The Weekend That Was: Barkley Owned, Another Historic Loss, Irish for Real?, My New Favorite Player, SEC Joke Coaches

While it is the surprises, upsets and a sense of loyalty to a team that draws us to college football, there are a few truths that seem inevitable. A few of those came true this weekend: Virginia Tech begins the year in the top 10 and falls to an inferior team, Alabama beats Arkansas, USC starts in the top 5 and is a national championship favorite and falls, and Notre Dame wins three games and moves up the polls quickly. Now that you have the gist of Week Three in football, let's get to the nitty gritty.

Barkley remains defeated versus Stanford

STANFORD OWNS BARKLEY & CO.: At some point, what Stanford did/is doing will no longer be a fluke. Cardinal coach David Shaw has to get credit. He is Andrew Luck-less and is still pulling off 'upsets' of the No. 2 team in the country. I say "'upsets'" because it should no longer come as a surprise when he is able to beat the California team from the south. Maybe, just maybe, Shaw will be able to sustain some of the success his predecessors (Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck) began. I am all up for nerds ruling the football world.

Stanford is a rarity in college football. Not only do they all make 34's on their ACTs but they know who they are and what they can and can not do. They know they run the football well with a huge push from the big uglies upfront, which creates an obvious, enormous mismatch for USC, who is setup to beat the likes of Oregon.

Matt Barkley will graduate having never beaten Stanford, which is incredible when you look at the history of these two programs.

ANOTHER HISTORIC LOSS: Remember the questions I brought up last week after Arkansas blew a 28-7 lead to University Louisiana-Monore? There are more this week. Instead of doing listing those, here is some historical perspective of what a team that was beat by ULM in 2007 (Alabama) did on Saturday in Fayetteville.

The Tide shut out the Hogs at home for the first time since 1966, a 44-0 loss to the Baylor, but that was two years post national championship. It was the worst loss for the Razorbacks since a 70-17 show from the USC Trojans. It was an embarrassing day for Arkansas, and while the weather did not help keep fans in their seat, neither did their play on the field.

Injured Razorback quarterback admitted he thought some of his teammates quit, which is a direct reflection of coaching. There's good reason to be worried as Rutgers comes to Arkansas this week.

If anything, this makes The Game of the Century III (Alabama at LSU) all the more anticipated, and as my old man said, no doubt there is a Pop Tart sale in Arkansas.

Johnson has been "The Beast" for a while.

MY FAVORITE PLAYER IS A VOLUNTEER: Is there anything Tennessee sophomore A.J. Johnson can not do? He was named to the All-SEC freshman team a year ago and now is starting to show out on the offensive side too from the Wildcat formation.

Not only does he make grown-man tackles on defense, but the Volunteer captain scored a rushing touchdown against Florida.

He did the same thing in high school, too.

A Gainesville, Georgia native, he dominated this area for four years like few have and remains a local legend. If he continues on his current path, he will soon be a legend in the Knoxville area as well before making his way to the professional ranks.

NOTRE DAME IS FOR REAL (maybe): The Irish get their fair, and maybe more, share of articles and columns written about them, but anytime you go on the road, in a night game, and defeat a top 10 team, you start getting press for all the right reasons.

Coach Brian Kelley, who was brought over from Cincinnati for his offensive prowess, has started building his program from the defensive side of the ball. Now, other than Alabama and LSU, he may have the top defensive front in the country and the best linebacker in Manti Te'o. Kelley will build his offense no doubt, and if both sides of the ball progress like they seem to be doing, the Irish could be trouble in the future.

HOW QUICKLY CAN CHIZIK BE REPLACED: It's really a three-way race between Arkansas' John L. Smith, Auburn's Gene Chizik, and Kentucky's Joker Phillips to see who will be fired first. Two of the three will definitely be told to seek employment elsewhere come season's end, but Chizik has enough equity built up from a national championship two years ago.

After two dismal performances from his quarterback Kiehl Frazier, these games are much more like what we expected from Chizik when he came from Iowa State. This is what a Chizik team minus a $200,000 quarterback looks like.

That's what a Hilltoppers look like after they get their first SEC win.

