This Week's CFB BlogPoll Ballot, Version 1

As ranted earlier today, I refuse to let nostalgia for Joe Paterno impact other nuanced factors at the top of my ballot. As always, let me know where you think I can make this stronger.

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Texas	--
2	Alabama	--
3	Texas Tech	5
4	Penn State	1
5	Oklahoma State	--
6	Georgia	7
7	Florida	1
8	Oklahoma	4
9	Southern Cal	2
10	Utah	1
11	Boise State	1
12	LSU	2
13	TCU	1
14	Ohio State	3
15	Missouri	--
16	Tulsa	3
17	Ball State	3
18	Minnesota	4
19	North Carolina	7
20	Connecticut	6
21	Brigham Young	4
22	Michigan State	4
23	West Virginia	3
24	South Florida	8
25	Central Michigan	1

Dropped Out: Kansas (#18), Georgia Tech (#21), Pittsburgh (#23), Boston College (#24), Northwestern (#25).

Sunday 10/26 Quickie: Not Buying Penn St

Now THAT was a surreal World Series game: Latest start ever. That crazy bottom of the 9th. For all the talk about the Phillies' weak RISP, here's the reality: If you get the hit when it counts -- say, the game-winning walk-off infield dribbler with five infielders waiting for it -- who cares what happens the other times when runners are in scoring position? In a short series, the law of averages goes out the window.

Now, how do you feel about Penn State this morning?

If you are a "half-full" person (or Kirk Herbstreit), you give them all the credit in the world for winning in Columbus and stifling the Buckeyes offense.

If you are "half-empty," you are completely unimpressed with the Penn State "HD" offense -- sure, the OSU D is good, but USC didn't seem to have much trouble with it. And as for Penn State's dominating D, perhaps we had overrated Ohio State's "Pryor Offense."

I'm leaning toward half-empty. I think it's time to start the campaign: An unbeaten Penn State won't necessarily be better than a 1-loss Big 12 and a 1-loss SEC champ.

If a Coach or Harris pollster is voting Penn State into the BCS national-title game mainly out of nostalgia for the career of Joe Paterno, it is the WORST REASON IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT a pretty lousy, intellectually bankrupt reason to put a team in the title game.

They're either one of the 2 best teams in the country (which I find dubious) or not. Take your feelings for JoePa out of it.

I love the Penn State resurgence story this season. But you shouldn't necessarily put them in the national title game for it. Meanwhile, give them the "Ohio State" award for going unbeaten through a less-than-daunting Big Ten schedule. (This year's Ohio State at least played USC. And lost. But they played 'em.)

Penn State's schedule is fractionally as difficult as the best of the Big 12 or SEC. Look at Texas: The Longhorns will play a harder schedule in any 2 of the past 3 weeks (pick any 2!) -- let alone next week at Texas Tech -- than Penn State's entire season combined.

I'm impressed with Penn State going into a hostile Columbus and coming out with a win, to be sure. But it wasn't entirely impressive.

/rant

It won't surprise you, then, what my preliminary BlogPoll Top 10 looks like:

1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Texas Tech
4. Penn State
5. Oklahoma State
6. Georgia
7. Florida
8. Oklahoma
9. USC
10. Utah

I am sure I will flip-flop Penn State and Texas Tech, but I think that winning in Lawrence was almost as impressive as winning in Columbus. (For the doubters about TX Tech's defense, Kansas' offense is much better than Ohio State's.)

Here's the thing: I can leave Texas Tech there this week, because as of next Saturday night, when they host Texas, either they lose and drop out of the Top 10 or win and climb to No. 1. Regardless, Penn State moves back up to No. 3 anyway -- assuming they "survive" yet another "toughie" Big Ten game (at Iowa).

Every other BCS contender has to run through a gauntlet of brutal games. All Penn State had to do was beat an overrated, offensively anemic Ohio State in Columbus -- and they barely did that. Yup: That sure is BCS title-game worthy.

Still more than a month to go in the season, and it's already getting political. Hey, with this system, that's how it should be.

Saturday 10/25 (Very) Quickie: CFB Mania!

Late-Afternoon Update: That is what you call "surviving" by Texas. Give Texas credit for gritting it out against an Oklahoma State team much better than most had ranked (I had them at No. 4).

Here's what I know: This week, I will rank Oklahoma State ahead of Oklahoma. Both have 1 loss, both lost to Texas. Oklahoma was run out of the building on a neutral field. Oklahoma State was about 60 seconds shy of winning in Austin. Of all teams with 1 loss, Oklahoma State has the "best" loss. Does that make them the highest-ranked of any 1-loss team? Hmm...

Meanwhile, if Georgia can get out of Baton Rouge, Florida-Georgia next week is going to be epic.

Early-Afternoon Update: I'm willing to stipulate that Big 12 offenses are awesome, but can we at least agree that it is partially because Big 12 defenses are a joke? I'd like to see Big 12 offenses against a very good SEC defense. (Oh, we did: In 2003, when LSU shut down Oklahoma.)

Meanwhile, the AP poll is officially over. I love how ESPN is (entirely appropriately) referring to teams based on their BCS ranking. The AP poll is basically the BlogPoll with a couple more decades of history -- but a lot less transparency. Otherwise, effectively the same.

For those of you not watching Florida on GamePlan but following the scoring via the crawl or in-game updates, it IS that much of an ass-kicking. Pay attention, poll-voters.

Today's Viewing Schedule (with updates and commentary throughout the day):

12:30: Kentucky at Florida (GamePlan)
Tracking: Texas Tech at Kansas (ESPN)
3:30: Oklahoma St at Texas (ABC)
P-i-P: Georgia at LSU (CBS)
8:00: Penn St at Ohio St (ABC)
Tracking: Alabama at Tennessee (ESPN)

And I'll be flipping back and forth tonight with World Series Game 3 (if it's not rained out). You can not care about either the Rays (really?!) or the Phillies, but how can you ignore the ageless Jamie Moyer?

This is likely the oldest player you will ever see play a meaningful role -- let alone be the starting pitcher -- in a World Series. And if he isn't the oldest you've ever seen, it's the oldest you ever will see again. I'm rooting for the Rays, but I'm very sympathetic to Moyer.

More: Did Isiah Thomas try to kill himself? He OD'ed on sleeping pills, but I wouldn't use the "S" word without more evidence. I would, however, not be surprised if he bungled the cap on how many pills he was supposed to take. (Here's to a full and healthy recovery!)

I will never get over the double-standard between steroids in MLB (scandal!!!!1!!!111!!) and steroids in the NFL, which is basically ubiquitous to the point where fans and media (and, oh, Congress) don't really care all that much. It's like: Well, how else are they supposed to jack folks up? Anyway, there's a new report in today's NY Times about 8 more NFL players busted for PEDs. I'm sure it will be as ignored as all the others.

