11/08/12: College football chat with Kate Hairopoulos

Hi guys. I see Indiana, my alma mater, can still make the Big Ten championship game. What on earth is going on these days in college football?! Let's chat about whatever you like...

Would be hard to say otherwise. Manziel is made for games like this. No. 1 Alabama. Tuscaloosa. 100,000-plus. CBS audience. I expect we see some signature Johnny Football plays. But, as we know, Florida and LSU were able to slow him down. He had three interceptions against LSU, even if they weren't all his fault. Thirty of his 31 touchdowns came in the games other than LSU and Florida. He has to show he's continued to progress in this offense and can adjust against a great defense.

TCU's been such a hard team to figure out this year. The Frogs have won on the road and dropped some at home that you wouldn't expect. I think TCU's defense always gives it a chance. From what we've seen around the country, each national championship contender is going to have to survive when it doesn't look possible. Don't know why that couldn't happen at Amon Carter. Collin Klein's health is a big deal, obviously.

A&M's offense looks its best when it's mixing things up and coming at you at breakneck speed. I love when they pass when you think the Aggies are going to run or run when you think they'll pass. Alabama's defense, good as it is, could not get off the field on third down against LSU last week, showing some vulnerability. A&M's offense is better than LSU's any day. I think A&M needs to get Michael and Malena carries and use Swope, Evans and Co. to spread out the defense. And use every last one of the weapons it has.

Have to say I've only met him briefly and in recent years. It's been touching to read memories of him and see the outpouring from across the state and the football world. I love some of his sayings...need to steal some of them.

Oh, Michael. I don't know. Both of those teams are so up and down, it's so hard to figure them out. Tech shouldn't have an excuse to play poorly at home against Texas...that's when the Red Raiders should've been at their best...

I'm not going to give it a percentage, but it's not great. I'm writing a bit about that tomorrow. Talked with Chris Huston, who is the Heisman Pundit, and he really believes in the freshman curse. What happens this weekend at Alabama is huge. Huston thinks that if A&M beats Alabama, Manziel will go to New York. Still doesn't think he'll win it though. Manziel's huge chance to legitimize himself as a candidate was the LSU game, and he was held to 27 yards rushing and had three INTs.

Alabama's the better team. At home. I think A&M is going to keep it close longer than most expect. I see the Crimson Tide's O-line wearing A&M down in the second half. The Aggies don't have much depth on defense. I would say 31-24, Alabama. Seems like a missed field goal attempt or two is going to hurt A&M, too.

Oh, I've covered the Big 12 and A&M a ton over the last six or seven years.... guess the difference is the level of interest and other media who cover the team. Covering SMU you have to ask almost all of the real questions, if you know what I mean.

I think at that point you'd be looking at an at-large BCS bid, no? We've got them going to the Outback as of now. I think too many politics and whatnot at play to see at Texas-A&M Cotton Bowl.