KENTUCKY'S BIG JOKE(er): Get it? Their coach's name is Joker and that's what he has made the Wildcats in the eyes of football fans. We have all heard Kentucky fans say the only sport they care about is basketball -- and horseracing. However, there are better ways to let everyone know that other than getting beat by Western Kentucky. Heck, they've only been an official FBS program for four years!

Sure you make all SEC fans proud during March and early April, but there is no excuse for this. Bye, bye Joker.

Top Ten College Foot'Bowl' Games

Throw together Christmas, New Years, family and college foot'bowl' games and you have a potent combination for am enjoyable holiday season. So unless you are Oklahoma State, Kansas State or Boise State fans, let's get ready for an wild bowl season.

And to you who favor a playoff season, did the BCS system not to what it was created to do? We have the nation's best two teams playing for the national championship. (Oklahoma State fans... be serious... we have seen the spread offense versus SEC defensive speed more than once and know the outcome.) Sure there are teams that were snubbed of the chance to play in a bigger bowl game, but this is the system we have. So can we all get along while we wait Prince of Peace's arrival? (No doubt He would have a better system...)

In the meantime, here is a list of the ten bowl games I am looking forward to the most this college foot'bowl' season:

1. BCS National Championship Game- Alabama vs. LSU- If the first game was "The Game of the Century" what does that make this one? The most anticipated rematch of all time will decide the national champion, no matter the outcome. When the country's top two defenses were not playing one another they averaged almost 40 points a game. In good news for every other conference, at the end of the night the SEC will finally have a loss in the BCS Championship Game.

2.Fiesta Bowl- Oklahoma State vs. Stanford- Two of the country's top five offenses, and best quarterbacks in Andrew Luck and Dan Weeden, will take the field . The Pokes are a little disappointed they are not in the championship game, but they must be careful of not falling to the same fate the a Alabama squad did when the Tide were crushed by Utah in the 2008 Sugar Bowl.

3. Vizio Rose Bowl- Wisconsin vs. Oregon- Here are two teams, in the "Grandaddy of them all," who get it done offensively by different means. In one corner is Oregon, who uses speed and a spread offense to keep the scorekeepers busy. In the other corner are the Badgers, who line up in the I-formation and use power to wear down opponents. Watch two of the country's top running backs -- UO's LaMichael James and UW's Montee Ball-- go head-to-head.

4. AT&T Cotton Bowl- Arkansas vs. Kansas State- In what amounts to the sixth BCS game, Kansas State is a little disappointed they do not represent the Big 12 in an actual BCS game. Arkansas' two losses this season came at the hands of the two teams in the national championship. The Wildcats defense will be charged in slowing down a Razorback passing attack which averages 307 yards per game, while the Hogs defense has to stop KSU quarterback Collin Klein, who tallied 1,745 yards and 12 scores through the air and 1,099 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.

5. Outback Bowl- Michigan State vs. Georgia- Both schools are coming off of conference championship losses and looking to end great seasons on a positive note. The Dawgs have won 10 of their last 11 games, while the Spartans won at least 10 games for the second year in a row. MSU needs to redeem itself after their last game against an SEC opponent, a 49-7 drubbing from Alabama last year in the Capital One Bowl. Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio is 0-4 in bowl games.

6. Orange Bowl- Clemson vs. West Virginia- The Orange Bowl is usually the weakest of all the BCS bowls, but the hosts got lucky when the Moutaineers were able to win the Big East so that America was not forced to watch Cincinatti or Louisville in this game. At least WVU has been down this road before and had success. Clemson has been one of the hottest and coldest teams at times this season but handled Virginia Tech for the second time this season and won the Tigers' first ACC Championship in 20 years.



7. Sugar Bowl- Virginia Tech vs. Michigan- Of the two controversial BCS matchups in The Big Easy this year, Alabama vs. LSU is the other, the Sugar Bowl one is the most puzzling. The teams were selected solely because their fans travel better than other, more deserving, teams. The game still has the possibility to be quite entertaining, even if it is the first Sugar Bowl without an AP Top 10 team since 1945. Michigan quarterback Denard "Shoelace" Robinson work is magic is worth your time.

8. Capital One Bowl- South Carolina vs. Nebraska- The Gamecocks have won 10 games in a season for the second time in school history, and the Huskers are coming of a nine-win season in its first year in the Big 10. USC head coach Steve Spurrier may run up the score if he gets the chance. For you history buffs, the Cornhuskers gave Spurrier his most embarrassing loss, a 62-24 affair in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl when "The Ole Ball Coach" was at Florida.

