Pittsburgh at No. 10 South Florida
Pitt has been somewhat disappointing this year and USF is once again in the top 10 for the second year in a row. However, USF has had few “glamorous” wins this season, including having to go into OT to beat UCF. Pitt can still win the Big East, but they need to start by knocking off a big boy in the conference.
Oregon State at No. 15 Utah
Can OSU beat a ranked team for the second Thursday in row? Some say BYU’s only test this year will come in the form of the Utes, but they have to beat the upset kids if they want to be the spoilers themselves later in the year.
Duke at Georgia Tech
Yes, Duke IS 3-1 (1-0) and GT may be the best team in the ACC. This is a crucial Coastal Division game for both clubs, even more so for Duke, who hasn’t seen a winning season in 14 years, and has been the laughing stock of ACC football during such stretch. They will have to defend a GT team that is running the old school option, and is the highest scoring offense in the ACC.
Stanford at Notre Dame
All of a sudden, ND is 3-1. Stanford is not the bottom dweller of the Pac-10 and is looking respectable. These two clash in a rivalry game in which the winner receives the Legends Trophy.
No. 7 Texas Tech at Kansas State
Although KSU is 3-1, they have played a slew of pushovers so far, and got beat by a 2-2 Louisville team. TTU hasn’t had many toughies on their schedule to brag about either, and some are calling them overrated. Harrell and Crabtree bring in the nation’s top passing attack to Manhattan to try and prove they can be worthy of their top 10 ranking.
Arizona State at California
ASU has fallen flat two weeks in a row, but are still in the thick of the Pac-10 race, with USC losing one week ago. Cal lost to Maryland 3 weeks ago, but took out their frustrations on CSU last week. The winner will get a leg up in the Pac-10 and Cal may even get a nod for a top 25 spot. It also appears that Nate Longshore will start.
Florida State at Miami (FL)
A cone fierce rivalry between two usually top 25 teams has lost some fizzle in recent years, as both teams are down and out. Even still, when two teams with as much talent hit the grass, helmets will smash and TD’s will be scored, as these two battle it out in the ACC, which still seems to be wide open.
No. 13 Auburn at No. 19 Vanderbilt
Auburn has ferocious defense, but cannot seem to get its offense in rhythm. Vandy is in the top 25 for first time since 1984. This game will prove a lot about both teams. Is Auburn overrated? Can Vandy keep up the winning? Can they make a bowl game?
No. 5 Texas at Colorado
Colorado had high hopes this year, but haven’t been as convincing as of yet. Although 3-1, they struggled against FCS E. WA, and it took OT to beat an underachieving WVU team. They then went on to get blown out by FSU. Texas has quietly but surely moved up in the ranks, beating the opponents that they are supposed to defeat, looking mighty strong on defense and offense. As long as Texas doesn’t look ahead to the Red River shoot out, once the game gets here, it could be a mighty one.
No. 24 Connecticut at North Carolina
UNC is now 3-1, even though they have lost their young and talented QB for at least 6 weeks. Even still, they roared back to beat Miami on the road last week, the first win OUTSIDE Carolina in the last 20 tries. UConn has been creeping up in the Big East, sneaking into the polls this week. In the search for their second consecutive Big East title, they must first get one more OOC test in the Tar Heels.
No. 14 Ohio State at No. 18 Wisconsin
This will be a telling story for both schools. Michigan may have turned a corner last week in beating the Badgers and OSU is finally bouncing back from the lose to USC. Although Penn State looks to be now be the favorite in the Big 10, OSU is still is 1-0 in conference play, and is looking to continue to compete for the title. Wisconsin also wants the title, but having one loss on them is a small hill to climb.
No. 4 Missouri at Nebraska
The Corn Huskers offense is looking good, but the defense, not so much. They have this in common with Mizzou, whose questions marks surrounding the defense have been visible for the second year in a row. This could end up being a high flying, high-scoring affair, where the first to 50 could be the winner. However, we may see a defensive challenge arise for both, turning this into a high-baseball score game in the end.
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 23 Oregon at No. 9 USC
Oregon has somehow managed to get back into the top 25 after letting BSU come in and push them around for 40 minutes. USC is still in the top 10 after suffering a loss to a 102 OSU team. This game will speak volumes, as the winner may go on to win the Pac-10 and get invited to the Rose Bowl. USC will look for revenge, as Oregon beat them last year to all but end their NC chances. Oregon is still wondering what it would have been had their star QB and Heisman hopeful QB had not gone down at the end of a crucial season changing game one year ago.
