ESPN

Pat Forde

  (2:06 PM)

Howdy, and happy Halloween to all you freaks. Let's get on with it.

David - Lubbock, TX

Pat, what do you see as the deciding factor in this weeks Texas vs. Texas Tech game? Who do you see winning?

Pat Forde

  (2:07 PM)

David: To me, the question is whether or not Tech's defense is ready to step up against a true to-shelf team in a showdown game with everything on the line. If the Red Raiders show they can get a stop when they need a stop, they've got a good chance to win.

JL (Hoboken, NJ)

To be extremely corny...who will have the scariest weekend?

Pat Forde

  (2:08 PM)

JL: Nothing wrong with corny here, bro. I'm a bit out on a limb, but I'll say Florida, which will be upset by Georgia.

Greg (Cohutta, GA)

What's your pick UF or UGA and why?

Pat Forde

  (2:10 PM)

Greg: Just made my pick, but I'll give you the why -- I think the Dogs will be able to run the ball with more consistent success. If they avoid giving up any special teams scores -- easier said than done against the UF special teams -- I believe they can make Florida work for its points. Stafford and Moreno need to play like stars, and I think they will.

Wayne, Oak Ridge

we as tennessee fan have heard so many things concerning Fulmers job with media and newspapers saying his tenure is up at seasons end just to have Fulmer himself state that its all rumors can you please give your expert advise as to what you think. thank you

Pat Forde

  (2:12 PM)

Wayne: Mike Hamilton has said he'll make a call at season's end, and I believe he'll continue to let the season play out. At least he should. To do otherwise at this point would be a disservice to this team, which is still fighting to make a bowl. My gut feeling -- and that's all it is -- says Fulmer will not be back. But there's still some season to play out before we know for sure.

Greg (Champaign, IL)

Illinois can't lose to Iowa, can they?

Pat Forde

  (2:13 PM)

Sure they can, at least Illinois as I've seen it at times this season. Iowa is playing well right now. Tossup game to me.

Gregg, NYC

How can people critique Penn States non-conference schedule when in FACT, it is better than all of the other contenders except two teams. Those teams are USC and Florida. USC got throttled by a team that PSU bean and Florida lost at home to a terrible Ole Miss team. Shouldn't the Nittany Lions schedule be off the table when comparing teams?

Pat Forde

  (2:16 PM)

Gregg: Schedule strength should never be off the table when comparing teams -- how else are going to compare them, other than straight record? And if we're going by that, Ball State is every bit as unbeaten as Penn State. Alabama playing Clemson on a neutral field is more difficult than anything Penn State did out of conference in my book. I mean, unless you're dazzled by beating Coastal Carolina, Syracuse and Temple. Oregon State was a good win, but that's it.

Barack Obama/John McCain

4D: Please tell everyone to get out and vote this coming Tuesday!

Pat Forde

  (2:16 PM)

You heard it from the men. Go vote!

Robert, NJ

The highest rated Defense in the Big12 is #43 Texas and the rest are ranked at the bottom half of the NCAA. Considering the amount of points the Big12 teams gave up in the bowls last year, can't it be argued that they are in fact, a terrible Defensive conference and not a great offensive one?

Pat Forde

  (2:18 PM)

Robert: No, I don't think you can make that argument. At least not with a straight face. Great defenses in the Big 12? No. But Texas' isn't bad, and every defensive number in the league is inflated by the incredible offenses. The league has something like 10 quarterbacks returning from last year, so this was expected to be a high-powered offensive league this year. And it is. Legitimately.

Brian (DE)

and isnt' going to a ranked Ohio State team a little more difficult than an unranked Clemson team?

Pat Forde

  (2:20 PM)

Brian: That;s a league game. Going to play Georgia between the hedges is at least as difficult as going to play Ohio State.

Jennifer (Newport Beach, CA)

Will the Big 12 and the SEC get to settle it on the field this season?

Pat Forde

  (2:22 PM)

Jennifer: It's gonna be interesting to see. If Texas or Texas Tech goes 13-0, they;re in. If Florida or Georgia is 12-1 and Penn State is 12-0, you've got quite an argument in my opinion. I believe the pressure on the human voters to give JoePa his potential last shot will be unspoken but immense.

