Well, the early deadline affected us all, but I’ll be a backup dancer for Britney before I skip my picks on rivalry weekend.

Depending on your allegiances, this is a huge weekend.  For Utah/BYU fans, this game isn’t just a big game for bragging rights within the state of Utah (a small prize if you ask most Wyoming folks) but both teams are red-hot and are looking ahead to their eventual post-season prizes.

For the Cowboys/Rams fans, it’s just about pride, as odd as that sounds for two teams with three combined conference wins.  Yup, it’s been that bad.  That being said, there will be more people at the Holy War, but there will be more  hatred (and fights) at the Border War.

In fact, the only time I’ve ever actually seen the old “break the bottle and try and cut someone with it” was after the 1998 version in Laramie.  Both teams were pretty good then, and the Ram fans had come out of the woodwork.  There’s not much danger of that happening this time.

Other matchups include TCU and San Diego State and UNLV at New Mexico.  The only thing really going on there is the chance that the Frogs can become bowl eligible and perhaps be taken by the hometown shindig in Fort Worth. . . . . Woo Hoo. . . . . I get to play another bowl game with my .500 record . . . . . in my home town.  Nothing breaks out a party like that set of circumstances.

Well, for my money, which will be spent at home and not at a bowl this year (unless something extremely odd happens) It doesn’t get any better than the Border War for absolute hatred and loathing.  It also happens to be the longest rivalry West of the Mississippi.  Not USC/UCLA, not Nebraska/Iowa, not even the Holy War.  For a matter of record, this is the 99th time the Cowboys and Rams have met on the football field, with CSU holding an all-time advantage of 40-53-5, going all the way back to 1899.  (Boy, I hate ties)  However, since 1968, the Cowboys have held the “Bronze Boot” 20-19 over their sheep-like rivals to the South.  The Boot, for you other fans out there was originally worn in Vietnam by a CSU graduate, and is taken from one location to the other by the ROTC detachments of the respective schools, roughly 66 miles.

Well, without further ado, thank a veteran if you can this holiday, especially a returned member of the 1041st, who will be celebrating their first Thanksgiving with their families in quite a while.  Thank you guys and gals!  Here’s to hoping your Thanksgiving is as good as it can be.

Utah @ #25 BYU -  There’s no denying that BYU has had a great run up to this point.  In fact, they haven’t lost a conference game in almost two years, a streak they can complete with a win over their arch-rivals.  Over the past seven games, during which both teams haven’t lost, I believe Utah has been the more dangerous team.  However, with a full LES (I can’t call it the Litter Box due to my annual lost wager between BYU/UW), the emotion and the home field will account for something.  Look for Utah to jump out early, than the Cougars to reel them in for the fourth quarter win.  Llama says- Cougars (again, I can’t call them Kittens due to the lost wager) - 34-31.

Wyoming @ csu - Well, neither team has been great this year.  In fact, the argument could be made that neither has been good.  Wyoming seemed to peak in their opening week win against Virginia, while CSU allowed 34 points to Georgia Southern last week on their own field, albeit in a win.  Well Wyoming fans, if our beloved offensive gurus can’t at least score four touchdowns this week, I don’t know that they should even be allowed to come get their stuff in Laramie.  I think the term “ride ‘em out of town on a rail” is appropriate for an offense ranked 107th in the nation right now.  Don’t come home, just keep on going to Denver International Airport.  Alright, maybe that’s a bit harsh, but the days of the long-suffering Poke fan is over.  We’re tired of tough breaks, we’re tired of  being young and we’re sick and tired of not going someplace warm in the winter.  Do people even realize how friggin’ cold it is here?  And in Star Valley it lasts even longer.  I’m breaking out my hardhat, my Fennis Dembo Jersey (just for good karma, well, collegiate karma) and screaming at the television this weekend.  Get it done boys, I can’t stand another disappointment.  Llama says - COWBOYS! - 31-14.

 In other picks, look for TCU to hammer SDSU and New Mexico to go bowling yet again with a win over UNLV.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Independent readers, and don’t forget, the Lady Braves are at home against Snake River a week from Thursday.

Have a thought? Let me know at svidahl@silverstar.com  Haters and conspiracy theorists need not apply.