I’m billing this week as "Trap Saturday", as there are a TON of trap games this weekend. Plus, the way this year has gone, who KNOWS what can happen.
#2 South Florida at Rutgers
The highest ranking for this 11 year old program will be tested by a very frustrated Rutgers team who have lost 2 straight Big East games at home. Look for Ray Rice to go head up with one of the best defensive linemen in the country in George Selvie, who leads the nation in TFL.
Louisville at Connecticut
UConn lost to a surprising UVA team last week, while Louisville is flying high after their win over unbeaten Cincy last weekend. The Huskies may be a bit overrated, but they are playing at home and Louisville has had major issues on defense. This very well could be an old fashion barn burner by the end of the night.
Penn State at Indiana
PSU played arguably their best game of the season last week by obliterating Wisconsin. This week, they will have to travel to Indiana and face a young (only 14 seniors) and surprising Hoosier team lead by Kellen Lewis. The Nittany Lions will have their hands full as these two teams struggle to stay afloat in the Big Ten race.
North Dakota State at Minnesota
You may see another Div 1AA team beat a Div 1A team this week as 6-0 NDST plays struggling Minnesota. A rivalry game of some sorts, only in that the two states are neighbors.
Vanderbilt at #6 South Carolina
Vandy is 3-3 and SC is ranked 6th in the nation. Anything can happen this year, and SC has all but struggled on offense, relying on their young defense and sophomore sensation Eric Norwood.
#21 Tennessee at Alabama
The Crimson Tide has been on the cusp all year, and they will have their chance to bounce back this week against a resurgent Volunteer team looking to rise in the ranks of the SEC. Its not an easy task to play in Tuscaloosa, and this Saturday may be the week they turn it around for the best. Alabama is 3-1 in conference play and this win can help them stay with LSU and Auburn.
#22 Texas at Baylor
Texas, unlike Tennessee, is on the back slope of their success. They lost the Red River Shootout and may have lost some confidence going into Baylor to play the not-so-good Bears. Again, anything seems possible this year.
Arkansas at Mississippi
Ole Miss has played solid at home and Arkansas just can’t seem to get it together. However, having 2 sensational RB's in McFadden and Jones, anything can happen. Both teams are winless in conference play and one will finally get over that hump this week.
Texas A&M at Nebraska
Both of these programs have been almost there this year, but not quite. The Cornhuskers started off promising, but just fired their athletic director and may need a win to keep Callahan on head coach. A&M is right there and can bounce back with a win in Lincoln, which holds the nation’s longest sellout streak dating back to 1962.
Michigan State at #1 Ohio State
MSU has a high powered offense, but OSU has a high powered defense. Now number 1, the pressure on OSU to keep winning has built, as we have seen 2 number 1's go down in the same year, and the potential number one and then current number 1 go down in the same DAY.
#15 Florida at #7 Kentucky
Florida is still in the thick of things and is the highest ranked 2 loss team. That being said, they would have to run the table to win the SEC West. Kentucky is flying high after they knocked off #1 LSU in 3 OT's and Andre Woodson had a bounce back game from his subpar performance at SC.
Mississippi State at #9 West Virginia
WVU is still hanging around, but things got quiet after they went down to USF for the second straight year and stealing their thunder. They are still 2nd in the Big East and are very in the mix of the BCS. They will have to avoid the upset bug this week when the Bulldogs come to town to try and play spoiler.
#12 California at UCLA
No one knows what to expect from UCLA, as they have been as up and down as anyone in CFB this year. Nate Longshore will be back for Cal as they try and bounce back from a loss to Oregon St. last week that knocked them out to be the number 1 team in the nation after LSU fell to UK.
#14 USC at Notre Dame
This is a rivalry game and Sanchez and Sharpley will go at it at the QB spot. USC has struggled the last 2 weeks, even though they have gone 2-1. ND really has nothing to lose this year and can pray on a somewhat questionable USC team.
#24 Texas Tech at #16 Missouri
Mizzou fell to Oklahoma last week but get Harrell and the Red Raiders at home. Harrell is having an outstanding year, with a nearly 75% competition percentage and throwing 31 TD's and only 3 INTs...all the while throwing for over 3,000 yards in little over half a season. Him and his favorite target Crabtree will have their hands full with Chase Daniels and Co.
