**SEASON RECORD: 10-4** **[LAST WEEK][1]: 10-4**So I’m pretty much huffing and puffing my chest over the wild success enjoyed with the first week of Twisted Pick ’em.But like any true competitor, I still mourn over missed opportunities.With a record highlighted by 10 correct picks, yet splotched by four losses, lets take a look at just what went wrong.-I picked Iowa -17.5 In hindsight? Dumb. If I had to do it over again? I might have done some more research, especially after reading Blair Kerkhoff’s [Tuesday column][2] in the _Kansas City Star_.-I neglected one of my principle rules – never pick against a team in its first game in a new stadium. I did that by shunning Central Florida, as I was enamored with the mystique of the Texas Longhorns. What’s even sadder is that I would have been closer to being a winner if the spread was based on how many Texas players have had [run-ins with the law][3] this year, rather than the score. Not many people can claim that, I’m sure.-Louisiana-Monroe +24 at Texas A&M? No comment.-If there’s such thing as a moral victory in picking spreads, Central Michigan provided it, failing to cover 21 points at Purdue. I was right in my prediction that neither team can play defense, but the Chippewas missed the cover by a thread in a 45-22 contest.Anyway, on to this week’s picks.**WEEK 4** **_Big 12 Tilts_** **Miami (-3) vs. Texas A&M** No matter what anyone says, I’m not convinced the Orange Bowl is that great a home field in terms of intimidating an opponent. Especially when the team that plays there only scores 23 points on Florida International a week earlier. **My pick: Texas A&M +3****Oklahoma (-21.5) at Tulsa** TRAP GAME ALERT! Tulsa is a bowl team this year, as they’ve scored 90 points in two games (despite having allowed 64). Oklahoma has yet to go on the road, and Sam Bradford’s passing numbers are so perfect that they’re making me gag. He probably dated the head cheerleader and was the Homecoming King, too. **My pick: Tulsa (+21.5)****Baylor -3.5 at Buffalo** Part of me wants to believe the Blake Szymanski hype, but a 34-27 win over Texas State doesn’t do it for me when it comes to his team. Buffalo also has a history of playing teams tough at home, and this is their home opener. **My pick: Buffalo +3.5****Colorado -14 vs. Miami (Ohio)** The Redhawks are one of the nation’s weirdest teams – just look at their [results so far][4]. At least with Colorado, you know they’re average. **My pick: Colorado -14****Nebraska -23 vs. Ball State** Sam Keller is good at looking like a zeus against non-BCS teams. **My pick: Nebraska -23****Texas Tech -5.5 at Oklahoma State** Tech gets the nod based solely on the ‘what have you done for me lately’ theory. The Cowboys have the talent on offense ([KU fans remember][5], I’m sure), but Texas Tech is sizzling right now. If Okie State couldn’t slow Troy’s offense, not sure how they’ll do so against Graham Harrell. **My pick: Texas Tech -5.5****Iowa State -3.5 at Toledo** All of a sudden Iowa State’s favored again? Sorry, not buying it. **My pick: Toledo +3.5****Texas -39 vs. Rice** This is the fifth straight year these two teams have met. The past two years, the Longhorns have won by an average of 43 points. One would think this Texas squad would have to bust the slump at some point. Academic-rich schools are fun to pick on, in that case. **My pick: Texas -39****Kansas -32 vs. Florida International** [Last week on the Spodcasters][6], D.J. Whetter said he’d bet his next paycheck that KU scores over 200 points in its four non-con games combined. So far, the Jayhawks have scored 159. I’d probably make the same bet, meaning KU scores at least 41 this week. There’s no way the Panthers score more than 10. Only thing is KU will score waaaay more than 41. Count on that. **My pick: Kansas -32****_Around the Nation_** **Illinois -3 at Indiana** Two teams any Kansas follower can respect – mid-level BCS conference squads making their way towards respectability. I’ll take Illinois in this one, but I like Indiana in the long run. Why? They have a Big Ten schedule equivalent to KU’s sans-Oklahoma-and-Texas Big 12 slate – they avoid both Michigan and Ohio State. **My pick: Illinois -3****UCLA -6.5 vs. Washington** Well, which team will show more muscle after an embarassing blowout a week ago? My guess is a more experienced UCLA squad. **My pick: UCLA -6.5****Alabama -3 vs. Georgia** I’ll buy the ‘Bama hype, mostly because their quarterback is the brother of the dude from [Two-A-Days][7]. **My pick: Alabama -3****Clemson -7.5 at North Carolina State** Man, it must really be a weak national slate if I’m picking this one. Thank goodness for the looming conference seasons… **My pick: Clemson -7.5****LSU -16 vs. South Carolina** Steve Spurrier is capable of some pretty crazy things. **My pick: South Carolina +16****_KUSports.com editor Ryan Greene can be reached at rgreene@ljworld.com, or by phone at (785) 832-6357._** [1]: http://www2.kusports.com/blogs/greene_room/2007/sep/12/picks_10/ [2]: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/blair_kerkhoff/story/279592.html [3]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/sep/19/another_longhorn_arrested/ [4]: http://muredhawks.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/mioh-m-footbl-sched.html [5]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2006/oct/15/cowpunched/ [6]: http://www2.kusports.com/podcasts/spodcasters/2007/sep/13/holy_toledo_really/ [7]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857350/
