College Football Enters Its Stretch Run

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I went over to my father's house last Saturday to watch the Arkansas game.

We both graduated from the University of Arkansas so we have a strong rooting interest in the Razorbacks. Unfortunately, that game got out of hand quickly.

So we switched to the Houston–SMU game. SMU is the local team and, besides, Dad also has a degree from SMU.

We had no idea we were about to see the upset of the season, but my guess is it won't be the last surprise. There will be plenty of drama in the weeks ahead.

We're getting to the point in the season when games become critical for those teams that believe they can qualify for the national championship playoff. We have three games matching two ranked teams this week, and all three involve teams in the Top 5 of the Associated Press weekly rankings. It should hardly be considered an upset if Nebraska beat Wisconsin or Florida State beat Clemson. Michigan and Michigan State is a rivalry game — and anything can happen in those games.

Idle: #1 Alabama, #17 Western Michigan, #18 LSU, #21 North Carolina, #23 Colorado

Thursday

• #24 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: If Pittsburgh can win this game, the all–time series will be tied at 8–8.
  
  Virginia Tech is the favorite, but the Hokies are battling history. They have lost the last four times the game has been played in Pittsburgh.
  
  Still the Hokies are favored to win, and I believe Virginia Tech will prevail.

Friday

• #20 Navy at South Florida, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: These teams met for the first time last year, and Navy won at home by 12.
  
  Both teams sit atop their American Athletic Conference divisions, but I'm guessing there is more pressure on South Florida than Navy in this game. Navy has the top spot all to itself while South Florida is tied with Temple, the team that beat the Bulls last week.
  
  South Florida is favored by about a touchdown, but I like Navy in an upset special.

Saturday

• #2 Michigan at Michigan State, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: This is a rivalry game, and I have written about rivalry games here before. You never know what will happen in a rivalry game.
  
  Historically Michigan leads the series, winning nearly two–thirds of the time and nearly 69% of the time when the game has been played in Ann Arbor. But when it has been played in East Lansing, the outcome has been less certain. The Wolverines have a winning record there, too, but the percentage is around 58%.
  
  What's more, the Spartans have won the last four times they have hosted the Wolverines.
  
  Michigan is a heavy favorite (23½ points) to end that skid, and I am inclined to agree. I pick Michigan.
  
  But don't be surprised if it is closer than 23½ points.
• #3 Clemson at #11 Florida State, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: If Clemson is to make another run for the national title, the Tigers must do something they haven't done very often — beat Florida State.
  
  And they will have to win at Tallahassee, which is an even rarer achievement. Clemson has beaten Florida State on the road only once in the last 12 attempts.
  
  Apparently the oddsmakers think the Tigers can do it. Clemson is a 4½–point favorite.
  
  And with the divisional tiebreaker by virtue of its win over Louisville, Clemson holds the advantage in the ACC's Atlantic Division. The Tigers won't relinquish that if Florida State manages to win, but the Tigers can all but wrap up the division crown if they win.
  
  I like Clemson.
• #4 Washington at #16 Utah, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on FS1: Utah had never lost to Washington until last year.
  
  Was that a sign of a shift in the balance of power or just a temporary thing? The oddsmakers think it is the former, having made the Huskies 10–point favorites.
  
  But I'm not sold yet. I pick Utah in an upset special.
• #5 Nebraska at #9 Wisconsin, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Wisconsin has seized the lead in this series in recent years after losing three of the first four contests.
  
  The Badgers have won five of the last six meetings with Nebraska, including a 70–31 romp in the 2012 Big Ten championship game (retribution, I suppose, for a three–point loss to Nebraska earlier in the season).
  
  So perhaps it isn't surprising that Wisconsin is an 8½–point favorite at home. I expect it to be closer than that, but I still think Wisconsin will win at home.
• #6 Louisville at Virginia, 11 a.m. (Central) on ABC or ESPN2: These teams have played four times, twice at each school, and Louisville will be trying to do something it has never done — win at Virginia.
  
