College Football Notebook (11/10)

I've always believed that the number zero isthe last team to beat USC, 34-31 in triple-OT back in
extremely defining! In the world of sports, as in real2003. Cal almost beat the Trojans last year in Los
estate, it's all about "location, location and location!" AAngeles losing 23-17 and in 2003, losing 30-28. Adding
zero in the right-hand column of the won-losssome more drama to the mix, a USC win will tie Cal's
standings is a very good thing, while one in thePac-10 record winning streak of 22 straight, set from
left-hand column, is not so good!As college football1947-50. USC is an 18 1/2-point favorite and will close
enters its stretch run, anyone remotely associatedthe year with home games against Fresno State and
with the game is well aware that USC, Texas andUCLA (Trojans have won 25 straight in the
Alabama (listed in order of the team's BCS rankings),Coliseum).Texas, the nation's No. 2 team, goes for its
remain the nation's lone unbeaten teams. However,17th straight win this Saturday in Austin against
there a few other teams with a zero in thatKansas. While both Texas and USC have won games
right-hand column, when it comes to conferenceby similar margins, Texas outscores its opponents
standings.West Virginia of the Big East, easily took48.3-14.3 with USC outscoring its opponents by an
care of Cincinnati on Wednesday night, moving to 5-0average of 49.9-20.6, the Longhorns are 8-1 ATS
in league play. The Mountaineers still have gameswhile the Trojans are just 4-5! Texas is a 33-point
remaining on November 24 versus Pittsburgh (infavorite over Kansas and finishes its regular season
Morgantown) and on December 3 at South Florida.with a visit to College Station, where the Longhorns
The Mountaineers had the Big East title in their graspface the disappointing Aggies. The likely opponent for
last year but lost at home to Boston College 36-17Texas in the Big-12 title games is Colorado, a team
and at Pittsburgh (16-13), to finish the year. Thisthe Longhorns beat in Austin 42-17, back on October
year's team shows no signs of imploding but one15.While few think either USC or Texas will stumble
never knowsTCU has already clinched the MWC title,down the stretch, the nation's No. 3 team, Alabama
in its first year in the league. The Horned Frogs easily(but just 3-6 ATS), finds itself a home 'dog' (plus-3)
dispatched of Colorado State last Saturday (33-6),this Saturday to No. 5 LSU. Since losing WR Tyrone
clinching the school's first outright conference titleProtho, the Tide have scored just ONE TD in their
since winning the SWC crown in 1958. At 7-0 in thelast three SEC games. However, Alabama owns the
MWC, the Horned Frogs (29-point favorites!) neednation's No.1-ranked scoring defense (8.2 PPG) and
only beat UNLV in Fort Worth on Saturday, to finishshouldn't be counted out of any game. If Alabama
at 10-1 overall and 8-0 in league play. Ironically, theescapes against LSU, the Tide play Auburn in the
team's only loss in 2005 came against an old SWC"Iron Bowl" on December 19 in Auburn. Alabama's
rival, SMU. Just one week after opening the seasonlikely SEC title game opponent (if the team makes it
by winning 17-10 in Norman versus the Sooners (asthat far) is either Georgia or Florida.The SEC saw
almost four-TD underdogs), TCU lost 21-10 at SMU, aAuburn go 12-0 last year but get left out of the BCS
team that is just 3-6 on the year.At least one oftitle game and it seems likely that Alabama could
college football's seven remaining conferencefinish 12-0 in 2005 and also get left out. USC
unbeatens HAS to lose this weekend. Boise Stateincreased its lead over Texas in the latest BCS
and Fresno State of the WAC (both 5-0), meetstandings and Texas' lead over Alabama is
Thursday night on ESPN. Boise State entered theSUBSTANTIAL! BCS history says that the two teams
WAC in 2001 and in that very first year, endedranked first and second in the initial BCS poll of the
Fresno's 17-game home winning streak with a 35-30season (this year it was USC and Texas), have
victory as a 16-point underdog. After losing at LaNEVER gone on to meet in that year's BCS title
Tech later that year, Boise began a conferencegame. However, USC and Texas have already made
winning streak that's reached 31 games! During thatBCS history in 2005, as the same two teams have
run, the Broncos are an impressive 21-10 ATS.Despitenever before been either one or two in each of a
the fact that Boise owns that long conferenceseason's first-four BCS standings. Maybe USC and
winning streak and have beaten Fresno in all fourTexas are destined to meet in Pasadena?LOVABLE
meetings since joining the conference (winning by anLOSERSI can't close without listing the winless teams,
average score of 41-21 and goings 4-0 ATS), thethe ones with the zero in the wrong location! Temple
Bulldogs are solid favorites (more than a TD) inis 0-10 (4-6 ATS) in 2005 but gets the week off
Thursday's game. Fresno State is surely no slouch, asbefore closing its season December 19 at Navy. New
the Bulldogs are 38-5 SU at home since 1998 andMexico State is 0-9 (2-7 ATS) and is home to
enter their showdown with the Broncos at 7-1 (onlyNevada, where the Aggies are 9 1/2-point underdogs.
loss at 8-1 Oregon, 37-34) and ranked No. 20 in theBuffalo, also 0-9 (5-4 ATS!) is at Kent State and the
AP (current BCS ranking is 22).The winner ofBulls may actually have a chance. The not-so Golden
Thursday's showdown will likely win-out the rest ofFlashes are just 1-8 themselves in 2005 but are
the way in conference-play but it's no 'lock.' Boisefavored by about a TD. Note: Buffalo also owns the
gets an easy game at home versus Idaho but mustnation's longest current road losing streak with 22
play at La Tech (7-1 SU at home since 2004). As forstraight losses.Rice (0-8 SU and 1-7 ATS) in 2005 and
Fresno, after traveling to USC on December 19 for aowners of the nation's longest current losing streak
non-conference game, the Bulldogs must go to Reno,at 14, plays its Homecoming game this week against
where Nevada has gone 9-2 SU and ATS in its last 112-6 Tulane. The Owls are actually a ONE-POINT
home games. Fresno finishes the season with a gamefavorite! Could it be? By the way, including Buffalo,
against La Tech at home.Getting back to the nation'sNew Mexico State and Rice (Temple is playing this
top-three teams, USC faces the one school that'syear as in Independent), there are still 13 schools
given them the most trouble the last few years. USCwhich are still winless in conference play entering this
takes a 31-game winning streak into its game at Calweekend's action.Larry Ness is a documented
this Saturday, as well as a 14-game road winningmember of the Professional Handicappers League.
streak and a 21-game Pac-10 winning streak. Cal was