23 points. That’s all KU opponents have scored thus far. I have a sinking feeling that we may see a collapse in the second half of this season not unlike those we saw in the second half of games last year, but I am still cautiously optimistic that this isn’t the case. KU beat FIU about as badly as did Penn State, and a lot worse than did Maryland or Miami.

It’s too early to celebrate, but Sagarin’s Pure Points Predictor has KU in the top 10 (as of last week) for the first time in my memory.

I don’t see any reason why we can’t make a run at the North, and maybe, just maybe, this guy will be able to watch a game on TV here in sunny Florida.

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Rivals.com thinks so.

Talib possesses so much versatility that he actually has caught more touchdown passes than he’s allowed this season. His combination of cover skills and receiving prowess has moved him to a No. 1 spot in the Rivals.com College Football Power Rankings, which measure the top players and coaches at each position.

One year after leading the nation in passes defended, Talib has caught a touchdown pass in each of the Jayhawks’ first three games. Although he leads the Jayhawks with three touchdown catches, this two-way threat is best known for his ability as a cover corner.

The secondary is much improved so far this year. I thought we’d be a 6, maybe 7 win team at best this year, but I think that may have been the hangover from last year’s blown losses thinking. With the improvement in the secondary and multiple receiving threats, Mangino may have turned the corner with this team. Way too early to celebrate, granted, but I think there’s been enough football played that we I can say this is a better team than I thought it was.

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The Games of Week 3*:

1. Toledo +21.5 at KU

Payback. This time it’s for REAL!

Actually, this isn’t REALly a revenge game. It is not as if Toledo last September took something that belonged to the Jayhawks. They accepted a gift. What did the Hawks expect them to do? Politely decline? “Thank you, kindly, for the offer of the free W, Mr. Mangino, but we must respectfully insist that it is rightfully yours. We are not worthy.”

Fat chance.

In truth, had the Fighting Manginos asserted themselves, they would have won by 3 TD’s last year. They have only themselves to blame for losing that game and staying home during bowl season. This year, the Hawks are not fooling around. They win by 40. Or more.

I love it when Vegas doesn’t have a clue. Or their hands are tied, because the average bettor doesn’t have a clue.

This is Easy Money:

KU

2. Southern Cal -10 at Nebraska

Nebraska confirmed at Wake Forest that they are over-rated. They can’t run. They occasionally execute big pass play as required by the law of averages. Their defense is good, but not the black-shirt D of old: More of a light-grey shirt Defense.

What is not over-rated is NU’s home field. Even though USC might be the best team in the country- at least, west of Norman-they will have trouble putting the Huskers away. A couple of turnovers at the wrong spot on the field, and an outright W for the Big Red is not out of the question. Not likely, but not out of the question. They will, at least, stay within a TD and FG.

NEBRASKA

3. Iowa -17.5 at iowa St

Welcome to the REAL World, Mr. Chizik. The world where you don’t have Vince Young. Where your available scholarships are not all snapped up by 5 Star recruits 6-12 months before national signing day. The world where the officials don’t serve as your team’s personal bodyguards, with their primary duty being to protecting your BCS dreams and the conference BCS money. The world where whining isn’t the currency that buys your way into a BCS Bowl Game. The world where, if you want to dream of victory, you have to improve your players’ skills, prepare for the upcoming opponent because you don’t out-talent them by a margin as big as Palo Duro Canyon, and make insightful in-game adjustments-rather than merely wearing your opponent down with superior players and superior numbers.

In other words: Welcome to Iowa St.

IOWA

4. Texas Tech -28.5 at Rice

Rice REALly misses Major Applewhite.

TEXAS TECH

5. Texas -19 at Central Florida

UT will have trouble covering this spread on the Road against a fired up team in its brand-spanking new on campus stadium, now that they have abandoned the old Citrus Bowl (cite of the post-season game formerly called the Tangerine Bowl). Not to mention UCF’s first ever sellout. But their depth will wear UCF down as surely as nearby Splash Mountain cools its passengers down. The final score will make it look deceivingly easy. And it will be easy enough that the refs won’t have to put the Longhorns on their backs and carry them to the finish line this week.

UT

6. Florida St -4 at Colorado

Florida St can likely cover this spread with a field goal and a safety. But they won’t stop there. Fortunately, for the Buffs, their offense will score again this season with ISU on their schedule.

FSU

7. Central Michigan +19.5 at Purdue

KU downed CMU by 45, which accurately reflected the discrepancy between the two teams. Purdue, approximately half as good as the Hewks, should be able to cover 20.

PURDUE

8. Mississippi St +12.5 at Auburn

Is there team so feeble that it cannot cover at Auburn?

MISSISSIPPI ST

9. Tennessee +8 at Florida

Oh, for the days of Steve Spurrier and Peyton Manning, when this game was easy to call.

