As we begin another week of my picks, I must apologize if I sound a little distracted.

I’m trying to get the White Sox to lose in Game 3, and it’s 1 a.m. This game has got to be the only thing longer than these columns.

Anyway, I did well last week. Nebraska cost me perfection, though, adding another reason to my growing list of why I hate the Huskers. They are quickly approaching the levels of hatred I possess for Notre Dame, the New Yankees and hockey on ESPN.

But it’s hard to rag on the Huskers too much. Come on, they didn’t even get to go to a bowl last year.

Brett was 5-1 last week, improving to 47-13 on the year.

MISSOURI 5-2 (3-1) AT KANSAS 3-4 (0-4)

Last week: Missouri beat Nebraska, 41-24; Kansas lost at Colorado, 44-13

The Fighting Manginos are struggling and the big chief – when I say big chief, I mean huge Kansas coach Mark Mangino – is about to pay for it.

Mangino not only bankrupted the press box buffet fund at Kansas, he’s failed to put the team in position to go bowling and the natives are getting restless.

Good thing Gary Pinkel is on the other sideline this week coaching Missouri. With Pinkel coaching against you, there’s always hope you can win.

Brad Smith was on fire last week, though, and I see it continuing.

THE PICK: MISSOURI

IOWA STATE 4-3 (1-3) AT TEXAS A&M 5-2 (3-1)

Last week: Iowa State beat Oklahoma State, 37-10; A&M beat Kansas State, 30-28

The Cyclones got back on track last week beating up on the Oklahoma State Cowboys, while the Aggies held off a furious 20-point fourth-quarter charge for the road victory against Kansas State.

Both teams need this win to give their postseason outlooks a shot in the arm and will bring their best shot.

The Texas A&M passing defense should be the primary target for the ISU offense, but the return of Stevie Hicks at running back may distract offensive coordinator Barney Cotton

The game is in College Station, one of the toughest stadiums to win in and a place Iowa State has never won. In fact, the Cyclones are winless against the Aggies anywhere.

I see this game as a toss up, but I have to give the nod to A&M because of the home field advantage. Why, you ask?

The last time Iowa State won a conference road game against a team that finished the season with a winning record is 1990 against No. 16 Oklahoma. The Sooners finished 8-3 that year.

In the time since that victory, only in two other games has Iowa State beaten a conference foe on the road who had a winning record at the time: 2000 at 2-1 Baylor (finished 2-10) and 1999 at 3-2 Missouri (finished 4-7). Until Iowa State cracks the code and takes the next step, I have a picks record I need to keep looking nice.

But I guess I shouldn’t factor in the road crowd. The team is used to it; it’s not like the “fans” here just to stay until halftime, with most not returning again until the fourth quarter, if at all. This is during a win! And some of them wonder why the stadium isn’t bigger.

THE PICK: TEXAS A&M

COLORADO 5-2 (3-1) AT KANSAS STATE 4-3 (1-3)

Last week: Colorado beat Kansas, 44-13; Kansas State lost to Texas A&M, 30-28

Kansas State is a team that perplexes me. The Wildcats are bad, but yet they seem to win each week, so maybe they aren’t as bad as I think they are.

The Wildcats trailed 23-8 going into the final quarter last week against A&M and pulled as close as 23-21 before falling 30-28.

The Buffaloes seem to be the class of the North, however, and I think they’ll have dispatched K-State midway through the third quarter.

THE PICK: COLORADO

NO. 17 TEXAS TECH 6-1 (3-1) AT BAYLOR 4-3 (1-3)

Last week: Tech lost at Texas, 52-17; Baylor lost at Oklahoma, 37-30 (2OT)

Baylor has been the feel-good story of the year in the South, opening with three straight wins in the nonconference season, and later, yes I know you’re tired of hearing it, beating Iowa State for its first road victory in the Big 12.

After last week’s crushing loss at Oklahoma, the Bears have now fallen twice in the conference in overtime games – games that if they’d have won, would’ve made them bowl eligible.

Unfortunately for the Bears, Texas Tech is steamed after getting crushed in the battle for the South against Texas. They are going to show no mercy. OK, maybe a little more mercy than they showed in their 70-10 victory over Nebraska last year, but Baylor just doesn’t have the firepower to keep up.

THE PICK: TEXAS TECH

LAUGHER OF THE WEEK: NO. 2 TEXAS 7-0 (4-0) AT OKLAHOMA STATE 3-4 (0-4)

Last week: Texas beat Texas Tech, 52-17; Oklahoma State lost at Iowa State, 37-10

Here’s a problem for you engineers out there. Solve for x:

(Texas + Vince Young) – (Oklahoma State + 1 million points) = x

Where Texas = really freakin’ good, Vince Young = Heisman, and Oklahoma State = really freakin’ bad.

Stumped? x = Texas by 40.

THE PICK: TEXAS

GAME OF THE WEEK: OKLAHOMA 4-3 (3-1) AT NEBRASKA 5-2 (2-2)

Last week: Oklahoma beat Baylor, 37-30 (2OT); Nebraska lost at Missouri, 41-24

There really aren’t any super sexy games this week, but this rivalry has some suspense to it, so it gets the nod.

Maybe it doesn’t have as much drama as when these two teams would play for Big 8 titles (I miss that conference by the way) or national titles, but it’s still intriguing.

Who would’ve thought Oklahoma would come into this game struggling to make a bowl and Nebraska would be the one on top of a division?

Me, that’s who. I predicted the Sooners to have a down year and Nebraska to win the North, and don’t you forget it – unless Nebraska loses the North. Then forget it.

The Sooners are struggling with everyone, and although the Huskers lost last week, I think home field advantage and the rivalry factor will push Nebraska to a victory.

THE PICK: NEBRASKA

And now here is an Iowa High School Trivia Question. Anyone who comes up with the right answer gets 10 bonus points and the Brett McIntyre Seal of Approval.

Southeast Polk is nicknamed the Rams. There is something special about their nickname, though. What is special about it?

HINT: Think acronyms.

Tune in next week for the answer.