  The story of this brief series is that the home team always wins. But that is about to change. The oddsmakers give Louisville a 31½–point advantage. I don't know if the margin will be that great, but I do think Louisville will win.
• Northwestern at #7 Ohio State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Few series in college football are as lopsided as this one.
  
  Ohio State has won more than 80% of its games with Northwestern and has only lost once to the Wildcats since Richard Nixon was president.
  
  That was the last time Northwestern won at Ohio State — Nov. 13, 1971.
  
  I pick Ohio State.
• New Mexico State at #8 Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU: This is the first meeting between these schools and it doesn't seem likely to be competitive.
  
  New Mexico State is 2–5. The Aggies are 6–1 coming off a loss to the top–ranked team in the country.
  
  Shouldn't be close. I pick Texas A&M.
• #10 West Virginia at Oklahoma State, 11 a.m. (Central) on Fox: This is the eighth meeting between these schools, and the games are usually pretty close.
  
  Oh, sure, you have an occasional blowout, but mostly they have been decided by less than 10 points.
  
  The oddsmakers apparently think this will be another close one. The Mountaineers are favored by 3½ points. I like West Virginia, too.
• #12 Boise State at Wyoming, 6 p.m. (Central) on CBSSN: These teams have met 10 times, and Boise State has won each time.
  
  I have to go with Boise State.
• #13 Baylor at Texas, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: When I was growing up, a game against Baylor was a gimme, especially for Texas.
  
  For a long time the Longhorns almost always beat the Bears, sometimes by outrageous margins. They have met every year since 1945, and the Longhorns have been dominant. To cite a recent example, between 1993 and 2009, the Longhorns only lost once to the Bears.
  
  But Baylor has been bouncing back, winning four of the last six meetings, including two of the last three played in Austin. Coming into this game, Baylor is ranked and Texas is not. Such a thing was unthinkable only a few years ago.
  
  The Bears are favored by a field goal, but I think Baylor will win by more than that.
• #14 Auburn at Ole Miss, 6:15 p.m. (Central) on SEC Network: Auburn usually beats Ole Miss, and the Tigers have won eight of the last 11, but they lost to the Rebels last year.
  
  Both teams are good, and I expect this one to go down to the wire. Auburn is a 4–point favorite, but I pick Ole Miss to win in an upset special.
• #15 Florida at Georgia, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: This is an old rivalry — just how old it is depends on which side you're on, I guess. Georgia counts a game it played against one of Florida's four predecessor schools in 1904, a year before the University of Florida was established in Gainesville. Florida's records show the series beginning in 1915.
  
  Either way, Georgia leads the series, but the Gators have won the last two meetings.
  
  I pick Florida.
• Kansas at #19 Oklahoma, 6 p.m. (Central) on FS1: It is routine for Oklahoma to beat Kansas in football. The Sooners have beaten the Jayhawks 11 straight times, and they have won about three–quarters of the games ever played between the schools. Kansas hasn't beaten Oklahoma in Norman since 1996.
  
  The Sooners are favored by 40 points. Yes, you read that right. If Kansas wins, it really will be an upset. But Kansas won't win. Oklahoma will.
• #22 Tennessee at South Carolina, 6:15 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: Historically Tennessee has dominated this series. Lately the Volunteers have won the last three meetings. They won the last time they played there, but they lost the previous two games at South Carolina, and while they have a winning road record against South Carolina, those games have been more of a struggle for Tennessee than the ones played in Knoxville.
  
  Oddsmakers don't seem to think this will be much of a struggle. Tennessee has been established as a 13½–point favorite.
  
  I like Tennessee, too.
• #25 Penn State at Purdue, 11 a.m. (Central) on ABC or ESPN2: Penn State has beaten Purdue seven straight times and hasn't lost at Purdue in more than a decade.
  
  I see no reason for that to change. Penn State is the pick.

Last week: 13–4

Overall: 115–35

Postponed: 1

Last week's upset specials: 0–2

Overall upset specials: 6–11

Big 12 Opts Against Expansion

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The big news around here and elsewhere in the college football world this week was the Big 12's decision not to expand.