FLORIDA

10. Notre Dame +7.5 at Michigan

What is the Over/Under on how many times ABC will show the graphic that Notre Dame and Michigan have never before both lost their first two games of the season? One of these teams will still be winless Sunday morning. Because the Wolverines are at Home and might have a clue against Notre Dame’s non-spread offense:

MICHIGAN

11. Ohio St -4 at Washington

At this point, there is no reason to be impressed by any Big 11 team. At least not on the Road against a PAC-10 team that has already taken down the defending WAC and Fiesta Bowl Champion.

12. Arkansas +3.5 at Alabama

It is always risky to take the visiting team in a close SEC matchup. Alabama is on the Road back from Perdition, but is still at least a year away.

ALABAMA

13. Wyoming +12.5 at Boise St

The Broncos will be hopping-or bucking-mad after having the nation’s longest winning streak snapped last week.

BSU

14. Fresno St +16 at Oregon

Oregon beat Michigan by 32 in the Big House last week. Surely, they can take out Fresno St by 17 in Eugene. Of course, as mentioned last week, Fresno St says it will play anyone, anywhere, anytime. And by “play,” they mean “tough.”

FRESNO ST

15. Louisville -6.5 at Kentucky

Easy Money is hard to beat.

LOUISVILLE

–Mark

*For entertainment purposes only. There are no refunds.

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Otherwise, the team might not be adequately prepared to visit the “toughest place to play in America.” (HT: EDSBS and petejayhawk)

Mangino better not let the players be on the field when the video plays. Were they to witness this new tradition, they’d need another bye week to stop giggling. Which could harm their efforts restore Kansas State’s oldest football tradition: losing.

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After a fine effort by both the Jayhawks and your humble Take It to the Bank purveyor in Week 1 (at 9-6 vs. the spread), we take divergent paths in Week 2. KU has the easy task playing Southeastern La. St., which in no way, shape or form resembles Appalachian St. (Plus, the Hawks appear to be better than the team Appalachian St beat last week.) Not to mention that the Juggerhawks have the correct mindset-i.e., expect them to continue rolling over outmanned opponents without mercy. Between the Hawk running game, a nice group of receivers, and the execution of two capable QB’s, neither of whom intends to give any ground to the other, KU will again score at will against a team that lost its season opener to New Mexico St by a 35-14 count. The REAL question is whether KU will eclipse the 62-0 thrashing Texas Tech laid on the Lions during last year’s lost season, in which Southeastern recorded but two victories in eleven tries.

The only line I have seen on this game is 40 points. The outcome vs. that spread will rely solely on how soon the Big M imitates his basketball counterpart and sends in the walk-ons. Let’s pass on this one. (For the record, if I were to pick this game, I would take the Hawks to cover.)

Besides, there are a number of interesting, challenging games into which our teeth can sink this week:

1. Nebraska -8 at Wake Forest

Nebraska is over-rated. They are probably better than Wake, but the Demon Deacons have played everyone tough for more than a year. They won’t go down easy. They wilted late to a strong Boston College team on the Road last weekend, but this game is at Home. To me, that makes it a toss-up. Win or lose, Wake should at least cover this charitable spread.

WAKE

2. Miami (FL) +10.5 at Oklahoma

Despite its meltdown last season, the Hurricanes have high quality athletes galore. Their D will be sticky. And they are on a mission for redemption. OU is a legitimate BCS contender, but this is a lot of points to give to a team with this much talent.

MIAMI

3. TCU +9.5 at Texas

UT will likely be more interested in this game than they were in Arkansas St. They are vulnerable, but they are at Home. Until TCU proves it can go into a big time atmosphere and hold its own, I will take the points and fill out my deposit slip for my Monday Morning trip to the bank.

UT

4. San Jose St +17.5 at k-state

There are a number of questions in this game. Can k-state maintain the intensity it took to Auburn? Can Freeman avoid giving two or three cheap scores to SJSU? My guess is that k-state will have a bit of a letdown, and San Jose will knows the way to stay within two TD’s and a FG.

SAN JOSE ST

5. Rice +6.5 at Baylor

Baylor sucks.

RICE

6. Mizzou -6 at Ole Miss

I heard someone state that Mizzou was the most UN-impressive team in the Big 12 North last week. I wouldn’t go that far-not with Iowa St’s loss to Kent St. But they do have serious question marks on D-and it is tough to live on the Road by offense alone.

OLE MISS

7. Fresno St +17.5 at A&M

Fresno St claims it will play anyone, anytime, anywhere. They are used to games like this. A&M is solid, but not quite an Aggernaut. Were I in charge of the Vegas line, the spread on this game would be 10.5.

FRESNO ST

8. Colorado +14.5 at Arizona St

The Buffs showed last week that they are improved offensively. But they have a long way to go-especially with a new QB-to compete on the Road in the Phoenix heat against a good PAC-10 squad.

