To dispense with coachspeak, there is now little chance of our repeating as conference champs after last Saturday’s catastrophe in Austin, so our game in Lawrence on the 18th is our Super Bowl, as it is KU’s. Here’s a thought experiment that sheds light on how much you love K-State and hate KU: ask yourself how much money you’d have to bet on KU in that game to root for the Jayhawks.

Which returns us to a Sports Gambling 101 maxim: unless losing money doesn’t matter, bet with your mind, not your heart. Many passionate fans refuse to bet on their favorite teams, knowing that their fandom will cloud their judgment. One passionate Cat fan I know often bets small against the Cats, for it diminishes his rage a bit when we lose. Our losses still enrage him, but at least he gets paid a few bucks.