If there's concern about the layoff before the World Series affecting hitters, consider that the Yankees scored six runs in Game 1 of the ALDS after five days off and the Dodgers scored seven runs in Game 1 of the NLDS after five days off.

"Every game is going to be tough," Houston football coach Willie Fritz said earlier this week. "This is a very, very balanced and competitive league." The Big 12 is so balanced and so difficult to predict that even the experts — the oddsmakers — are struggling to set the lines.