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Texas has won 11 straight versus Oklahoma St but the Cowboys have had the lead at half time in 4 of the last 6 only to have the Horns mount a huge 2^nd half comeback. Oklahoma St beat Baylor last week and despite playing without 2 of its stars for most of the season are 6-1. QB Robinson is averaging 221 ypg (65%) with a 12-3 ratio. Texas has won 11 straight games including Mizzou last week, 41-7 with 400-173 yard and 26-11 first down edges, blasting them in a bid to impress the pollsters. QB McCoy is averaging 258 yards per game (72%) with a 14-8 ratio. Texas is playing in their 3rd straight away game and under Gundy OSU is 21-9. Oklahoma St is ranked #7 in our pass efficiency def allowing 253 yards per game (55%) with a 9-8 ratio while Texas comes in at #17 (194 yards per game, 53%, 8-12). Both offenses are potent (Texas #2, Oklahoma St #21) but the Horns have the better defense (#1-22) and are ranked #1 in the nation in rush defense (41 yards per game, 1.5). This game will ultimately decide the Big 12 South but Texas also has bigger plans ahead as the Cowboys will struggle even at Boone Pickens versus their toughest foe faced this year.

PHIL’S FORECAST : TEXAS 31 OKLAHOMA ST 20

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Cincinnati has won the last 4 meetings by an average of 15 points per game. Last year Cincinnati held Syracuse to -21 yards in the first quarter and no first downs the first 22:00 and allowed a 4^th quarter garbage TD, 30-10. In the last trip here Cincinnati got a TD with 1:02 left for  the 52-31 win. The Cats have outgained Syracuse by 168 yards per game the last 3. Last week #5 Cincinnati dominated Louisville 41-10 behind #2 QB Collaros (check status on Pike’s availability this week) for their first 7-0 start since 1954. The defense has the 4th most interceptions in NCAA (Syracuse has thrown 10) and is #1 NCAA in tackles for loss with 10.4 per game. Last week behind RB Carter’s 170 rush yards (5.7) and 3 TD’s, Syracuse defeated Akron, 28-14. QB Paulus is averaging 185 yards per game (65%) with a 9-10 ratio. Cincinnati has all the edges here (offense #13-89, defense #27-79) while this will feature 2 of the top special teams units (Cincinnati #9-20). Cincinnati is 14-3 on the road under Kelly and the #5 Cats extend their win streak.

PHIL’S FORECAST : CINCINNATI 41 SYRACUSE 17

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Indiana is 3-8 winning 2 of the last 3 but Iowa rebounded last year with a 45-9 win. The Hawks drove 70 yards in 10 plays for a 7 yard TD pass on 4th and goal with no time left vs Mich St as they moved to 8-0 for the first time in program history. Hawks again started slowly versus Michigan St with 1 FG in the first seven possessions but had 190 of their 276 yards in the last 3 drives with erratic Stanzi (214 yards per game, 57%, 12-8 ratio) leading the way (but he is at his best at END of game). The Hawks’ D is allowing 21 points per game at home versus 8 points per game on the road. Indy led 28-3 in the 2^nd quarter before allowing Northwestern a record setting comeback as the Cats kicked the game winning 19 yard FG with :21 left. The Hoosiers were stopped on downs at the 1 and 33 and had a punt blocked for a safety but were out-firstdowned 29-13 and outgained 474-305. Iowa has the edges all around but it’s a flat spot for the Birds coming off back-to-back emotional come-from-behind wins.

PHIL’S FORECAST : IOWA 30 INDIANA 13

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Last year, Tulane was held to a season-low 163 yards and scored their only TD on a 43 yard interception return in the 4^th quarter, but LSU only won 35-10. Tulane was also playing without RB Anderson and WR Williams their two best players who were both out the year at the time. LSU is 17-0 versus their instate foe. The teams have played each year since 2006 but LSU paid Tulane $700,000 to cancel the rest of their 10 game contract (thru 2015). LSU is in an Auburn/Bama sandwich. Tulane made a QB switch prior to last week and redshirt frosh Ryan Griffin (PS#45, 1st start) was 21-33 for 158 yards and an 0-1 ratio and fumbled twice in their 43-6 (-21) road loss at Southern Miss. They have now lost 3 in a row. LSU is off a dominating 31-10 win over Auburn, as they held Auburn to 193 yards and Auburn scored a TD on the last play. They are allowing just 304 yards per game and rank #12 in the NCAA allowing 13.9 points per game. LSU has large edges across the board (#52-111 offense, #8-114 defense and #6-119 special teams), and while this is Tulane’s last chance (in the near future) against the mighty Tigers, LSU should roll even with a big SEC game on deck.

PHIL’S FORECAST : LSU 41 TULANE 6

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The Lions are 9-3 versus Northwestern but 2-2 the last 4. The last 4 in Evanston have been decided by 5 points per game. The Lions won in Ann Arbor for the first time since ’96, 35-10, as they outgained the Wolves 396-180 after the 1st drive and forced 4 Michigan turnovers. QB Clark (236 yards per game, 62%, 17-7 ratio) is the Big Ten’s most efficient passer with RB Royster (741 yards, 5.7) leading the league in rush yards. The Lions are #1 in NCAA scoring defense (8.9 points per game) and allowed their 1^st first half TD versus Michigan. The Cardiac Cats are back as they set a school record rallying from a 28-3 2Q deficit to hit the game winning 19 yard FG with :21 left as they had 29-13 first down and 474-305 yard edges. Big Ten’s total offense leader QB Kafka (258 yards per game, 66%, 9-7 ratio) has accounted for 82.4% of the team’s yards the last 4 while the RB’s have struggled. Northwestern rallied despite missing its top 3 DB’s at times last week. Penn St is in a huge Michigan/Ohio St sandwich but their #6 defense will take care of business versus a shaky Northwestern offensive line.

