The Wiz of Odds

Carroll Pulls a Harbaugh on UCLA

I have no horse in this race, but after listening to whining from many (not all) USC fans after Jim Harbaugh went for two on his way to putting up double nickels against Petey, it's clear that Trojan fans and their coach have not learned any lessons about sportsmanship.

Carroll's logic in sticking it to UCLA Saturday night loses all credibility when you watch his reaction after the touchdown. As one person put it, he was "celebrating like a 13 year old at a Miley Cyrus concert." The Trojan players followed the lead of their coach, inciting the Bruins and nearly leading to an all-out brawl between the teams, the likes college football hasn't seen since Florida International and Miami played in 2006.

There's no degree of separation between the decisions by Harbaugh and Carroll. Simply, each was a bush league move.

Updated: Video after the jump shows Barkley taking the knee, Carroll discussing options with offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, and the touchdown pass.

Wolf Is Running Up the Scores

Finally there is a voice of reason amid the bickering between USC and UCLA fans (more on that shortly). While fans squabbled during Saturday's game between the crosstown rivals, Scott Wolf, the USC beat writer for the Los Angeles Daily News, took the opportunity to huddle with the Bruin cheerleaders.

Wolf's impressive portfolio of shots with cheerleaders can be viewed by clicking here. Thanks to John!

BCS Title Game: Why Not Cincinnati?

Cincinnati is one game from a 12-0 regular season, yet the Bearcats seemingly have no shot at playing in the Bowl Championship Series title game. Can somebody explain why Texas or the Alabama/Florida winner is more deserving?

Not only does Cincinnati have cute cheerleaders and a victory at Oregon State, but they serve beer at Nippert Stadium! How can you argue against $6 drafts?

Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin took in the festivities Friday during the Bearcats' home finale against Illinois. Click here to view his gallery.

Guru: Boise State Not in the Clear

Oklahoma State's loss appeared to secure a berth to a Bowl Championship Series title game for Boise State, but Sam Chi, the BCS Guru, says there is at least one scenario where the Broncos could get left out.

If Texas were to lose to Nebraska in Saturday's Big 12 championship game, the Big 12 would get a second BCS bid, leaving Boise State out of the big-money suite of bowls.

Here is the bowl breakdown, according to Sam:

BCS Championship Game: Florida/Alabama winner vs. Texas
Sugar Bowl: Florida/Alabama loser vs. Cincinnati/Pittsburgh winner
Fiesta Bowl: Iowa or Penn State vs. Boise State
Orange Bowl: Texas Christian vs. Georgia Tech/Clemson winner
Rose Bowl: Oregon/Oregon State winner vs. Ohio State

If Texas loses to Nebraska:

BCS Championship Game: Florida/Alabama winner vs. Cincinnati or TCU
Sugar Bowl: Florida/Alabama loser vs. TCU or Pittsburgh
Fiesta Bowl: Iowa or Penn State vs. Nebraska
Orange Bowl: Texas vs. Georgia Tech/Clemson winner
Rose Bowl: Oregon/Oregon State winner vs. Ohio State

Game of the Weak

Mike Hlas is an award-winning columnist with the Cedar Rapids Gazette and force behind The Hlog. Each week, he will break down the worst matchup in college football. Considering the increasing number of uncompetitive and uninteresting games, Mike's task is harder than finding calm, sane shoppers on Black Friday.

No team got singled out more than once in the Game of the Weak this season. We spread it from conference to conference, region to region. We're equal-opportunity needlers.

So it is that we wind up 2009 in Seattle, after enjoying some delicious Thanksgiving salmon. Washington State at Washington. The Apple Cup, once a game of national prominence.

It's the same season-closing Game of the Weak as last year's.

This one is slightly less brutal. Last year's was a Game of the Weak of the Decade.

In 2008, the Huskies and Cougars entered their game at Pullman without a win against a I-A team between them. Wazzu scored a 16-13 double-overtime triumph. Someone had to win.

The Cougars went to Hawaii the next week to appropriately close their year with a defeat against the Rainbows as the sun set on a 2-10 season.

Washington, meanwhile, put the rotten icing on its miserable cake by finishing with a 48-7 beatdown of a beating from California for an 0-12 season.

The Huskies fired coach Tyrone Willingham and brought in USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. It appears to have been a good move.

Crystal Ball

A look at how prognosticators from around the country view this week's games.

Double D, Boston Herald: USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley has gone from Heisman contender to his new nickname, "Boy Blunder." UCLA has won three in a row, all against Pacific 10 bottom feeders. The Trojans have the Bruins right where they want them — the L.A. Coliseum. Give the points and take USC.

Tim Sullivan, New York Post: Notre Dame has been in every game it has played. Aside from uncharacteristic blowout wins over Washington State and Nevada, every Fighting Irish tilt has been decided by seven points or less. Notre Dame is getting a bundle of points at Stanford. The Fighting Irish are the pick.

Jon Wilner, College Sports Hotline: Nevada can score with the best of them. Take the high-octane Wolf Pack and the points against Western Athletic Conference kingpin Boise State. In the Pacific 10, look for Stanford to hang 50 on Notre Dame.

John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald: Baylor has nothing to play for, while Texas Tech is trying to improve its bowl position. Take the Red Raiders and give the points.

Reno Gazette-Journal: The sharpies in Reno are going with Auburn, Colorado and Oklahoma State.

Phil Steele: His top 25 forecast calls for Oklahoma to defeat Oklahoma State, 31-17.