The Wiz of Odds: Reporters Notebooks

John Benson, Willoughby News-Herald: Comedian Richard Lewis, a 1969 Ohio State graduate, is still backing his Buckeyes. "I'm just so sick of Ohio State getting beaten up by these pundits on all of the sports channels. ... I'm a Buckeye, so I'm biased. I just remember when [coach Jim] Tressel made his first speech, I think at a basketball game, and said, 'We will beat Michigan.' That's right up there with me having intercourse for the first time. I was very excited." Thanks to Ben Maller.

Adam Maya, Orange Country Register: The father of UCLA reserve fullback Trevor Theriot wrote a critical message about the Bruin staff on his Facebook page: "The sad state of UCLA football," Brian Theriot posted. "My gosh…..I have never seen more misuse of talent and a greater degree of offensive stagnancy on play calling and use of personnel….we have the players. UCLA under Coach Rick (Neuheisel)….is horrible. Wayne Moses the running back coach is horrible. The sets are Pop Warner in movement, motion, and slots. I mean a Pop Warner type offense that Tim Tebow would laugh at. UCLA is playing with great athletes but giving great athletes boys and girls club sets. Norm Chow and Wayne Moses are old school and gone." Neuheisel replied, "Everybody's entitled to their opinion."

David Jones, Florida Today: Florida's Urban Meyer has decided to punish linebacker Brandon Spikes for an eye-gouging incident against Georgia. Spikes won't play in the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. Link to video. The Gators' Tim Tebow said the Bulldogs used some of the same tactics that Spikes did.

Sports By Brooks: Was Spikes gouged first? Georgia's Shaun Chapas appears to have gotten his hand under Spikes' facemask in the first quarter.

Dave Birkett, Ann Arbor.com: Michigan's Rich Rodriguez has no plans to discipline offensive tackle Mark Ortmann, who was caught on video throwing an uppercut to the groin of Illinois' Corey Liuget. Ortmann denies throwing a punch. Link to video. The Big Ten is investigating.

Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Associated Press: The son of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler is suing his stepmother in Ohio over concerns about a trust her late husband created.

Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman: The names of the eight voters who put Oregon ahead of Boise State in the Associated Press poll.

Bud Withers, Seattle Times: Oregon's pounding of USC could have eliminated any hope the Pacific 10 had of getting a second team into a Bowl Championship Series game.

Katy Hopkins, The Hill: A Pennsylvania Republican is using tailgate parties to raise funds and drum up support for conservative causes. Thanks to Penn State Clips.

Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News: Temple has won six in a row for the first time since 1974. The Owls are bowl-eligible for the first time since 1990.

John Henderson, Denver Post: Forget a playoff system. One spot in the BCS title game has already been secured by Texas.

Dr Saturday: It was a very good Saturday for Oregon's Chip Kelly.

Paul Gattis, Huntsville Times: What's worse, the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference or Tennessee's black jerseys?

Sports Media Watch: Solid numbers for ABC's telecasts of the USC-Oregon and Texas-Oklahoma State games. NBC's telecast of the Washington State-Notre Dame game put up terrible numbers.

Don Kausler Jr., Birmingham News: Birmingham artist Daniel Moore, whose paintings have captured many big moments in Alabama football history, will commemorate Terrence Cody's blocked field-goal attempt that secured the Crimson Tide's victory over Tennessee.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: Kansas State’s improvement from the opening kickoff until now is nothing less than amazing. The Wildcats have progressed from an escape in the opener against Division I-AA Massachusetts and a loss at Sun Belt also-ran Louisiana Lafayette to mauling Texas A&M and pushing an Oklahoma team that has won 64 of 66 on home turf under Bob Stoops.

Michael Roberts, Westword: Denver Post beat writers no longer can make game predictions about teams they cover, a decision that came from the newpaper's editor, Greg Moore.

Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News: June Jones has Southern Methodist within two victories of being bowl-eligible. The Mustangs haven't been to a postseason game since the 1984 Aloha Bowl.

Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Advertiser: Greg McMackin says Hawaii has not given up on the season. "I wouldn't do that to our seniors," he said. "They've worked hard, and they deserve to win. We're doing everything we can to give them a chance to win."

Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman: Nine things and one crazy prediction.

Husker Locker: Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was cited for negligent driving.

Eric Lacy, Detroit News: Former Michigan State coach George Perles, 75, says he intends to run for governor.

Ken Gordon, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State kicker Aaron Pettrey tore the medial collateral ligament in his right (kicking) knee last Saturday and will miss the rest of the regular season.

Donnie Webb, Syracuse Post-Standard: Syracuse standout receiver Mike Williams has quit the team. Williams left an ominous warning on his Facebook page after he was suspended for the Orange's game against Akron. Plus, coach Doug Marrone made a tear-filled defense of quarterback Greg Paulus, who was booed during Saturday's loss to Cincinnati.

Dan Collins, Winston-Salem Journal: Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner, who is recovering from a concussion, is questionable for Saturday's game at Georgia Tech.

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: Washington's Steve Sarkisian said quarterback Jake Locker is questionable for Saturday's game against UCLA because of a deep thigh bruise. Locker said he will play.

Ed Taylor, East Valley Tribune: Another newspaper is closing. The East Valley Tribune, based in Mesa, will shut down on Dec. 31.

Rick Brown and Lisa Colonno, Des Moines Register: Former Iowa coaching great Forest Evashevski has died. He was 91.

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