Week Three Top Ten College Football Games

Here in Columbia, SC, it finally feels like fall, as the morning temperatures were in the upper-50s and the expected high today is in the low 60s. It should be perfect football weather, especially here in the Deep South. Well this weekend the Sunshine State takes center stage for college football, so grab your chips, beverages and remote because good games encompass the television from Noon ‘til Midnight.

1. Oklahoma/Florida State: Last year, Boomer Schooner steamrolled Chief Osceola in Norman as the game was not even competitive. The Seminoles will be looking for some Sooner scalps as payback. Oklahoma does not play well away from home and the Doak should be rocking & rolling on a late Saturday night game.
Prediction: FSU leaves a trail of tears for Oklahoma after Saturday night, Seminoles 31-27.

2. Tennessee/Florida: The Nick Saban coaching tree reunion pits Dooley versus Muschamp. These two coaches were on Saban’s LSU staff during the last decade and square-off Saturday in Gainesville. UT is a young team with dynamic playmakers at QB & WR. UF is a strong defensive, blue collar team. I like UT going all loco on the reptiles in the Swamp! The Bray, Rogers & Hunter QB/duo-WR combo is the best in the SEC, IMHO.
Prediction: Ole Smokey narrowly skins the Gators, 31-28.

3. Ohio State/Miami: There will be no South Beach Diet in this contest, as there will be a smorgasbord of NCAA investigators in attendance to watch these two institutions of non-integrity. The QB match-up of OSU’s Joe Bauserman and UM’s Jacory Harris is about as sexy as Rosanne Barr versus Rosie O’Donnell. Between the Nevin Shapiro and Terrelle Pryor side shows during the pre-season, this game represents two tradition-rich programs.
Prediction: Hurricane Shapiro leaves quite a Pryor-less tattoo on the Buckeyes backside, Miami 30-17.

4. Auburn/Clemson: The Lake Hartwell Classic comes to the Valley of Sassafras Mountain up in Pickens County. The Clemson Tigers take a break from SAC 8 Conference (South Atlantic) opponents (a little sarcasm, sorry Troy & Wofford) and finally join the 2011 college football season. Auburn rides a 17-game win-streak into Clempson, while sCUm tries to avoid the boo birds, which are perched atop Death Valley.
Prediction: The “cheatin Cam Chiziks” destripe the “one, two, three plays away” Clemson Tigers, 44-36.

5. Arizona State/Illinois: This Pac-12/Big 10 (really 12) contest pits two former Sunshine State college coaches. ASU’s Dennis Erickson (former Miami coach in early 90s) versus Illinois’ Ron Zook (former Florida coach post-Spurrier). The Sun Devils have probably the best middle linebacker in college football in Vontez Burfict, while the Illini have one of the best young QBs in Nathan Schellhasse.
Prediction: Illinois pitch forks the Sun Devils, 27-24.

6. West Virginia/Maryland: The Mountaineers venture to College Park, MD to shoot ‘em up some turtle soup hopefully. This game features some young talented quarterbacks in WVU’s Geno Smith and Maryland’s Davey O’Brien. This could be an offensive fireworks show.
Prediction: No soup for you, Mountaineers, Maryland wins 37-30.

7. Michigan State/Notre Dame: Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly must be wondering if he made a deal with the devil in a previous life after a 0-2 start. The Irish have compiled over 500 yards of offense through two games but remain winless. Last year’s MSU/ND game witnessed a little trickery with a Spartans’ fake field goal on 4th down in overtime. The miscues that follow the Irish in 2011 will continue on Saturday afternoon.
Prediction: Sparty enjoys a little luck in beating the Irish 30-27.

8. Utah/BYU: The Holy War rekindles its rivalry in the Mountain Time Zone on Saturday. The Utah Utes fresh off their first-ever Pac-12 loss face the conference-less Cougars. The Cougars look lethargic on offense through two games, while the Utes lost on a blocked field goal versus Southern Cal last weekend.
Prediction: Utah declaws the Cougars, 24-20.

9. Ole Miss/Vanderbilt: The reverend Houston Nutt leads Johnny Reb up to the Music City to face an undefeated Vanderbilt squad. The offense is status quo in Nashville, but the defense is revitalized (top 5 in SEC defense), while Ole Miss seems to be punchless against teams with a pulse.
Prediction: Vanderbilt remains undefeated as Johnny Reb surrenders to the Commodores, 23-19.

10. Texas/UCLA: The Longhorns might be making this trip more frequently if Texas bolts for the Pac-12 after the conference expansion frenzy on the horizon. UCLA is underachieving as usual under Head Coach Rick Neuheisal. The Longhorns and Bruins of Westwood are both quarterback challenged so Iwould not expect a western shootout!
Prediction: The Longhorns put a good ole fashion Texas-sized steer on the backside of the Bruins, 23-20.

Enjoy the weekend of games. My next blog will post on Monday evening with a USC/Navy review and a look ahead to the Carolina/Vanderbilt match-up next weekend.

Go Gamecocks!