DISCLAIMER: This week is the start of “Rivalry Week”, which now spans two weeks in college football. I will not list all the rivalry games, because most of them will not be interesting unless you are a fan/alumni/student at that
school.
No. 17 Ball State at Central Michigan
Although Ball St. is the undefeated and ranked team in the MAC, CMU is right there, suffering two loses in OOC. Ball St. had the easier schedule, thus them being 10-0. This will be for the West MAC division title and a place in the MACCG, if CMU wins. However, if Ball St. wins, it sets up the match up the following week against WMU, which could defeat Ball St. and go to the MACCG.
No. 23 Miami (FL) at Georgia Tech
Miami has won 5 in a row and GT is looking to spoil their run to the ACCG. The ACC has been the most competitive and tough conference to play in this year. It seems that every time an ACC enters the top 25, they get booted out the following week. If GT wins and UNC loses one of their last 2 games, GT will be the Coastal rep in the ACCCG; as long as VT and UVA lose one each as well. If VT and UVA win this week, things are no clearer than they were last week.
Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State
One of the oldest and most well known rivalry games has lost some thunder recently with the struggles of UM. OSU is in position to win the Big 10 if they win this and PSU loses to MSU.
North Carolina State at No. 22 North Carolina
Rivalry game that could knock UNC out of the ACC race. NCST has looked much better at home then on the road this year, so this could be an uphill battle.
West Virginia at Louisville
WVU needs to continue to win and hope for a Cincy loss in order to remain in the running for the Big East title. Although the ACC has been the most muddled, the BE has been no slouch as far as competitiveness goes.
Washington at Washington State
Should be renamed “Two Schools, One Cup” as this crap fast could yield UW’s first win this season, as WSU is on pace to set a NCAA record for most points allowed and margin of victory. Both have back up QB’s and play some of the worst defense in the nation, ranking 118 and 119 respectively.
Air Force at No. 16 TCU
TCU is still in the MWC title mix as they need to win out and have Utah lose. Air Force hung around against BYU last week before letting the game slip away in the 2nd half. TCU brings in stifling defense and a spread/option game that is hard to stop.
Stanford at California
The Big Game as it is known puts bowl games on the line. Stanford is bowl eligible and wants to climb the bowl ladder. Cal is stinging from two straight loses that cut them out of the Pac-10 title race.
Boston College at Wake Forest
BC raised its stock by defeating FSU at Doak Campbell last week and Chris Crane may have played his best game to date. BC boasts a top 10 defense and two exciting, young freshman HB’s. WF has slipped over the last month and is trying to stay afloat in the Atlantic, but they need to knock of BC to have a chance.
No. 21 Oregon State at Arizona
All OSU has to do is WIN. If they win out, they will be Pac-10 champs and go to the RB. If Arizona wins, USC can win out and take the crown.
Florida State at No. 25 Maryland
FSU is coming off a touch loss, but are still in the Atlantic race. The need to get past Maryland to do so, because UM can take the crown by winning out. If they lose, everything basically gets reset, as BC will still be in the mix and nothing will be clear until next week.
GAME(S) OF THE WEEK
No. 15 Michigan State at No. 8 Penn State
The battle for the Land Grant Trophy holds a bit more weight this year, as MSU can play spoiler to PSU’s RB/BCS chances by winning and giving the Big 10 crown to OSU. Javon Ringer leads the nation in rushing TD’s and CPG. They will need him more than ever against this tough defense.
No. 14 Brigham Young at No. 7 Utah
Dubbed The Holy War, this two interstate rivals will duke it out with MWC title implications on the line. If Utah loses, TCU will win the MWC, pending TCU winning against AF. A Utah loss will also give BSU from the WAC the BCS mid-major bid, unless they lose to Nevada.
No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati
Big game in the Big East here. If Cincy wins, they will win the Big East. However, if Pitt wins, the Backyard Brawl between them and WVU will decide the Big East, assuming WVU beats Louisville this week.
No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma
If Oklahoma wins, you now have a huge mess atop the Big 12 South. TTU, UT, and OU will be tied, all with wins over one another leaving no one a clear cut victor. This would mean that each teams’ respective rivalry games would mean that much more, as the pressure to win would be tremendous. Of the three, Oklahoma would face the toughest challenge in #8 OKST, while UT and TTU play Baylor and TAMU.
school.
