The pigskin prognosticators have basically given up hope on traveling to a warm spot for a bowl game this winter.
After going 3-0 last week, Uncle Joey (right) has improved his overall record to 17-9 this season. Crone (left), who has finally parted picking ways with his girlfriend, is 13.5 and 12.5, after taking MSU and the points last week.
MSU (4-4 overall, 3-2 conference) vs. Ohio State (5-3, 2-3)
Crone - The Spartans are hurting bad. The only thing that would ease their pain would be a victory over any team, but especially over a big-name team such as Ohio State.
The Buckeyes are more like the Suckeyes this season. They have no running game and no passing game, and new quarterback Troy Smith is running or he is throwing to wideout Santonio Holmes. Yes, the Buckeyes have won two in a row - over Indiana and Penn State. Not impressive.
The Spartans can win this if they stay together as a team, because they are the better team and are at home in front of the Spartan Stadium crowd.
MSU 20, Ohio State 16
Uncle Joey - This game is all on Damon Dowdell's back, whether he likes it or not. I don't think it's fair, but it's the truth. If MSU loses, no matter how the senior quarterback performs, there will be certain people who blame him. It is the way his career has gone so far and it will continue to be that way.
Dowdell is not Drew Stanton and comparing the two or saying "'If Stanton was in, State would've beat Michigan" does no good. Dowdell is MSU's quarterback for the immediate future and MSU fans should support him, rather than dump on him and magnify his mistakes.
So, on to Ohio State, which seems to be considerably weaker this year. There is reason to fear a breakout game by the Buckeyes, but every opponent should be taken seriously. The bottom line is, Ohio State isn't a top tier Big Ten team this season. The Buckeyes just don't have enough offense.
I'll take Dowdell at home, leading MSU to a much needed, bounce-back home victory.
MSU 27, Ohio State 13
No. 22 Texas A&M (6-2, 4-1) vs. No. 2 Oklahoma (8-0, 5-0)
Crone - So, you're Texas A&M and you just lost to Baylor in overtime last week, what do you do? Return home next week and beat the team you were looking ahead to - the Oklahoma Sooners.
Yes, Oklahoma is a powerhouse of a team, but these unbeatens have to be beaten "sooner" or later. Adrian Peterson is good, but not good enough to be the Heisman front runner as a freshman. Aggies quarterback Reggie McNeal is the real deal and will carry the Aggies to the win.
Texas A&M 27, Oklahoma 24
Uncle Joey - Is Oklahoma more or less likely to play for a national championship since its 38-35 win against Oklahoma State? More likely.
Beating the Cowboys on the road and putting up 38 points in the process further proved the Sooners can hang with high-powered offenses -something they struggled with last season. Are you listening, Southern Cal?
This is Oklahoma's last major test before a potential Big 12 championship game. After this they have a home date with Nebraska and a trip to Baylor remaining on the schedule. It's becoming clear to me that the Sooners are headed to the Orange Bowl.
Last season's ending (back-to-back losses to Kansas State and Louisiana State) will motivate Oklahoma. Plus, with the addition of Peterson in the backfield, the Sooners are looking strong. The Aggies are done; they're now just a hurdle for another team to jump over.
Oklahoma 40, Texas A&M 20
No. 6 Texas (7-1, 4-1) vs. No. 19 Oklahoma St. (6-2, 3-2)
Crone - The eyes of Texas are upon the Longhorns this week as they square off against a tough Okie State team, that almost upset Oklahoma last week.
Texas better be ready for Cowboy running back Vernand Morency, and they will. I see Longhorn running back Cedric Benson having a huge day and getting himself back into serious contention for the Heisman Trophy.
Texas 35, Oklahoma State 21
Uncle Joey - There are a lot of my principles on the line in this game. I talked Oklahoma State up in the Oklahoma-Texas A&M prediction. Texas coach Mack Brown, to me, is one of the biggest losers running a big-time program in college football and I'm on the Adrian Peterson-for-Heisman bandwagon, which means I think he's a better back than Benson (Crone and I constantly butt heads on this).
To support myself and my theories, Oklahoma State is the obvious pick. I'll take it a step further and say Morency will severely out-play Benson and lead the Cowboys to a win. We know Brown can't beat Oklahoma, now it's Oklahoma State's turn to take advantage of Brown's weakness.
Oklahoma State 24, Texas 21