9. Alamo Bowl- Baylor vs. Washington- So you like offense and you want to see the Heisman Trophy winner all in the same game? Sounds like a fun way to spend your New Years Eve Eve Eve. Two of the more explosive quarterbacks in U Dubs' Kevin Polk and the Bears' Robert Griffin III will go head-to-head in this shootout.

10. Gator Bowl- Ohio State vs. Florida- Go ahead and put the over under at 35 on the number of times Urban Meyer's name is thrown around. The former Gator coach is headed to coach the Buckeyes next year after two championship runs in Florida. Meyer has already made his presence known on the recruiting trail. If current head coach, and OSU's next defensive coordinator, Lou Fickell can pull out a win over the SEC the Buckeye bandwagon should fill back up quickly.

*For you college foot'bowl' junkies like myself, here are a few more nuggets that should be fun to watch:

-Kraft  Fight Hunger Bowl- UCLA vs. Illinois- Here is one of those games that opponents of the bowl system have to cringe when they see this matchup. Both schools suffered poor endings (UCLA has a 6-7 record.)  and neither school will have their head coach, as both Rick Neuheisel and Ron Zook have been fired. Try to hold your enthusiasm when watching interim coaches going at it.

-Champs Sports Bowl- Florida State vs. Notre Dame- Both schools entered this season with BCS aspirations but had points during the season they lost games they should not have. The winner of this game will have a leg-up in the polls heading into the 2012 season. If the Seminoles pull out the 'W,' do not be surprised if they are preseason top five next year.

The Weekend That Will Be: Championship Saturday

Georgia vs. LSU- People here in Georgia are trying so hard to convince themselves that Georgia stands a chance. As much as I would love for my sister and her friends to be able to celebrate on Broad Street in Athens until the wee hours of the morning after a Bulldog win, it is just not happening. The only way UGA comes away with a win is if LSU is looking forward to their date with Alabama in the national championship. The Bayou Bengals are too good and wear down opponents.  With their larger-than-NFL-lines offensive line that Georgia will look like they have a chance until halftime, but the depth of the LSU running backs and strength of their defense will be too much for the Dawgs.

 Wisconsin vs. Michigan State- The inaugural Big Ten Championship will feature a rematch of a game that was decided by a controversial Hail Mary pass from the Spartans as time expired. This loss was the first of two losses of the Badgers have suffered by way of the last-drive variety. The second loss came on the road against Ohio State. If not for these two passes Wisconsin would be looking at a possible trip to the BCS National Championship. There is plenty of fire in the belly of the Badgers this week and they will take care of MSU easily at a neutral site and the Badgers rein as B1G Champions for the second straight year. How about that Rose Bowl coming on the First of January? Oregon vs. Wisconsin. Also of note, Badger running back Montee Ball is now 5 touchdowns short of former Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders' record of 39 scores in a season. Ball has is playing in his 13th game. Sanders did it in 11.

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson- Here is another rematch in a conference championship game as the Tigers try to execute the same plan to perfection they did earlier this season in a 23-3 win over the Hokies in Blacksburg. The difference in this game and the previous matchup will be the play of Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas. In his last seven games he has thrown for 14 touchdowns and only two picks. Add his 10 rushing scores, and the Hokies have a new weapon to unleash against the Clemson defense. Also watch the VT defense, who held the electric Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins to 38 yards in their previous meeting. The Tiger offense has cooled down tremendously, scoring 17 points per game in their last four games of which Clemson has lost three. The Tigers are pulling a Clemson down the stretch and lose to a driven Hokie squad. No worries Tiger fans. Your team is young and has a bright future.

Other picks (winners in bold)
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State- The de facto Big 12 Championship game will the Cowboys take advantage of their one chance every eight to ten years to beat their big brother Sooners. Do not be surprised if they Pokes rack up as many points as they can against their hated rival.

Southern Mississippi at Houston- Coach Kevin Sumlin, quarterback Case Keenum and their Cougar team get the W and head to a BCS bowl game for the first time in school history. Hey coach Sumlin... it will never be this good again. Take your money (reportedly $3 million at possible new schools) and a new job where ever that may be.

