Thursday updates:

• Steve Brouse won't play Sunday. He's practiced, but isn't ready to play in a game, Edsall said.
• Mike Cox will make the trip. He's been practicing about two weeks, but will only be used in an emergency in nickle packages.
• A third bye week has one advantage. The players will be able to spend Thanksgiving at home for the first time in several years. Edsall is giving his guys three days to see their families for the holiday.
• Matt Grothe hasn't practiced this week, but all indications are he'll be on the field Sunday. "This is a copycat league," Edsall joked. "Jim (Leavitt) is trying to pull the same thing on me." Well, not quite. Edsall says he expects Grothe, a fierce competitor, to play. So do we.

On to the picks:

Game 1: RUTGERS (-19.5) over Army - I poked fun at a New Jersey writer who asked every coach on the Big East conference call last month if they felt a sleeping giant had been awoken after Rutgers' rather unimpressive 12-10 win over UConn. In hindsight, about all those condescending jokes I made at your expense...in the words of Rosanne RosannaDanna, "umm, never mind."

Game 2: Pittsburgh (+5) over CINCINNATI - UConn's slim BCS hopes hinge on Dave Wannestadt. Pack the parka and hunting socks. Toronto is a little chilly in January.

Game 3: Boston College (+2) over WAKE FOREST - Eagles need to win final two games to reach ACC championship game.

Game 4: OHIO STATE (-20.5) over Michigan - Rich Rodriguez says some Michigan fans need 'to get a life', citing bigger problems in this country, like the economy. This coming from a guy who cost the school $5 million this year to deliver the worst record in the 130-year history of the winningest college football program ever -- not to mention 106,000 paying customers who watch the Wolverines get buried every home game. Rich, either donate part of your salary back for the lousy job this year, or shut your yapper regarding the fans.

Game 5: Florida State (-1.5) over MARYLAND - Terps have home field advantage and control their own destiny in race to ACC title game. But the Brawlin' Seminoles are a little too good.

Game 6: NOTRE DAME (-20) over Syracuse - Syracuse athletic director Dr. Daryl Gross has narrowed his list of potential coaches to 450, with reasons why they'd be perfect for the Orange. It includes Lane Kiffin (transition from worst NFL organization to worst BCS program makes him a natural), Matthew McConaughey (did a nice job leading Marshall back after that tragic plane crash) and Ara Parseghian (he may be 85 and retired from coaching 34 years ago, but he's still only three years older than Joe Paterno...plus, he can tell the inspirational story of that Rudy kid. Brings tears to the good doc's eyes every time.).

Game 7: Texas Tech (+6.5) over OKLAHOMA - Tech coach Mike Leach almost smiled after knocking off Texas a few weeks back. He may have to make another attempt Saturday.

Game 8: Michigan State (+14.5) over PENN STATE - Since I already made my weekly crack about JoePa, a few random thoughts. I was thoroughly disappointed in "That Metal Show" on VH1 Classic, although it's nice to know Lita Ford is still alive. She hasn't aged nearly as bad as I would have expected, either. Also, here's an addictive web page provided by our good friend Leigh Torbin. For all you rock fans out there, try it and let me know how you did. Leigh claims he scored an 85, which, for anyone but Leigh (who has a Rain Man-like knowledge of all things) is impossible. I got 59, and my brain nearly exploded in the process.

Game 9: Brigham Young (+7.5) over UTAH - Sugar Bowl has an interesting choice to make if the Utes win this one: pick the Big East champs or take Utah as an at-large. In any other year, the choice is easy. But Big East parity puts Utes in Sugar.

Game 10: Iowa (-6) over MINNESOTA - Three straight losses and they're back to watchin' Gopher hockey on Lake Wabasha.

Game 11: West Virginia (-7) over LOUISVILLE - The song that best sums up the Steve Kragthorpe era so far: Tom Petty's "Free Falling." We still think he can turn it around, however.

Game 12: Connecticut (+3) over SOUTH FLORIDA - Jim Leavitt on quarterback Matt Grothe, who's been in a protective boot the past couple of days, "Warrior. Competitor. Matt. One leg. Play. Sunday. Good."

Game 13: HARVARD (-5) over Yale - Think the BCS system leaves a lot to be desired? "The Game", as usual, has serious implications in the Ivy League standings as a four-way tie at the top looms. Of course, the league doesn't allow member schools to compete in the post-season.

Last week's results
1. JZ 12-3
2. Chip 11-4
ian 11-4
4. caleb 10-5
5. rich 9-6
sean o 9-6
dougo 9-6
8. uconnhuskies86 8-7
big donny b 8-7
dano 8-7
pete 8-7
12. gary 7-8
wil 7-8
kevin 7-8
15. vinny from east haven 6-9
16. sammy 5-10

standings
1. Dougo 75
2. Caleb Mandrake 74
3. JZ 72
4. Vinny from East Haven 70
Pete 70
6. chip 69
ian 69
8. Rich 68
9. kevin 65
10. Sean O 59
11. Den of Stupidity 56
Sammy 56
DanO 56
14. Wil 54
15. Gary 49
uconnhuskies 86 49
17. Big Donny Bertolotti 29
18. Stretch 21
19. HuskyBarker 5

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