Beans' Weekly Winners: Week 9

Texas Tech (+1) at Kansas, noon
The Weekly was somewhat shocked to see this line. Texas Tech comes into this game riding its longest undefeated start in 30 years by winning each of their first seven games. Tech QB Graham Harrell is one of the reasons why the entire nation is focused on the Big XII. Over his last four games he's completed nearly 80% of his passes, even while some of his top wide outs have been banged up. Well the bad news for Kansas is that Michael Crabtree and Co. should be healthy and ready to explode this weekend in Lawrence. Kansas QB Todd Reesing is one of the most underrated players in the nation. He seems to always be overlooked because of the elite talent at his position within his conference. Reesing is a very good college quarterback, but can the offensive line give him enough time to make plays? The KU O-Line ranks 73rd in the nation in sacks allowed, and is going up against a defensive front which seems to be coming into its own. Ultimately we think that the underachieving offensive line won't be able to protect Reesing enough or run the ball enough to keep the Red Raider offense off the field. Kansas will put up points, but it won't be enough to stop Weekly Favorite Mike Leach's high octane offense.

South Florida (-3.5) at Louisville, 3:30pm
The Bulls still aren't getting the respect they deserve from the odds makers. A healthy South Florida team is going to be very, very tough to beat in the Big East this year. Don't let Louisville's 4-2 record fool you, they've played a glorified Sun Belt schedule. Three of their four wins have come over Tennessee Tech, Memphis and Middle Tennessee State. Thanks to that soft schedule RB Victor Anderson has averaged 7.0 yards per carry and rushed for six touchdowns. It is highly unlikely that he's going to be able to put up numbers like that against this South Florida defense, which means the ball will be in the hands of QB Hunter Cantwell. Against the aforementioned soft schedule, Cantwell has thrown for just eight touchdowns and eight interceptions, not a good ratio. The Bulls have a veteran team and know how to win on the road. They've won all three road games in 2008 and have won eight of their last ten away from Tampa. The Bulls are on a roll, tough away from home and playing an untested opponent. All signs point to a double-digit victory.

Penn State at Ohio State (+2), 8pm
Ohio State isn't playing in the national championship, whether they run the table or not. Don't let any Buckeyes tell you that they deserve it if they win out. They don't. This is a different team than the one who lost to USC, but that embarrassing USC loss still counts. The key here is that they are a different team than the one in early September. We saw it last week in their dominating win at Michigan State. Everyone knows what a healthy Beanie Wells can do, but Terrelle Prior is the one who is making the biggest difference for the OSU offense. He can make plays with his legs that Todd Boeckman can only dream about. More importantly, this Buckeye defense is one of the best in America, better than anything these Lions have seen. Penn State's first year starting QB Daryll Clark has been extremely impressive, but playing the Buckeyes at the Horseshoe is a different animal. Clark is playing behind an offensive line which is just okay, nothing special. Let's see how Clark responds to playing under college football's brightest lights, in the face of intense pressure from an incredibly fast defense. Penn State hasn't won in Columbus since 1978, we think that streak will continue.

UNLV at BYU (-23.5), 2pm
The Cougars are coming off their first loss in over a year. This is still a really good football team, and potent offense. QB Max Hall is one of the nation's best passers, one loss won't change that. Last week they ran into a TCU defense which, when playing well, can be as good as anyone in America. The Horned Frogs were the more focused team and took it to BYU. BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall is one of the brightest young coaches in college football and we expect his team to come out ready to dominate a lesser opponent. UNLV had an impressive win at then No. 15 Arizona State. A few weeks later that win doesn't look quite as impressive, since it looks like it's going to be a rebuilding year in Tempe. The Runnin' Rebels are coming off of three straight conference losses and have given up 229 points in seven games. The Cougars are ready to light up the scoreboard in front of the home crowd and stay in the hunt for a Mountain West championship. Cougars run away from the Rebels in this one.