THE SCHEDULE AND A FEW THOUGHTS by ST

This blog is gonna have to last through Monday unless I get really motivated(don't count on it).
Want to chime in on the fact most of the pundits are riding the Alabama bandwagon, calling for them to knock off Auburn. It won't be an upset as the Tide is a 4 point chalk with an over/under at 58 points. I still don't get it. Not saying Bama "can't" win, but based on what do they stop the Tigers. Alabama had an historically great defense last year but lost the following. One of the nation's great run stoppers in Terrence Cody on the nose(2nd round pick of Baltimore). Add in fellow lineman Brandon Deadrick who was taken by the Patriots. It goes on. Rolando McClain was the Butkus Award winner as the top linebacker in America along with one of their top tacklers, Eryk Anders, an outside linebackers. Not sold? How about 1st team All American corner Javier Arenas, a 2nd round selection of the Chiefs. On the other side they lost Kareem Jackson who was a 1st round pick of the Texans, is now starting in the NFL. A year ago(granted at Auburn), it was a really close game, 26-21 against a team who lost 5 SEC games. The Tigers had a decent game. Just under 350 total yards, 180 throwing, 150 running. Nice balance. Now the Auburn offense is 100 times better and the Tide defense is significantly weaker. I love Auburn in this game! FYI this game is at 11:30 our time on CBS(KVAL local).
On Friday we'll also get Oregon/AZ on ESPN at 4pm, Nebraska looking to ice their spot in the Big 12 title game on ABC at 12:30(KEZI local) and the biggie between Boise State & Nevada at 7:15, following Ducks/Cats on ESPN. Broncos win that after an Alabama victory over Auburn and they might just clinch their spot in the National Title game.
On Saturday, Oregon State at Stanford is 4:30 on Versus. We won't get Oklahoma State & Oklahoma at 5 on ABC as, understandably, KEZI will roll with USC/Notre Dame though the battle for the Bedlam Bell is about 800 times more significant on a national level.
The Big 10 picture clarifies a bit on Saturday with Wisconsin hosting Northwestern at 12:30 on KEZI. The day begins with Michigan at Ohio State at 9am on our ABC affiliate as well with ESPN2 rolling with Michigan @ Penn State. FYI....if all 3 win it likely means a trip to Pasedena for the Badgers as they'd finish higher in the BCS rankings to break that 3 way tie.