-- D.S.

CFB Weekend Preview and Picks: More UT

There will, by necessity, be some BCS shake-ups this weekend. In the Top 10 alone: (1) Either Texas or Oklahoma State will suffer their first loss. (2) Either Ohio State or Penn State will be effectively eliminated from national-title consideration. (3) Same with the loser of LSU and Georgia. (4) Unbeaten Texas Tech has a very tough road game at Kansas. (5) It's a moment for both USC and Florida to move up, in human polls and the BCS.

(1) Texas over (6) Oklahoma St - GOTW
(2) Alabama over @Tennessee
(9) Ohio State over (3) Penn St - GOTW2!
(4) Oklahoma over @Kansas St
(5) USC over @Arizona
(13) LSU over (7) Georgia
(23) Kansas over (8) Texas Tech
(10) Florida over Kentucky
(12) Boise St over @San Jose St
(14) TCU over Wyoming
(15) Missouri over Colorado
(16) South Florida over @Louisville
(17) Pitt over Rutgers
(18) Georgia Tech over Virginia
(19) Tulsa over Central Florida
(20) Ball St over E. Michigan
(21) BYU over UNLV
(22) Northwestern over @Indiana
(24) Minnesota over @Purdue
(25) Florida St over VA Tech

Other Games of Note:
Cincinnati over UConn
UNC over BC
Wisconsin over Illinois
Miami over Wake Forest
Michigan over Michigan St
Notre Dame over Washington

Friday 10/24 A.M. Quickie:Rays, RISP, CFB, NFL, NBA, More

I'm still holding out for Tim Tebow showing up at the bris today... too much to ask?

I'm not particularly triumphant about the Rays' first-ever World Series win in today's SN column. Mainly because I know that weak RISP percentages usually find the mean, although the whole "regress to the mean" theory works a lot better with a sample size larger than the 5 remaining games of this World Series.

Meanwhile, what will be the more important dynamic of the World Series: RISP or Rain? The Phillies can't convert with runners in scoring position; rain might create havoc -- or at least no off-days -- with the World Series schedule. (I'll take it; compare that to the ludicrously endless NBA playoff schedule.)

What is less believable: That the Pats aren't annoyed with Tom Brady or that NFL teams don't actively offer bounties on opposing players?

CFB This Weekend: At least 4 games with BCS implications. Weekly preview and picks coming later this morning.

I want to salute blog reader Jason Schoming: He is leading BOTH Daily Quickie Reader picks games -- NFL and CFB. That is a hell of a double. In his honor, I will pick Ohio State to beat his beloved Penn State, thereby ensuring that Penn State wins via Quickie jinx.

I'm working on my NBA preview ("Shallowest. Preview. Ever.") for next week's season start. Any clever ideas for Finals predictions? I can't stand the thought of picking the Lakers and Celtics, like basically everyone else. How about the Rockets winning the West? Maybe the Hornets? And how about the Magic winning the East? Maybe the Pistons? Would love the input.

I have never been a fan of Lute Olson or Arizona. Can't say I'm sorry to see him go, although he WAS that program. Without an innovative pick for coach, the program will slide into irrelevancy.

Former Zona wunderkind assistant Josh Pastner has always kind of annoyed me (for no good reason, really -- he's sort of a Theo Epstein/Jon Daniel/Andrew Friedman of college hoops), but hiring the thirtysomething longtime Olson assistant (now a Calipari assistant at Memphis -- that's not a sketchy place to learn or anything) would inject the program with energy -- and much-needed youth.

More later. Complete SN column here.

-- D.S.

Should You Name Your Kid After Athletes?

So why didn't we name him "Tim Tebow Shanoff?" The must-read is here.

(That said: I continue to extend an open invitation to Tebow to attend the bris tomorrow. Will I let him do the circumcizing? Well, let's just say that if he is willing to make the effort to attend, I wouldn't rule it out.)

Thursday 10/23 A.M. Quickie:Phillies, Hamels, Utley, McCoy, Magic

OK, so maybe it won't be the Rays in 5. But it's not like they haven't been stifled in Game 1 of a championship series before. The last time it happened, they scored 31 runs in the next 3 games.

Still: As I lead in today's SN column, that was an impressive display by Cole Hamels, who is the new Josh Beckett -- untouchable in the postseason. And by Brad Lidge, who probably deserves NL Cy. And by Chase Utley, who -- for all the MVP hype for Rollins ('07) and Howard ('08) -- is the real MVP of this offense. And by Jason Bartlett, who even Philly fans can cheer, given that he swiped them (and the rest of the country) a free taco.

Meanwhile, looking ahead to Saturday, Texas-Oklahoma State is the headliner (yes, Penn St and Ohio St fans, with your game thisclose behind). But the real news is Colt McCoy confirming that he'll return to Texas for the '09 season, which should scare the hell out of people. If he's this good in the offense now, how much better will Texas be next year?

It seems unthinkable, but when McCoy's career is over, he will likely be considered even better than Vince Young. Not bad, considering Vince Young is one of the Top 3 college football players of the last decade (Young... Bush... Tebow -- go ahead and retch now).

What would McCoy need to top Young? Not just a national title -- how about two of them? And a Heisman -- or two. Two national titles and two Heismans? Yup, that would do it. (Yes, I recognize this projection is fantastical. Then again, I was perfectly willing to argue that there was no way Tim Tebow would win another Heisman after last season. And he won't.)

Wow, that was a bit of a digression...

I'll dig into the start of the NBA season next week, but am I that wrong to think that the Magic can push the Celtics to contend in the East? Dwight Howard is unstoppable (except at the FT line, of course); Rashard Lewis is a near-perfect complement; and Mickael Pietrus is a defensive stopper. There's something about central Florida this year, isn't there?

More coming later. Complete SN column here.

-- D.S.

Why Can't Us? Almost Makes Me Root Philly

If you've been tracking "Why Can't Us?" over the past (less-than-a) week, it basically reached its apex today. (It doesn't hurt that Deadspin impresario AJ Daulerio is a Philly guy.)

Alas, any second now, it will be overexposed -- oh, you can bet it'll make the Fox broadcast -- and over, just like that. But let's all enjoy it now; it is rare to be able to smell a meme in full bloom.

It is a brilliant, bottom-up slogan. It almost makes me root for the Phillies. Almost. Go Rays.

Nate Silver Is the MVP of 2008

Nate Silver has pulled off an unprecedented "double" this year:

In his role as guru of the PECOTA performance projection system at Baseball Prospectus, he correctly predicted the Rays' rise this season. Arguably, he sparked the bandwagon.

In his role as founder and lead voice of politics blog FiveThirtyEight.com, he has become the breakout star of political polling punditry - it's in my heavy rotation.