Marty, NYC

I understand when comparing schedules that the Big 10 is down this year. But dismissing PSU's schedule OOC is just not fair. Oregon St is the best win OOC between Texas, T Tech and Bama. Oregon St is the only team to be leading their conference out of all the oppenents of the contenders. And the only reason PSU is playing Coastal Carolina is because Bama backed out on us.

Pat Forde

  (2:24 PM)

Marty: And the only reason Penn State played Oregon State is because Arkansas State backed out, right? Also: Oregon State may be leading the Pac-10, but it won't finish there.

Greg (Champaign, IL)

Which is more fun to write: Forde yard dash or Forde minutes?

Pat Forde

  (2:25 PM)

Greg: Good question. When it's football, I like the Dash. When it's basketball, I like the Minutes. Not sure I can make a definitive choice as to which is more fun.

Mike (Louisville, KY)

What do you think Alabama's chances of winning the SEC this year are? Who do you think will play in the championship game?

Pat Forde

  (2:27 PM)

Mike: I see the Tide playing Georgia in the SEC title game. From there, I honestly don't know. Alabama's 31-0 halftime lead in Athens was no fluke, but can the Tide play that well again?

Erik (Huskerville)

Mr Forde: any chance for my Huskers this weekend?

Pat Forde

  (2:29 PM)

Eric: Doubtful. Especially on the road. Nebraska has played better since the train wreck against Missouri, but I don't see an upset at all in Norman.

Ray (Dallas, TX)

TTU's offensive line vs. UT's defensive line. Advantage goes to....?

Pat Forde

  (2:30 PM)

Ray: Advantage goes to Tech's team, but to Texas' team. The wide splits, short routes and quick release mean it's incredibly hard to sack Harrell, but Orakpo is the best defensive end I've seen this year, and Roy Miller and Henry Melton are no slouches up front either. Harrell will get hit a bit, but perhaps not sacked.

Travis (miami, Fl)

How do you like Florida St's chances this weekend against Georgia Tech? and for the rest of the season. can they run the table?

Pat Forde

  (2:32 PM)

Travis: I was on the Tech bandwagon until last week. Not sure how well that option will work against a Mickey Andrews D that can really run. If FSU takes care of the ball I like the Noles.

Mike (Beckley, WV)

Who is your pick to take the Big East crown?Also, if both Utah and Boise State win out, could we see two non-BCS teams crash the party?

Pat Forde

  (2:33 PM)

Mike: I like WVU at this point. They've got their act together now, it seems, and were really impressive in the second half against Auburn. Plus, at 2-0, they're already on top of the league. If they beat UConn this weekend they take a big step toward winning the league.

Gil (Afghanistan)

First, nice dashette this week! Mila Kunis is very... wow! Second, whenever sportswriters go to Austin, they eat at the Salt Lick or El Arroyo. I'd like to suggest Hoover's east of 35 on Manor Rd. The sweet potato biscuits will kick your face in. Lastly, I'd like to know if you still consider Texas' secondary young and inexperienced, given all they've been through in the past month.

Pat Forde

  (2:35 PM)

Gil: Great to hear from someone far, far away. Take care of yourself over there. I have eaten at El Arroyo and back up the sentiment. Will have to try Salt Lick, I hear it is at least the equal of The County Line, which I enjoyed last week. As for the secondary: it's come a long way in a hurry. But this will be the ultimate test.

Johnny (Shawnee, OK)

Do you feel the big 12 has surpassed the SEC as the best conference in football?

Pat Forde

  (2:38 PM)

Johnny: Maybe, although let me say that I think rating conferences is generally a bogus exercise. the problem with the Big 12 is the massive disparity between the top five and the bottom seven. At least in the SEC, the likes of Mississippi and Vandy and others can win a big game or at least come close.

Nick (Denver)

So Tulsa finally gets the chance to play a team from a major conference, even if it is an Arkansas team that has looked horrible at times this year. But even though Arkansas is down, the shear difference in athletes that Tulsa has been facing will take a big step up in this one. How does the high flying Tulsa offense fair? And if they do get by Arkansas with ease (which I think they will), where do they fit into the BCS picture?

Pat Forde

  (2:41 PM)

Nick: I was surprised to see Tulsa as a seven-point favorite -- thought it would be a smaller spread than that, since it's on the road. I'm very, very impressed by Tulsa so far, but yes, this will be a step up in terms of athletic ability and probably sheer size. CUSA defenses are not to be confused with most of those in the SEC.

