Reverse Barometer: College Football Weekend

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College picks, Reverse Barometer style! Let’s get right to it:

Oklahoma (+2.5) at Baylor
bob-stoops-ncaa-football-oklahoma-texas-christian2-850x560The game of the day. Baylor sure looks good but this is easily the first time they will play someone. The Bears are mighty tough at home too. On paper, this looks like a no-brainer to take Baylor and run to the bank. Yes, OU got upset by Texas last month. Since then, they’ve gone 4-0, outscoring the opposition, 232-50. I think it is safe to say that the Sooners simply sleepwalked through the Texas week and learned a tough lesson. I’m taking the Sooners in this one, though it will be a fun game to watch. Oklahoma 44, Baylor 37

Oklahoma State (-14) at Iowa State
Are the Cowboys for real? Yes, they are. Will they have a let down after their win over TCU? No. Iowa State, though, is no slouch at home. They’re a middle-of-the-road team that can bite you if you are not careful (right, Texas?). Oklahoma State keeps getting better each week. That continues. Cowboys 41, Cyclones 18

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Kansas State (+5.5) at Texas Tech
What is it about Texas Tech in Lubbock vs. on the road? Night and day. Kansas State? They can’t seem to get out of their own way, coming close to some big wins without closing the deal and getting blown out of others. Consider this one another blowout. Red Raiders 56, Wildcats 30

Texas (+8.5) at West Virginia
Good news, Texas fans – with Saturday’s victory over Kansas, you’re just two wins away from going to a bowl. The bad news – you only have three games left to get them. And with Baylor as one of them, you’ve hit “must win” territory. Which Horns team will show up vs. the Mountaineers? I’m calling a good effort by the burnt orange. I apologize in advance to all Texas fans. Texas 27, West Virginia 25

Kansas (+44.5) at TCU
SMU+v+TCU+YHlZiycXoc4lThe only thing interesting about this game is its massive line of 44.5. It tells you how bad Kansas really is. How does TCU bounce back from the ambush in Stillwater? Will they have a hangover effect that is magnified by the worst team in the Big 12 rolling in? The Frogs will be just fine and I still think they cover. TCU 63, Kansas 10

Alabama (-7.5) at Mississippi State
Bama is on a roll. Many are incensed that the Tide is in the top-4 over some unbeatens. Get used to it. Alabama is good, very good, in a down SEC. That spells playoff to me. Then there’s Mississippi State, the team no one ever thinks about in the SEC West. Guess what? They’re quietly very good. They have the best quarterback in the league and play some decent defense. The Bulldogs will keep it close but Alabama is simply too good on defense. Tide 23, Bulldogs 10

Arkansas (+7.5) at LSU
If only you could form a team that could be coached by Kevin Sumlin in the first five games and have Bert Bielema take over for the second half. For the second straight year, the Hogs are playing very well in the second half of the season. LSU? They’re good, but very one-dimensional. And they’ve gotten very fortunate this season in playing every team at just the right time (until last week). Still, it is very hard to win in Death Valley at night. LSU 22, Arkansas 17

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Rob Scichili (shick-lee) has worked in professional sports for over 31 years in PR and communications, including time with the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, MLB.com, Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks. A journalism graduate of Texas A&M, he is co-owner and editor at ScoreboardTx and VP at Tony Fay Public Relations. Scichili is a consultant to New York Islanders ownership and was recently named to the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame Selection Committee.