MY COLLEGE GAMEDAY PICKS COLUMN FOR TOMORROW ... TODAY!

Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the top college football games of the day
LAST WEEK: 3-4 (spread); 5-2 (overall); 0-0 (upset picks)
THIS SEASON: 44-38-2 (spread); 63-21 (overall); 4-4 (upset picks)

No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma; 8 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: There are so many questions that could play out after this game finds a winner. If Tech wins, does it move to No. 1 in the nation over an idle Alabama? If Oklahoma wins, does it jump No. 4 Texas, or does Texas get the nod to play for the Big 12 title? There are so many questions, but one answer I can give you today is this – Texas Tech will win this game. QB Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree will connect for the winning TD late. The Pick: Texas Tech (+7) wins it 35-31.

No. 17 Michigan State at No. 7 Penn State; 3:30 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: How big would this game have been if Penn State didn’t lose to Iowa a few weeks ago? If the Nittany Lions won that game, this home contest against Michigan State would have been for a spot in the national championship. But Penn State lost, so it will have to settle for a Rose Bowl berth with a win over Michigan State today. It also could be Joe Paterno’s last regular season game in Happy Valley, although I doubt it. The Pick: Penn State (-15.5) wins it 27-17.

Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State; 12 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez told Wolverine fans this week to “get a life.” Not good, especially when they’re the reason he’s making millions of dollars a year to coach a football team. And especially this year, as Michigan has become a joke. Ohio State can win the Big 10 title with a win today and a Penn State loss. Either way, the Buckeyes will probably get another BCS bid. Today, look for Michigan to keep it relatively close. The Pick: Ohio State (-20) wins it 22-10.

Air Force at No. 15 TCU; 3:30 p.m.; VERSUS
The Skinny: After breaking down the top three games of the day – all on ABC – I thought it was fitting to talk about what could be the demise of college football. This week, the BCS announced that ESPN will now start broadcasting all of the top bowl games from January 2011 through 2014. And while college big wigs and ESPN people say that watching a game on cable is the same now as broadcast television, it’s not. And to say that is simply pathetic. The Pick: TCU (-20) wins it 38-21.

Ole Miss at No. 18 LSU; 3:30 p.m.; CBS
The Skinny: Just look at the NBA. The league was as big as it ever was when almost every playoff game was broadcast on NBC. But the NBA made a deal with ABC and ESPN that put almost every playoff game, except the NBA Finals, on ESPN. Well, I don’t have to tell you that the NBA over the past several years has gone in the tank. Its popularity is nowhere near what it was several years ago and, simply, very few people care about the league anymore. The Pick: LSU (-3.5) wins it 28-21.

No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati; 7 p.m.; ESPN2
The Skinny: And I fully believe it has everything to do with being on cable. No casual fan is going to stumble upon a bowl game on ESPN, but they absolutely would if the game was on ABC. Plus, you’re blacking out those without cable. People will still watch college football during the season, but bowl games will be considered an afterthought and a ratings disaster. The Pick: Cincinnati (-6) wins it 33-30.

Florida State at No. 22 Maryland; 7:45 p.m.; ESPN
The Pick: Maryland (+1) wins it 24-21.
Brad’s brother, Craig Carroll, is back to defend his championship from a year ago. He finished with a 4-3 record last week, and is 39-43-2 for the season. Here are his picks for the week: Texas Tech, MSU, OSU, Air Force, LSU, Pittsburgh, FSU.

(AP photo, top, Texas Tech’s Darcel McBath and Brandon Sharpe celebrate Sharpe’s break-up of a pass from Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson two weeks ago.)