Here is a must-read New York magazine story that puts it all together about Silver.

-- D.S.

Wednesday 10/22 A.M. Quickie:Rays in 5, Favre Scandal, NBA Rooks, More

Rays in 5. And, unless you're from Philly, I cannot imagine that you can't root for the Rays. This is one of the great turnaround stories in sports history -- on the cusp of the superlative "greatest."

Here is a reality of the sports-media dynamic nearing the end of 2008: You cannot ignore a story and pretend it isn't there. There are too many outlets. Fans are too informed. It erodes credibility.

If the Favre story came from some random source with no track record, we could dismiss it as some no-account attempt to link-bait one's way to some short-term page views.

Jay Glazer is arguably the most intrepid NFL "info guy" on the beat today -- he wouldn't put his rep on the line with a claim like "1,000 percent" certainty of his story if he wasn't...certain.

And it's not like Brett Favre has a history of straight talk -- he talks, to be sure, but he ensures it is almost always with Favre-friendly folks.

(Here's a question: What will Peter King do when it turns out that Favre lied to him to his face -- or, at least, through a text message? Will he still have blinding, journo-undercutting fealty?)

Regardless: It's a story. (And now it's also a story about a story, what political campaigns and media call "process stories" -- inside baseball, rather than the game itself.)

Meanwhile, if you can set aside the presumption that Greg Oden has NBA Rookie of the Year locked up, the three leading candidates were on display last night: Derrick Rose (30 pts); OJ Mayo (28 pts); Mike Beasley (19 pts). I still say Kevin Love is the best rookie.

(Oh, and nothing will hurt the start of the NBA season quicker than a knee injury to its No. 1 star, Kobe. Presumably, he'll be fine. But it's a reminder.)

I ask a fair question in today's column: What's the bigger game -- Texas vs. Oklahoma State or Penn State vs. Ohio State? I default to the former (two unbeatens, with the winner worthy of the No. 1 ranking both in the polls and the BCS?), but I'm willing to entertain that it's the latter: If Penn State wins, they have a near-lock on the BCS title game; if they lose, the BCS dream is over. And Ohio State is playing better than they have all season -- and the game is in Columbus. If Penn State wins, they will boost their cred -- and, playing in the weak Big Ten, they'll need it.

More to come later. Complete SN column here. Root Rays.

-- D.S.

Tuesday 10/21 A.M. Quickie:Pats, Rays, 49ers, McCoy, Blazers, Tiger

I'm going to stop mocking the Pats now. As I lead in today's SN column: Who needs Brady? It's like the karmic rebound for Boston sports fans from Sunday's ALCS disappointment.

Meanwhile, how is everyone outside of Philly not on the Rays bandwagon? The David Price bandwagon? The Joe Maddon bandwagon? The Tampa-as-hot-sports-town bandwagon?

Growing up a massive die-hard Bears fan, I -- like every other Bears fan -- idolized Mike Singletary. It's hard to view his elevation to head coach of the 49ers with any kind of objectivity.

One more reason Tim Tebow rules: He is taking his Heisman voting responsibility more seriously than 90 percent of the 900 or so media hacks who get to vote. His new guy: Colt McCoy. Good choice.

Does the collapse of EliteXC spell the bubble bursting for MMA? Hardly. But the bubble will burst for fly-by-night UFC wannabes.

The Blazers are so easy to like -- they are sort of like the Rays of the NBA. That's not a perfect analogy, but it's not totally out of line. (SN previewed the Blazers today, which is why I was thinking of them.)

I'm no golfer, but I'd be willing to play 18 if Tiger was caddying.

Derek Jeter is dating Minka Kelly? Of course he is.

I never really weighed in on the Lou Holtz "Hitler" thing. It was absurdly out of line, and my problem with folks who invoke Hitler or Nazis (whether on-air, like Holtz, or online, like Hill) is that they lack a baseline sensitivity to the utter stupidity of what they're saying. I would have suspended Holtz for at least a weekend on the face of his own comment; in the context of the suspension given to Hill, it seems even more ludicrous he wasn't suspended.

Complete SN column here. More later.

-- D.S.

Monday 10/20 A.M. Quickie:Rays, BCS, Cowboys, Favre, Titans, More

Some things just re-affirm your faith in...well, everything. The Rays beating back the Sox surge to win Game 7 and the AL pennant is one of those moments.

The question, as I lay out in my SN column today, is whether this is a revolution or a blip?

The Red Sox -- from sheer payroll by itself, let alone its expert front-office management -- will always be a contender. But the Rays did it on a fraction of the budget, with a surplus of young talent. If the Rays offered the Sox a roster swap -- straight up, team-for-team -- is there any doubt the Sox would take it?

They looked the defending champ -- arguably the best elimination-game team in MLB history -- in the eye and Boston blinked. I thought we were in the middle of the Red Sox Dynasty.

This might be the beginning of the Reign of the Rays.

Meanwhile, BCS BCS BCS. You know who was No. 2 in the first BCS poll a year ago? South Florida. Things will change. Texas and Alabama "control their own destiny," but things inevitably happen.

Well, perhaps not to Texas, which looks like an absolute juggernaut, even in the tough Big 12 (which isn't quite the monster it looked like a few weeks ago).

But Alabama still has a hell of a row to hoe, including the SEC title game (if they get that far). Penn State is sitting pretty -- IF they can win at Ohio State (no gimme), although it's hard to stomach another Big Ten champ making the BCS, given how mediocre the league is.

USC will cruise to 11-1, but its strength of schedule will continue to haunt it. And if Penn State beats Ohio State - or if Ohio State loses to anyone else -- that single signature USC win suddenly doesn't look so impressive.

There is a crack of light for Florida, although I'm certain it won't play out this smoothly: Beat Georgia. Win the rest of the regular-season games. Beat Alabama in the SEC title game. Not easy, but a 12-1 SEC champ should be more than enough (unless both Texas and Penn State both go undefeated -- even then, you wonder whether a 1-loss SEC champ is worse than an unbeaten Big Ten champ).

It's a rare Monday when the NFL is relegated behind two other stories. But here we are: The Cowboys are a mess. The Titans should have silenced all doubters (although beating KC isn't exactly beating, say, the Giants). I really want an enterprising blogger to find all the YouTube clips from Draft day where the Titans were mocked for drafting Johnson.

And Brett Favre is accused of helping the Lions prep for their Week 2 game against the Packers, which is so farcically predictable that it HAS to have some truth to it. It's so petty, so narcisisstic -- thus, so Favre. It's not against the rules, per se, but so against the spirit of competition; it's not like the Lions signed a Packers castoff who helped his new team scheme his old team.

Anyway, it's a fun Monday. They're all fun. Complete SN column here. More later.

