Just about all the publications I've read has the winner of this game going to the Cotton Bowl unless Texas can squeek into the BCS so it seems to be virtually a done deal. I've heard that if the Cotton picks Texas they would go with either Tennessee or Georgia and if they go with A&M they will definitely pick LSU
While Cal's schedule hasn't been really strong, I can't say that Texas has been overly impressive, either. Both teams had a shot at a top team--Texas got shutout by #2 Oklahoma, and Cal was one goal line conversion away from beating #1 USC. Other than that game and a close win against Oregon, Cal has absolutely SLAUGHTERED everyone they've played. With Texas' struggles against Kansas and Arkansas, and the fact that Oklahoma absolutely handled them, Texas doesn't do anything for me. I think Cal is the better team with a better chance of winning a big bowl game. Oh, and it's not like Arizona State is a bad team--they're 8-2 with losses only to Cal and USC. 8-2 in the Pac-10, yes, but 8-2 is 8-2.
I think Texas will win. A&M is not nearly as good a team on the road as they are at home. However, to win this game, Texas will have to play a hell of a lot better than they did in the loss to Kansas a couple of weeks ago.... I think Reggie will be a bit more of a challenge than the numbers 3 and 4 string Kansas quarterbacks, LOL.
Texas has a history of not covering the spread, i believe. "rivalry" games are especially known for being close (except Tex-OU.) i'd think about putting some serious peanuts on the aggies. go horns!
Arizona State's a solid program, but so is Texas Tech. So is Ok State. UT's schedule strength is just better overall, which is why they're ranked ahead in the computers. I'm not saying either program has been really top notch, they've both faltered some and both have weaknesses. And I think your comparison of UT-OU and Cal-UCLA is way off. UCLA was up 6 points at halftime and 6 points through 3 quarters, winning by that same margin. California never had the lead in that game. OU led UT by 3 at halftime, 6 through 3 quarters, and won by 12. Both were close games. UT was shut out, sure, but the offense crossed midfield in every quarter and had 4 drives of 30+ yards. It was a competitive game until late in the fourth.
And Georgia lost to Tennessee which lost to Notre Dame which lost to BYU, so BYU must be a hell of a program. Any given Saturday, weird stuff happens.
Just to correct, Cal dominated UCLA as well. Perhaps you meant USC. I agree we have weaknesses, namely our field goal kicker (with some absymal percentage of like 50%) and our special teams (unfathomable fumbling deep in our own territory multiple times). Both, incindentally, were responsible for our single loss to USC (and I would contend the only reasons). However, if you watched the game, or even look at the stats, our offense was excellent, with Rodgers setting a record completing something like 25 passes in a row. In fact, Cal's offense completely outclassed that of USC in every way, which is also a testament to our defense. I'm not sure the same can be said of UT in their game against OU.