PHIL’S FORECAST : PENN ST 27 NW 10

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Last met in 2006 CUSA Title game, a 34-20 home win for Houston. Three of the last 4 in this series have been decided by 6 points or less. The home team is 4-0 and Houston is 8-0 at home under Sumlin. Southern Miss has a bye on deck while Houston travels to Tulsa. The Cougs come in ranked #15, off a 38-15 win over SMU. They are #3 in the NCAA averaging 40.4 points per game, led by QB Keenum who is averaging 391 yards per game (70%) with a 20-4 ratio and is #13 in pass efficiency. RB Beall provides a solid ground attack with 437 yards (4.8). WR Cleveland leads with 49 receptions (10.1). Southern Miss rolled Tulane last week as QB Young had his best outing in his 3rd start. He is averaging 170 yards per game (68%) with a 3-1 ratio as a starter. RB Fletcher leads with 598 yards (4.7). WR Brown is returning to form and has 9 receptions (13.7) and 3 TD’s the last 2 weeks. This is a critical CUSA game for both teams, so I expect it to follow the series trend and come down to the wire.

PHIL’S FORECAST : HOUSTON 35 S MISS 34

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Miami is 3-0 in the series winning by an average of 38-11. Last year Miami allowed their only TD on the opening drive and Wake Forest led 10-3 at the half with a 184-110 yard edge but Miami held Wake to 74 2^nd half yards (16-10). Last time here Wake Forest led 17-14 in the 2Q before allowing 33 unanswered points (47-17). QB Skinner is averaging 244 yards per game (65%) with a 16-9 ratio. Miami has a solid edge on both sides of the ball (offense #17-63, defense #20-66). QB Harris is averaging 253 yards per game (65%) with a 13-10 ratio. Wake is 4-4 and needs 2 more wins to become bowl eligible but has a tough schedule ahead of them (UM, at GT, FSU and at Duke). With their OT loss last week versus Clemson, Miami probably diminished its chances of a berth in the ACC Champ game but should bounce back here.

PHIL’S FORECAST : MIAMI 34 WAKE FOREST 17

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Friday, October 30th. Last year USF was in the cold of West Virginia, in Pat White’s final home game and was stopped on downs at the WV16 on an incomplete pass that looked like pass interference in the endzone and lost 13-7. USF has pulled the outright upset twice and West Virginia has been ranked in 3 of 4. Last week West Virginia held off an emotional Connecticut squad 28-24 despite being outgained 501-387. QB Brown started despite a concussion but wasn’t his efficient self. He is averaging 195 yards per game (67%) with a 9-6 ratio. RB Devine is averaging 130 yards per game (6.7) to rank #3 in the NCAA (90 yards, 5.3 last year). The Bulls have held the potent West Virginia run attack to 153 yards per game the last 3 years and are allowing 132 rush yards per game (3.9) this year. Last week USF lost to Pitt 41-14 but hurt themselves with penalties and 3 interceptions. Redshirt frosh QB Daniels is averaging 123 yards per game (53%) with a 7-6 ratio and leads all rushers with 415 yards (5.3) making up 48% of the offense. This is, by far, the most athletic QB West Virginia will face and the Bulls have outstanding speed across the board and USF has shut down their offense in their recent meetings. West Virginia is allowing 236 yards per game pass (52%) with a 12-12 ratio. These 2 teams have combined to score an average of 35 points per game in their 4 matchups. The Bulls faithful will be in full force and USF will rebound well.

PHIL’S FORECAST : USF 27 WVA 20

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Homecoming. Stoops was a co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs coach under Bill Snyder at Kansas St from 1989-’95 and he is 5-1 versus his former boss. Oklahoma smacked Kansas last week 35-13 and despite their 4-3 mark the losses are by a combined 5 points. With Bradford opting for surgery and the NFL Draft, QB Jones (PS#3, 4 starts this year averaging 195 yards per game, 61%, 13-6 ratio) will be at the helm of this Sooner offense for the next 3+ seasons. Kansas St handcuffed Colorado last week (allowed just 244 yards, and 90 of them on a late drive) and is the only Big 12 North team with fewer than 2 conference losses. QB Gregory (70 yards per game, 62%, 3-1 ratio) started last week playing the entire game and may have solidified the spot. Oklahoma is riding a 27 game home winning streak and has allowed just 7 points at home this year, outgaining foes on average 560-194 in Norman. Both schools like to run the ball (Oklahoma 144 yards per game, 3.8; Kansas St 187 yards per game, 4.2) but Oklahoma is better at stopping the rush (Oklahoma 70 yards per game, 2.2; Kansas St 101 yards per game, 3.4).

PHIL’S FORECAST : OKLAHOMA 34 KANSAS ST 10

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San Antonio. This game will be played in the Alamodome. Notre Dame won 29-26  in overtime in their only meeting versus Washington St (‘03 opener). Notre Dame is 5-0 in regular season neutral site games and returned to their winning ways versus Boston College a week ago in yet another thriller (last 6 decided by a TD or less) as WR Tate stepped up again with an 11 reception (11.6), 2 TD performance. Notre Dame has now won 8 straight non-USC Pac-10 games including their overtime win versus Washington St rival Washington a few weeks back. The Cougars have numerous injuries on both sides of the ball, and have been virtually non-competitive over the past 2 seasons but showed some life last week with 299 yards at the half vs Cal behind frosh QB Tuel.

PHIL’S FORECAST : NOTRE DAME 49 WASH ST 21