WHAT'S CAUSING ALL THIS?

LUCAS We did have football around here last week, even though it was somewhat of a watered-down schedule - high school started, but Kilgore College was off, many of the college powerhouses were playing "cupcake" opponents and the NFLno longer opens on Labor Day weekend.

But boy, we've got a full slate this week.

As always, this is my own personal weekly look at the games that we modestly try to pick the outcomes of on page 7 of this very publication. Not much should be read into this. I only try to guess the outcomes of the 17 games we've been challenged with any given week.

My ratings system, as many of you have learned:

***** Five asterisks: Football as it was meant to be played, with two outstanding teams, something big on the line, great fan interest - pretty much a can't miss got-to-be-good game.

**** Four: Just shy of five, obviously, which means one should expect a fine game, with maybe teams pulling away in the fourth quarter.

*** Three: As usual, I say a three-asterisk game is one where there is an underdog, but the 'dog has a good chance, in my own estimation, of winning.

** Two: There's a big underdog with little chance of winning, but there's just enough there - maybe the favorite is playing on the road, or in a rainstorm - to make me believe there might be the possibility of an upset.

* One: The game is being played at the favorite's stadium, the teams are mismatched, and the big-name team has almost no chance of losing.

Zero asterisks: A game that could very well set football back about two decades.

Now, after all that, here's my view of this week's games.

High school games

 Mount Pleasant at Kilgore (***): No one should read anything into the fact that Mount Pleasant was chosen as Kilgore's homecoming opponent, and here's why.

KHS coach Mike Vallery hates having homecoming the same night the Bulldogs play a district rival. Mount Pleasant just happened to be the only home game of the non-district schedule this year.

Fact is, Kilgore knows little about Mount Pleasant, and the

reason for that is because the Tigers, who have a brand new coaching staff, haven't played a game. They've only scrimmaged.

I expect Kilgore's first-game jitters to disappear gradually as we get into the season, and that should continue here with improvement and a victory.

 Sabine at Jefferson (**): For coach Greg Anderson's Sabine Cardinals to go into Jefferson and win over the No. 7 2A team in the state would be a huge upset.

But crazier things have happened.

 Overton at West Rusk (****): Lots of intrigue here simply because I was caught off guard by Overton losing to Union Hill last week, and honestly, I probably would have had these two teams' records reversed. This rivalry, I was told this week, has a lot of intensity right now, and New London should provide the setting for a very good high school game.

 Fannindel at Leverett's Chapel (***): Much like Kilgore-Mount Pleasant, there's some unknown factors here on the Fannindel side because of a new coaching staff, and let's face it - six-man football is different. It's very highscoring, and LC seems to have that down. The LC Lions have the home field advantage. I'll go with coach Matt Everett's Lions to make it 2-0 on the season.

 Tatum at Gilmer (*****): If this one lives up to the hype it's been given by fans on a certain East Texas sports/gossip (heavy on the gossip) web site, then it will be the Game Of The Century. Seriously - I don't think the Ice Bowl got this much hype.

I've seen Tatum up close already this year, and I know about their speed. I also know about Gilmer and the controversy surrounding some of their transfers. Tatum fell to Class 2A under the new UIL realignment, and a lot of people are giving Gilmer the edge sheerly on that alone.

(and did last season. I was wrong, I might add). If they really

them.

Still, I think when the dust settles and this game starts,

try, this game might live up to the hype it's received all

 Philadelphia at Houston (***): These aren't your big

Tatum is going to be just about as deep as Gilmer. If KHS

week, or heck, it might even reach Tatum-Gilmer status.

brother's Philadelphia Iggles. There's no real threat for

weren't playing and I had my choice to go be a fan for one

 Texas Tech at UTEP (***): Coach Mike Price has the

Philly at wideout (they did pick up Donte Stallworth in a

game this year, it might be this one. I like Gilmer to escape

Miners on the right track back to respectability. But they're

trade with New Orleans) and the Eagles' running back situation

with a win, but barely.

not ready for the Red Raiders. Tech wins big here.

is not good, depth-wise.

