Mr. Picker, them of us what grew up in North Dakota think you just gave the entire State an insult. It is a lot easier to fly into Fargo than it is to travel to Southern Utah or that other Garden Spot, Oakland, Michigan. The new additions to the Summit did not detract from the over-all level of competition. The made it better. NDSU will win the basketball Championship in their first try.

Other than that, I agree with your analysis of the conference.. The main reason any institution joins that League is to bide time until something better comes along. Perhaps ORU should start thinking about why that better offer hasn't come along?

Picker, will OU win the next two football national championships or will they make it three in a row???

Dear John: Excellent question.

I have some very bad news for you. OU will not win another national championship under Stoops unless Heupel has some eligibility left. Still, his salary will be raised to $7.9 million after losing again to Texas, then losing to LSU in a bowl, 42-6. Basketball coach Coale will be raised to $4.4 million after it is rumored she is thinking about coaching the Italian national team. The men's basketball coach will be raised to $3.9 million after taking Oklahoma State to overtime. AD Joe will raise himself to $9.9 million after only minor rules are violated. The gymnastic coach will threaten to quit and will be raised to $2.2 million.

GiantKiller: North Dakota State will be coming here to play on a regular basis, bringing along its mascot, Mr. Frostbite.

Here's a question from the email: What would the odds be on taking Tiger or The Field in the PGA. Who would the Picker take?
Answer: Tiger has little chance here. We'd take The Field at odds of one to two.

Easy, Bo. He could buy the city of Tulsa and then where would we be.

It appears clear that he thinks one way to national prominence is through the end zone, baby.

Gene: We saw the movie. Fargo. Think of how tall you'd have been if you
grew up somewhere else.

Gene: Make mine a root beer float.

You sure it was a giant?

The first prize for the football picking contest this fall -- you versus me -- has been announced, it's a $5,000 HDTV. Rules and regulations to follow later in the summer. So you had better start paying close attention to this site for a clues like: We're probably going to like Texas to sack OU quarterbacks 11 times in a 35-24 victory.

I tend to side with Phil Steele on the OU Texas donnybrook. Toss up at this point; but loyalty compels me to pick Oklahoma, 21-16

Of course TU can beat OU...but it will take a combination of many unlikely factors for it to happen. TU will be good and they'll be playing OU on a Friday night in Skelly at the end of September. The Sooners should be 3-0 by then but there's a decent chance that they could be 2-1 if they take those other Hurricanes lightly. Oklahoma also needs to beware of Texas, as usual, and Tech in Lubbock is always a challenge (keep in mind that they got sucker punched down there two years ago a la Oregon), and Oklahoma State should be improved. Realistically speaking, if a good TCU can beat the Sooners on opening day in Norman, there isn't any team that should be taken lightly on the schedule.

Chris: OU needs to look out for Miami and Texas, obviously, and with its defensive secondary scheme, anybody else who can pass some.....probably Missouri and Oklahoma State. Though, the way OSU gets the tight collar versus the Sooners, it might start a center at quarterback. Missouri is a fine sleeper pick. The Tiger defense needs to compile several clues.

WG: And what is it you plan to give me the weeks I beat you?

If you beat me...I'll let you off the hook for the bet you lost during last football season...I believe it was for a book or some such...