Texas at Baylor- When was the last time the Bears were favorites over the Longhorns? Enjoy it while you can Baylor. P.s. How can you not love Robert Griffin III? Give him the Heisman and Go Bears!

The Weekend That Wil Be: Week 5

Nebraska at Wisconsin- If I could could attend one game in the first half of the season, this is the one I would choose (I know... not an SEC game.). One day I'll get up to Camp Randall and jump around between the third and fourth quarters. I have only heard good things, where the people are kind and force you to try their cheese and slabs of meat. Throw in my Big 10 darling and it sounds like a dream weekend trip. The game is supposed to be good, but not in my eyes. Nebraska is the most overrated Top 10 team, and the environment is too much for the Huskers. "On Wisconsin" to victory.

Alabama at Florida- Two years is this was the most heated rivalry in college football, and it seems as if it is on its way back to claiming that spot with coach Will Muschamp at the helm for the Gators. If you have not done your homework, you may not know Florida has the top offense in the SEC. Bama has arguably the best defense with eight projected first and second round prospects for the NFL Draft. The Swamp will be rocking and holds close for a while before the Tide rolls away. Teacher (Nick Saban) beats (Muschamp) relatively easily in a battle of intensity.

Clemson at Virginia Tech- The real question here is if the Tigers can stay focused for the third week in a row, as they travel for their first road contest of the season. Clemson has had its program's biggest two wins in the Swinney era. The host Hokies have not played a big-time game yet this season. Blacksburg is no easy place to travel to and the under-the-radar Virginia Tech team handles a young Tiger squad.

Arkansas vs. Texas A&M- Both schools are coming off losses, have explosive offenses, are old South West Conference members, have played the role of little brother to Texas and next season both teams will play in the SEC. All these reasons are reasons to watch the Southwest Classic from the Jerry Dome in Arlington, Texas. The Aggies will and slow down the Hogs by attacking the Arkansas offensive line with an A&M defense that leads the nation in sacks. The pressure on the quarterback comes at a cost. A&M had 60 pass attempts thrown its way last week and came up with no INTs. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino likes to throw the rock around a little bit. A&M has not beat an SEC team since 1995 either. Take the Hogs in a mild upset.

Other picks (winners in bold)
Mississippi State vs. Georgia- Battle of the Dawgs will get intense. A loss puts Georgia at two SEC losses and a hard hole to dig out of for any chance at the East title. A loss for MSU will start these Dawgs out at 0-3 and huge disappointment for the season will ensue.

Kentucky at LSU- The last time Kentucky played a No. 1 LSU team? Answer I do not think the Tigers will cover the 31.5-point spread, but finally they relax a little after their tough September.

Auburn at South Carolina- If Auburn can come with any sort of defense they might could win. They do not and Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia has a big game.

New Mexico State at New Mexico- Maybe the worst two offenses and defenses in the game on one field, what a rivalry! Perennially bad teams go at it in this heated match-up.

Notre Dame at Purdue- The Irish show off an explosive offense and have only three turnovers.

The 10 Bowls to See

It is here. The wait is over. As we get ready for one of the most exciting times of the year we all forget the mess that is the BCS, but can we agree it did what it was meant to do? Did it not put the top two teams in the nation in a bowl game? Granted, there are aspects that need attention, but those in charge of the BCS are working on those and open to change. Good or bad, we are stuck with the bowl system for now and here are the ten that I am looking forward to the most.

1. Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 1 Auburn

 This one should be obvious as to why it is number one. The two best teams, best offenses, and players in the nation are all on one field. I think both offenses start off slow because of the layoff, but then the winner is the defense that can make one more stop than the other.

2. Allstate Sugar Bowl
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 8 Arkansas

  Two explosive quarterbacks going at one another. The Sugar Bowl pits a typical NFL style quarterback in Ryan Mallet versus the more mobile Terrelle Pryor. It will be interesting to see how Mallet can handle the number two defense and how the improved Arkansas can handle another mobile quarterback. Can OSU’s get past their losing streak, excuse me, beating streak by SEC teams?

3.Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 3 TCU

    It will be fun to see if TCU is as good as they think they are and prove that to the rest of the country. They have yet to win in all of their BCS bowl tries. They will get their chance against a huge, smash-mouth Wisconsin team whose play is described by their coach as “real American football.” 

