Most teams are still playing out of conference, which means there are a lot of mismatches. However, there are a few teams with guts to play tough non-conference games. Here are the top five games of the week.
5. Oregon @ Michigan: Now that Michigan has a loss, the game loses significant value from a National Championship standpoint. However, it will be interesting to see how Michigan responds to the upset that we have all heard about way too much. Oregon has a great running game behind Jonathan Stewart and quarterback Dennis Dixon. It is going to be Dixon's arm though that is going to decide this game against a poor defense. The Ducks inconsistancy at QB will give Michigan the 38-31 win.
4. Miami @ Oklahoma: Miami has a chance in this game to show that the past is behind it and return to dominance. The match-up will be Miami's stingy D against a great running game from the Sooners. OU's offense was great against North Texas, but it was has to be good to beat Miami, and it will be better than Miami's. OU 34-14.
3. TCU @ Texas: Texas looked bad last week against Arkansas State. This is basicall the same Texas team that lost to Kanas State and at home to Texas A&M last year, plus a bad showing in the bowl game versus a bad Iowa team. TCU has a stingy defense and good running game, which will keep them in it until the end. Texas holds on 26-21.
2. South Carolina @ Georgia: The normal early SEC showdown that had Georgia shut out Spurrier's team a year ago. The Ole Ball Coach will be chomping at the bit this year, but will hav eto deal with quarterback Blake Mitchell's inconsistancies. Matt Stafford has come into his own for Georgia and Thomas Brown is strong in the backfield. A dominant performance over Oklahoma State last week showed me something. 27-17 UGA
1. Virginia Tech @ LSU: This is obviously the game of the week, but it is going to have a hard time living up to its billing. VT is way too one dimensional on offense to do anything on a great LSU defense. The Hokies D will keep them close, LSU will score some points behind Matt Flynn and company. LSU 20-7
Upset alert: Look for Washington to put a scare to Boise State, perhaps even winning the game, and look for South Florida to put a scare into Auburn before the Tigers are victorious.