**SEASON RECORD: 41-34-2** **[LAST WEEK][1]: 8-5**There’s no question KU’s first 7-0 start since 1995 is impressive, but here’s an even more eye-popping figure: The Jayhawks are 6-0 against the point spread this year (The game against FCS opponent Southeast Louisiana had no line).KU is one of five teams left in the FBS ranks with an undefeated record, but just one of two which can claim an unblemished mark against the spread. The other? How fitting…it’s Missouri. The Tigers’ only loss – a 41-31 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma – was the only game in which they were underdogs. By kickoff, the line was 13 points.Just three weeks ago, six teams remained. But since then, South Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech and Cincinnati have left the midwest’s most bitter rivals all by themselves as the two sparkles in Vegas’ eyes.What are the odds? Let that soak in……here are this week’s picks…**WEEK 8** **_Big 12 Tilts_** **Kansas (-3) at Texas A&M** Just as Ryan Wood and Tom Keegan stuck to their guns a week ago by going with earlier-made predictions that KU would fall to Colorado, I’m doing the same with the Texas A&M game.My rationale is pretty generic. I watched Texas A&M fall down early to Miami earlier this year and prove that they’re a team which is not good at coming back from quick deficits. The problem there is that KU has been slow-starting on offense this year. I’m just going with the trend, assuming it turns into a slugfest. **My pick: Texas A&M (+3)****Missouri (-29) vs. Iowa State** I’m thinkin’ Missouri is the lone team remaining undefeated against the spread after this weekend. It’s mostly personal, because Iowa State has burned me in this picks segment all season. So I won’t be that surprised when I’m wrong. **My pick: Missouri -29****Kansas State (-25) vs. Baylor** Don’t let Baylor’s close score against Texas last weekend fool you. Texas isn’t blowing _anybody_ out. Considering the fact that Blake Szymanski’s probably still out for the Bears, I’ll take the ‘Cats – especially at home. **My pick: Kansas State -25****Texas (-21) vs. Nebraska** OK, so yeah, Texas hasn’t blown anyone out. But _everyone_ is blowing out Nebraska. Everyone > Anyone. **My pick: Texas -21****Texas Tech (-13.5) vs. Colorado** Texas Tech laid an egg last week at Mizzou. Colorado proved that it’s growing up in a hurry. This is what I’d say is the conference’s coin flip game of the week. Heads it is. **My pick: Texas Tech -13.5****_Around the Nation_** **Virginia Tech (-3) vs. Boston College** I’ve learned recently that when an undefeated team is an underdog on the road, that means it’s a bad idea to pick them to win. It was certainly the case for Wisconsin against Illinois, and I think it’ll be the same here. Virginia Tech is one of those teams, though, that over the years has been a completely different monster at home on weeknight, nationally-televised games. This should be no different, as the Hokies’ defense will be unlike anything BC has seen yet. **My pick: Virginia Tech -3****West Virginia (-6) at Rutgers** Rutgers is coming off a big win against South Florida, and this is about the type of year when all the one-time National Championship contenders in the Big East just beat up on each other. I happen to thing West Virginia is the best of the bunch. **My pick: West Virginia -6****Oregon (-3) vs. USC** You know, there’s a very good chance that the loser of this game could wind up facing KU, should the Jayhawks get the No. 2 finisher in the Pac-10 in the Holiday Bowl. It’s certainly a possibility. I think USC’s the better team, but the Trojans’ last two conference games (a loss to Stanford and a squeaker against Arizona) haven’t been very convincing. **My pick: Oregon -3****South Florida (-4.5) at UConn** The House that Lew built saw its biggest win yet last Friday in the form of a win over Louisville. I’m calling for a hangover. **My pick: South Florida -4.5****Florida (-8.5) vs. Georgia** This game is known more for the party outside of the neutral site in Jacksonville by outsiders, but on paper, this should be a pretty good one. If It were in The Swamp, I’d go the other way with this pick. **My pick: Georgia +8.5****Tennessee (-3) vs. South Carolina** I’ve said for weeks that South Carolina is an overrated offensive football team. To go with that, Tennessee is 3-0 at home this year, has scored an average of 41 points per game in those contests and has won by an average margin of 20.3 points per game. The Vols’ next four games are at home, making them a good pick as a team to surge down the stretch. **My pick: Tennessee -3****Ohio State (-4) at Penn State** Ohio State’s schedule sets up well for the Buckeyes to hold on to the No. 1 spot in the national rankings…until Nov. 17 at Michigan. **My pick: Ohio State -4****Arizona State (-3) vs. Cal** Cal is certainly in a slump right now and desperately needs out of it if they want any kind of a shot at coming back to win the Pac-10. This would be a great place to do so. The Golden Bears already beat Oregon and still have this game and a clash with USC. Therefore, Cal’s Pac-10 fate is _still_ in its own hands. I like their chances. **My pick: Cal +3** [1]: http://www2.kusports.com/blogs/greene_room/2007/oct/17/picks_15/
