Every week T-Roc will share his thoughts on what is going on in college football, make picks and fire back at your nasty comments. Want to learn more about him, check out his first post or visit his archive.

Happy Thanksgiving, all you folks in the United States of Obamica. Quite the holiday you’ve concocted for yourselves down there… parades, football and multiple days off. Well done, I must say.

Know that Canucks like myself will be attending work like regular schmucks on Thursday and Friday. So fuck you and your noon Eastern kickoff for Friday’s Backyard Brawl. Goddamit, I’m used to missing UEFA Champions’ League games while I’m at work, but something feels wrong about being at the office while college football’s being played.

In these hard economic times, however, forgiveness is the order of the day. So in the spirit of Can-Am unity, I’m going to pretend I’m a Yankee and write about reasons to be thankful for this week’s betting lines.

All numbers are from Pinnaclesports.com from Wednesday evening.

Texas A&M at Texas, Thursday, 8 p.m. ET: Texas -35

I’m thankful for two things on Thursday: the Longhorns’ need for style points and A&M’s back-to-back wins over Texas in 2006-07.

The former appeals to the part of me thinking the ‘Horns are trying to wow pollsters (and win the Big 12 South). The latter appeals to the part of me thinking the upperclassmen ‘Horns are snorting at a chance for season finale redemption.

Mississippi State at Ole Miss, Friday, 12:30 p.m. ET: Mississippi State +16

I’m also thankful for Ole Miss’ nationally-televised upset at LSU last weekend. That fresh memory drove the line way past the two-touchdown mark.

Ole Miss has covered the spread just once in four games as a favourite in SEC play. The cumulative score in those games is Ole Miss 81, underdog opponents 82. It’s a lost season for State, but the Bulldogs should keep it close enough in this rivalry.

Auburn at Alabama, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET: Alabama -14

Like the Thursday night game, I’m thankful for the underdog’s recent domination in a rivalry game, which should provide a burr in ‘Bama’s saddle in the Iron Bowl.

Auburn proved it can keep things reasonable against quality foes against UGA, but that was the first time the Tigers covered the spread since August. The Tide offence might not match those in the Big 12 South, but I like Bama’s ‘D’ to outscore Auburn’s offence on Saturday.

Baylor at Texas Tech, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET: Texas Tech -21 1/2

Revisiting to the “fresh memory” category, I’m thankful the Sooners piled on the points last weekend. I’d have preferred this line earlier in the week when it was Texas Tech -20, but I wrote this later than usual so it’s the price I pay.

I’m OK with that, considering Tech’s nine-game streak of beating Baylor by at least 25 points. The Bears are improved, but that’s a helluva losing stigma to overcome.

Oregon at Oregon State, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET: Oregon State -3

I’m thankful for the Beavers of the world, in all senses of the word. In the case of Oregon State’s football team, I’m tickled to witness the consternation the Beavs are causing BCS folks by threatening to win the Pac-10, a title annaully defaulted to USC each preseason.

I’m also thankful the Beavers stayed under the betting radar. How else do you explain going 6-0 against the spread after beating USC on national TV?

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (+7), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET: Oklahoma -7

I’m just thankful for the mere presence of this game. Betting aside, this one appeals to the football fan in me.

OSU hasn’t lost the Bedlam game at home by more than a touchdown in a long time. And this is the best Cowboys team in a long time. But I can’t go against the Sooners after what I saw last Saturday. OU finally justified my preseason “You’re the champ, big guy!” love.

Last week: 4-2 ATS

Year-to-date: 39-38-1 ATS

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