LSU-'Bama Is Marquee Matchup This Week

Only two games this week match ranked teams, and one is a traditional rivalry that is sure to appeal to Southern football fans — LSU vs. Alabama.

The other matchup from the Top 25 pits two other traditional powers — Ohio State and Penn State — but they haven't been conference rivals for decades. The game should be entertaining, but it just doesn't have the history that LSU–Alabama has.

One can only imagine the atmosphere that will saturate Tuscaloosa this weekend, but, even if they can't be there in person, football fans across the nation can see the game themselves. And it ought to be quite a sight to behold.

It's going to be a busy weekend. All Top 25 teams are in action this week.

• Vanderbilt at #1 Florida, 6:15 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2 — The Gators haven't lost to the Commodores since 1988, and they haven't lost to them at home since Truman was president. I don't think Vandy will end either streak this week.


• UCF at #2 Texas, 11 a.m. (Central) on FSN — Central Florida gave Texas a good run when they played two years ago, but ultimately faltered, 35–32. That game was at home. I simply can't imagine UCF beating Texas in Austin.


• #9 LSU at #3 Alabama, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS — LSU has dominated the series in the last 10 games, winning seven, but Alabama snapped a five—game losing streak last year. In recent years, it's been a good game, frequently decided by a single score. Alabama is now coached by LSU's former coach, and he snapped a five–game losing streak last year with a victory in Baton Rouge, La. 'Bama is at home, and I'll take the Tide, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise if LSU wins.


• #4 TCU at San Diego State, 3 p.m. (Central) on Versus — TCU has won four straight since the two schools became members of the same conference. SDSU doesn't usually have a competitive football team, and TCU has dreams of cracking the BCS this year. The Frogs might be derailed along the way, but I would be very surprised if it happens this Saturday.


• #5 Boise State at Louisiana Tech, Friday at 7 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2 — Boise State has won its last seven against Louisiana Tech — and Tech has had a few good teams in those years. Tech's last win against Boise State came at home, but that was in 2001. I expect Boise to win.


• Northwestern at #6 Iowa, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN — Northwestern has won three of the last four against Iowa, including a memorable win three years ago that snapped a six–game losing streak for the Wildcats. But, in spite of their date with Ohio State that looms next week, I have to think 9–0 Iowa will be eager to avenge last year's 22–17 loss to Northwestern. The Hawkeyes have only lost twice since then. I'll take Iowa at home.


• Connecticut at #7 Cincinnati, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC — UConn had lost four straight to Cincinnati since 2001 — until recording a 40–16 victory last year. Cincinnati QB Tony Pike gets the Heisman hype, but his rating is not significantly higher than UConn's Cody Endres' rating. And UConn has a pretty effective rushing tandem (Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman) whereas Cincinnati's running game is led by Isaiah Pead, who is averaging less than 60 yards per game. This one might be more competitive than many people think, but I'll still take Cincinnati at home.


• #8 Oregon at Stanford — Oregon has won eight of its last 10 games with Stanford and hasn't lost in the series since 2001. To make matters worse for Stanford, Oregon hasn't lost at Stanford since 1997. But Stanford still has dreams of winning the Pac–10 and could pull within ½ a game of Oregon with a win. There will be plenty of stars to watch, including two of the top three rushers in the conference (Stanford's Toby Gerhart and Oregon's LaMichael James, both of whom have been producing more than 100 rushing yards per game) and one of the top passers (Stanford's Andrew Luck, who has the highest QB rating in the Pac–10). I think Oregon will win, but I expect it to be very close.


• #12 Ohio State at #10 Penn State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC — Penn State is 6–10 against Ohio State since joining the Big Ten in the early 1990s. The Nittany Lions lost by 20 points the last time the Buckeyes came to town, but that was a bit unusual. Most of the games between the two schools — well, the ones in Happy Valley, anyway — have been much closer. I anticipate another close one, with Penn State ultimately claiming the victory.


• Wake Forest at #11 Georgia Tech, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC — These ACC rivals play in different divisions so they don't play every year. This, in fact, will be a resumption of a series that hasn't been part of the regular season schedule since 2005, although the teams played for the ACC title in 2006 (when Wake Forest won). In regular–season play, Wake Forest hasn't won since 2002. I expect Georgia Tech to win by about a touchdown.


• #13 USC at Arizona State, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC — Here's an interesting factoid that may have no relevance at all. Through Arizona State's first eight games, wins and losses have come in twos. ASU won its first two games, then lost the next two, then won the next two, then lost the next two. If that pattern continues, the Sun Devils should beat USC this weekend. But the Trojans have won the last nine meetings. ASU may derive some advantage from playing at home, but, in the end, I expect USC to prevail, perhaps by a field goal (which would make it the closest game the two have played in a quarter of a century).


