The Southern California-Ohio State game will have to share the spotlight Saturday with an old and storied rivalry being played just to the north that became far more interesting after the first week of the season.
Before the third-ranked Trojans and No. 8 Buckeyes begin their rematch of last year’s USC romp, No. 18 Notre Dame plays at Michigan earlier Saturday.
Few coaches entered the season facing as much scrutiny as Charlie Weis and Rich Rodriguez. But after thoroughly impressive victories last week, there is reason for optimism for Weis’ Fighting Irish and Rodriguez’s Wolverines.
Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen might be throwing to the best group of receivers in the country, with wideouts Golden Tate and Michael Floyd complimented by tight end Kyle Rudolph.
At Michigan, freshman quarterback Tate Forcier appears to be the perfect fit, a shifty and nimble run-pass threat, for the spread offense.
big smile on his face.”
The last two seasons Michigan and Notre Dame have both been unranked when they played, turning one of the great college football rivalries into a black comedy. This is more like it.
USC turned last season’s much-hyped meeting with the Buckeyes into a laugher. The Trojans won 35-3, but many of the stars of that game for USC – Mark Sanchez, Rey Maualuga – are now in the NFL.
The one positive to come out of that trip to Los Angeles for Ohio State was the play of Terrelle Pryor. As a freshman, he showed he was ready to lead the Buckeyes.
This season it’s the Trojans coming in with a freshman quarterback. Matt Barkley looked good last week in a 56-3 victory against San Jose State. Facing a talented Buckeyes defense, in front of more than 102,000 at Ohio Stadium, will be a whole new deal for Barkley.
The picks:
Thursday
Clemson (plus 5 1/2) at No. 15 Georgia Tech
Tigers tend to play better with low expectations … GEORGIA TECH 28-24.
Saturday
Troy (plus 36 1/2) at No. 1 Florida
Gators jump up in competition, but still unchallenged … FLORIDA 55-14.
No. 2 Texas (minus 33 1/2) at Wyoming
Folks in Laramie are pumped for Longhorns visit – for now … TEXAS 52-13.
No. 3 Southern California (minus 7) at No. 8 Ohio State
Big Ten pride also on line at Horseshoe … USC 28-17.
ional (plus 34) at No. 4 Alabama
Tide could use break after slugfest with Hokies … ALABAMA 35-7.
Houston (plus 15 1/2) at No. 5 Oklahoma State
Cougars QB Kase Keenum to test Cowboys improved D … OKLAHOMA STATE 49-24.
Syracuse (plus 28 1/2) at No. 7 Penn State
Nittany Lions crushed Orange 55-13 at dome last season … PENN STATE 55-14.
No. 9 BYU (plus 17 1/2) at Tulane
Can Green Wave catch giddy Cougars off guard? … BYU 42-17.
Eastern Washington (no line) at No. 10 California
EWU ranked 18th in FCS … CAL 45-21.
Vanderbilt (plus 14 1/2) at No. 11 LSU
Vandy’s last victory in Baton Rouge was 1951 … LSU 28-10.
Miami (Ohio) (plus 36 1/2) at No. 12 Boise State
RedHawks on blue turf … BOISE STATE 48-7.
Idaho State (no line) at No. 13 Oklahoma
No worries for Sooners this week … OKLAHOMA 58-0.
Marshall (plus 19 1/2) at No. 14 Virginia Tech
Last two meetings, Hokies won by average of 27 points … VIRGINIA TECH 34-7.
No. 16 TCU (minus 11) at Virginia
Horned Frogs expected tough road game … TCU 31-14.
No. 17 Utah (minus 13 1/2) at San Jose State
Not much of break for Spartans after USC … UTAH 27-13.
No. 18 Notre Dame (minus 3) at Michigan
Underdog has won five of last seven meetings … MICHIGAN 27-21.
4 1/2) at Connecticut
Heels LB Bruce Carter blocked three punts vs. Huskies last year …. NORTH CAROLINA 28-14.
South Carolina (plus 7) at No. 21 Georgia
Makings of another low-scoring affair in series … GEORGIA 17-14.
Arkansas State (plus 23 1/2) at No. 22 Nebraska
Second straight Sun Belt opponent for Huskers … NEBRASKA 44-14.
SE Missouri (no line) at No. 23 Cincinnati
Bearcats offense picks up pace … CINCINNATI 52-14.
No. 24 Kansas (minus 12 1/2) at UTEP
Could be a tricky trip for Jayhawks … UTEP 35-28.
Bowling Green (plus 18 1/2) at No. 25 Missouri
Like Chase Daniel never left Mizzou …. MISSOURI 46-20.
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Season record: 16-4 (straight); 5-10 (vs. points).
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