The idea behind expansion, of course, was that there would be enough members for the conference to qualify for a season–ending conference championship game, which is widely seen as a prerequisite for participation in the four–team championship playoff.

But that theory was pretty much disproven last year when Big 12 member Oklahoma qualified for the four–team field — even without the benefit of a conference championship game.

The Sooners lost the chance to play for the national title on the field — to Clemson.

Anyway, the Big 12 has decided not to expand in the near future. I think it was probably the right decision — although one of the expansion schools might have been Houston, currently ranked #11 and a former Southwest Conference rival of Big 12 members Texas, Texas Tech, TCU and Baylor. Houston could have renewed some old rivalries.

Idle: #3 Clemson, #8 Baylor, #12 Florida, #15 Florida State, #19 Tennessee

Thursday

• Brigham Young at #14 Boise State, 9:15 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This is a young series, as these things go. The teams have played six times, and Boise State has won four, including all three of the previous contests played in Idaho.
  
  History says Boise is better. The 2016 records (Boise is 6–0, BYU is 4–3) concur. I pick Boise State.

Saturday

• #6 Texas A&M at #1 Alabama, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: The Aggies have beaten the Crimson Tide only once since joining the SEC — but that game was played at Alabama.
  
  Other than a Cotton Bowl win on Jan. 1, 1968, it is the only time the Aggies have beaten the Crimson Tide.
  
  Can they do it again this week?
  
  If A&M is to live up to the reputation it has been building this season, it must. But I am skeptical. I choose Alabama.
• #2 Ohio State at Penn State, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: Ohio State has beaten Penn State more than two–thirds of the time since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten more than two decades ago, but five of Penn State's seven wins over Ohio State in that time have come when Penn State was the home team.
  
  I really don't think that will help much this time. I choose Ohio State.
• Illinois at #4 Michigan: This series goes back to the late 19th century, and Michigan has won about three–quarters of the time.
  
  In the last 11 games, Michigan is 9–2 against Illinois and almost never loses to the Illini when the Wolverines are having a good season.
  
  Consequently, I choose Michigan.
• Oregon State at #5 Washington, 5:30 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12 Network: Washington controls this series, although there was a time not so long ago when Oregon State had all the momentum.
  
  But the Huskies are back on track now, holding down a Top 5 ranking and entertaining thoughts of being in the college football playoffs.
  
  Winner of the last four meetings, I expect Washington to extend that streak to five.
• North Carolina State at #7 Louisville, 11 a.m. (Central) on ABC: Louisville has only lost once to North Carolina State and never at home.
  
  But beware this N.C. State team. It played #3 Clemson close on the road and might just do it again.
  
  Close or not, though, I pick Louisville to prevail.
• Purdue at #9 Nebraska, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2 or ABC: Nebraska beat Purdue by three touchdowns the only other time the Cornhuskers hosted the Boilermakers.
  
  That was two years ago. Purdue returned the favor last season.
  
  Undefeated Nebraska leads the Big Ten's Western Division while Purdue languishes at the bottom. This is a no–brainer. Nebraska should win handily at home.
• #10 Wisconsin at Iowa, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: This series is 89 games old, and it has gone back and forth.
  
  Iowa snapped a three–game losing streak last season and, if the Hawkeyes can win this one at home, the series will be tied at 44–44–2.
  
  That could happen. Iowa beats Wisconsin 57% of the time when they play at Iowa, and oddsmakers currently only have Wisconsin as a three–point favorite. Still, I can't see Iowa winning this one. I'll take Wisconsin.
• #11 Houston at SMU, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: Since SMU came off the NCAA's death penalty nearly 30 years ago, Houston is 15–3–1 against SMU. The Mustangs were 5–1 against the Cougars in the years just before the death penalty was imposed — when rules violations propelled SMU to the top of the national rankings.
  
  But now Houston is the ranked team and SMU is at the bottom, which is where the Mustangs have been most of the time since 1989.
  
  I see no reason to expect an SMU victory. Instead, I expect Houston to win handily.
• TCU at #13 West Virginia, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC or ESPN2: When the season began, few if any college football fans expected TCU to be unranked and West Virginia to be ranked 13th when they met in late October. Yet that is the situation.
  
