The turkey wasn’t the only casualty at the table this week when the Lock family sat down for their holiday meal.  Jill and Pad decided that it was finally time to show the door to their beloved husband and uncle, Gil.  Apparently taking their cue from the administration at Notre Dame, they decided to let Gil know a little of what Charlie Weis has been going through in South Bend.  The clincher was his third consecutive 1-2 weekend that continued to drag down the family record; one that featured Jill’s perfect 4-0 a week ago.  It wasn’t pleasant; Gil was in a cold sweat through most of the meal, but it was necessary.  After all, 1-2 is not what the Locks expected. 

Locks of the Week

Jill Locks (20-8)

Nevada-Boise State over 72.5-

These are two offensive machines that have been very good to me all year.  Boise needs to keep winning in order to secure a BCS bid and Nevada is on an eight game win streak. 

North Carolina -5 over North Carolina State

- The Tar Heels may be playing better than anyone in the ACC right now as Butch Davis has his team clicking on all cylinders headed into the bowl season. 

Clemson +2 1/2 over South Carolina

- I’m thinking Clemson is a dog because the games at South Carolina and they might be caught looking ahead to the ACC title game.  However, the wheels have come off of the Gamecock’s wagon over the last month and they won’t have enough to stem Clemson’s momentum.

Pad Locks (6-4)

Arkansas State-North Texas over 53.5

-  My weekly dose of “Arifemetic” as a tribute to my fallen uncle.  Both teams stink and neither has a good defense.

Arizona -2 1/2 over Arizona State-

  Arizona has got to be pretty pissed at blowing their shot at the Rose Bowl last week.  They’ll take it out on an Arizona State squad that is clearly overmatched.

Texas Tech – 22 1/2 over Baylor

-  Since losing QB Robert Griffin, Baylor has lost 6 of 7 and hasn’t even competed over the last two weeks; being outscored by Texas and Texas A&M by a combined 85-17.  Things won’t be easier this week as Texas Tech looks to pad its Bowl resume.

Season Record (37-28-1)

By Eddie Mayrose

Lock Family Continues Winning Ways Despite Gil’s Bungling

It was another 5-4 week for the Locks as they continue to produce winning Saturdays; albeit by the closest of margins.  Once again, however, it was the vaunted Gil Lock of Ryno Rife Sports Handicappers who dragged down the rest of the team.  But for his season long ineptitude, the Lock team would be clipping along at a success rate of sixty-seven percent.

“I just haven’t been a good judge of pace”, said Gil in a hapless attempt to exp[lain his miserable record.  “I can’t put a finger on the hot team or player.  It’s affecting my whole life. I can’t even shop anymore.”  Asked to explain, Gil started to ramble.  “The other day at the supermarket, I bought enough groceries for a month.  At the checkout, I noticed an enormous bag with a big handle, put everything in it and left the store. Turns out it was the manager’s hat.  He was so pissed, he banned me from the store; even after I tried to smooth him over with some cash I’d won in Atlantic City.  It’s been an ugly year.”

Ugly, maybe.  But at least his family has been there to prop him up.  There’s still a few weeks left for Gil to straighten things out.  Here’s how he plans to start.

Locks of the Week

Gil Locks (10-13-1)

Iowa -10 over Minnesota

- In just two short weeks, Iowa football fans have seen their boys blow a shot at the BCS title game as well as the Rose Bowl.  They’ll take out their anger on a Minnesota football team that struggled last week with South Dakota State.

Notre Dame -6 over Connecticut

-  Haven’t backed Notre Dame football all year but something’s got to give for poor Charlie Weis. The much maligned defense of the Irish actually looked a little better last week and UConn football isn’t exactly run and shoot.

Rutgers -8 over Syracuse

- Say this for Rutgers football: They may play a high school schedule to start the year but they always finish strong.  Bad news for Syracuse, one of the worst teams in the nation.

Jill Locks (16-8)
LSU +3 over Mississippi

- LSU’s two losses came in close games against the nation’s #1 and #3 teams.  Ole Miss, on the other hand, has failed to deliver on its pre-season promise.  LSU big.