No. 17 Ball State at Central Michigan
Although Ball St. is the undefeated and ranked team in the MAC, CMU is right there, suffering two loses in OOC. Ball St. had the easier schedule, thus them being 10-0. This will be for the West MAC division title and a place in the MACCG, if CMU wins. However, if Ball St. wins, it sets up the match up the following week against WMU, which could defeat Ball St. and go to the MACCG.
No. 23 Miami (FL) at Georgia Tech
Miami has won 5 in a row and GT is looking to spoil their run to the ACCG. The ACC has been the most competitive and tough conference to play in this year. It seems that every time an ACC enters the top 25, they get booted out the following week. If GT wins and UNC loses one of their last 2 games, GT will be the Coastal rep in the ACCCG; as long as VT and UVA lose one each as well. If VT and UVA win this week, things are no clearer than they were last week.
Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State
One of the oldest and most well known rivalry games has lost some thunder recently with the struggles of UM. OSU is in position to win the Big 10 if they win this and PSU loses to MSU.
North Carolina State at No. 22 North Carolina
Rivalry game that could knock UNC out of the ACC race. NCST has looked much better at home then on the road this year, so this could be an uphill battle.
West Virginia at Louisville
WVU needs to continue to win and hope for a Cincy loss in order to remain in the running for the Big East title. Although the ACC has been the most muddled, the BE has been no slouch as far as competitiveness goes.
Washington at Washington State
Should be renamed “Two Schools, One Cup” as this crap fast could yield UW’s first win this season, as WSU is on pace to set a NCAA record for most points allowed and margin of victory. Both have back up QB’s and play some of the worst defense in the nation, ranking 118 and 119 respectively.
Air Force at No. 16 TCU
TCU is still in the MWC title mix as they need to win out and have Utah lose. Air Force hung around against BYU last week before letting the game slip away in the 2nd half. TCU brings in stifling defense and a spread/option game that is hard to stop.
Stanford at California
The Big Game as it is known puts bowl games on the line. Stanford is bowl eligible and wants to climb the bowl ladder. Cal is stinging from two straight loses that cut them out of the Pac-10 title race.
Boston College at Wake Forest
BC raised its stock by defeating FSU at Doak Campbell last week and Chris Crane may have played his best game to date. BC boasts a top 10 defense and two exciting, young freshman HB’s. WF has slipped over the last month and is trying to stay afloat in the Atlantic, but they need to knock of BC to have a chance.
No. 21 Oregon State at Arizona
All OSU has to do is WIN. If they win out, they will be Pac-10 champs and go to the RB. If Arizona wins, USC can win out and take the crown.
Florida State at No. 25 Maryland
FSU is coming off a touch loss, but are still in the Atlantic race. The need to get past Maryland to do so, because UM can take the crown by winning out. If they lose, everything basically gets reset, as BC will still be in the mix and nothing will be clear until next week.
GAME(S) OF THE WEEK
No. 15 Michigan State at No. 8 Penn State
The battle for the Land Grant Trophy holds a bit more weight this year, as MSU can play spoiler to PSU’s RB/BCS chances by winning and giving the Big 10 crown to OSU. Javon Ringer leads the nation in rushing TD’s and CPG. They will need him more than ever against this tough defense.
No. 14 Brigham Young at No. 7 Utah
Dubbed The Holy War, this two interstate rivals will duke it out with MWC title implications on the line. If Utah loses, TCU will win the MWC, pending TCU winning against AF. A Utah loss will also give BSU from the WAC the BCS mid-major bid, unless they lose to Nevada.
No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati
Big game in the Big East here. If Cincy wins, they will win the Big East. However, if Pitt wins, the Backyard Brawl between them and WVU will decide the Big East, assuming WVU beats Louisville this week.
No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma
If Oklahoma wins, you now have a huge mess atop the Big 12 South. TTU, UT, and OU will be tied, all with wins over one another leaving no one a clear cut victor. This would mean that each teams’ respective rivalry games would mean that much more, as the pressure to win would be tremendous. Of the three, Oklahoma would face the toughest challenge in #8 OKST, while UT and TTU play Baylor and TAMU.
