The Wiz of Odds

Crashing the 1959 Halloween Party in Baton Rouge

Halloween always brings out the crazies, but it will take some doing to top what happened 50 years ago in the most famous game in Deep South history.

Rick Cleveland of the Clarion Ledger tells the story of No. 1-ranked Louisiana State, the defending national champion, playing host to No. 3 Mississippi on a damp Halloween night in 1959 at Tiger Stadium.

Bill Rogers, 29, of Jackson, Miss., traveled to Baton Rouge with two buddies, who had tickets to the long sold-out game. Rogers didn't have a ticket, but he planned to scalp one upon his arrival at Tiger Stadium. In case that didn't work, he had a backup plan, which he carried in a duffel bag.

Rogers quickly realized nobody was selling tickets, so it was time for Plan B.

A high school referee, Rogers brought his uniform in the duffel bag. He ducked into a bathroom, changed into his referee's uniform, put a whistle around his neck and headed for the main gate.

Tennessee Fan Reacts to Alabama Blocking Field Goal

First off, this comes with a strong language warning. Not safe for work, and if you sit in the first pew on Sunday, don't even think about watching this video.

A Tennessee fan reacts to Terrence Cody's block of Daniel Lincoln's 44-yard field goal attempt to secure the Alabama's 12-10 victory over the Volunteers.

Reporters Notebooks

David Owens, Hartford Courant: A Connecticut freshman faces a host of charges in connection with comments he posted on Internet message boards that threatened potential witnesses to the slaying of Husky player Jasper Howard.

Ray Melick, Birmingham News: The Southeastern Conference is putting its foot down on coaches who criticize officiating. Coaches who violate policy will no longer be sent a letter of warning, instead they will be suspended and fined.

Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer: Should Jim Tressel run for political office? Tom Osborne, who served six years in the U.S. House of Representatives, says "we need people like Jim Tressel in government, because he's not your typical bureaucrat type."

Losers With Socks: More on those South Carolina full-service gas stations.

Darren Everson, Wall Street Journal: Just in time for Halloween, the forgotten ghosts of college football.

Matt Youmans, Las Vegas Review-Journal: Las Vegas sportsbooks took a severe beating Sunday, with estimated losses in the $8 million range, according to various sources.

Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com: Former New Mexico assistant J.B. Gerald said he "could taste the blood in my mouth" after he was attacked by coach Mike Locksley during a Sept. 20 staff meeting.

Trying to Make Sense of the BCS

I'll be the guest of Ken Broo on 700 WLW in Cincinnati on Sunday. The segment is scheduled to begin at 11:05 a.m. Eastern, and you can to listen live by going to the WLW site. We'll discuss Saturday's games and their impact on the Bowl Championship Series standings.

WLW is the flagship station of the Bearcats, Bengals and Reds and has a booming 50,000-watt clear channel signal. Click here to view the coverage area.

Ken also has blog, and you can click here to check it out.

Let's talk college football! If you're looking for a guest for your radio show or podcast, drop me an email: jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

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 managing an Afghan election while knitting an afghan.

Halloween always brings its horrors, but this is going too far.

New Mexico State at Ohio State is all trick, no treat.

How in the name of Jack O'Lantern did this game get onto the Buckeyes' schedule this deep into the season?

For that matter, what's it doing on the schedule at all?

With two losses already before the arrival of November, Ohio State is happy to have a pumpkin to carve before it finishes the regular season at Penn State, at home against Iowa, and at Michigan.

New Mexico State brings a 3-5 record to OSU's Horseshoe, and is fresh off losses of 45-7 to Louisiana Tech and 34-3 to Fresno State. First-year Aggies coach DeWayne Walker has to be feeling bewitched.

If Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor and OSU coach Jim Tressel hear any booing today, it will probably just be kids warming up their scary voices before going door to door to pursue free sweets that will ruin their teeth and put them on the road to bad dietary habits for a lifetime. Their obesity will lead to increased health care costs for all of us and ...

Sorry, I briefly thought this was Blame the Weak, not Game of the Weak.

Crystal Ball

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

Double D, Boston Herald: Auburn won its first five games, but the opposition — Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Ball State and Tennessee — was hardly top notch. The Tigers have put up only one offensive touchdown in the last two games and Mississippi is coming to town. Take the Rebels and lay the points.

Tim Sullivan, New York Post: Oregon is 6-1, 5-2 against the spread, and with a healthy Jeremiah Masoli at quarterback, the offense has been near unstoppable. The Ducks are the pick against USC.

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Hlastradamus says T. Boone Pickens is a man with a plan, and his plan involves sprinkling lots of tens and twenties between the Texas dressing room and the playing field. That can only mean one thing: Take Oklahoma State and the points at home.

Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News: The Texas-Oklahoma State winner gets a reasonably clear path to the Big 12 championship game. At this point of the season, Oklahoma State usually remembers that it's Oklahoma State. Longhorns 23, Cowboys 17.