  TCU has won three out of four since West Virginia joined the Big 12. In some circles, TCU is probably the favorite in this game because of history and lingering expectations. But I will pick West Virginia at home.
• #16 Oklahoma at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. (Central) on FOX: The Red Raiders are fortunate that this game will be played in Lubbock. At least there they have a chance to win — historically. In Norman, the Sooners are 10–2 against Tech, but they only lead 6–4 in Lubbock.
  
  Tech comes in on a two–game losing streak following losses to Kansas State and West Virginia. OU appears to have rallied after early losses to Houston and Ohio State.
  
  I pick Oklahoma.
• #17 Arkansas at #24 Auburn, 5 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This series has been almost exclusively the product of Arkansas' decision to join the Southeastern Conference in the early '90s, and it has been pretty close.
  
  For the most part, it has gone back and forth. This will be the teams' 26th meeting, and only once has a team beaten the other three straight times.
  
  Nothing like that will happen this time. Arkansas beat Auburn last year, but Auburn won the year before that.
  
  I&aapos;m expecting a close game, but oddsmakers are making Auburn a 10–point favorite. Perhaps that is because of Auburn's defense, which has been playing well. But I'm going to take Arkansas in an upset special.
• #18 Utah at UCLA, 3 p.m. (Central) on FOX: UCLA has dominated this series — and had never lost to Utah at home until two years ago.
  
  Utah won on that occasion. In fact, the Utes have been playing the Bruins close in recent years.
  
  I expect a spirited game, and I pick Utah to win its second straight at UCLA.
• Eastern Michigan at #20 Western Michigan, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN3: Western Michigan has won more than two–thirds of its games with Eastern Michigan, but Western Michigan is especially tough at home.
  
  Eastern Michigan is not a bad team at 5–2. but undefeated Western Michigan has two road wins over Big Ten schools.
  
  I pick Western Michigan.
• #21 North Carolina at Virginia, 2 p.m. (Central) on ACC Network: These teams have played each other almost every year since 1902.
  
  North Carolina has won 57% of the time, and the Tar Heels have won the last six meetings.
  
  I'd like to predict that the underdog Cavaliers will win this one at home — but I can't. I've seen the Tar Heels play.
  
  I pick North Carolina.
• #22 Ole Miss at #23 LSU, 8 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This is the 100th meeting between these schools. Not surprisingly, LSU has won nearly 60% of the time and has won four of the last six.
  
  LSU has also won six of the last seven played in Baton Rouge.
  
  I just have a feeling. I pick Ole Miss in an upset special.
• Memphis at #25 Navy, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBSSN: When they met for the first time last year, Navy whipped Memphis 45–20.
  
  Memphis wasn't a bad team last year and isn't a bad team now, but Navy was and is a pretty good team. And I pick Navy to prevail at home.

Last week: 14–3

Overall: 102–31

Postponed: 1

Last week's upset specials: 1–1

Overall upset specials: 6–9

The Rivalry Season Is Under Way

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The college football season always goes by too quickly for me.

We're already about halfway through it. You can tell because the truly traditional clashes are starting to be played, like last weekend's Oklahoma–Texas game. In this part of the country, there may be no bigger rivalry than that one.

And the South is filled with rivalries.

Over the next month or so there will be many more rivalries renewed. Topping the list of rivalries in the Top 25 this weekend is the Alabama–Tennessee game, but rivalries exist outside the Top 25. Rivalries are among the things that make college sports so special. They are why people will still watch a rivalry even if the teams are mediocre. After all, bragging rights are still at stake.

Of course, when rivalries involve one or two ranked teams, the stakes are even higher. For example, this year's Michigan–Ohio State game looks as if it may have a college football playoff berth riding on the outcome.

That rivalry, like many, is to be played around Thanksgiving.

But as I say there will be many rivalry games played in the weeks ahead. Keep watching.

