."

Dr. Saturday said that we have ruined coaching searches around the country.

These are sad, sad people this afternoon, as Texas, being Texas (that is, wallowing around on a huge pile of money), taps into a gusher to keep its man in the fold for the foreseeable future.

The Big 12

Oklahoma had issues with their running game in the beginning of the season. They have overcome any problems.

In its last game two weeks ago against Texas A&M, OU churned out a season-high 328 rushing yards while passing for 325.

"It’s just the fact that we challenge ourselves," said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound DeMarco Murray, a speedy sophomore who was slow to fully recover from a knee injury suffered in last year’s game against Texas Tech. "We have to help Sam, the receivers, the passing game and whatnot. We just have to keep being more physical at the line of scrimmage."

Sam Bradford suffered a concussion after making a tackle in last year's game with Tech. This year, Bradford might handle things differently.

No one is expecting this year's game to come down to the quarterbacks' ability to play defense. But, yes, Bradford would sacrifice his body if confronted with the situation.

"Obviously, you're not going to give up six points," Bradford said. "If I'm forced to be in that situation to make a tackle, obviously I will.

"Maybe I'll go lower this year."

OU is a seven point favorite in Saturday's game against Tech.

The Raiders have silenced their critics this season, no matter what happens Saturday. If OU wins, confusion and chaos will erupt in the BCS.

In one of the more fascinating college football scenarios ever encountered, two of the heavies in the Big 12 South will stage a battle that--if won by homestanding Oklahoma--will send the BCS into chaos and turn college football pundits into Olympic figure skating judges. But what's gotten lost in the shuffle, as Mike Leach gets ready for the latest edition of "biggest game in Texas Tech history," is that if Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree bring their pyro-Tech-nics to the ballpark and conquer one more formidable foe, this BCS mess will evaporate in a heartbeat.

If Missouri wins the Big 12 championship game, their bowl path is simple. If they lose, it is much more complicated.

A punter voted MVP? Stranger things have happened.

Tim Griffin looks at Big 12 coaches on the hot seat.

'Round The Blogs

DoubleTNation has five reasons why Tech will beat Oklahoma.

RockMNation has Part Three of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry.

Corn Nation has their Big 12 Cob of the Week poll.

I Am The 12t Man believes Bill Byrne, A&M's AD, will be rooting for OU this weekend.

The Business of Sports

The bad economy could effect the second-tier bowl games.

More reasons why the BCS is better than an eight team playoff.

Congressman Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii plans to resubmit a bill claiming that the Bowl Championship Series is an illegal restraint of trade.

Being no.2 in the country certainly helps with fund raising. Tech just received over 2.3 million dollars in the last two weeks.

The new Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington has been selected to host the Final Four in 2014. The NCAA also awarded the 2016 men’s Final Four to Houston.

The Wiz of Odds discusses why the BCS-ESPN deal is bad for fans.

The time spent by student-athletes between sport and study is a long running source of tension on America's campuses.

Other Stuff

This is a great article about the man we know as the Aggie coach, Mike Sherman.

Interesting story about Chase Clement and Jarett Dillard, the Rice QB/Receiver record-setting duo.