 Marshall at Longview (***): I think I'm in the minority

 Louisiana Lafayette at Texas A&M (*): Franchione's

I don't know why - they've given me little reason to -

here, but I really think coach Rodney Southern's Mavericks

supposedly on the hot seat. He won't have to worry about

but I'm going with Houston to give coach Gary Kubiak an

are trying to find an identity this year. They've lost a lot of

this one. Aggies step a mudhole in LLU and walk it dry.

upset win in his coaching debut this Sunday.

starters from the last two seasons. Longview is going

 Washington at Oklahoma (***): No one thought Alabama

 Miami at Pittsburgh, tonight (****): Coach Nick Saban's

through a lot of the same thing. Simply because I know

Birmingham would be able to play with the Sooners

Dolphins are the fashionable pick to be the NFL's

Longview has dominated this series, I'll stick with the Lobos

last week, and the end result was OU by just a touchdown.

out-of-the-blue surprise team this year, much like the St.

to win another. The controversy surrounding former quarterback Rhett

Louis Rams in 1999, or the Baltimore Ravens in 2000. I

don't see it, not yet. I think Miami will be improved,

College games

Bomar meant the Sooners' offense has been set back a bit.

maybe a playoff team, but not a Super Bowl contender.

 Tyler Junior College at Kilgore College (****): If KC

Washington will probably provide some challenges, but

Last year's Super Bowl champs are hurting. Quarterback

had won its season opener against Butler, I'd give this game

OU is still deep enough and strong enough to get out of

Ben Roethlisberger is out, not because of car wreck hangover

five asterisks. TJC has been a very solid team through two

this spot and head to Oregon next week with a 2-0 record.

but because of an appendectomy, and may miss two or

games, and defeated Trinity Valley even thought TVCC

 Penn State at Notre Dame (****): The Fighting Irish are

three games. I am not a big believer in Charlie Batch.

was the overwhelming favorite to win the Southwest Junior

this year's pick by many to get in the national title game.

Maybe that's because I saw him lose like, oh I don't know,

College Football Conference again this year.

Penn State got back on track last year after a few up-anddown

35 or 40 games in Detroit. But the Steelers are good

KC played with Butler (now No. 2 in the country) for 3

seasons. The combination of those two means these

enough to lift him up, and if Batch can play mistake-free

1/2 quarters on Aug. 26, wound up losing what had been a

teams provide a good, near-great, football game for four

football, with that Pittsburgh home crowd behind him,

tight game, 26-0, and then have had to listen to coach Jimmy

quarters, with the Irish coming out on top.

Pittsburgh takes the Thursday night win.

Rieves talk in practice about TJC for two weeks.

 Minnesota at Washington (***): The first of a very, very

In short, with a near sellout crowd on hand, the Rangerettes

NFLrare double-header of games on Monday night sees two

making their 2006 season debut and the Apache

 Dallas at Jacksonville (****): Way, way, way too much

overrated teams face off. I seriously don't like the future for

Belles there to joust with them for attention, it's going to

talk about Terrell Owens this offseason, in my opinion, and

either one of these francises. Minnesota has Brad Johnson,

be quite the spectacle at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium

not nearly enough talk about how Drew Bledsoe could be a

a former Super Bowl winner, at quarterback, but that just

on Saturday night.

liability for the Cowboys behind center. His mind and arm

screams "one injury away from 3-13" to me. Redskins tailback

KC always plays Tyler well, and even though this is the

are fine; his feet don't move a lot faster than mine, I don't

Clinton Portis was injured in a preseason game, and

non-conference game, to beat Tyler here given the roll the

believe.

they are in the NFC East, which means a hard schedule.

Apaches have been on would be quite a statement.

The Jaguars are the home team here, but if I'm a Dallas

 San Diego at Oakland (***): The Raiders are in a good

 Ohio State at Texas (****): I'll be at KC-TJC, but I

fan, I'm uneasy. I watch an awful lot of NFLduring the

position here, I think. San Diego management is banking

might have to record this one. I honestly picked Texas because

offseason, and the Jags are one team even I haven't heard

on Phillip Rivers, who has barely taken an NFLsnap, to

of the home field advantage. If the Longhorns had to

much about. Something tells me with all the hype around

take over for the departed Drew Brees. Oakland is getting

visit the Buckeyes, I might have picked it the other way T.O. and the talk about the Cowboys possibly making it back to the Super Bowl, the Jaguars are just waiting to ambush

no attention at all from the media. This game, which won't start until 9:15 p.m., might be worth staying up for.