NCAA YTD: 27-33 (-10.65*)
California(-7) over Washington (1*)
- - Cal under Tedford is undisciplined, not clutch, soft, and their coach goes conservative in big games, but they take out some frustrations this week against any inferior team they draw . . . Washington ranks last in the conference in points allowed and rushing yards allowed and is ninth in total offense allowed. Cal hasn't scored more than three touchdowns in a game for four weeks . . . Cal's defense has played probably its best back-to-back games of the season. The Bears figured out how to get off the field, limiting Washington State and USC to 11-of-30 third-down conversions . . .The Huskies rank third in the conference in rushing, but will probably be without quarterback Jake Locker and his 800 rushing yards. Locker endured a neck stinger and bruised trapezius muscle on a helmet-to-helmet hit by Oregon State safety Al Afalava last week and was taken from the field in an ambulance after temporarily losing feeling in his left arm. In a Tuesday's news conference, broadcast on the Washington athletics Web site, Locker turned his upper body instead of rotating his head to address media to his left and right. Reportedly, he's been able to do more each day and actually took some first-team repetitions Thursday, but Willingham has yet to rule Locker out.
Iowa State(+27) over Kansas (1*)
- - The best ISU opportunity is to match the emotion - which doesn't mean matching on the scoreboard - during the first 15 minutes, but the opportunities with this inflated number will be real throughout, unless Kansas is turnover free for a 5th straight game and has a hard on for the Cyclones.
GL
