Give Me Liberty or Give Me...Cotton?

This week's show discusses the heartbreaking gut-punch loss to LSU. Does it really matter in the larger scheme of things? Will Mallett go pro? Johnny Fayetteville says no.

The picks contest comes down to the last weekend, with P Williams holding a slim 3 game lead. Differing picks with Tom Logan on 3 critical games, however, so the outcome is still in doubt.

Enjoy, and tune in for your bowl show in 2 weeks.

The Cival War - Pac-10 Style

Johnny Reb and Private Union have almost nothing on Oregon's Civil War - other than a nation split apart, brothers fighting brothers, states' rights, and the whole this is actually a war where people lose their lives and body parts. Tonight, Oregon State and Oregon battle in the annual Civil War game with a Rose Bowl berth at stake. Winner goes to Pasadena! Loser goes to San Diego, Las Vegas, or El Paso? Since the podcast will be going on during this game, the crew submitted their picks early. Our friend, Johnny Fayetteville, has even more riding on this game. His national sleeper pick, Oregon State, could be the first national sleeper team to secure a BCS berth. Though, Patrick Williams may argue that TCU did so when they finished their undefeated season last Saturday. However, as national picks commissioner, I decree that TCU has not secured that berth yet, as the final BCS standings have not been released. Anyway, enjoy Oregon's version of the Civil War at 8 p.m. CST on ESPN.

PW - Oregon
JF - Oregon State
TL - Oregon State
JG - Oregon

Les Miles-Bozo or Crazy Like a Fox

Short week this week, so here's this week's LSU show without further elaboration. Happy Thanksgiving!

Mangino on the Hot Seat at KU?

There is quite a ruckus brewing in Lawrence, Kansas, over Mark Mangino's alleged abuse of players and assistant coaches, and it may wind up costing him his job. This was supposed to be a big year for Kansas, but after a 5-0 start and Top 25 ranking, they have lost 5 in a row and still have Texas and Missouri on the schedule. Can't help but wonder if the Jayhawks were having a better year that this would be such an issue, but I digress. Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star relates this entire brouhaha to Mangino's weight. Not sure about that, but interesting theory. Waiting for his next one about how Mangino's weight messes up everyone's Direct TV and Dish Network broadcasts.

I don't really follow Kansas football, so I have no dog in the fight. However, reports are out now that Mangino would routinely threaten assistants' jobs in front of players, withhold food from walk-ons, including pre-game meals (I am not making this up, and have a pretty good idea where these meals wound up), and told a player if he didn't play better, he would "send him home to St. Louis to get shot and killed with the rest of his 'homies.'" Pretty poignant, since the guy's brother had recently been hospitalized after a drive-by shooting.

An asshole is still an asshole, no matter how plump or slender. However, to understand Whitlock's point, here is a video of a sideline conversation between Mangino and a player who had just gotten a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Could you describe the ruckus, sir?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JU7Fri1xfo&NR=1

Razorpod Picks

"Welcome back to the blog," says Olga Kurylenko. After an absence of picks on the blog, it's time to return as the podcast crew enters the home stretch. Our fearless host, Patrick Williams, leads the picks contest by three games with three weeks remaing. His magic number is dwindling, and the rest of the crew, especially last place Jimmy G, needs to make their move now.

PW (42-24):
Stanford 49 Cal 31
Ohio State 21 Michigan 10
LSU 24 Ole Miss 14
Oregon 45 Arizona 15
Arkansas 38 Miss. State 18
Indiana 38 Purdue 37 (Old Oaken Bucket Game!)

TL (39-27):
Stanford over Cal
Ohio State over Michigan
Ole Miss over LSU
Oregon over Arizona
Arkansas over Miss. State
Northwestern over Wisconsin

JF (35-31):
Stanford 30 Cal 20
Ohio State 27 Michigan 9
Ole Miss 20 LSU 9
Oregon 31 Arizona 24
Arkansas 42 Miss. State 20
Michigan State 17 Penn State 16 (Land Grant Trophy!)

JG (33-33):
Cal 38 Stanford 37
Ohio State 31 Michigan 10
LSU 12 Ole Miss 10
Oregon 35 Arizona 28
Arkansas 35 Miss. State 17
North Carolina 20 Boston College 10

As for our national sleeper teams, the crew reversed the jinx this year, and three national sleeper teams still have realistic shots at BCS bowls.

PW - TCU (10-0, #4 BCS) Two wins over Wyoming and New Mexico will cement a BCS berth for the Horned Frogs, and with a little help, TCU could find its way into the BCS National Championship Game.

JF - Oregon State (7-3, #19 BCS) Oregon State is still alive in the Pac-10 race. Wins over Washington State and Oregon plus one Arizona loss puts the Beavers into the Rose Bowl.

