Written by Mike Piper

---

The football season is in mid-swing players. And don't look now, but here comes the Lead Man. He's on a post Columbus Day heater, stringing together back to back winning weeks and he looks to be ready to continue rolling through this Halloween weekend. You'll get no tricks from LP - only treats. So get your oversized plastic pumpkins and flashlights and go window to window along with the Lead Man through the football bookmaker's neighborhood this weekend collecting winners. The football season is in mid-swing players. And don't look now, but here comes the Lead Man.

He's on a post Columbus Day heater, stringing together back to back winning weeks and he looks to be ready to continue rolling through this Halloween weekend. Incidentally players, a Halloween party costume favorite is dressing sans shirt, with empty pockets turned inside out, and going as the Lead Man's bookie. The Lead Man is neither a two-bit whore nor a bad magician and therefore there will be no tricks from LP - only treats. So get your oversized plastic pumpkins and flashlights and go window to window along with the Lead Man through the football bookmaker's neighborhood this weekend collecting winners.

But before we get our costumes on players, LP would like to talk about a sport that should already be wearing a mask - major league baseball.

What a debacle. The Lead Man has a little action on the under of game 5 of the fall classic. Things are cruising right along until the weather take a turn for the worse and all hell breaks loose. What followed were various arguments dealing with when the game should have been stopped, if it should have been played at all and if the game should have been suspended or started over from the beginning. As Lead pondered these valid points, the ridiculousness of the entire situation hit him harder than Larry Johnson hits his hoes. Let's look at some 2008 World Series facts;

1. The problem with game 5 wasn't that it rained. The problem was the game was played on damn near Halloween night. Philly in November? What do you expect? Baseball isn't meant to be played with ear muffs and hand warmers. There is a reason hockey and basketball were able to extend their playoffs without interference. YOU PLAY THESE SPORTS INDOORS. Christ. Nothing like having a fractured, unfamiliar version of the sport on its biggest stage.
2. The home field advantage for the winter classic was decided by an exhibition game. So allow Lead to get this straight; the hard work and success found during the 162 game grind means little compared to some hump from the Orioles perhaps chipping a broken bat single to right in a game that doesn't count? Makes perfect sense. And people doubt the 90% rule.
3. Whenever the guy who was appointed commissioner, (you know, the one who had a direct and immediate conflict of interest when named), has to make a big decision in the spotlight, well, that makes the Lead Man chuckle. By the way he could handle the current situation perfectly and people will still bust on his choice because he and baseball have botched so many things in recent years that he officially can't win.
4. Any young fans baseball hoped to capture were fast asleep before the 2^nd inning of any World Series game. Any young fans that were awake for those games will likely populate the nation's prisons 20 years from now. And before you stat guys inform Lead about major league attendance, understand that Major League Baseball is fine currently, but they are doing zero favors for the game. If you don't think that will eventually catch up, Lead doesn't know what to tell you.

Look, we all know football is now king. But baseball is still the national pastime. Seeing as that's the case, the Lead Man would hope the powers that be could do something right every once in a while. Players, major league baseball is a house we're going to skip this weekend, because there doesn't seem to be a light on.

On to a huge college football Saturday. Will Florida and Coach Meyer exact revenge on the Dawgs for last year's group celebration? Will a Big 12 team step up and play at least one quarter of defense this season? Will defensive specialist Dave Wannestadt allow 40-plus to another horrible quarterback and somehow still remain employed? These questions will be answered on Saturday, but the Lead Man has some other answers in advance. On to the picks:

The Green Wave of Tulane comes a crashing into Louisiana this weekend as they take on the Tigers of LSU. Unlike the devastation caused by the waves of Katrina, this will be more like a ripple, as once the Wave hits the land, Tulane will be limping into Tiger stadium. They've got their best player, running back Andre Anderson out, (4th nationally in rushing) and have yet to name a starting QB yet - mainly because both choices are poor. LSU, seeking their 17^th straight win against Tulane looks to open it up a bit more in preparation for the big showdown with Alabama. A horrible, injured Tulane offense is just what LSU's defense needs to get on track, and RB Charles Scott is hotter than a platter of jumbalaya. Lead Man looks for LSU to put up 40 plus, while keeping Tulane out of the end zone.

LSU -24.5

The Runnin' Utes streak into University stadium to take on the Lobos of New Mexico, and just like Sheriff Lobo was unable to stop BJ and the Bear, look for the same lack of resistance from New Mexico. Utah is coming off the bye week and they can smell the BCS buster label. They went into the bye week on a high note, walloping Colorado State 49-16, and are slowly getting key injured players back on the field. New Mexico isn't making anything happen on offense and they run right into a match-up problem here. Utah is ranked ninth nationally, only surrendering 86 yards per game on the ground, and New Mexico would rather run it than pass. On defense, New Mexico has been a blitzing machine all year, but look for Utah's improved running game to defuse this aggressive style of defense early on.

Utah - 7.5

The TCU Horned Frogs travel to Vegas to take on UNLV. TCU is on a roll, so don't look for them to 7 out Saturday night. Much like Utah, the Horned Frogs are hitting on all cylinders. They are coming off a 54-7 rout of Wyoming, and have held their opponent to 7 points in 5 of their last 6 tilts. The Rebels on the other hand are struggling on defense (114 nationally against the run) and their special teams have been so comical they could take over Danny Gans spot at the Mirage. Look for the TCU secondary to give UNLV receivers fits, using the same formula they used to thwart Max Hall and company a few weeks back. UNLV has been competitive in many a shoot out this year - but it will be TCU that is scoring like a rich guy at the bunny ranch.

TCU -14

Players, don't forget, tonight at 10:30, The Pipeline hosted by Brian McPeek hits the airwaves live. This is the show where the Lead Man puts you in the know as far as the world of sports is concerned. Huge weekend this week, and we'll cover it all. Tune in players!