The Wiz of Odds

In Your Facebook

According to the lengthy entry on Wikipedia, Facebook has "been banned at many places of work to increase productivity." Seriously, if you're sitting in an office cubicle today and watching your 401k circling the drain, who gives a hoot about productivity? Figure out a way around that Firewall and join the Wiz on Facebook.

If you are against the increased commercialization of the game, the crackdown on tailgating, soaring prices of tickets and the scheduling of cupcake nonconference games, then you've come to the right place. We're fighting for you, the college football fan.

Thomas Jefferson said it best. "Don't talk about what you have done or what you are going to do." The time for action is now.

Reporters Notebooks

Pass or Catch 2008: Texas Tech has unveiled a mock-election format to promote Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree for the Heisman Trophy.

Joseph Goodman, Miami Herald: Florida called an emergency practice Sunday night, a day after a stunning 31-30 home loss to Mississippi.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Can Brigham Young win the national championship? The answer is yes.

Ken Tysiac, ACC Now: Duke in a bowl game? The Meineke Car Care Bowl is holding its first team selection committee meeting Monday night. "I think Duke would be intriguing," bowl executive director Will Webb said. "I think their fans would show up. They're on our radar."

Bill Koch, Cincinnati Enquirer: With Tony Pike out at least two games because of with a broken left forearm, Cincinnati's Brian Kelly is once against searching for a starting quarterback.

Jake Curtis, San Francisco Chronicle: California running back Jahvid Best is out at least one game because of a dislocated left elbow.

Tom Kensler, Denver Post: Colorado offensive tackle Ryan Miller is done for the season after a fracture of his left fibula in the loss to Florida State.

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: The speculation is that Washington quarterback Jake Locker has a significant injury to his right hand and will require surgery.

Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal Constitution: The night the lights went out in Georgia. The autopsies continue on what happened to the Bulldogs against Alabama.

John Radcliff, AOL Fanhouse: The college football songbook is full of upsets.

Tom Kubat, Lafayette Journal & Courier: Want to be a sportswriter? It often involves much more than covering the game.

My Heart Bleeds Husker Red

Not sure what this is about or if there is a point to all of this, but the young woman caught our attention and Guest of a Guest was kind enough to send it our way.

Week 6

Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee get the week rolling with a Tuesday night game in Murfreesboro. The hometown Blue Raiders are 2.5-point favorites.

On Wednesday, Louisiana Tech makes the long trip to Idaho to play Boise State. The Broncos are 22-point favorites.

Three games on Thursday. Pittsburgh is at South Florida (-13.5), Oregon State is at Utah (-11) and Memphis (-5) travels to Alabama Birmingham.

On Friday, Cincinnati (-3.5) is at Marshall and Brigham Young (28.5) plays at Utah State.

Saturday's games include Connecticut at North Carolina (-7); Auburn (-4.5) at Vanderbilt; Stanford at Notre Dame (-7.5); Missouri (-10.5) at Nebraska; Florida State at Miami (-2.5); Kentucky at Alabama (-16.5); Navy at Air Force (-6); Ohio State (-2.5) at Wisconsin and Oregon at USC (-17).

Snapshots of Week 5

A look at the week that was from the great TV Tan Line.

Texas' Newest Fan

Move over Matthey McConaughey. Texas football has a new fan and his name is Bill Murray.

The funnyman was in Austin last week for a film festival and stopped the university to check out Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. We'll let Murray tell the story:

"We really just wanted to see the stadium, and we thought, ‘Is there just a way we can get in there?’ Then someone took us on a route that rolled through Mack Brown’s office. So I got to sit in a really nice saddle that was in there, because Mack wasn’t in there. I could have tried on all of his clothes. Then Mr. Brown showed up and he couldn’t have been nicer.

"I’ve always had a great impression of him, not only when he won the championship, everybody can be gracious then, but I’ve always thought he was a good sport. I always thought that really came across — his real essential personality — came across. He just really validated that today.