The Wiz of Odds

Oklahoma

If the Sooners return to the top of the college football world in 2010, they will have earned it. Florida State and Christian Ponder visit Norman in Week 2, followed by Air Force in Week 3. That could be a trap game considering Oklahoma plays at Cincinnati the following week and then battles Texas in the Red River Rivalry. It's as brutal of a four-game stretch as you'll see. Thanks to Scott!

As a run up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted. Last year, the site displayed 69 posters.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

Click the image for an enlarged view.

The Sun Bowl Has a Problem

Ciudad Juárez is visible from the Sun Bowl, and Mexican city is a reason many Oklahoma fans have decided to skip the Sooners' Dec. 31 bowl game against Stanford in the West Texas town of El Paso.

Although El Paso was recently rated the second-safest big city in the country, trailing only Honolulu, Ciudad Juárez is now the murder capital of the world.

"We’re not interested in El Paso. We will stay at home and watch it on the tube," said Craig Blankenship, who has traveled to the Sooners' last 10 bowl games.

Nearly 2,500 people have been killed this year in Ciudad Juárez, which has become Ground Zero in the Mexican's government's attempt to wipe out drug cartels.

Bradford Meets With Andrews; Tebow Has Illness

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford flew to Birmingham late Friday and was to meet Saturday morning with renowned sports surgeon James Andrews, according to a report by Christian Steckel of WAPT-TV in Jackson, Miss.

Bradford sprained the AC joint in his right throwing shoulder before halftime of the Sooners' 14-13 loss to Brigham Young on Sept. 5. The Heisman Trophy winner has sat out the last two games. Oklahoma has a bye this week.

"There is no talk of surgery that we know of on the record, this is further evaluation on the original injury," Steckel said. "He wants to return to play next week [against Miami] and he's been in consultation with Dr. Andrews from the beginning, but he's going to make an appearance in front of him on this so he can make a better evaluation."

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and safety Major Wright have come down with flu-like symptoms. The team plays Saturday night at Kentucky, and the players flew to Lexington on a plane separate from the team, according to Kyle Maistri of the Florida Independent Alligator.

The Finalists for Readers' Choice Poster of the Year

The Wiz is happy to present the 10 finalists for Readers' Choice Poster of the Year.

Each of these teams have survived a rugged primary to reach this point, and now it's your turn to select a winner. Voting will close on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at midnight (Eastern). You get only one vote. Repeat voters are blocked by IP address.

The finalists: Iowa State, Texas Tech, Michigan State, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Penn State, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, USC and Mississippi. View all of the finalists after the jump and click an image for a closer view.

Putting That Oklahoma Education to Good Use

Alen Howard, a history teacher at Rockwell Charter High in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a University of Oklahoma graduate stuck in the middle of Brigham Young territory. Howard was so sure the Sooners would beat the Cougars last Saturday that he told his students he would eat a live cricket if the BYU could pull off the upset.

What could possibly go wrong? Oklahoma was a 22-point favorite.

Howard made good on his promise, devouring the cricket with a spoonful of peanut butter, much to the delight of his students.

BYU Win Also a Victory for Gay Rights in Utah?

Provo isn't known as a party place, but Brigham Young fans went nuts after the Cougars' victory over Oklahoma. Much man love for BYU quarterback Max Hall. Check out the dude who says he'd make out with Hall, then gets cheered by the crowd. Yes, historians might look back on Saturday as a landmark day for gay rights in Utah.

The video after the jump shows Hall's game-winning touchdown pass to McKay Jacobson from the BYU section in Cowboys Stadium.

Perhaps this victory isn't surprising if one considers that the Sooners, who were 22-point favorites over the Cougars, returned only 29 combined starts in the offensive line. But reputations die hard.