The explosion was not quite as bad as what happened about 500 yards from my hacienda on Tuesday afternoon.

It was earth shattering. Almost, literally. Now know what it feels like when bombs are going off nearby. Very scary.

As for last weekend’s pick, let’s call it a self imposed implosion.

Not scary. But not good.

My first more-Ls-than-Ws slate of the year.

I was due for a let down. Still hurts, because . . .

. . . as a University of Louisville diehard I should have remembered the ever present and egregiously frustrating up and down trending arc of one Scott Satterfield, who now roams the sideline in his vizor at Cincy. Why did I pick the Bearcats as faves to visiting West Virginia?

I haven’t the slightest idea. Or excuse.

. . . for Georgia, which fell to the Kiffins, I have a theory. Carson Beck was worried about financial woes, when he discovered it was going to cost him $900 or so just to change the oil on his $300Large Lamborghini. He was obviously distracted. One less designer hoody.

. . . which seems a similar problem for Vandy QB Diego Pavia, what with the lawsuit he filed against the NCAA because his JUCO days count against eligibility, diminishing his NIL opps, should he decide to enter the portal after one season in NashVegas.

Oh these college kids and their financial advisers.

West Point and the IU Cignettis came through.

Harsh Truth: 2-3 for the weekend. Woe is me.

48-19 on the season. Still great.

This week’s winners:

Clemson @ Pittsburgh. Not so long ago, three weeks, the Panthers were undefeated, and in the conversation for the league crown and CFP. Uh not anymore after two Ls, one to, ahem, UVa. Meanwhile Clemson hasn’t really clemsoned this year, and seem generally to be back on the uptick. (Credit to my team for beating them in Death Valley.) Which makes this an intriguing battle. Orange.

LSU @ Florida. Who would have thought in the days of yesteryore — before the season started — that the coach of Louisiana State would have a hotter seat than he of Florida coming into Week XII? Billy Napier has gotten a vote of confidence. Which is normally a kiss of death, but feels legit here. Since the Gators AD has other stuff to deal with. Like how the baby faced hoops coach he hired has been charged with stalking coeds. As for the game, I’m continuing for better or worse my upset obsession this campaign. Florida.

Nebraska @ Southern California. The Huskers who seemed to be getting better, and have been, though not significantly enough, have dropped three in a row. Their foe, mentored by the former Next Great Coaching Savant Lincoln Riley sit 4-5 (2-5) after four defeats in their last five tussles. LA ain’t so La La, no dancing on the freeways around now. When in doubt, I either flip a coin, or go with the home squad. Latter applicable here. Trojans have the horses to prevail. See what I did there?

Murray State @ Kentucky. The visitors can surprise. Advises an observer whose favorite higher level school fell twice in money games to the Racers at the seriously unlamented former home of the Cards, Fairgrounds Stadium. Don’t see it in this one though. Should the Cats happen to lose, those couches burning won’t be celebratory in the streets, but the one in the Stoops family room. Cats.

Louisville @ Stanford. Cards take care of biz. But it shan’t be a walkover in Palo Alto. Still never understood how Cardinal singular is a mascot, or what it has to do with a tree. But their band is ever funky and delightfully irreverent.

— c d kaplan