Well, PFWers, the games in the NFL now count – Pittsburgh intercepted Daunte Culpepper twice late to grind out a 28-17 victory in the NFL opener last night – and lo & behold, Widdle Terri Owens is heeeeeeee-ullllllllll-duh!!!!!  Terri’s widdle hammy was kissed by Mommy to make it better, and he’ll likely start the Cowboys opener.
Raise your hand if this surprised you at all.
Anyway, we’ll get to the Cowboys in a moment.  This week’s crack at the PFW starts with my Arlington Heights Yellow Jackets traveling to Haltom City to take on the Birdville Buffaloes.  Last time Heights played Birdville, the Buffs ended their 2004 season with a playoff one-and-done, 13-21.  And as I said Sunday evening, Birdville’s area-ranked this year, while Heights couldn’t even defeat Azle.  I’ll take Heights and I want 21.
Saturday, Turner Gill’s UBuffalo Bulls travel to Ohio to play Bowling Green.  BG’s gotten pretty good since Dennis Franchione’s TCU squad put the hurt to ’em a few years back, so give me the Bulls plus 17 (Vegas.com, hereinafter known as “Vegas”, has ’em at +23).
Also Saturday, 15th-ranked Oklahoma will host the U. of Washington at Memorial Stadium.  Washington’s supposedly a 17-point underdog at Norman, but after the UAB debacle last week, I’ll take OU and give you 7.
Bo Pelini and the 8th-ranked LSU Tigers host Bob Stoops brother Mike and the Arizona Wildcats at 3:30 Saturday.  Vegas has LSU as a 15½-point favorite, but LSU’s better than that at home.  I’ll take the Tigers and you can have 20.
His Rudeness will be in Fort Worth at Amon G. Carter Stadium Saturday evening to watch the 22nd-ranked TCU Horned Frogs take on the University of California at Davis.  Cal-Davis is an NCAA I-AA team, and normally such games, especially at home, are breathers.
But I see this game and I think of two words – Northwestern State.
One of the last times TCU played a I-AA team, Northwestern State came into Amon Carter and almost literally handed TCU its collective head.  This game will scare the Hell™ out of me right up until TCU’s up by 30 with 2:00 to play.
Sunday is Opening Day for the Dallas Cowboys, as they’re in Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars.  Jacksonville doesn’t have a great offense, but it’s defense is a killer, so that’ll keep ’em in the game long enough to squeak by Dallas, even with Widdle Terri’s hammy now supernaturally healed – and Randy Galloway’s got a great take on that.
We’re back Monday or so with the recap.  In the meantime, feel free to rant on about your favorite teams.
Let the tailgating…commence!