-- D.S.

New BlogPoll Top 25 Ballot: Texas, Bama 1-2

With the first BCS poll coming out today, all that matters is Who's No. 1 and Who's No. 2 (and, by extension, who's close enough to take advantage if 1 and/or 2 stumble). I have Texas and Alabama, and I don't expect the BCS to be any different. Of course, there's a ton of game to play. Ballot here. Thoughts? Comments? Feedback?:

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Texas	--
2	Alabama	--
3	Penn State	--
4	Oklahoma	1
5	Oklahoma State	1
6	Florida	--
7	Southern Cal	3
8	Texas Tech	--
9	Utah	--
10	LSU	2
11	Ohio State	4
12	Boise State	2
13	Georgia	2
14	TCU	7
15	Missouri	2
16	South Florida	2
17	Brigham Young	10
18	Kansas	2
19	Tulsa	4
20	Ball State	2
21	Georgia Tech	5
22	Minnesota	3
23	Pittsburgh	3
24	Boston College	2
25	Northwestern	1

Dropped Out: Michigan State (#17), Vanderbilt (#19), Wake Forest (#20), North Carolina (#24).

Sunday 10/19 (Very) Quickie

Yes, I'm now extremely nervous about the Rays. There's not much more to say, except in a one-game, winner-take-all (regardless of location), it would be silly to pick against the defending champs on a 2-game win streak, who haven't lost an elimination game in forever.

Yes, Texas should be the unquestioned No. 1 team in the country -- and No. 1 in the first BCS, released today.

(No. 2? Alabama. On the outside looking in at No. 3: Penn State, but don't feel bad for them -- they will ride that weak Big Ten schedule all the way to the BCS title game.)

Oklahoma had the 2nd-biggest CFB win of the day -- but top teams at home SHOULD win decisively. That's why Penn State's early struggles with Michigan were so startling -- or Alabama's limp finish vs. Ole Miss was equally so.

Even though Ohio State romped Michigan State in East Lansing, I'm not sure I'm sold on OSU -- their Game of the Year is next week at home vs. Penn State, with the Rose Bowl (perhaps more) on the line. It will certainly (and finally) legitimize Penn State's national-title candidacy.

Next week features four huge games, that will make-or-break several contenders' seasons: Oklahoma St at Texas; Penn State at Ohio State; Texas Tech at Kansas; Georgia at LSU. Wow.

NBA Preseason Injury Watch: Deron Williams' ankle.

More later.

-- D.S.

CFB Saturday Viewing Guide and Live-Blog

Early Evening: Well, Penn State certainly turned that around. Meanwhile, Alabama nearly lost it. (That said: Michigan is terrible, while Ole Miss is probably the best 3-4 team in the country in years.)

Oklahoma has blown the doors off Kansas -- honestly, is it fair to ask whether Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are better than Penn State? Let's lose the Paterno Bias, shall we? Call me after Penn State thumps Ohio State similar to the way USC did.

Late Afternoon: Penn State WTF?!?!?!... On the other end of the spectrum, Alabama is quieting doubters by thumping a fiesty Ole Miss... Ohio State is creeping back into Top 10 territory (but they really aren't a great team by any stretch)...

Early Afternoon: Vandy's D is really tough, but Georgia's offense is not what it was a year ago... Texas Tech left little doubt this week... Big big homecoming win for Northwestern

Noon: Purdue at Northwestern (ESPN2)
(P-i-P: Vandy/Georgia - GamePlan)
Update: Added TX Tech/TX A&M
3:30: Ole Miss at Alabama (CBS)
(Tracking: Ohio St/Mich St - ABC
(Tracking: Kansas/Oklahoma - ABC)
4:30: Michgan at Penn St (ESPN)
(Only to track size of blowout. Update: OR NOT)
8:00: Missouri at Texas (ABC)
(Tracking: LSU at S. Carolina- ESPN)
(Tracking-ish: VA Tech at BC - ESPN2)

Saturday A.M. (Very) Quickie

Boise State is still undefeated -- and, aside from Oregon, still rocking a terrible strength of schedule that shouldn't surprise you when they aren't ranked anywhere near the BCS-eligible Top 12.

GMs get job security that managers do not: For the Brewers, Doug Melvin will be back; Dale Sveum will not. "Interim" was just that, even after leading the team to the playoffs.

Will Tony Romo play tomorrow? Honestly: THIS is what passes for drama in the NFL these days?

Joey Porter fined for ripping refs: And, as with virtually every fine in every pro sports league, there is absolutely nothing to keep him or anyone else from ripping refs again. I'm glad he was willing to say it -- and pay it. Sometimes refs need to be called out.

Midnight Madness: There's AP coverage from the big names (UNC, Kansas, Memphis, O.G. Midnight Madness Maryland). But did any readers go to the Indiana practice? Did you recognize ANYONE on the court?

Kirk Ferentz suspends own son from Iowa football team: Seriously, this guy still has a job? His own SON joins the long list of trouble-makers.

I checked out my Wizards yesterday, playing in Barcelona and my first real look at the 08-09 teams. And wow: Without Arenas and Jamison and even Haywood, they are not going to be good. But if you took 2 of the Top 3 stars plus the starting center from ANY NBA team, they wouldn't be good.

Brad Pitt as Billy Beane in the movie adaptation of "Moneyball?" I love that. I'm still not sure how they pull off the movie in a way that won't appeal exclusively to wonky baseball fans -- there's a natural movie-plot-required "conflict," but it's between SABR guys and scouts. This isn't exactly cops vs. crooks (although "good guys vs. bad guys" isn't a stretch).

Usually, I watch nothing but college football on Saturdays, but I'm going to have Rays-Red Sox Game 6 on in some form or another.

Usual CFB "what I'm watching" list and live-blog coming later this morning.

-- D.S.

CFB Wknd Preview and Picks: Texas, Again

It's the final weekend of games before the first BCS rankings are released. For a team like Missouri, it's now or never -- nothing like a game at No. 1 Texas to stake your season on.

Bama has a bit of a trap game vs. Ole Miss -- just ask Florida. Penn State will thump Michigan and it shouldn't do much for JoePa's strength of schedule. On the other end, among 1-loss teams, Oklahoma will get a boost for playing (and beating) a Kansas team in the Top 20. (Same for Georgia with a win over Vandy.)