Idle: #4 Michigan, #5 Washington, #6 Texas A&M, #23 Auburn, #25 Navy

Friday

• Duke at #7 Louisville, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These teams have only met once before, on Sept. 7, 2002 at Duke. Louisville won 40–3.
  
  I don't know if the score will be that lopsided this time, but I'm sure Louisville will be the winner again.

Saturday

• #1 Alabama at #9 Tennessee, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: Alabama has won nine in a row against Tennessee. It is important to understand that because it has been pretty lopsided lately for a rivalry. It hasn't always been that way. In 97 previous meetings, Alabama has won 53, Tennessee has won 37, and there have been seven ties.
  
  ost of Tennessee's teams in the last decade haven't been too good, and Alabama has crushed the Vols frequently. But last year, when Tennessee had a fairly good team, Alabama had to struggle to win by five points at home.
  
  Alabama has won four straight in Knoxville. Twice before, the Crimson Tide won five in a row in Knoxville — between 1986 and 1994 and between 1972 and 1980. Can they match that record against a Tennessee team that never gives up?
  
  Should be worth watching. My money is on Alabama.
• #2 Ohio State at #8 Wisconsin, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: If you want to discuss lopsided series in more detail, here is Exhibit A. Ohio State has dominated the series with Wisconsin, winning nearly three–quarters of the time.
  
  Ohio State has won the last four (including the 2014 Big Ten championship game in a 59–0 blowout) and seven of the last eight against Wisconsin.
  
  The Badgers may put up a good fight for awhile. They do that sometimes. But I pick Ohio State to prevail.
• North Carolina State at #3 Clemson, 11 a.m. (Central) on ABC: Clemson has won 11 of the last 12 encounters with North Carolina State.
  
  Historically Clemson has won two out of every three with N.C. State and hasn't lost to the Wolfpack at home since 2002.
  
  This ought to be a slam dunk (to mix sports metaphors) and yet ...
  
  N.C. State tends to beat Clemson when Clemson is struggling. Clearly, Clemson hasn't been struggling too much of late.
  
  But there, as Shakespeare would say, is the rub. N.C. State is nearly always competitive with Clemson, and sometimes N.C. State upsets a Clemson team that is headed for a 10–win (or better) season.
  
  Nevertheless, aware as I am of the history of the series, that's too much of an upset for me. I pick Clemson.
• #10 Nebraska at Indiana, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC or ESPN2: Indiana leads the series, but it piled up all its wins before John F. Kennedy became president.
  
  Indiana hasn't beaten Nebraska since 1959. The Hoosiers haven't beaten the Cornhuskers in Indiana since 1945.
  
  If this was basketball, my pick would be different. But this is football, and I pick Nebraska.
• Kansas at #11 Baylor, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on FS1: Baylor has won all seven of its home games against Kansas over the years.
  
  The Jayhawks have been competitive at home — but not in Waco.
  
  I don't expect the Jayhawks to be competitive this time, either. I pick Baylor.
• #12 Ole Miss at #22 Arkansas, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: The recent history of this series has been that a team wins two in a row, then the other team wins two in a row.
  
  The Razorbacks are 10–2 against Ole Miss when the game is played in Arkansas, but both of those losses have come in recent years.
  
  Still I take Arkansas as an upset special. I think the Hogs can get back on track in this game.
• Tulsa at #13 Houston, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: Houston has won seven of the last 10 against Tulsa to seize the lead in the all–time series.
  
  This will be their 41st meeting — and 23rd at Houston. Tulsa has won twice at Houston since the series was renewed in 2005 after a 12–year absence — but those wins came against teams that lost more than they won. This year's edition of the Cougars is considerably better.
  
  And I pick Houston to win.
• Wake Forest at #14 Florida State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Florida State has beaten Wake Forest four straight times.
  
  What's more, Florida State has won the last three encounters at home by a combined score of 126–3.
  
  Florida State will win.
• Colorado State at #15 Boise State, 9:15 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: Boise State has never lost to Colorado State. I expect it to stay that way.
  
  Boise State should win.
• North Carolina at #16 Miami (Fla.), 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC or ESPN2: North Carolina's triumph last year gave the Tar Heels a one–win edge in the all–time series.
  