Miami (FL) at Florida State
A major rivalry game between what is usually two of the best teams in not only the state of Florida, but in the nation. This year, however, sees both teams as unsteady to say the least. Both offenses have had problems, FSU more so than UM, and even the defense has given up on them as of late. Although they both own winning records overall and in conference, the loser of this game may be done for the year and also winning the recruiting battle...that is if USF and UF don’t get them first.
#13 Kansas at Colorado
Colorado is a dangerous team who has won 3 of their last 4 games. This week, they will host the high-flying Jayhawks, who have almost sleep walked through their schedule, only running into in state rival KSU last week--and winning.
#10 Oregon at Washington
A HUGE rivalry game that spills hatred between the two schools. These two teams have more or less switched places from a decade ago, when the Huskies were the premier team in the Pac-10 and in the nation. The Huskies have lost 4 games in a row and need to find some answers, as they are the worst offensive team in the Apc-10. Oregon, on the other hand, is one of the best offenses in the nation, boasting a balanced attack lead by Dennis Dixon. The Ducks average 266 yards in the air and 266 yards on the ground. Stewart will be coming home to play in front of his home crowd where he grew up and was a star in HS.
#19 Virginia at Maryland
UVA has been an overachieving team this year, and has only blown out one team this year. All the other games have been struggles and could have gone either way; they could just as easily be 2-5 at the moment. Maryland is a tough team with a stout defense and needs this win to stay in contention for the Atlantic division and possibly a trip to Georgia for the ACCCG.
#25 Michigan at Illinois
Illinois ran out of luck last week and host a surging Wolverines team that had one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports just 7 weeks ago. Mike Hart has carried them through a 5 game winning streak and look to do the same against a young Illini squad.
GAME OF THE WEEK
#17 Auburn at #4 LSU
Auburn has been the spoiler this year for Florida; can they do it to LSU in the Bayou? This game holds monumental status as LSU is now with one loss in SEC and Auburn right on their heels. If Auburn wins, they will have the edge in the SEC East and could take hold of the driver’s seat.
#2 South Florida at Rutgers
The highest ranking for this 11 year old program will be tested by a very frustrated Rutgers team who have lost 2 straight Big East games at home. Look for Ray Rice to go head up with one of the best defensive linemen in the country in George Selvie, who leads the nation in TFL.
Louisville at Connecticut
UConn lost to a surprising UVA team last week, while Louisville is flying high after their win over unbeaten Cincy last weekend. The Huskies may be a bit overrated, but they are playing at home and Louisville has had major issues on defense. This very well could be an old fashion barn burner by the end of the night.
Penn State at Indiana
PSU played arguably their best game of the season last week by obliterating Wisconsin. This week, they will have to travel to Indiana and face a young (only 14 seniors) and surprising Hoosier team lead by Kellen Lewis. The Nittany Lions will have their hands full as these two teams struggle to stay afloat in the Big Ten race.
North Dakota State at Minnesota
You may see another Div 1AA team beat a Div 1A team this week as 6-0 NDST plays struggling Minnesota. A rivalry game of some sorts, only in that the two states are neighbors.
Vanderbilt at #6 South Carolina
Vandy is 3-3 and SC is ranked 6th in the nation. Anything can happen this year, and SC has all but struggled on offense, relying on their young defense and sophomore sensation Eric Norwood.
#21 Tennessee at Alabama
The Crimson Tide has been on the cusp all year, and they will have their chance to bounce back this week against a resurgent Volunteer team looking to rise in the ranks of the SEC. Its not an easy task to play in Tuscaloosa, and this Saturday may be the week they turn it around for the best. Alabama is 3-1 in conference play and this win can help them stay with LSU and Auburn.
#22 Texas at Baylor
Texas, unlike Tennessee, is on the back slope of their success. They lost the Red River Shootout and may have lost some confidence going into Baylor to play the not-so-good Bears. Again, anything seems possible this year.
Arkansas at Mississippi
Ole Miss has played solid at home and Arkansas just can’t seem to get it together. However, having 2 sensational RB's in McFadden and Jones, anything can happen. Both teams are winless in conference play and one will finally get over that hump this week.