(1) Texas over (11) Mizzou - GOTW
(2) Alabama over Ole Miss
(3) Penn St over Michigan
(4) Oklahoma over (16) Kansas
(6) USC over @Washington St
(7) Texas Tech over @Texas A&M
(8) Oklahoma St over Baylor
(9) BYU over @TCU -- locked Thursday -- D'OH
(10) Georgia over (22) Vandy
(20) Michigan St over (12) Ohio St
(13) LSU over @South Carolina
(14) Utah over Colorado St.
(15) Boise St. over Hawaii -- locked Friday
(17) VA Tech over @Boston College
(18) UNC over @Virginia
(19) South Florida over Syracuse
(21) Wake Forest over @Maryland
Navy over (23) Pitt
Arizona over (25) Cal

Other Games of Note:
Georgia Tech over Clemson
Western Michigan over Central Michigan
Kansas St over Colorado
Tulsa over UTEP

Friday 10/17 A.M. Quickie:Rays, Red Sox, BYU, Romo, Kobe, More

In a worst-case scenario, last night's Red Sox comeback -- sorry: epic, first-time-since-1929 comeback -- yields a Rays collapse and a Red Sox ALCS title.

In a best-case scenario, last night's win gives Red Sox Nation just enough hope that they actually think they have a shot, before James Shields slams the door on them at the Trop on Saturday.

As today's SN column illustrates, I'm totally torn. We have been here before.

Still: The Rays had their boot on the neck of the defending champs, 7 outs away and 7 runs up, and couldn't seal the deal. You've got to crush the Red Sox when you have the chance.

Meanwhile, speaking of chances and worst-case scenarios, that's BYU fans today. They didn't just lose at TCU (underrated TCU); they got clobbered so badly I wouldn't be surprised if they dropped out of my Top 25 entirely. BCS? Please. Any BCS-busting hopes sit with Utah right now -- and the Utes still have to play both BYU... and TCU. (Both in SLC, though.) Boise State, too.

When your team has a bye week, college football Saturdays are so much different. I'm excited to watch Texas-Missouri (and watching Penn State decimate Michigan will be fun too), but it's just not the same when you don't have your team to hub your day around. Still: Live-blogging tomorrow, as usual.

Finally, if you care at all about blogs and blogging -- and presumably you do at at least some level, because you consume them -- this essay by Andrew Sullivan is a must-read. Sullivan is perhaps my favorite blogger (certainly non-sports) and he is a master of the form. I'd love to figure out a way this weekend to write my own version of this -- not nearly as compelling, but perhaps just for the time capsule.

Complete SN column here. More later, I'm hoping. Although at this point, a few days into two-child parenting, I probably just want to sleep all day.

-- D.S.

Thursday 10/16 A.M. Quickie:Phillies, Rays, BYU, Romo, Clips, More

Some might think I'm dogging Phillies fans in the lead of today's SN column. Far from it.

Few fan bases are more complex -- or have more complex relationships with their teams (not to mention complex relationships with success and defeat) -- than Philly fans.

What makes the Phillies such dramatic entrants in the World Series is that whether they win or lose, Philly fans will freak out. Roughly in the same way, which makes it all the more interesting.

Meanwhile, tonight could be the night for the Rays -- another step in their Cinderella journey: Dispatching the defending champs... the best-run team in baseball... in their house.

I know most folks are probably uninspired by the idea of a Tampa-Philly World Series (I can't imagine the ratings). But I love it: MLB's ultimate Cinderella story vs. the MLB fans who put the hard-ass in "hard-luck."

In college football, it's actually a really good game tonight: BYU at TCU. They are both in the Top 5 of non-BCS teams. BYU is the top contender to be this year's BCS-buster. If you haven't watched them this season -- beyond highlights -- this is your chance to be impressed... or not. TCU has about as stout of a D that there is among non-BCS teams (or, frankly, among BCS teams, too). The game being at TCU makes it all the more challenging for BYU, whose schedule ain't particularly tough -- beyond this game and the season finale vs. Utah.

Is it me, or does this season's Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday NFL coverage seem particularly lame? There just isn't much drama, and most weeks' games have lacked those signature moments or results that drive the conversation for a week. (No: Undefeated Titans or the Wildcat or the Raiders mess don't count. And all-Cowboys-all-the-time is really wearying...already.)

NBA: I have an odd fascination with Clippers rookie Mike Taylor, because -- beyond Brandon Jennings -- he represents a very unique path to the NBA: Drafted into the league directly from the D-League, after he washed out of college hoops. Aside from the money thing, why wouldn't a player go from high school to the D-League for a year, rather than play a year of college hoops. You get SOME money -- and maybe a shoe deal or other endorsements. And the D-League would LOVE you, probably making you their signature player of the season.

Taylor had a big game last night. (Perhaps not as big as Clips rookie teammate Eric Gordon, but a very good all-around game. He's NBA-ready and a draft-night steal.)

Complete SN column here. More later.

-- D.S.

Wednesday 10/15 A.M. Quickie:Rays, Phillies, Pac-Man, Clemson, More

Sincere thanks to all who emailed or commented their best wishes on yesterday's news.

Since around May, I have been trying to come up with a Grand Unifying Theory for the Rays. In today's SN column, inspired by last night's Rays win at Fenway -- putting Tampa up 3-1 in the ALCS -- I think I have found it. I'm going to republish today's column lead in full, because I want the peer review:

The Rays are not the Yankees. Or the Indians, for that matter.

And that is why there will be no Red Sox comeback from being down 3-1 in the ALCS, like they did last season against Cleveland. Or like '04 against New York.

More than anything, these Rays lack a sense of entitlement -- and that missing historical and emotional baggage is its killer advantage, why it is beating the brains out of Boston.

Some might argue that entitlement is swagger and "swag" is a prerequisite for any would-be champ.

But I would say that it is harder to beat a team that doesn't know how good it is-- or, at least, won't let it get to their heads after a franchise history of nothing but losing -- than a team that thinks the name on the front of its jersey demands deference.

And the (METAPHORICAL) names on the back of the Red Sox jerseys aren't having much success either: The Rays followed up a shellacking of historically dominant postseason ace Josh Beckett by throttling Jon Lester, who had been untouchable this postseason.

The barrage of home runs (3 more last night, 7 total in 2 ALCS games at Fenway) is the byproduct of how loose this Rays team is.

In the same way that Red Sox fans don't see the Rays as their "rival," the Rays have no reason to fear the Red Sox mystique.

After a decade of sucking, the Rays are unfazed by expectations – perhaps even immune. The team's "9=8" mantra means that all they focus on is the inning at hand, the single game they are playing.

For a team with as sorry of a history as the Rays, that was the only mindset that could work: Ignore history. Don't self-reflect. Aren't both what doomed both the '04 Yankees and '08 Indians?

Cinderella looked good, but she wouldn't really be the star of the party if she KNEW how hot she was.

Thoughts?

Meanwhile, I step out for one day and the Phillies look ready to make the World Series; the Giants (and NFC East) suddenly look fairly average; and Clemson finally tires of Tommy Bowden (talk about expectations management). Full SN column here.

More later.

-- D.S.

Sorry, Tim: Welcome Jonah Ryan Shanoff!

