My locks of the week....

[Pokevette]

I'm struggling to call these "locks" this week because my conviction on these games are not quite as strong as usual. Maybe I should call these my "good plays"

- Texas A&M (-3) over Colorado
- Mizzou (-20) @Baylor
- Minnesota (-6) over Northwestern.
- Oklahoma State (-31) over ISU.

* I think A&M has been improving of late. I think Colorado (largely due to injuries) is going the other way. I like the Aggies to cover at home.
* Mizzou is in a fight to restore their National reputation. Nothing short of a drubbing of Baylor will suffice to the voting public.
* Minnesota has quitely been putting together an impressive season. Northwestern will be a significant challenge, but I like Minnesota playing at home in this one.
* Oklahoma state is perfect this season ATS. I really doubt a home game against struggling Iowa State will be the game to break the streak.

Games I'm specifically staying clear of:
* OU vs Nebraska
* Texas vs Tech
* Tulsa vs Arkansas.
* Kansas vs Kansas State.

I think all four of those favorites will likely win, but I'm not sold on them covering the spread.

[DCPokeFan]

'Vette, I agree that an outright loss to ISU would be a huge upset given the current state of both teams, but stranger things have happened.

However, also given how Mike ran the offense against the Missouri States of our schedule, do you think he might call the dogs off before beating the spread? He doesn't seem to have Leach's idea about no quarter...

GO POKES!!!

[jakeman]

I know it sounds horrible, but I hope we beat them by 50. I'm not sure how much "style" points count in the BCS race, but we need to be as high in those rankings as possible.

[OSUFan]

And, again, OSU is on tv. It might be different if OSU sent out the highlight reel on a non-tv game but voters will be able to watch the whole game. OSU needs to play well and look good on tv. I say OSU covers at the end of three quarters and then it all depends on the reserves if it stays that way.

[Pokevette]

Iowa State is #109 in the BCS....

OSU at home this year:
#55 Troy W 55-24
#65 Houston W 56-37
#79 Baylor W 34-6
#82 Texas A&M W 56-28
N/R Missouri St W 57-13

Average score of those five? 52 - 21, or 31 point margin.

Iowa State is worse than every team we've played (with maybe the exception of Missouri State). I think our defense is MUCH better than we were early when we gave up points to Troy and Houston. I think our team is playing with a confidence and motivation that is at a high for the season.

With the game on TV and OSU "auditioning" for BCS voters, I think Mike will want to look good.

(IMHO)
OSU covers this one easily. I'm guessing a score of something like 55-14.

[DCPokeFan]

I'd take that! ;)

[FloridaPoke]

ISU will be starting TWO TRUE FRESMEN at CB. And their O-line has been decimated by injury. They struggled on offense before their rash of injuries. They struggled on defense before their radical changes to true freshmen at the corners.

This will be a beatdown of epic proportions, as Dez, Hunter and Zac will all three have their way......and our D-line will be in their backfield all day.

The only way we don't cover big is if Gundy calls off the dogs early in the 3rd Q to give the 2 and 3 squads some reps, assuming the 2's and 3's make big mistakes which isn't a given.

I suspect that it being an Regional TV game that Gundy might pour it on until the 4th, bringing in the subs only then.