THE LATEST LINE: REELING RAMS FACE MUST-WIN GAME TODAY AGAINST VIKINGS

After the defending Super Bowl champion Rams bolted out of the gate with six straight wins to start this season, it's doubtful that anybody thought St. Louis would enter the final three games of the campaign fighting for its playoff life.

But that's exactly the situation the Rams find themselves in as they prepare to play Minnesota in a huge game at the TransWorld Dome today.

The Vikings are looking like the Rams of 1999. Minnesota coach Dennis Green was thought by many to be out of his mind when he put untested quarterback Daunte Culpepper at the controls of one of the NFL's most explosive offenses.

But Green is looking like a genius thanks to Culpepper's solid and often times sensational play. The Vikings, picked by most publications to finish near the bottom in the NFC Central, are 11-2 and need just one more win to clinch home field throughout the playoffs.

At 8-5, the Rams are in danger of not even making the playoffs. Their position is made even more precarious because of their rugged closing schedule, which has them playing at Tampa Bay and New Orleans in the final two weeks.

Whether the Rams can rebound to at least get into the postseason party remains to be seen, but they're definitely backed into a corner today.

And that's the main reason I see the Rams coming up big and beating Minnesota in what has all the makings of a big-time offensive shootout.

* It figured to be only a matter of time before the Bowl Championship Series -- which was designed to create a true national championship game between the nation's two most deserving college football teams -- hit a snag.

Well, it finally happened this year. Oklahoma should definitely be playing for the title because they're the only undefeated major-college squad and they're ranked first in both polls.

But as for Florida State being in the big game, that's definitely not very clear-cut. Miami handed the Seminoles their only loss and the Hurricanes are No. 2 in both polls. But you can't just automatically say that Miami should be playing Oklahoma because the Hurricanes lost to Washington, another squad with just one defeat. And several other teams also have only one loss.

It's definitely something of a mess, and one that only a playoff would likely ever truly clear up. But who knows if that's ever going to happen.

* Speaking of the Oklahoma-Florida State matchup, it seems a bit odd that the Seminoles opened as an 11-point favorite, but it's maybe not all that surprising because a lot of people believe the Sooners are a very good but not great team that has simply found a way to come through in every clutch situation.

But that somewhat intangible quality of playing well under huge pressure counts for plenty. That's why I think that this magical Oklahoma season just might continue, and that's why I'm kind of leaning toward the Sooners to beat the Seminoles, although I haven't quite made up my mind yet.

* Kudos to KFVS-TV for an excellent live telecast of Tuesday night's thrilling 87-84 SEMO basketball win over SIU, and also major kudos to play-by-play man Steve Sotak and color commentator Mike Legg.

The game was so exciting to watch in person, I'm glad I taped the game and I thoroughly enjoy watching it later that night. I thought both Steve and Mike were superb and they should have three more great games to do together, including Dec. 16 when Southwest Missouri comes to town.

* Area wrestling fans should clear Friday and Saturday from their calendar. That's when the annual Tiger Classic will be held at Cape Central High School.