Here's the best Quickie update I could imagine: Jonah Ryan Shanoff was born at 12:50 this morning, a healthy and happy baby boy.

For those of you who had "Tim" (or, god love ya, "Tebow")  in the baby-name office pool, please feel free to rip up your stubs.

For those of you -- and there were several, amazingly -- who had "Ryan" pegged as at least one of the two names, you get half-credit.

(Although the "Ryan" is in honor of my wife's grandmother; any link to, say, Ryan Braun -- only the greatest active Jewish baseball player -- is thrilling coincidence.)

My wife is the hero of this story. She was phenomenal. Meanwhile, I can't wait to put our two boys together to form an unstoppably nebbishy JCC summer-league backcourt.

(While we are bringing back our mohel for the coming bris, that shouldn't stop Tim Tebow from joining us. You have an open invitation, Tim!)

-- D.S.

Deadspin's Greatest Baby Shower Gift Ever

Hat-tip to Deadspin weekend maven Josh Zerkle on a post so fantastically absurd -- brought upon myself, of course -- that I may have to print it out and put it in a frame above the new kid's crib.

Monday 10/13 A.M. Quickie:NLCS, Redskins, Pats, Texas, Bama, More

No baby yet!

Which fan base is most pissed this morning? That's not how I put it in today's SN column, but that's the essence of it.

Is it the Phillies fans? They don't ever need much of a reason, let alone a "brush-down" pitch en route to a 7-2 Game 3 clobbering in L.A.

Is it the Redskins fans? Beat the Cowboys and Eagles on the road, then lose at home to the Rams. Yeesh.

Is it Alabama fans? They arguably "lost" their bye week, vaulted by Texas. (Or is it Penn State fans, seemingly well behind both the Big 12 and SEC leaders in terms of BCS respect.)

I have to say Phillies. Just because they're always a little pissed, and actually doing something to make them pissed will make 'em even more feral.

NFL: The Redskins choked. The Cowboys choked. The Vikings were lucky. The Falcons are mystifying. Dan Orlovsky is a punch-line. Reggie Bush should be classified as a WR in fantasy.

And the Pats are a shadow of their '07 selves. The Chargers are a very good team -- record notwithstanding. And the Pats were working on a second straight West Coast game. Still: They got shellacked, and the offense feels limp. (You know what QB would make it on 4th-and-1? Tebow. He sure will look good -- if soul-crushing to me personally -- in a Pats uni next season.) I put this out there in the column: Is there any more evidence how valuable Brady is to the Pats than their current state?

CFB: Be sure to scroll down to the post below and weigh in on my BlogPoll Top 25 ballot. CBSSports.com will post the consensus ballot later this morning, but -- as always -- I'll take your comments into consideration before filing my final ballot tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, I'm glad the poll voters -- AP, Coaches, Harris -- saw the wisdom of putting Texas No. 1. (Additionally, putting Bama and Penn State 2 and 3.)

I will say this: Oklahoma State is getting screwed, and here's why: They didn't generate a single vote in the preseason poll, so they have had to overcome THAT all season long, which is why they are where they are -- rather than at No. 4, which is where I have them.

They beat Mizzou at Mizzou for god's sake; as far as resumes go, that is arguably the best win of the year by any Top 25 team (Texas beating Oklahoma, while impressive, came on a neutral field and by a fellow Top 5 team).

I must have seen that new Nike Football commercial with LT and Polamalu about 12 times this weekend, and it still hasn't gotten old.

Complete SN column here. More later. (Unless there's labor.)

-- D.S.

BlogPoll Top 25 Ballot, Take 1: Texas No. 1

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Texas	2
2	Alabama	2
3	Penn State	3
4	Oklahoma State	12
5	Oklahoma	4
6	Florida	8
7	Brigham Young	--
8	Texas Tech	--
9	Utah	2
10	Southern Cal	--
11	Georgia	2
12	LSU	7
13	Missouri	11
14	Boise State	2
15	Ohio State	--
16	Kansas	3
17	Michigan State	4
18	South Florida	--
19	Vanderbilt	10
20	Wake Forest	6
21	TCU	4
22	Ball State	5
23	Tulsa	3
24	North Carolina	2
25	Minnesota	1

Dropped Out: Northwestern (#22), Georgia Tech (#23), Cincinnati (#24).

Suday 10/12 (Very) Quickie: Who's No. 1?

Nope, no baby yet. Meanwhile, did you hear Eric Mangini named his new baby after Brett Favre? Seriously: That makes even a half-serious consideration of naming my kid after Tim Tebow seem legitimate.

CFB Mania: Wow, as bad as I felt when Florida lost to Ole Miss two weeks ago, it felt sooo good watching them rout LSU last night. That was about as well as I have ever seen them play a regular-season game in the Meyer Era. It should also make the following debate fairly clear-cut:

Who's No. 1 in college football? Who's No. 1 in the polls, and who will be No. 1 in the initial BCS ranking?

My pick: Texas. Yes, Alabama has 2 wins over then-Top-10 teams (including on the road at Georgia), but Clemson now gets heavily discounted. And Texas beat the No. 1 team in the country (and Oklahoma sure looked good enough to be the 2nd-best team in the country).

I'll get the BlogPoll ballot up this morning, hopefully, but here's the Top 10: (1) Texas; (2) Bama; (3) Penn State; (4) Oklahoma St; (5) Oklahoma; (6) Florida; (7) BYU; (8) Texas Tech; (9) Utah; (10) USC. Georgia, LSU and Missouri are 11-12-13.

Here's the reality: As long as Texas and Bama keep winning (big big assumption), they will meet for the national title. Can't say the same thing about Penn State, which looks dominant, but is doing it against feeble Big Ten comp (see Ohio State, either of the last two years). What does it say that Penn State's best win was against a .500 Pac-10 team? Here's what I expect: Penn State will go unbeaten; the Big 12 and SEC champs won't, and one of them will be unfairly bumped for the Nittany Lions.

Anyway, for me, it's: (1) Texas, (2) Alabama, (3) Penn State -- then Oklahoma State with a huge jump into the Top 5 (SO impressive to beat Mizzou on the road), followed by Oklahoma, which hardly looked bad in defeat.

And then everyone else (including unbeaten BCS-crashers Utah and BYU -- who play each other eventually -- and Texas Tech, who plays Texas, among others in the Big 12 gauntlet). Among 1-loss teams, it remains a scrum between Georgia, Florida and USC, with LSU now the SEC team needing help.

MLB: Big win -- HUGE -- for the Rays in 11. They HAD to have Game 2. The walk-off ending was, of course, dramatic (though who exactly was up to see it?) All those HR, including one by Evan Longoria -- his 3rd in this postseason.

