Pardon the BloggEruption

The Big Finish ... For This Week

Pardon the BloggEruption will be taking the rest of the week off, since I will be with my gorgeous lady friend this weekend back in the 'Burgh. Also, I'll be attending the first game Pitt has played as a ranked team since 1991, and I'll be grabbing dinner at my favorite Indian restaurant Friday night. No, I will not be at TRASH regionals at CMU. I have precious few days with the SO, and I'm going to spend as much time as possible with her. (Love you, ALD)

In the meantime, though ... The Big Finish ...

• Pitt vs. Temple: Always a tough game for the Panthers. They may be emotionally drained after a huge win over VT, and they could be looking ahead towards the Thursday night showdown with Miami. Still, Pitt's got too much talent to let the Owls hang for more than 2 1/2 quarters. Pitt 31, Temple 10.
  
  
  
• Ohio State at Purdue: Big game for the Boilermaker Dad. Purdue's coming off a bye week, and Joe Tiller has a history of having good offensive outputs after bye weeks. Ohio State's D is still too much, and Purdue's new uniforms stink. Buckeyes 22, Purdue 17.
  
  
  
• Oklahoma at Texas A&M: Kiss RC Slocum goodbye, you wacko Aggies. Stoops conquers. Boomer Sooner 27, Wrecked Crew 13.
  
  
  
• Miami at Tennessee: Coker will have the 'Canes ready for this game. Tennessee's ego has been severely bruised at Rocky Top recently with Alabama winning in a romp. Still, there will be no Volunteer magic this week in what promises to be an offensively-rich game. Miami 44, Tennessee 23.
  
  
  
• Oregon at Washington State: The Cougs of Wazzou are for real. Too bad we can't say the same for those of Houston. Oregon makes it interesting late, but doesn't pull it out. Gesser is as good a Heisman candidate as we'll see all year. WSU 17, Oregon 14.
  
  
  
• NC State at Maryland: The Wolfpack's 9-0 start was built like a house of cards. November winds bring them crashing down as the Terps find their stride late in the season. Maryland 23, NC State 10.
  
  
  
• Virginia at State Penn: The Nits take some revenge after the Cavaliers ended their bowl hopes last year. Much as I hate to say it, they've got a decent team in Happy Valley this year, though nowhere near worthy of a #19 ranking. P-E-N-N-S-T Sucks 30, UVA 18.
  
  
  
• Iowa State at Kansas State: Wildcats win easily over a fading Cyclone squad. Iowa State quarterbacks continue to have funky names. KSU 29. ISU 20.
  
  
  
• Lions at Packers: Favre continues the streak. Green Bay continues to roll. Go Pack Go! GB 24, Detroit 9.
  
  
  
• Texans at Titans: As much as I'd love to watch Bud Adams collapse and cry like a baby after the game, it's not going to happen until the season finale. TENN 17, HOU 7.
  
  
  
• Chargers at Rams: Neither team is the Real Deal this year, but Marshall Faulk beats LaDanian Tomlinson in a running back duel. STL 28, SD 21.
  
  
• Falcons at Steelers: Kordell has been emulating Vick in Steeler practices. Or, at least trying to. Can the real #7 run all over the Big Nasty D? Will the king of my XFLFFL (Maddox) reign supreme? Atlanta's just not quite there. PIT 24, ATL 21.
  
  
  
• Raiders at Broncos: MNF's 500th game. Highlights of the top 5 games keep it interesting as the Broncs romp. The Raiders need walkers to get onto the field in the first place. DEN 37, OAK 13.