  I expect Miami to knot the series again.
• #17 Virginia Tech at Syracuse, 2:45 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU: This will be the teams' first meeting in more than a decade, and the all–time series is close. Syracuse leads 9–8.
  
  Syracuse had a pretty good football program when these teams last met, but times have changed. I think Virginia Tech will prevail.
• Kansas State at #18 Oklahoma, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: Oklahoma has won seven of its last nine against K–State and wins about 78% of the time. In Norman, it has been even more decisive — but Kansas State has won the last two times OU has hosted the game.
  
  Their last two meetings in Norman were close, but I think the margin may be wider this time. I pick Oklahoma.
• Missouri at #19 Florida, 3 p.m. (Central) on SEC Network: Missouri hammered Florida when the Tigers visited the Gators two years ago.
  
  Both teams have had a couple of weeks off — but for different reasons. Missouri had an off week scheduled. Florida was supposed to play LSU, but Hurricane Matthew postponed it. Ironically, Missouri was the last team LSU has played, and LSU cruised to a 42–7 win.
  
  I expect a different outcome this time than the last time Missouri played at Florida. Florida should prevail.
• #20 West Virginia at Texas Tech, 11 a.m. (Central) on FS1: West Virginia has been a member of the Big 12 for four years, and both teams have won twice in that time.
  
  Lately the advantage has been with West Virginia, but Texas Tech has been within a single score of taking the lead when the final gun sounded.
  
  This should be another good one, and I'm going to take Texas Tech at home in an upset special.
• #21 Utah at Oregon State, 3 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12 Network: Historically, this has been a pretty even series. Utah has won the last two encounters and should be the favorite, but Oregon State usually puts up a pretty good fight.
  
  I'm going to pick Utah, but it wouldn't surprise me if Oregon State won. It's that kind of series.
• #24 Western Michigan at Akron, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBSSN: Akron won the first meeting back in 1975, but Western Michigan is 12–2 against Akron since then.
  
  The last time they met in Akron, Western Michigan won 56–10. A similar outcome isn't out of the question. History simply isn't on Akron's side. I pick Western Michigan.

Last week: 9–5

Overall: 88–28

Postponed: 1

Last week's upset specials: 2–1

Overall upset specials: 5–8

The Best Is Yet to Come

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If you're a college football fan, it's hard to imagine how the season can get much better than it has been in just the first five weeks.

But, for the most part, that was the nonconference part of the schedule. By and large, the remaining games will be conference clashes.

There have been some really exciting games up to this point, but I truly believe the best is yet to come. This season is only going to get better.

Stay tuned.

Idle: #7 Louisville, #11 Wisconsin, #12 Nebraska, #13 Baylor, #14 Ole Miss, #22 West Virginia

Friday

• #3 Clemson at Boston College, 6:30p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Clemson has won seven of its last eight games with Boston College, but Boston College plays Clemson tougher when the game is at home. If Boston College can win this game, the series will be tied in Boston.
  
  I don't think it will happen, though. I expect Clemson to win its eighth of nine against Boston College.
• #19 Boise State at New Mexico, 8 p.m. (Central) on CBSSN: New Mexico beat Boise State for the first time last year, but New Mexico is still looking for its first home win against the Broncos.
  
  I think the Lobos will still be looking when the game is over. I pick Boise State.

Saturday

• #1 Alabama at #16 Arkansas, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Alabama has beaten Arkansas nine straight times.
  
  And, as much as I would like to see my alma mater win this game, I know it probably won't happen, even though the game is being played in Fayetteville. I pick Alabama.
• Indiana at #2 Ohio State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: In their last 23 meetings, Ohio State has beaten Indiana all but once — and that exception was a tie. The Hoosiers haven't beaten the Buckeyes since 1988 — and they haven't won at Columbus since 1987.
  
  Ohio State should roll in this one.
• #4 Michigan at Rutgers, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: These teams have played twice since Rutgers joined the Big Ten. The home team has won both times.
  
