The Post Mortem: TCU impresses

Remember when the Cowboys were going to be the first team in NFL history to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium? Yeah, nobody in Dallas is going to be thinking about that.

But at least you have Texas Christian, Dallas fan. There is somebody who is fixing to play for the national title. Well if it gets a chance.

The Horned Frogs are currently No. 3 in the BCS, followed by Boise State. Kind of strange because TCU beat the No. 5 team in the country by, what, 80 points? The Broncos stuffed high-flying Hawaii and ground it to only 7 points. Obviously that was not enough to impress the voters.

Now, even the biggest cockeyed optimist realizes that an undefeated Pac-10 and SEC team is going to advance to the title game. Let's be realistic here. Even I would not be able to argue that.

However, I still firmly believe that Oregon and Auburn will lose a game this season. And when that happens, Boise State and TCU have done enough to earn a place in the championship game.

Now, some will argue that having Boise State and TCU is not a sexy championship game. I guess. But even Dennis Dodd believes the two step sisters deserve a shot at the title. Provided Oregon and Auburn lose.

And I believe it is going to happen. Oregon always finds a way to choke. Auburn is not running the table. But I am not kidding, if LSU gets in over an undefeated team ... well, there is not much that I can do. But goodness gracious, I will root against LSU.

Yeah, take that Tigers.

Other news and notes.

THE RAIDERS are winning again. This is a good thing. The Raiders fans -- even the most myopic -- were starting to roll over and piddle on themselves. Most Raiders fans wouldn't even have the passion to stab a Chargers fan. Now, Chargers fans are advised to wear Kevlar gear for the team's impending matchup in the coming weeks. But having the Raiders decent is a huge boon. That just makes it sweeter when they ultimately fail.

And hey, the guys who put Raiders stickers on the back windows of lowered mini-trucks is back in business. Hooray.

THE COWBOYS are losing. This is cool as long as the Raiders are winning. One of them has to be just good enough to fail in the playoffs again. So we will enjoy the Packers beatdown on Sunday night.

This space is reserved just in case coach Wade Phillips is fired on Monday. This is coming a bit later.

EAGLES QB Mike Vick has gone through the ringer, and really, he does not deserve our sympathy. But he's on my fantasy team -- along with Ben Roethlisberger -- on the Dog Killing Rapists, so I am starting to get a soft spot for him.

And then he beats Gomer. You have to love it.

FORMER BEARS QB Jim McMahon says that football is causing him to lose his memory. No Jim, that's called a blackout from drinking. Sheesh.

AND FINALLY ...

I am loving the Browns and RB Peyton Hillis. If for nothing else, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels traded him and a second-round pick for QB Brady Quinn.