Don't Bet On It: National Game of Disinterest

You know the teams I picked in the S.E.C., including my bold pick of Kentucky to beat L.S.U. You know the teams I picked in the national games of interest. You know the words to the country song I wrote about Doug Gillett's weekend. (Hang on . . . that last one wasn't really pertinent, was it? O.K., skip that.)

What you don't yet know, and what you doubtless eagerly await the announcement of, is this week's national game of disinterest.

The Operation Overdrive-era Power Rangers (top) attempt to outduel the S.P.D.-era Power Rangers (bottom) as the team least concerned with the national game of disinterest.

As you are aware, the national game of disinterest is that one contest each week with respect to which I refuse to offer a prediction because I am utterly indifferent to the outcome and, frankly, would rather not be bothered to have to look up the final score afterwards.

It may surprise you somewhat to learn that this week's national game of disinterest is . . .

Texas A&M at Texas Tech

I know, I know, I know . . . how can I say such a thing? (Technically, I didn't say it, I wrote it, but you know what I mean.) The Aggies are 5-1. The Red Raiders are 5-1. They're both ranked on my BlogPoll ballot.

But, I mean, come on . . . look at 'em, will you?

Texas A&M has beaten Division I-AA Montana State and four Division I-A teams (Fresno State, Louisiana-Monroe, Baylor, and Oklahoma State) with a combined record of 10-12 whose wins were over Arkansas State, Buffalo, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, Rice, Sacramento State, Sam Houston State, Texas State, and, um, Texas Tech. Dennis Franchione's squad also got skunked by Miami (Florida).

Also, having this snake-oil salesman as a head coach doesn't help.

Texas Tech has beaten Division I-AA Northwestern State and four Division I-A teams (Southern Methodist, U.T.E.P., Rice, and Iowa State) with a combined record of 7-15 whose wins were over Iowa, New Mexico, North Texas, S.M.U., Southern Miss, Texas Southern, and Tulsa. Mike Leach's squad also lost a shootout with an Oklahoma State team which (I am sad to say) was not as good as advertised.

Also, having this snake-oil salesman as a head coach doesn't help.

Neither of these teams has done anything except beat the crummy teams that have beaten every crummy team in the Lone Star State. The combatants from College Station and from Lubbock are little more than Hawaii with a twang . . . and a loss.

The loser will have been exposed as a fraud. The winner will have proven nothing. I'm not particularly interested in sticking around to learn whether the team from "The Home of the Illegal Substitution Penalty" or the team with the least masculine mascot in intercollegiate athletics is the bigger of the two pretenders.

Go 'Dawgs!