Texas A&M at Nebraska
Both of these programs have been almost there this year, but not quite. The Cornhuskers started off promising, but just fired their athletic director and may need a win to keep Callahan on head coach. A&M is right there and can bounce back with a win in Lincoln, which holds the nation’s longest sellout streak dating back to 1962.
Michigan State at #1 Ohio State
MSU has a high powered offense, but OSU has a high powered defense. Now number 1, the pressure on OSU to keep winning has built, as we have seen 2 number 1's go down in the same year, and the potential number one and then current number 1 go down in the same DAY.
#15 Florida at #7 Kentucky
Florida is still in the thick of things and is the highest ranked 2 loss team. That being said, they would have to run the table to win the SEC West. Kentucky is flying high after they knocked off #1 LSU in 3 OT's and Andre Woodson had a bounce back game from his subpar performance at SC.
Mississippi State at #9 West Virginia
WVU is still hanging around, but things got quiet after they went down to USF for the second straight year and stealing their thunder. They are still 2nd in the Big East and are very in the mix of the BCS. They will have to avoid the upset bug this week when the Bulldogs come to town to try and play spoiler.
#12 California at UCLA
No one knows what to expect from UCLA, as they have been as up and down as anyone in CFB this year. Nate Longshore will be back for Cal as they try and bounce back from a loss to Oregon St. last week that knocked them out to be the number 1 team in the nation after LSU fell to UK.
#14 USC at Notre Dame
This is a rivalry game and Sanchez and Sharpley will go at it at the QB spot. USC has struggled the last 2 weeks, even though they have gone 2-1. ND really has nothing to lose this year and can pray on a somewhat questionable USC team.
#24 Texas Tech at #16 Missouri
Mizzou fell to Oklahoma last week but get Harrell and the Red Raiders at home. Harrell is having an outstanding year, with a nearly 75% competition percentage and throwing 31 TD's and only 3 INTs...all the while throwing for over 3,000 yards in little over half a season. Him and his favorite target Crabtree will have their hands full with Chase Daniels and Co.
Miami (FL) at Florida State
A major rivalry game between what is usually two of the best teams in not only the state of Florida, but in the nation. This year, however, sees both teams as unsteady to say the least. Both offenses have had problems, FSU more so than UM, and even the defense has given up on them as of late. Although they both own winning records overall and in conference, the loser of this game may be done for the year and also winning the recruiting battle...that is if USF and UF don’t get them first.
#13 Kansas at Colorado
Colorado is a dangerous team who has won 3 of their last 4 games. This week, they will host the high-flying Jayhawks, who have almost sleep walked through their schedule, only running into in state rival KSU last week--and winning.
#10 Oregon at Washington
A HUGE rivalry game that spills hatred between the two schools. These two teams have more or less switched places from a decade ago, when the Huskies were the premier team in the Pac-10 and in the nation. The Huskies have lost 4 games in a row and need to find some answers, as they are the worst offensive team in the Apc-10. Oregon, on the other hand, is one of the best offenses in the nation, boasting a balanced attack lead by Dennis Dixon. The Ducks average 266 yards in the air and 266 yards on the ground. Stewart will be coming home to play in front of his home crowd where he grew up and was a star in HS.
#19 Virginia at Maryland
UVA has been an overachieving team this year, and has only blown out one team this year. All the other games have been struggles and could have gone either way; they could just as easily be 2-5 at the moment. Maryland is a tough team with a stout defense and needs this win to stay in contention for the Atlantic division and possibly a trip to Georgia for the ACCCG.
#25 Michigan at Illinois
Illinois ran out of luck last week and host a surging Wolverines team that had one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports just 7 weeks ago. Mike Hart has carried them through a 5 game winning streak and look to do the same against a young Illini squad.
GAME OF THE WEEK
#17 Auburn at #4 LSU
Auburn has been the spoiler this year for Florida; can they do it to LSU in the Bayou? This game holds monumental status as LSU is now with one loss in SEC and Auburn right on their heels. If Auburn wins, they will have the edge in the SEC East and could take hold of the driver’s seat.
