Hot boudin, cold coosh coosh.
Who’d of thought State would poosh poosh?
That’s right, folks, my first push of the year came last week when Mississippi State failed to cover an 18-point spread against Alabama-Birmingham.
The Bulldogs rallied from a 3-0 halftime deficit to score 14 fourth-quarter points and pulled out a 21-3 win.
To make matters worse, UAB was 0-4 entering the game, a mark that included a 49-10 loss at home to Tulane.
Guess it’s time to just chalk this season up as SOS in Starkville — Same Ol’ State.
But they weren’t my biggest problem last week by any stretch. A second straight week under .500 is weighing heavy on me as college football hits its halfway point in the regular season.
Time to head into the locker room, regroup and finish the season strong.
 
Michigan +2.5 over Michigan State
Michigan State struggled to control Notre Dame’s offensive attack and looked abysmal offensively in its last outing at Ohio State.
Wolverines take home the prize.
 
Oklahoma -34.5 over Kansas
Kansas ranks dead last in the country in points against, allowing 49.4 points per game.
Last weekend Oklahoma State posted a demoralizing 70 points on the Jayhawks.
Expect Oklahoma to put it on cruise control early but still cover this whopper of a spread.
 
USC -3.5 over Cal
Cal is coming off a rough weekend getting thrashed by Oregon, 43-15, while USC had the weekend to relax and game plan.
Say what you will about how awful Monte Kiffin’s defense has been at Southern Cal this season, but give him two weeks to devise a scheme and more times than not he’ll have his troops ready.
 
Oklahoma State -8 over Texas
Texas couldn’t stop senior wide receiver Ryan Broyles and the other Oklahoma receivers.
Anyone care to disagree that the Longhorns can slow down Oklahoma State junior receiver Justin Blackmon?
 
Baylor +9 over Texas A&M
Texas A&M has dominated the first three quarters in just about every game it’s played this season.
But the fourth quarter has been where the wheels come off for the Aggies in stunning fashion.
Give Baylor junior quarterback Robert Griffin III an inch in the fourth quarter and he’ll take a whole football field.
 
South Carolina -3 over Mississippi State
South Carolina kicked senior quarterback Stephen Garcia off the team Tuesday, but even that setback won’t be enough to keep Mississippi State in this game.
Sophomore quarterback Connor Shaw will lead the Gamecocks and will only be asked to score just enough points. The defense can strangle the Bulldogs’ weak offensive attack from there.
 
Vanderbilt +11.5 over Georgia
Georgia is coming off a season-saving win at Tennessee.
Vanderbilt is fresh off a complete humiliation against Alabama.
The Bulldogs should walk away from this one victorious, but a little bit of post-Tennessee letdown will make this game closer than it should be.
 
Alabama -25.5 over Ole Miss
The Crimson Tide takes no prisoners.
That theme doesn’t change this week against a helpless Ole Miss squad.
 
Auburn +2 over Florida
Both teams are coming off tough road losses, and neither team can afford another conference loss.
Unfortunately for Florida, though, they still have no quarterback.
If offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is forced to be as conservative as he was against LSU, even Auburn’s porous defense should get enough stops to keep its offense in the game.
 
LSU -16 over Tennessee
Tennessee is down its star receiver and starting quarterback for sure. Now, word has it that senior running back Tauren Poole is questionable for Saturday.
Without them, expect the Honey Badger and his cohorts to be feasting all afternoon.
 
Last Week: 3-6-1
Overall Record: 34-25-1
 
Rob Landry is a 23-year old mass communication senior from Mandeville. Follow him on Twitter @RobLandry85.
 
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Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]