Nevada – 31 1/2 over New Mexico

-  Here’s some “Arifemetic” for you. Became a believer in Nevada after they cruched Fresno, a very good team.  They’re playing great right now; averaging 50 PG over their seven game winning streak while New Mex  has scored just 16 TOTAL over their last four.

TCU – 31 1/2 over Wyoming

- Every week I look at the TCU line and think it’s too big.  Last week I even went against them as they destroyed a good Utah team.  I won’t be fooled again.

South Florida – 11 1/2 over Louisville

- Ever heard of “The Ville”?  Neither had I until I saw the ridiculous moniker across the chests of the Louisville players last week.  The only thing more ridiculous is the notion of Louisville as a Division I football team.  South Florida has had a tough season but has managed to work its way through injuries to post a very good record.

Pad Locks (6-3)

UTEP – 6 1/2 over Rice

- While UTEP has lost three straight, they’ve scored more than 30 points in each game; led by the nation’s second leading rusher, Donald Buckram. Rice comes in at 1-9 averaging just 17 PPG while allowing 41. “Arifemetic” strikes again.

Ohio – Northern Illinois over 43.5

- Uncle Gil has always been a MAC football fan and it’s rubbed off on me.  Both teams come into the game with 7-3 records averaging better than 24 PPG.  Simple “Arifemetic”  says this one’s going over.

Oregon -5 over Arizona

-  Can’t believe that Oregon will let this one slip away.  Arizona spit the bit last week as far as a Pac Ten title is concerned and will have to rally to get ready for a Ducks’ team that should be welcoming back LeGarrette Blount.

Season Record (31-24-1)

In knocking off Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout, the Longhorns vanquished the toughest opponent on their schedule and will need to fall victim to an enormous upset if they’re to be kept out of the Big XII championship game. They’ll be heavily favored over the North division champ and a victory would guarantee an invite to the BCS title game.  Their current position at #3 in the rankings is of little consequence as both Florida and Alabama are guaranteed a loss as SEC foes.

Should each of the aforementioned Southeast rivals get knocked off before then, so much the better for Cincinnati, who’ll leapfrog Boise as long as they continue to win.  The Bearcats still have BCS-ranked opponents in Pitt and West Virginia while the Broncos have no such matchup.  For Boise, the one slim hope to hold on to is that Oregon, a team Boise beat handily in its season opener, wins out in The PAC Ten.  Even if that happens, Boise’s chances are remote. Once Texas beat Oklahoma, the door slammed on the Broncs.

Game of the Week

TCU vs. BYU-  The Horned Frogs travel to Provo looking to enhance their BCS resume and, somehow, claw their way past Boise State and into a BCS Bowl invitation.  Currently ranked #8 in our poll, TCU knows that it can point to a decisive victory over the Cougars as a signature win as BYU has already hung a loss on Oklahoma.  It’s a tall order in BYU’s building, with QB Max Hall comes off his best game of the season. Hall however, struggled vs. the Horned Frogs last season in a two interception, seven sack performance.  Look for TCU All- American DE, Jerry Hughes, to wreak havoc on the Cougars.

CollegeSportsView Top 25

1) Florida 6-0
2) Texas 6-0
3) Alabama 7-0
4) Boise State 6-0
5) Cincinnati 6-0
6) USC 5-1
7) LSU 5-1
8 )TCU 6-0
9) Oregon 5-1
10)Iowa 7-0
11)Miami 5-1
12)Georgia Tech 6-1
13)South Florida 5-1
14)Virginia Tech 5-2
15)Oklahoma State 5-1
16)Houston 5-1
17)South Carolina 5-2
18)Penn State 6-1
19)BYU 6-1
20)Kansas 5-1
21)Ohio State 5-2
22)Notre Dame 4-2
23)Utah 5-1
24)Pitt 6-1
25)Texas Tech 5-2

Five to Watch

Oklahoma (3-3)
Nebraska (4-2)
Wisconsin (5-1)
Auburn (5-2)
Nichols (3-4)