Pitt has been somewhat disappointing this year and USF is once again in the top 10 for the second year in a row. However, USF has had few “glamorous” wins this season, including having to go into OT to beat UCF. Pitt can still win the Big East, but they need to start by knocking off a big boy in the conference.
Oregon State at No. 15 Utah
Can OSU beat a ranked team for the second Thursday in row? Some say BYU’s only test this year will come in the form of the Utes, but they have to beat the upset kids if they want to be the spoilers themselves later in the year.
Duke at Georgia Tech
Yes, Duke IS 3-1 (1-0) and GT may be the best team in the ACC. This is a crucial Coastal Division game for both clubs, even more so for Duke, who hasn’t seen a winning season in 14 years, and has been the laughing stock of ACC football during such stretch. They will have to defend a GT team that is running the old school option, and is the highest scoring offense in the ACC.
Stanford at Notre Dame
All of a sudden, ND is 3-1. Stanford is not the bottom dweller of the Pac-10 and is looking respectable. These two clash in a rivalry game in which the winner receives the Legends Trophy.
No. 7 Texas Tech at Kansas State
Although KSU is 3-1, they have played a slew of pushovers so far, and got beat by a 2-2 Louisville team. TTU hasn’t had many toughies on their schedule to brag about either, and some are calling them overrated. Harrell and Crabtree bring in the nation’s top passing attack to Manhattan to try and prove they can be worthy of their top 10 ranking.
Arizona State at California
ASU has fallen flat two weeks in a row, but are still in the thick of the Pac-10 race, with USC losing one week ago. Cal lost to Maryland 3 weeks ago, but took out their frustrations on CSU last week. The winner will get a leg up in the Pac-10 and Cal may even get a nod for a top 25 spot. It also appears that Nate Longshore will start.
Florida State at Miami (FL)
A cone fierce rivalry between two usually top 25 teams has lost some fizzle in recent years, as both teams are down and out. Even still, when two teams with as much talent hit the grass, helmets will smash and TD’s will be scored, as these two battle it out in the ACC, which still seems to be wide open.
No. 13 Auburn at No. 19 Vanderbilt
Auburn has ferocious defense, but cannot seem to get its offense in rhythm. Vandy is in the top 25 for first time since 1984. This game will prove a lot about both teams. Is Auburn overrated? Can Vandy keep up the winning? Can they make a bowl game?
No. 5 Texas at Colorado
Colorado had high hopes this year, but haven’t been as convincing as of yet. Although 3-1, they struggled against FCS E. WA, and it took OT to beat an underachieving WVU team. They then went on to get blown out by FSU. Texas has quietly but surely moved up in the ranks, beating the opponents that they are supposed to defeat, looking mighty strong on defense and offense. As long as Texas doesn’t look ahead to the Red River shoot out, once the game gets here, it could be a mighty one.
No. 24 Connecticut at North Carolina
UNC is now 3-1, even though they have lost their young and talented QB for at least 6 weeks. Even still, they roared back to beat Miami on the road last week, the first win OUTSIDE Carolina in the last 20 tries. UConn has been creeping up in the Big East, sneaking into the polls this week. In the search for their second consecutive Big East title, they must first get one more OOC test in the Tar Heels.
No. 14 Ohio State at No. 18 Wisconsin
This will be a telling story for both schools. Michigan may have turned a corner last week in beating the Badgers and OSU is finally bouncing back from the lose to USC. Although Penn State looks to be now be the favorite in the Big 10, OSU is still is 1-0 in conference play, and is looking to continue to compete for the title. Wisconsin also wants the title, but having one loss on them is a small hill to climb.
No. 4 Missouri at Nebraska
The Corn Huskers offense is looking good, but the defense, not so much. They have this in common with Mizzou, whose questions marks surrounding the defense have been visible for the second year in a row. This could end up being a high flying, high-scoring affair, where the first to 50 could be the winner. However, we may see a defensive challenge arise for both, turning this into a high-baseball score game in the end.
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 23 Oregon at No. 9 USC
Oregon has somehow managed to get back into the top 25 after letting BSU come in and push them around for 40 minutes. USC is still in the top 10 after suffering a loss to a 102 OSU team. This game will speak volumes, as the winner may go on to win the Pac-10 and get invited to the Rose Bowl. USC will look for revenge, as Oregon beat them last year to all but end their NC chances. Oregon is still wondering what it would have been had their star QB and Heisman hopeful QB had not gone down at the end of a crucial season changing game one year ago.