ASU

9. Fla Atlantic +23.5 at Okie St

Just what the Cowboys needed to rid themselves of the sour taste of Georgia peaches.

OKIE ST

10. Toledo + 3 at Central Michigan

The difference between KU’s athletes and Central Michigan’s was more noticeable Saturday night than the difference with Toledo’s last September. The question is whether this is because (a) KU’s athleticism is greatly improved, (b) CMU’s athletes this year are inferior to Toledo’s last year, or (c) a combination of the two. I hope the answer is (a), because CMU looked awfully slow and small Saturday night. If they actually have decent speed and size, and just look mediocre by comparison to KU’s athletes, the Hawks will be tough, indeed, in conference play. My suspicion is that CMU is a team with average MAC speed and strength. But until I know for sure about the Hawks-and that is still a few weeks away-I will go with (c).

TOLEDO

11. Oregon +8 at Michigan

A psychiatrist’s afternoon delight. Will Michigan respond to the biggest embarrassment in college athletics this side of Oral Roberts by asserting themselves and playing a physical, flawless game. Or will they fall apart if Oregon hits them in the mouth early and refuses to cooperate in the “Victors’” quest for therapy. This is what makes college football the greatest game in the world (if you overlook the fact that it never has had and will not this year have a national champion). But Michigan has done a good imitation of Baylor since letting its shot at a pretend national championship slip away in the Horseshoe last November. No reason to think Lloyd Carr will turn that around this week.

OREGON

12. Boise St -3 at Washington

Washington a Home Dog to a WAC team? What next? Appalachian St beating Michigan?

BOISE ST

13. South Florida +7 at Auburn

South Florida. KU’s once and future (though not this year) opponent. Getting more respect than k-state. And with good reason. They are a legit contender for the Big East’s automatic BCS slot.

SOUTH FLORIDA

14. Va. Tech +12.5 at LSU

Va Tech tries to become the feel-good story of 2007-notwithstanding being Michael Vick’s alma mater. Unfortunately, LSU has the big dogs, and they will be turned loose in Baton Rouge Saturday Night.

LSU

15. Notre Dame +17 at Penn St

Is Notre Dame REALly that bad? Getting stomped at Home bad? Forget what I said about Michigan. The Irish last Saturday was the true Baylor comparison. One thing they have in common with Michigan is Redemption Fever. The question is: are they good enough to redeem themselves? Or are the condemned to football purgatory (or worse) for the entire season? Is even there 230 game winning streak vs. Navy in play? They can’t be as bad as they looked last week. But there are better places than Happy Valley for Redemption. Like, maybe, Waco, for instance.

But 2 TD’s, and a FG? They CAN’T be THAT bad. Notre Dame IS college football. I’m still a sucker for the myth:

NOTRE DAME

–Mark

Remember: These picks are for entertainment purposes only-and I hope they are. There are no refunds.

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AP Top 25 Poll

Others Receiving Votes: Boston College 126, Missouri 116, Miami (FL) 91, Oregon 90, Alabama 74, Oregon State 41, Michigan 39, South Carolina 39, Brigham Young 27, South Florida 27, Florida State 22, Arizona State 19, Southern Miss 9, Wake Forest 7, Kansas 1, Washington 1

I’ve spent a day and a half trying to figure this out and I have failed to do so. This link lists the voters but still shows their pre-season ballots. Should this turn out to be a bandwagon-type season, I wanted to give credit to the media member who bought the first ticket.

Speculation: I figure Tom Keegan’s the most likely choice with Mike DeArmond edging out Chris Fowler as the least likely.

UPDATE: Cheers to gratefultyler for correcting my above snarky assumption. Media ticket #1 on the Kansas Football Bandwagon goes to Mike DeArmond, Missouri beat writer for The Kansas City Star.

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Don’t be surprised if you hear music when you read the words below.

Rush on Tuesday gave an optimistic update on his steady recovery from June 1 right-ACL surgery.

Cleared to begin jogging Aug. 22, he just recently picked up the pace.

“I am sprinting now,” said Rush, who ran “a mile worth of sprints” and worked out in the weight room Friday, then gladly accepted an offer of a hard-earned holiday weekend off.

We’re two months away from Late Early Night, and Brandon is already sprinting. This is great news because it looks like BR will be able to actually condition himself to play at the elite level, or one would hope, any how.

Big news.

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I thought we could lose this game, particularly after Kent State came and took one from ISU in Ames. Granted the Clones aren’t that good this year, but this, in my mind, was a losable game.

Maybe I should start drinking the national kool-aid regarding KU. Last year’s 5 giveaways just sting and remain fresh in my mind.

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I thought we could lose this game, particularly after Kent State came and took one from ISU in Ames. Granted the Clones aren’t that good this year, but this, in my mind, was a losable game.

Maybe I should start drinking the national kool-aid regarding KU. Last year’s 5 giveaways just sting and remain fresh in my mind.

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