4. Discover Orange Bowl
No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 13 Virginia Tech

    Though this game looks like a promising one, will anyone be at the Orange Bowl who is known for its bad attendance numbers. Again, here we have a match-up of two different types of quarterbacks. On one hand what looks like will the number one overall pick in April’s NFL draft and the other is a more mobile and winningest quarterback in Hokie history, Tyrod Taylor.

5. Capital One Bowl
No. 16 Alabama vs. No. 9 Michigan State

    Easily the best non-BCS game Alabama and Michigan State will meet on New Years Day. Alabama, who is still bitter about a loss in which they blew a 24 point lead, will try and go back to what has made them so good, a solid running game. On the opposite side of the field is a team which is bitter that they are not playing in a BCS game after sharing part of the Big 10 title. It’s always fun when the SEC and Big 10 get together.

6. AT&T Cotton Bowl
No. 10 LSU vs. No. 17 Texas A&M

      A team that is on the rise and has played extremely well since a tough loss to Arkansas will play a team that is coming off a loss to Arkansas that would have locked up a Sugar Bowl bid. The Jerry Dome will be rocking as both schools are close and travel well, not to mention that Jerry Jones, Arkansas alumni and member of of their 1964 National Championship team, will not be outdone as far as the environment goes.

7. Chick-fil-A Bowl
No. 20 South Carolina vs. No. 23 Florida State

    South Carolina has to go back to the site at which they were embarrassed by the number one team in the country. They will be taking on a team that is just not quite ready to be compared to the FSU teams of old. Jimbo has this team on the right track. Steve Spurrier needs this win or this season, though making it to the SEC Championship will end in disappointment as many of his seasons have.

8. Gator Bowl
No. 21 Mississippi State vs. Michigan

  Here again we have up and coming in MSU against a team with a “Rich” heritage in bowl games. Speaking of... Rodriguez will be fighting for his job and beating an SEC team would help his resume tremendously. The Bulldogs, however, couldn’t be happier with their coach as he is the envy of all programs head coach hunting.

9. AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Georgia vs. No. 25 UCF

 Really the only reason this game is of any real interest is one of UCF’s  starting wide receivers is from Rome, Georgia and gets a chance to play his home state team in front of many family members and friends. But seriously the UCF team is nothing to look past for the Bulldogs. They are a very talented team, maybe the second best in Florida this year. There is still a lot of pressure on Mark Richt, and losing this game would not help his cause.

10. Hyundai Sun Bowl
Notre Dame vs. Miami

   Criminals vs. Catholics... No it doesn’t have the same ring to it as it used to, but this game shows the state of college football right now. Miami and Notre Dame of today are not your dad’s Miami and Notre Dame. Winning this game will be a huge stepping point to get things back on track for the winner.

Championship Weekend

They say there is no playoff system, but what is this championship weekend come down to? Two teams must win to get their shot at a national championship. Experts can complain about the bowl system but the system we have now sure does make for an exciting last weekend of football.

Auburn vs. South Carolina- Did you see the special on ESPN about the SEC championship titled Atlanta? It hit the importance of this game right on the head. Yes, for the Tigers it most likely means a chance at the national championship and a Sugar Bowl bid for the Gamecocks, but it also means they are the best team in the South, a very important title in these parts. South Carolina must stop Cam Newton but no one has figured it out yet. It ain’t happening this week either. Sure South Carolina might play well for a while but the Tigers are playing for something bigger and Newton officially locks up the Heisman.

Oregon vs. Oregon State- Another “playoff game” atmosphere in Corvallis, Oregon, as the Ducks go down the road 40 miles and try to win the Pac-10. Oregon State has been the home to many upsets recently and would like nothing more than to ruin their rival’s run to the championship. Here is there chance. They are going to slow the game down to have a chance but their D isn’t good enough to do it. Ducks win and have roses in their mouths at the end of the night.

Florida State vs. Virginia Tech- Maybe this ACC Championship will have more than 10,000 people in Charlotte at the stadium. As good as the SEC Championship game is shows how the ACC just doesn’t have it quite right. If there are people there watching or not Virginia Tech is winning the game, sorry Boise. The Hokies are hot, winning their last 10 games. It really is about when you win in college football. Florida State has made huge strides this year and is headed to the right direction, but the Hokies are experienced.

