TEQ - Turkey Eve Quarterback

Seeing as how we have games spread throughout the weekend, it only makes sense to get the picks in today....It's unusual having The Game on Thanksgiving Weekend. I think I like it, but with everything else going on, I'm certainly not getting as worked up as I usually do. Yes, it probably has something to do with the fact that we are going to lose, and lose badly, but I think it takes off a little focus and it's going to take some getting used to.

However, that didn't stop tOSU President Gee from spouting off about how "Boise State and TCU are simply not worthy" in an interview/article for ESPN.com. He reiterated what every fan of a big school/conference believes with respect to the meat grinders that their conferences represent have to go through in order to achieve an undefeated or even 1 loss season.

Once again, it's what the BCS stands for and the imperfection of what we end up with. If there were a play-off, would Boise and TCU be ranked as high as they are? My guess is no. You would have every 1 loss major conference team ranked ABOVE Boise and TCU and they would be "fighting" for a 7th or 8th spot in the play-off and the argument would then hinge on, "Well, is an undefeated Boise orTCU better than a 1 loss Wisconsin, LSU, MSU, tOSU, OSU or Stanford? Assuming that Oregon, Auburn, Wisconsin, LSU, tOSU, OSU, Stanford, and MSU or if another worthy "AQ" qualifier existed. And my answer would kind of be the same as Gee's: That is, they haven't earned it on the field.

Plain and simple: It comes down to dollars. You want to play in the Big Game with the Big Boys, pony up, buttercup. 30,000 seat stadiums and small athletic departments don't get a seat at the table, plain and simple. They let them (TCU and Boise) have the Fiesta in 2010. It produced ratings, but was that because it had it's own night and football-holics were getting their last fill?

So while I long for a play-off, I fall into the "elite" group of snobs that don't really want to see a TCU or Boise State win it all. Call me a hypocrite, but that's just the way it is.

As for this week's bets, let's see if we can't do something right for a change...

Michigan at OSU (-18.5): Wow...I can't remember a spread in the Game ever being this big. Rich Rod knows he needs to keep this one close. Can they? Can they keep it to within 2 1/2 TD's? I have to go with (my heart) the Blue Men here and take the points...Take Michigan and the 18.5 for $50.

Gatorland @ FSU (-2.5): When was the last time the GATORS got points in this contest? I like the Seminoles to even this series up a little. Take FSU and lay the 2.5 for $40.

Arizona @ Oregon (-19.5): This is a scary line. I really don't think Oregon will play poorly at home this week, looking for whatever style points they can get...Take Oregon and lay the 19.5 for $40.

Oregon State @ Stanford (-14): Stanford is literally steamrolling teams at this point and if I had stuck with them the last three weeks, I'd be financially better off. Take Stanford and lay the 14 for $50.

Northwestern @ Cheeseheads (-22.5): Bielema the Bad will run it up again this weekend, looking for a BCS bid. Take the Cheeseheads and lay the 22.5 for $50.

Parlay:
Let's go for it:
3 way - Cheeseheads - Stanford - Oregon for $25. Pays $150.
5 way - All the picks for $10. Pays $200.

Bets: $265
BANK: $326.50