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Great main course for college football

Submitted by SHNS on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 16:37

For the college football fan with an insatiable appetite for big-ticket games, Saturday's TV menu offers another full plate of must-see match-ups.So, for those drawn to games like moths to flames, The Unbalanced Line recommends pacing yourselves. It's going to be another long day...And, as diehard fans know, at-home tailgating can easily put you at risk of overindulging... in food, beverage and, yes, even the games.Saturday's menu is arranged for those who prefer to waste no time sinking their teeth into the main course: Top-ranked Oklahoma versus No. 5-ranked Texas is served first.With gunslingers Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy leading the Sooners and Longhorns into their annual showdown in Dallas, the Red River Shootout suits its name just fine.Since 2005, it's also been known as the Red River Rivalry, but this year you've got to stick with the "shootout."How about this for some sharp shooting:McCoy, the Longhorns' quarterback, has completed 103 of 130 passes for 1,280 yards, a 79.2 percent completion rate. He's thrown 16 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.Bradford, the Sooners' signal caller, has completed 106 of 146 passes for 1,665 yards, a 72.6 percent completion rate. He's thrown 18 touchdown passes and just three ints.The Nos. 1- and 5-ranked teams with the No. 2-rated (Bradford) and No. 4-rated (McCoy) quarterbacks in the country... It doesn't get any better than that for an early October main course.If you're looking for something to tip the scales, the Longhorns' pass defense is ranked 96th; the Sooners' pass defense is ranked 15th. Which means the Longhorns' weakness plays to Oklahoma's strength.The Unbalanced Line's call: Oklahoma by two touchdowns.But there's plenty more to feast on, especially in the evening. But you'll need picture-in-picture or a few TV sets if you want to get your fill of the day's dessert trio:Three games, featuring four unbeatens, that could once again shake up the polls are being televised nationally. And there are some pretty decent appetizers sandwiched in between: Arizona State at No. 8 USC; Tennessee at No. 10 Georgia; Purdue at No. 12 Ohio State; Notre Dame at No. 22 North Carolina; and No. 23 Michigan State at Northwestern.Sounds pretty sweet, unless you're on the losing end. Fans of No. 4-ranked LSU and No. 3-ranked Missouri would be wise to have an antacid on hand... Their stomachs could go sour.LSU has to venture into the Swamp, where a bunch of hungry Florida Gators are lying in wait -- made hungrier by the remarks of LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois."If we get a good shot on (quarterback Tim Tebow), we're going to try our best to take him out of the game," Jean-Francois was quoted on the Orlando Sentinel's Web site.As if No. 11-ranked Florida needed more incentive to devour their rival, especially after their embarrassing 31-30 loss at home to Ole Miss two weeks ago. Back-to-Back losses in The Swamp for a team loaded with talent and speed, and led by last year's Heisman winner? Not likely.Wouldn't figure Wisconsin to lose back-to-back games in Camp Randall Stadium either, especially after consecutive losses at Michigan and last Saturday night's home defeat to Ohio State. But No. 6 Penn State is visiting this weekend. And this Lion team has a "Spread HD Offense" that can turn any defensive coordinator's stomach.Keep an eye on PSU's No. 17, quarterback Daryll Clark. He's surrounded by a slew of NFL-caliber skill players, along with an offensive line that is arguably college football's best.That aside, this is Penn State's toughest road test yet... But rest assured Joe Paterno, at 81, can still raise the spirit and intelligence of his team to win in Madison.As for Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, no question he's spirited. His post-game tirade after his Cowboys beat Texas Tech, 49-45, became Internet fodder last year. Probably fired up his team and put him on the hot seat at the same time.What a difference a 5-0 start can make. In Stillwater, Gundy's probably about as cool as you can get. If No. 17 Oklahoma State can knock off Missouri in Columbia -- a big IF -- the Cowboys would surge in the polls, and the Tigers would plummet.It's the Cowboys' No. 2 rushing attack led by Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston versus the Tigers' third-ranked aerial assault, led by Heisman frontrunner Chase Daniel.OK-State has an edge on defense, but Missouri is a fine-tuned offensive machine playing at home.Looking for the scale tipper? There is none.Which means, like most college football Saturdays, you'll just have to indulge yourself.(Contact John Tucker at jtucker@unionleader.com)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)