Oklahoma vs. Nebraska- In the best game that no one is talking about, Nebraska is playing their last game in the Big 12. If you going to leave, this is the way to go. Too bad they don’t win in their last Big 12 match up. Nebraska’s games have been close recently and just have not been the same team since QB Taylor Martinez hurt his ankle. His motor is what makes this offense go. Oklahoma, on the other hand, has had to play its way into this game and is motivated to win and they will.

Other Picks (in bold):

Connecticut at South Florida- UConn is going to the Orange Bowl without a single vote in the Coach’s Poll.

Utah State at Boise State- I bet Boise K Kyle Brotzman doesn’t miss a kick. Too bad it’s one week too late

Southern Methodist at UCF- My high school QB and favorite UCF player WR Brian Watters gets a ring and a trip to the Liberty Bowl.

Washington at Washington State

USC at UCLA

Rutgers at West Virginia

Nevada at Louisiana Tech

How I See It...

It being the college football weekend. The one that is already underway if you include Alabama's absolute drubbing of Georgia State, not that it wasn't expected. Really though the Tide could have scored 100 if they wanted. So with that game, the Washington win over UCLA already happening, and that I am not going to mention the Boise State game tonight I will predict the football games on Saturday.

Arkansas vs. Mississippi State- This game is becoming more and more important. Yes, it is essential for the Hogs to win and keep their BCS bowl game hopes alive but there is more behind this game. In my family, everyone, except me, went to Arkansas and most of the family still lives in the state, and we are all huge Razorback fans. In Lexie's house, everyone, except her, went to Mississippi State and still lives in Mississippi. They are all "State people." (which are GREAT people) Though I am banned from talking to Lexie's mother during the game, I know she will have her cowbell out and ringing it loud enough to scare the Sambo, their dog, under the bed. I know my family will be decked out in their red and calling the hogs proudly.  I am so glad that Lexie and I can agree on our team, the Bulldogs... from Samford University , of course. As far as the game goes I do see it being a good game but the offensive fire power will be too much in the end.  The score will be a little more lopsided than the game will be but the Razorbacks improve to 4-1 on the road and one win away from a 10 win season.

LSU vs. Ole Miss- Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt does not want to admit it but he has had LSU's number in the past few years. Starting with his days at Arkansas, his teams have consistently played well against the Bayou Bengals. Seeing that Nutt has not had his typical one big upset a year yet many "experts" are seeing this as an easy upset pick. Not this expert. Expect to see Lucky Les win again this weekend. The Tigers run well and run often against a weak Mississippi run defense. Watch Jerimiah Masoli try and make sense of why he is in Mississippi after all.

Ohio State vs. Iowa- Even with Iowa losing last weekend to Northwestern this game still will help determine the Big 10 champ and bowl pecking order. I know that Iowa is a tough place to play especially after a loss but Ohio State is playing for too much for that to get in the way. I do believe that Terelle Pryor will have to be able to move and throw the ball because Iowa DE Adrian Claiborne will be getting after him and show why NFL scouts are excited. Ohio State wins a close one.

Virginia Tech vs. Miami- In a game that Virginia Tech can clinch it's half of the ACC and lock its place in the ACC Championship Game, I expect them to do just that. Granted, Miami has been dealt tough cards to play with this season, but they have just not been able to be consistent against the adversary. Virginia Tech on the other hand has been able to bounce back after losing their first two games, one of which was James Madison. This Hokie team is playing like everyone thought they would at the beginning of the year and they continue to do so this Saturday.

Other picks (in bold):

Army vs. Notre Dame- Coolest setting this year, Yankee Stadium. ND vs. Army circa 1918.

Illinois at Northwestern- 2^nd coolest setting this year, Wrigley Field. Too bad the base ball field is not big enough.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/news/story?id=5824661

Stanford at California- This rivalry is not even close. Forget the comparisons to the

Oregon game. This game gets ugly.

Tennessee at Vanderbilt- It’s truly amazing that the Vols can still go to a bowl game.

Wisconsin vs. Michigan- Belima has another hard time keeping the score reasonable as the Badgers put up big numbers again this week against a weak Michigan defense.

Nebraska at Texas A&M
Connecticut at Syracuse

Oklahoma at Baylor

USC at Oregon State

Florida State at Maryland

Duke at Georgia Tech
Pittsburgh at South Florida