TL - West Virginia (7-3, Not Ranked) West Virginia has had a solid season, but losses to South Florida and Cincinnati ended their hopes of a Big East title and BCS bowl bid. The Mountaineers still have a shot to knock of Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, and a 9-3 record could land them a spot in a New Year's Day bowl.

JG - Clemson (7-3, #23 BCS) After a slow start, Clemson is on the cusp of winning the ACC Atlantic Division. A win over Virginia or a Boston College loss to North Carolina sends the Tigers to the ACC Title Game. Beat Georgia Tech in that game, and a berth in the Orange Bowl is theirs. IPTAY!

Razorpod 11-17-09: Unhorsing Troy; Mississippi State Comes to Historic War Memorial

Despite Johnny Fayetteville's worst fears, the Troy game turned out to be nothing to worry about. Mallett had another big day, spreading the ball around so that 8 different players scored. Big day for the offense all around. Defense is who we though they were. Porous between the 20's, but stout in the red zone. Next up is Miss. State, coming off a brutal loss to Bama. We'll see whether they decide to let go of the rope at War Memorial Stadium this Saturday. Early kick has been kind to the Hogs this season, so let's keep it going. In the mailbag, we discuss a possible early entrance to the NFL draft for Mallett, and a listener fills us in on the military flyovers before games.

Razorpod 11-17-2009: Troy Wrap; Mississippi State Preview

Razorpod 11-09-2009: Down Goes Carolina; Be Very Worried About Troy

Three-man booth this week with Tom Logan out on assignment. Johnny Fayetteville, Jimmy G, and Patrick Williams discuss the Razorbacks' 33-16 win over South Carolina, along with a game of "Quien es mas Impatient? Petrino or Spurrier?" Petrino wins in a landslide this week, as Twitchy Spurrier made an appearance in Fayetteville and his impatience really hurt the 'Cocks. Up next: Troy (formerly Troy State) the Sun Belt leader and a program known for knocking off the big boys. The crew thinks we better be ready to play this week. Bowl possibilities abound, and we'll see where we land in the pecking order.

Patrick Williams still ahead in the picks contest, but the Hawkeyes hurt (literally). Rest of the national games are about as expected, and JimmyG provides an on-site report from Wholesome Lincoln, NE. Patrick picks the game formerly known as the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk matchup, and much more.

Razorpod 11-09-2009: South Carolina Wrap; Troy Preview

Razorpod 11-03-09: Suck It Ron English; Does Spurrier know Arkansas is in the SEC?

Big win over Eastern Michigan last week, and the crew ridicules Ron English's post-game comments. Other than that, not much to complain about except whether Tyler Wilson is ready to step in for Mallett if necessary.

On to the Cocks. JimmyG speculates if Spurrier remembers Arkansas is an SEC team as he seems to have a vaguely puzzled/constipated look on his face whenever his team plays the Hogs. Patrick Williams again deems this week a MUST WIN, and for once everyone agrees with him.

National games are "meh" this week except for Alabama-LSU, and a crew member makes a surprise pick on that game. Sleepers are fun as usual, and Tom Logan utters more than monosyllables about the Big 10 for once. Enjoy.

Razorpod 11-03-2009: EMU Wrap; South Carolina Preview

Razorpod 10-28-09: Victims of an HDN Special; How do you spell Ypsilanti

Ahhh, the HDN Special. You know its coming, there's just not much you can do about it. In this weeks show, we discuss why Coach Nutt saves his best for the Razorbacks. Long discussion about how the season goes from here-the easier part of the schedule is coming up. Eastern Michigan next, and yes we know how to spell Ypsilanti.

Razorpod 10-28-09

Razorpod 10-21-09: Arkansas 20, Florida 16, Refs 7

This week's show gets the big issues out right away: exactly how much did the referees have to do with Florida's win against the Razorbacks? Johnny thinks a lot, Patrick thinks Florida would probably have won anyway; JimmyG says look at the game clock-Florida would have had a lot less time left if the penalties hadn't been called. Anyway, breaking news is that the officiating crew from the game has been suspended for a month. Not much help for the Hogs at this point, so Florida goes into the "moral victory" category.

Now on to Oxford and a meeting with JimmyG's favorite former Razorback coach. Johnny F and Patrick think this is a "must win" for the Hogs. Will this be a HDN special? Will Jevan Snead rise from the ashes of his Heisman campaign?

The usual gibberish on the picks-much love for the Hawkeyes this week, and the sleepers are not nearly as horrible as usual. Listen and enjoy.

Razorpod 10-21-2009: Florida Wrap; Ole Miss Preview