NFL: Will the Chiefs trade Tony Gonzalez? That's less interesting than the ways we'll see the Wildcat from the Dolphins -- and perhaps other teams? -- today.

NBA: Warriors suspend Monta Ellis for 30 games. Wow. That's like "punch-a-fan-in-the-face" time. Even though most of those will be spent injured, that's a big statement. Considering they just gave him that huge contract, that's going to make things fairly awkward between Ellis and the team, don't you think?

Memo to the NBA: Um, no more outdoor games. Yikes: Ugly. (And I was as big of a fan as this idea as it got. It did NOT come off nearly as well as the NHL's outdoor game.)

NHL enters Election '08 fray: Sarah Palin drops the puck at the Flyers game -- and she wasn't met with universal cheers (as you -- or anyone -- could have guessed would happen). Not sure why she'd do that, except that the hockey mom and sports fan in her couldn't resist. Because the story isn't that she dropped the puck -- it's that she got a mixed reception.

It's not that Carl Edwards choked Kevin Harvick -- it's that it was caught on camera, which is just glorious.

And it sucks to be a Michigan fan this morning. Things will turn around, but this season is going to be painful. As long as Blue fans understand that their team will suck this season, they'll be fine. At least McGuffie looks like the real deal.

-- D.S.

College Football Saturday Live-Blog

No baby yet.

UPDATE 8: Totally ready for the nightcaps. Although there's still plenty of time for my original prediction that my wife will go into labor during the Florida-LSU game and we'll be away from the TV by the time the 4th quarter starts.

UPDATE 7: Nebraska blew it in Lubbock. They should have gone for 2 at the end of regulation, rather than taken their chances in OT. Texas Tech is unbeaten, but they sure didn't look like the No. 7 team in the country.

UPDATE 6: More on Who's No. 1, as I suffer through Northwestern getting shellacked by Michigan State in Evanston. (Could be worse: I could be a Vandy fan -- they're about to lose to Mississippi State -- or a Tennessee fan, losing big at Georgia.) Here's why a Mizzou win tonight is moot, in terms of being overlooked for No. 1 this week: They play Texas next week. If they beat Texas -- especially a No. 1 Texas? -- the Tigers will deserve to be No. 1. So sit tight, Mizzou fans.

UPDATE 5: I don't know what Brent and Kirk are talking about. Texas is the unquestionable No. 1 team in the country, and I can't understand anyone who argues differently -- and that includes even if LSU wins in Gainesville and Mizzou clocks Oklahoma State. Texas is No. 1. They just took the best shot of the No. 1 team in the country and won by a clear KO. Man, what a big win. And how awesome is it when a Game of the Year lives up to its billing with an awesome back-and-forth slugfest.

UPDATE 4: Let me clarify -- affirm or overturn the call, I don't care. What I care about is that the refs take the 1 minute to freaking ensure the integrity of the most iffy calls. And that there is some system in place to ensure that replay is put into use, rather than bafflingly ignored.

UPDATE 3: That end-zone INT wrong-call (along with the 2 sketchy TD calls earlier) is Exhibit A why college football needs a more clear guideline for how/when to use replay. If not in that case, then WHEN, exactly?!?! Coaches should have 2 challenges per game, and refs should be extra-careful to use review (is is supposed to come from the replay booth upstairs?) any calls in the end-zone, either TDs or turnovers. This is embarrassing.

UPDATE 2: That Nike football ad is amazing.

UPDATE: Hell of a game so far in Dallas. If you have watched a lot of college football this season, you recognize these two teams are playing at a higher level than pretty much every other team (including Missouri). And I had KFC for lunch. Damn, is that KFC unhealthily delicious.

What I'm watching today:
Noon: Oklahoma-Texas (ABC)
3:30: Northwestern-Mich St (ESPN2)
(Look-in: Purdue/Ohio St on ABC)
8: Florida-LSU (CBS)
(Tracking: OK St-Mizzou, ESPN2)
(Tracking: Penn St-Wisco, ESPN)

Wow, the night lineup is exceptional, even if I wasn't a Florida fan.

Saturday 10/11 (Very) Quickie

No baby yet.

CFB Day-Long Set-Up Coming Shortly.

(1) Not only am I on the Rays' bandwagon, but I hate the Red Sox -- so last night's Game 1 result was twice as crappy.

(2) Wow, the Phillies seem to be on a mission, don't they? (Brett Myers: Mr. October... at the plate.)

(2a) Undoubtedly, they were inspired by manager Charlie Manuel, whose mother died yesterday morning, but he stayed with the team to manage the game.

(3) NBA Preseason: David Lee is going to have an absolutely monster season (19 and 15 in the NYK win last night)... Rookie of the Night: Kevin Love (9 and 11 in a T'wolves loss)... The Bulls are going to be terrible (Rose: 13 pts, 6 ast)...

(4) CBB: Kentucky's new uniforms have the privilege of being the ugliest in the sport.

(5) Canseco caught smuggling steroids? Hahahaha.

(6) I'm late on this, but who the eff would even joke about Magic "faking" AIDS?

(7) Rece Davis: G.O.P. operative? (I actually think that Rece is the best, most well-researched studio host in the entire network, regardless of sport -- even better than Fowler. He's very good with the pop/news-cultural references; this one may have tipped his hand. Fans hate when sports are merged with politics. I'm assuming this one whipped by most. The Atlantic's excellent political reporter Marc Ambinder caught it.)

-- D.S.

Yes, But Will Tebow Do The Circumcision?

Exciting news: Tomorrow Today is Mrs. Quickie's due date to have our second child, another boy.

Rewind to roughly 9 months ago, when the doctor pegged the due date on October 11. Me: "But that's the Florida-LSU game!*"

(* - NOT my reaction. My immediate reaction.)

While there is no guarantee it will happen tomorrow, I am holding on to what I feel is a very medically sound theory that we will be in the delivery room precisely at the start of the 4th quarter of a close game.*

(* - NOT that I will care about the game at that point. Or, let's be honest here: I'll have the game on TiVo and will merely remind the nurses and doctors and various family members not to mention the result until I'm able to get home and watch. And the one upside of labor on a Saturday is plenty of college football to keep both my wife -- and me -- occupied**.)

(** - NOT trying to insinuate that watching college football somehow reduces the pains of labor. But it just might make it go by a little faster and more distractedly. OK: At least for me.)

No, we don't have a name picked out yet. Even now.

Back in the spring of 2006, before the birth of Kid No. 1, there was a running meme in my daily chat on ESPN.com, the Morning Quickie. There was some early discussion that I would name him "Joakim," which -- while awesome -- would make for an awkward bar mitzvah invitation.

