Nothing says Happy Thanksgiving like RIVALRY WEEK…..and of course strange relatives at a meal talking politics, etc. and reminding one why you really enjoy seeing them just 1 time every year.
Best news? Some SOLID match ups and more clarity on the CFP by late Saturday night. Even better, some solid NFL games on Thursday with some potential playoff teams on the field vs. a bunch of “turkeys” playing.
ZT has been working on preparing his abdomen for the Thanksgiving feast like Joey Chestnut does for the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog contest every July 4th. Training and preparation are key! Earlier this month, started the process in Texas because everything is bigger in Texas, right? ZT went straight to Big Lou’s Pizza in San Antonio…home of the 42″ Pizza ( which requires a 2 hour advance order and they even have special tables so the team can sit and go for it! ). Rumor is if you know someone, maybe a 60″??? Anyway…
Since ZT did NOT have the 2 hour lead time, he took the waitress recommendation and went with a “deluxe” Calzone…..Weighed somewhere over 2 pounds and hung off a 16″Pizza Pan..
ZT fought as hard as ZT can fight for over 15 minutes……this is the result..
ZT did some more consumption like the above leading into this week but countered it with more 50% off Brain Supplements to prepare to prognosticate and here we go….
Thursday – The Egg Bowl
#12 Ole Miss Rebels vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs 630pm
Maybe this should be the “scrambled” egg bowl with the current situation in Starkville. Rebels need a big W over these Bulldogs, who won last year and 3 of the last 5, to get to 10 wins and a solid bowl game. Maybe even a New Year’s game. Key for the Rebels is to stop the run as that is about all MSU has. Bulldogs Interim HC Greg “Fort” Knox did a nice job in his 1st game vs. Southern Miss……OK, it was 3-8 Southern Miss but still give him a thumbs up for the W. Mississippi State has about the same chance to win as getting a tan from a hallway nightlight or finding out why that dang chicken really crossed the road….. Rebels 38 Bullied Dogs 17
BLACK FRIDAY – So we can watch football without interruption
THE CORN BOWL
#17 Iowa Hawkeyes at Nebraska Cornhuskers 11am
ZT notes Vegas has the total points to be scored in this one down to 25.5. ZT thinking he goes to the Waffle House for a HUGE All-Star Breakfast with some scattered, smothered, covered, chunked, and peppered ( if you know, you know! ) then returns to laydown for a nap during this one with an alarm to wake him up at the end. Best part of this game? Iowa plays the winner of the Ohio State/Michigan game next week so expect them to hold their 3 new running plays ( to go with the 2 they have run all season ) until next week. Cornhusker poor offense vs. best defense in the country. One may recall the Iowa OC ( son of HC ) failed to achieve his 25 point per game contract requirement so the next 2 games are his last ( Iowa has averaged 18.5 PPG this season ). Fun fact is Hawkeye QB Deacon “Blues” Hill has less TDs this SEASON than LSU QB Jayden Daniels had in his last game. Huskers HC Matt Rhule can earn a bowl bid in his 1st year with a W but has to break them out of this 3 game losing streak to do it. Some reason, Vegas leans toward this happening….ZT don’t lean! Hawkeyes 16 Playing Cornhole at Christmas 10
THE CIVIL WAR
#16 Oregon State Beavers at #6 Oregon Ducks 730pm
Pretty straight forward for the Ducks…..win next 2 games and you are in the CFP. Easy to say, hard to do vs. an angry group of beavers. ZT notes OSU has been tough in Corvallis and their only 3 losses are by 3 points or less. Problem is they did lose and this game is in EUGENE!!! Never forget the winner gets the Platypus Trophy ( BTW, the Platypus should be proof to all that God has a great sense of humor ) and gets to keep it for a long time….don’t be sad as even the 1st Civil War ended in April 1865 ( ZT, did you actually know this from history class or did you recall it being said somewhere in the movie “The Outlaw Josie Wales”?….94% of this blog readers voted the latter..). Beaver QB DJ U. needs his best game of the year and Ducks QB Bo Nix to not. ZT believes Nix will end the weekend as the #1 Heisman candidate and the Ducks keep their CFP hopes alive. Ducks 38 Angry Beavers 24
ZT done until Saturday….more research and ZT recognizes he will need 24 hours for that substance in turkey that causes males to get sleepy on Thursday to exit his system.
Padre has traveled to celebrate Thanksgiving and this allowed him additional time for research and reflection on the football feast ahead.
Ole Miss 37 Mississippi State 20
When I was a kid, my dad would call this game “The Toilet Bowl.” My oh my how we Gator fans are now looking up to Ole Miss ( and would still be looking up to Miss. State if the Pirate was still around). Kiffin is trying to get to a NY6 Bowl. With that goal in mind, I think it is an easy win for Captain Freshwater and the “other Oxford” Rebels.
Upset of the Weekend #1
Arkansas 30 Mizzou 27
I am going upset heavy this weekend. This is my first one, Arkansas is a big underdog. Mizzou is coming off a (big?!?) win against the Gainesville University Losing Records. Mizzou was mocking my Gators like crazy after the game. I would say “stay classy, Mizzou”, but Aaron Hernandez once played for my team. I think I am probably still in the “too soon” faze of judging other schools. Anyway, for some reason I think ‘ole Uncle Sam Pitty finds a way to close out the season with a shocking win. GO HOGS!!
Oregon 41 Oregon State 27
Bo Nix is now the leading Heisman candidate. His daddy broke my heart in 1994. That was almost 30 years ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday!! Therefore, I will be pulling for Oregon State for 2 reasons: 1) I hold a grudge against the son for the football sins of the father and 2) making me think of 1994 like it was yesterday reminds me of how old I am. Patrick Nix ( the daddy ) has broken my heart AGAIN!!! And yet, that has no impact on the game. Ducks by 14…..NIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ZT and Padre are OUT ….UNTIL Saturday AM with more Rivalry Week Prognostications while you eat your 4th Turkey sandwich in the past 24 hours!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 