Things Holiday Watch List is thankful for:
• Austin
• Boise, a hidden gem
• Death Valley (both Clemson and LSU)
• The BCS. Love or hate it, it never fails to deliver story lines
• The Big Ten's noon ET window that kicks off each Saturday
• Friday nights on the road with my home-slice scribes
• Lane Kiffin (see the BCS)
• The tunnel at the Cotton Bowl
• University Boulevard in Tuscaloosa
• Paul Johnson's confidence
• Pete Carroll's tweets
• Mike Slive's class
Finally, a big, ol' Hokie, er, turkey shared with family and loved ones on Thanksgiving. Who wants the first piece?
Grab a carving knife and let's get into The List ...
All white meat
No. 2 Alabama at Auburn, 2:30 p.m. ET Friday: So does Auburn's Ben Tate think he's the best back in the state or not? That ought to add to a rivalry that has lost some national juice in recent years.
This week, though, it's so on. As Tony Barnhart says, this is a cultural rivalry as well as an athletic one.
You want an upset at the top? This might be the best chance this week. It's at Auburn and the Tigers can score. The problem will be trying to stop Mark Ingram, who, if Nick Saban is smart, will be pounded at the Tigers at least 25 times.
There's a motivational factor: Auburn lost 36-0 last year. Tommy Tuberville was gone four days later.
There's a championship factor: Alabama follows up a game against its biggest rival with perhaps the biggest game in SEC history (Florida in the SEC title game).
There are intangibles: Turnovers, weather, Auburn has had a week off.
One thing is sure: It will be great and it will be 'Bama. Barely.
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Florida State at No. 1 Florida, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday: They'll laugh, they'll cry, they'll bid a fond goodbye to No. 15 in his final home game. Then the Gators will beat the snot out of the Seminoles. Why? Because they can and because this is a warm-up for 'Bama.
Now that a bowl is assured for FSU, this game loses a bit of its drama. Bobby's going to be back, Jimbo will get a new defensive coordinator and 2010 will officially be Papa Bowden's last year.
Won't it?
No. 11 Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday: The BCS, Congress, lawyers and PR firms will have sideline passes. This isn't just about the teams on the field, it's also about Boise State.
The Bedlam Series has become Bedtime for OU. With the loss this will be the worst of Bob Stoops' teams in Norman. Calling the Sooners the best five-loss team in the country is almost an insult. If the Pokes win, that'd be loss No. 6. The last Oklahoma team to lose six was coached by, gulp, John Blake.
At last check, Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson (shoulder) was going to play. Take the cruisin' Cowboys against the sinkin' Sooners. If that happens, you'll hear the howling from Capitol Hill to Boise. The undefeated Broncos most likely will be shut out of a BCS bowl by two-loss Okie State.
Dressing
Georgia at No. 7 Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. ET Saturday: When was last time Tech was a double-digit favorite in this game? When was the last time Georgia was second-worst nationally in turnover margin? In short, when did Uga come to Atlanta with its tail tucked so firmly between its legs?
Oops, sorry. There is no Uga. R.I.P.
Nevada at No. 6 Boise State (10 p.m. ET Friday) and New Mexico at No. 4 TCU (1 p.m. ET Saturday): Nevada brings a hat trick of 1,000-yard rushers. New Mexico brings, well, nothing.
Both undefeateds are expected to win, which increases the BCS angst. Think about this, though: In the old bowl system the Broncos and Frogs would have been mid-major bowl afterthoughts. In this system they had the same chance as Texas, Florida and Alabama at the beginning of the season.
The pollsters have decided they're just not that into you, TCU and Boise.
Notre Dame at Stanford, 8 p.m. ET Saturday: Lesson of the week: Don't lose to Connecticut at home. It increases the chances of a sucker punch. Jimmy Clausen wore a visor in practice this week to hide the obvious. Nice job, South Bend. Suuuuure he's coming back for his senior year.
This is a three-hankie game that is going to include more sobs than a Lifetime movie with Charlie Weis saying goodbye.
Gravy
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| After a 5-0 start, Mark Mangino's Jayhawks need a victory to become bowl eligible. (Getty Images) |
No. 22 Utah at No. 18 BYU, 5 p.m. ET Saturday: Both at 9-2, the Church vs. State rivals can compare notes on how they lost the Mountain West. TCU beat BYU by 31. Utah stayed within 27 of the Frogs.
No. 8 Pittsburgh at West Virginia, 7 p.m. ET Friday: Put down the couches. Stow the kerosene. The Backyard Brawl just doesn't matter, at least in the Big East standings. The conference title will be decided Dec. 5 between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
Leftovers
UCLA at No. 24 USC, 10 p.m. ET Saturday: The L.A. Times headline said, "Let's Call It A Bowl Game." Ummm, let's not. An all-star team made up of these two squads might be able to stay within 13 points of Oregon. By themselves, neither did.
Arkansas at No. 17 LSU, 7 p.m. ET Saturday: "The Mad Spiker" Les Miles is taking some flak in Baton Rouge. Bobby Petrino could win eight in his second season. Ryan Mallett is about to become the All-SEC quarterback. Take heart, Tim Tebow, you can still win the Heisman.
No. 15 Clemson at South Carolina, noon ET Saturday: The Tigers are going to play for the ACC title. The Gamecocks are going to a bowl. This is worth watching in case Lou Holtz waxes nostalgic about his classy exit as a coach -- the 2004 bench-clearing brawl.
Temple at Ohio, 11 a.m. ET Friday: The winner plays Central Michigan next week for the MAC title. Temple's Bernard Pierce will not play because of a shoulder injury. If Al Golden can get the Owls to the conference championship game on the road without one of the country's best backs, his national coach of the year chances improve.
No. 19 Miami at South Florida, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday: Joe Paterno should take notes. Penn State schedules cupcakes. Miami schedules spike strips. Four ranked teams to start the season, a dangerous in-state little brother to end it.
Tulane at SMU, 3 p.m. ET Saturday: The Ponies are bowl eligible. With a victory they are a postseason lock. The last time that happened, 1984, "bowl gifts" had a whole different meaning at SMU.