• Syracuse at #14 Pittsburgh, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPNU — In the last two decades, Syracuse is 12–7–1 against Pittsburgh. But most of those wins came in the 1990s. Pitt has won the last four meetings and, being ranked and at home for this year's contest, is sure to be favored to make it five straight. The Panthers have some weapons — Dion Lewis is averaging 128 yards on the ground, and Bill Stull is throwing for more than 200 yards per game. That kind of balanced attack seems likely to keep 3–5 Syracuse on its toes. I pick Pittsburgh to win.


• #15 Houston at Tulsa, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on CBSCSN — Until a few years ago, these two schools were nonconference opponents. They have played 10 times since 1975, with each team winning five. Houston holds the advantage since the schools became conference rivals in 2005, but they were humbled the last time they visited Tulsa, losing 56–7. And it's worth remembering that Tulsa averaged nearly 48 points a game last year but only scored 30 in a lopsided loss (70–30) at Houston. Tulsa has been struggling this year, averaging about 28 points per game while Houston has been averaging in the low 40s. Tulsa's defense has been a little better, holding opponents to about 20 points a game while the Cougars have yielded around 28 points a game. Quarterback Case Keenum probably holds the key for Houston. He's been averaging more than 400 yards passing per game this season and has thrown five TD passes for every interception. Can Tulsa stop him? I don't think so.


• New Mexico at #16 Utah, 5 p.m. (Central) on The MTN — The two schools have split their last 10 meetings, which stands in contrast to the mid– and late 1990s, when Utah routinely beat New Mexico. This weekend's clash looks like a return to those days of yesteryear — Utah is 7–1 while New Mexico is 0–8. I can imagine no scenario in which New Mexico can win this game. Utah should win by at least two touchdowns.


• Virginia at #17 Miami (Florida), 11 a.m. (Central) on Raycom — Before the two schools became ACC rivals a few years ago, their only previous meeting was at the end of the 1996 season, when Miami beat Virginia in the Carquest Bowl. As conference rivals, Miami holds a 3–2 lead, thanks to the Hurricanes' 24–17 win last season. Even though Miami has been struggling lately, I'll take the Hurricanes. Virginia is on the road, where it can be argued the Cavaliers have fared better than at home (where they have lost to the likes of William & Mary and Duke), but the location does not seem to matter.


• #18 Oklahoma State at Iowa State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC — Since the conference expanded to become the Big 12 in 1996, the two teams have been in different divisions and, thus, do not play each other every year. This will be the eighth time the teams have played since the Big Eight became the Big 12, and OSU leads the series in that time, 4–3. The Cowboys held a more decisive advantage in the last 15 years of the Big Eight, when OSU was 9–4–2 against Iowa State. OSU did lose the last time the teams played in Iowa, but the trend this year is for OSU to lose to ranked teams. Give me the Cowboys.


• Washington State at #19 Arizona — Arizona has won 13 of its last 20 games with Washington State, including the last three. But that's the way the series goes. The same team usually wins three — occasionally four — in a row, then the other team starts winning. Based on that, it would appear that it is Washington State's turn to start winning, but Washington State is 1–7 with its only win coming against SMU. I'll pick Arizona.


• #20 Oklahoma at Nebraska, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC — Since these schools don't play each other every year, the series doesn't have as much appeal as it used to. But it is still a bitter rivalry. It's an odd kind of series, though. Nebraska has a 6–4 record against OU in the last 10 meetings, including some really lopsided wins in the final years of the Big Eight Conference. But the Cornhuskers have lost the last three they've played against the Sooners and haven't won since 2001, which also happens to be the last time Nebraska beat Oklahoma at home. I think they might have to wait awhile longer, although it might be more competitive with Sam Bradford out of the lineup.


• Navy at #21 Notre Dame, 1:30 p.m. (Central) on NBC — Notre Dame has won 43 of its last 44 games against Navy. The exception was a 46–44 setback in 2007 (when Notre Dame was 3–9 and Navy was 8–5). I'll take the Irish in this one.


• #22 Wisconsin at Indiana, 11 a.m. (Central) on Big Ten — Wisconsin is 10–5 against Indiana since 1990. The Hoosiers haven't beaten the Badgers at home since 2002. I don't think they will notch a home win against the Badgers this year.


• Oregon State at #23 California, 6 p.m. (Central) on FSN — Oregon State is 8–2 against Cal since 1999, and OSU has won the last two encounters. I pick Oregon State to win in an upset special.


• #24 Virginia Tech at East Carolina, Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN — Virginia Tech is 8–5 in this series since 1987. The schools resumed playing each other in 2007 (first time since 2000), and East Carolina won last year for the first time since 1992. I expect Tech to win.


• #25 BYU at Wyoming, 1 p.m. (Central) on The MTN — BYU is 8–2 against Wyoming in the last 10 years, and the Cougars have a five–game winning streak against the Cowboys. I think they will make it six in a row, although they tend to struggle a bit when they play at Wyoming.

Last week: 16–4.

Season: 130–29.