Then, there was some discussion that I would pick "Noah" -- same homage to the Gators basketball team, less polarizing. And, in fact, Noah is a fantastic name. It actually made one iteration of our "baby-name short list," until I disqualified it precisely because I didn't want the kid going through life with people THINKING I named him after Joakim Noah.

For Kid No. 1, "Gabe" worked out fine -- and, as an added bonus, there was a modest connection to a notable sports name -- Gabe Kapler (my son Gabe's middle name starts with a "K," so it works out even better). How could I not appreciate the connection to that rarest of men, the major-sport Jewish pro athlete? (And I don't remember the MQ chatters ever guessing it.)

But it's true for this kid, too: Ideas for names came up -- and were discounted (and perhaps even reassured) -- because of a connection to an athlete or name from sports who I happen to dislike (or like). You simply can't help it.

And then there is the mother of all relevant baby-name questions:

Did "Tim" or "Timothy" make the short list?

I cannot possibly name my kid after Tim Tebow, can I? There's no question, as my Deadspin fans like to celebrate: He is my favorite athlete ever. He is a model person. It certainly wouldn't be a terrible choice, and it's actually a fine, normal name (unlike, say, naming your kid "Peyton," as so many in Tennessee did in the mid-1990s.)

But, no, while I won't reveal the top contenders -- though I have received some great suggestions over the past 36 hours, including more than a few guesses it would be "Tim" -- I will reveal that "Timothy" did not make the final cut, either as a first name or a middle name.

(No, "Tebow" did not make the cut for middle name, either. Though I appreciate you thinking it might... and though I'm not quite sure what that says.)

I will, however, offer an open invitation to Tim Tebow to come up for the bris, 8 days after the birth date. (Oh, you know why I want him there: Sure, you could NAME your kid after Tim Tebow, but it's a much better story to have him join the mohel for the circumcision. Tebow might even learn some new tips. Zing!)

Believe me: The Tebow/Shanoff-bris meme will be worked over on the blog between now and the bris itself. I cannot help it. As soon as I heard about Tebow's turn as the missionary mohel (after I knew my wife was pregnant), I knew I was on a collision course with this topic.

Anyway, as much as I would love to update the blog throughout the glorious event -- or via Twitter, or via updated Facebook status (can you imagine: "Dan is...coaching a birth!" Shortly after: "Dan is...facing divorce!"), if you don't see me on the blog in any given moment, that's why.

So: "Tim Shanoff" or "Tebow Shanoff." Ummm, no. But your name suggestions, guesses or advice, via the Comments, are always welcome.

More later (this time uttered with an epic degree of understatement).

-- D.S.

UPDATE (Saturday a.m.): No baby yet. Here's another tip on naming your baby, inspired after one commenter suggested "Levi" -- not sure if he was serious or kidding. Here's the tip:

If a potential name is nominated and the first person you can think of who shares that name is a douchebag (ie, Levi Johnston), do NOT give your baby that name.

(Now, in 20 years, we may have forgotten all about Levi Johnston. But for these next few months -- which is the only real time people care about a kid's name, just after they're born -- it's a millstone.)

College Football Weekly Preview and Picks

Oklahoma-Texas is an order of magnitude bigger than USC-Ohio State, which turned out to be a battle between two teams either of which arguably not worthy of being in the Top 10.

But OU-UT -- by far the biggest rivalry game of the year and, for now, the biggest game of the year, period -- isn't just about who gets pole position for the Big 12 title and the BCS title game. It is representative of the Big 12's "Big" year -- when it eclipsed the SEC as the best conference in the country.

(It's a sign of the Big 12's depth at the top that Mizzou-Oklahoma State is, itself, a massive game. Anyone willing to take the Over if I set the O/U at 100?)

I'm torn: Oklahoma's passing game should be able to exploit UT's defensive weaknesses; on the other hand, new UT defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is the best D.C. in the country -- ask any Florida fan. If anyone can scheme to stop the Sooners, it's Muschamp.

Speaking of the Gators, they have a make-or-break game against LSU at the Swamp in primetime. They beat LSU there two years ago en route to the national title, and last season, in Baton Rouge, Florida played its best game of the season -- and played LSU as tough as anyone did in B.R. all season -- but lost enough 4th-down battles to lose the game. (For what it's worth: I think Tim Tebow goes back to the old Tim Tebow for this game; if they were "saving" him with their offense this season, this is the time to cash in. Maybe that's just wishful thinking.)

Great, great weekend of games ahead.

BTW: Great post on why the BlogPoll matters. I'll get to my post about it eventually.

Let's get to the picks:

(1) Oklahoma over (5) Texas -- Game of the Week
(3) Missouri over (17) Oklahoma State -- O/U: 95?
(11) Florida over (4) LSU -- GOTW Jr.
(6) Penn State over @Wisconsin
(7) Texas Tech over Nebraska
(8) USC over Arizona State
(9) BYU over New Mexico
(10) Georgia over Tennessee
(12) Ohio State over Purdue
(13) Vanderbilt over @Mississippi St.
(14) Utah over @Wyoming
(15) Boise State over @Southern Miss
(16) Kansas over Colorado
(20) Auburn over Arkansas
(21) Wake Forest over Clemson -- locked Thursday
(22) North Carolina over Notre Dame
Northwestern over (23) Michigan St. -- !!!!
(25) Ball State over @Western Kentucky

Other Games To Watch:

Friday 10/10 A.M. Quickie:Oklahoma, Texas, Phils, Rays, NFL Week 6

I am very excited about the ALCS, but tomorrow is a big day in college football, as I lead with in today's SN column: Headlined with Oklahoma-Texas at noon, then Northwestern(!)-Michigan St at 3:30, capped by Florida-LSU at 8. (Mizzou-OK St is a biggie, too.)

I'll dig into it more in the weekly CFB preview post coming around 11-ish, but OU-UT is arguably the regular-season game of the year -- much much bigger than USC-Ohio State. (Hindsight, but still...)

Meanwhile, big Game 1 win for the Phillies, behind Hamel's pitching and one inning of long-ball. In a 7-game series, it's hard to ascribe TOO much to a Game 1 win won by the home team, but it's a start.

Who else is excited about the NBA's outdoor game tomorrow night?

More later. Sorry for the short first post today. Complete SN column here.

-- D.S.

CFB Weekend Preview -- Thursday Edition

Wake over Clemson -- at the wire!

All Top 25 picks coming tomorrow, 11-ish.

Off For Yom Kippur

No posts or SN column from Wednesday night through Thursday evening in observance of Yom Kippur.

Back again on Friday morning, bright and early. In addition to the extra interpretation of the SN column and the usual CFB and NFL previews, expect a hugely exciting announcement.

(I will provide a hint now, likely resonating only with those of you who used to hang out during my daily "Morning Quickie" chat at ESPN.com: Don't pick "Joakim" in the pool.)

-- D.S.