Pong ( Thailand)

Do you think Tech will do what OKST did to Colt Macoy last week PRESSURE?

Pat Forde

  (2:42 PM)

Pong: The pressure didn't exactly crumple Colt McCoy. He completed 38 of 45 passes for 300-plus. In the first half he was 26 of 28. So Tech better bring a little more to the table than the Cowboys -- and the Cowboys played well.

Lydia (Cincy)

Was it you who suggested that ADs are bad businessmen because they offer lucrative extentions to keep coaches and then end up with huge buy-outs when the coaches underdeliver? In a mercenary society, what's the alternative?

Pat Forde

  (2:44 PM)

Lydia: It was me, all right. The alternative is for some brave AD to simply stand up and say no, and for some others to follow his lead. Either that, or the ADs do what the baseball owners did a few years ago: Collusion.

David (KC)

I get to go to Mizzou in a few weeks, where does The Dash recommend I eat?

Pat Forde

  (2:45 PM)

David: little cheesburgers at Booches, pizza at Shakespeare's, beer at Harpo's. Not sure where they serve grown-up meals in Columbia these days.

Cutter Lubbock, Tx

Can the Red Raiders get through the press coverage and the elements of such a big game given the fact that they have never been there before? The press and the pressure of a big game will not effect Texas.....Correct?

Pat Forde

  (2:47 PM)

Cutter: Well, Mike Leach has attempted to take care of that by cutting off access to everybody who is somebody. No Graham Harrell all week, no Michael Crabtree. Given the rare nature of a national game in Lubbock, I believe he's doing those kids a grave disservice. Texas and USC have their players amazingly available to the media, and it hasn't seemed to derail either program lately. I know Leach is trying to get them to focus -- but then I heard him on the radio with Colin Cowherd yesterday. Practice what you preach, perhaps?

Sebastian

Do you think Miami can turn it around this week @ UVa?

Pat Forde

  (2:50 PM)

Dear Ibis: I honestly have no idea. UVA is certainly playing better than it did in September, and Miami has regrouped as well. I think Miami is probably the better team, but UVA at home ... I don't know.

Nick (Boise)

4D: Love your writing...rank the mid-majors! Go Big Blue and Orange!

Pat Forde

  (2:51 PM)

Nick: Thanks. 1. Utah 2. TCU 3. Boise State 4. Tulsa 5. Ball State Subject to change, especially after Utah and TCU hook up next Thursday

Marcia Brant (Odessa, TX)

Pat, who wins the Heisman this year in your opinion? If Texas looses against Tech will he still have a shot?

Pat Forde

  (2:53 PM)

Marcia: McCoy is well ahead on my ballot right now, but it will be an interesting head-to-head matchup this weekend. I need to see Harrell play well in a game of this stature to make up my mind on him. Bradford is certainly in the mix as well. Beyond that, I don't know. Still a month to make a decision.

JIM (INDY)

4D throw me a bone some ND PITT talk!!

Pat Forde

  (2:55 PM)

Jim: Here's your bone. I'm interested to see whether Charlie Weis can improve his record to 2-14 over his last 16 games against teams that finished the year or are currently .500 or above. ND hasn't beaten a good team in a long, long time. Not sure Pitt equals good, but it is 5-2 which has to count for something as of now.

Mike (TX)

Once again, the potential is there to have a great team left out of the NC game. Where does this end, or is there another way besides a playoff to give credit to these teams that end up left out?

Pat Forde

  (2:56 PM)

Mike: No, there is no way to end the season right without a playoff. Just my opinion.

Mindy (Wilsonville, OR.)

Pat, who do you like in the Oregon vs. Cal game?

Pat Forde

  (2:59 PM)

Mindy: Cal has won the last two in the series and his playing at home. I know Oregon is playing decent ball right now but I'll take the Bears.who have played very well in Berkely this year.

Jon (State College, PA)

Who you picking? -- Joe Paterno's hip or his onsides kick attempt?

Pat Forde

  (3:00 PM)

Jon: Seems like the onside kick already won. Game over. Thanks for the questions, talk to y'all again next week. Have fun Halloweening.