  That should make Rutgers the favorite in this game, but I don't think Rutgers can beat Michigan, especially with the memory of Rutgers' drubbing at the hands of Ohio State still fresh. I pick Michigan.
• #5 Washington at Oregon, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on Fox: Oregon has beaten Washington 12 straight times.
  
  Washington was once more competitive against Oregon — and looked to be closing the gap last year when the Huskies lost by six to the Ducks. It was the first time since Washington's last win in the series (in 2003) that Oregon didn't win by at least 17 points (and usually much more than that).
  
  Washington can be forgiven for believing that last week's rout of Stanford is indicative of much better things to come this season. Perhaps it will be. If it is, it needs to start here with a win over Oregon.
  
  I'm still not sold, though. Based on the rankings, my selection of Oregon qualifies as an upset special.
• #6 Houston at Navy, 2 p.m. (Central) on CBSSN: In their previous meetings, Houston is 2–0 — but one of those wins came in the 1980 Garden State Bowl. Houston blanked Navy on that occasion.
  
  They met again last year, and Houston prevailed by 21 points. Navy did score that time, but so did Houston — a lot.
  
  Both teams are 2–0 in American Athletic Conference play. I'll take Houston.
• #9 Tennessee at #8 Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: As an Arkansas graduate, the game of the week for me is Arkansas–Alabama, but for the rest of the Southeastern Conference, the Vols–Aggies game is clearly the game of the week.
  
  Both teams are 5:ndash;0 overall, and they have met only twice before. Tennessee won both times, the first time in the 1957 Gator Bowl, the second time in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day 2005. Most of the guys on the current rosters were in elementary school the last time these teams faced off.
  
  They compete in different divisions so a loss in this game won't necessarily prevent either from being in the conference championship game, but Tennessee probably has the advantage with wins over divisional rivals Florida and Georgia.
  
  Alabama will be waiting for Tennessee next week, but all the rest of the Volunteers' SEC East foes have at least two conference losses. The Aggies have three SEC wins, but they still must play Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU.
  
  Both teams are good, and I expect a close game. But the Vols have shown that it truly isn't over until it's over, even on the road. I pick Tennessee.
• #23 Florida State at #10 Miami (Fla.), 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: Florida State has won this game nine of the last 11 times the teams have met.
  
  But Miami's last win over Florida State came at home on Sept. 7, 2009.
  
  Florida State is sure to be smarting after last week's loss to North Carolina. Can the Seminoles put things together and get a bounce–back win at Miami?
  
  I think they can. Based on the rankings, Florida State over Miami is an upset special.
• Washington State at #15 Stanford, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Stanford has beaten Washington State eight straight times.
  
  Washington State is 1–0 in the Pac–12 North while Stanford is 2–1, but Stanford is unbeaten at home while WSU is winless on the road.
  
  I pick Stanford to extend its streak.
• #25 Virginia Tech at #17 North Carolina: Virginia Tech leads the all–time series, but North Carolina won the game they played last season.
  
  A lot of attention is being given to North Carolina's quarterback after he led the Tar Heels to a victory at Florida State last weekend.
  
  That wasn't just any victory, by the way. In case you haven't heard, that was Florida State's first conference loss at home since 2011.
  
  Virginia Tech, however, is 5–1 at North Carolina since Tech joined the ACC in 2004. The lone exception was North Carolina's 48–34 win in 2012.
  
  The winner will remain in contention for the ACC's Coastal Division crown. If Miami loses to Florida State, the winner will be in the divisional driver's seat. This would be a great game to watch. I can't understand why no one is televising it. I pick North Carolina.
• LSU at #18 Florida, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: These teams have been annual opponents for more than 40 years. It is considered a rivalry, although if you play in the SEC, you are rivals with everyone — and that seems especially true of LSU.
  
  The LSU–Florida winner has gone on to win five national titles and 11 SEC championships in the last couple of decades.
  
  LSU probably doesn't consider itself a national contender this year, considering all the chaos that has surrounded the program.
  
  So I will take Florida even though LSU has won five of the last six encounters.
  
  Update: Due to Hurricane Matthew, the LSU–Florida game was postponed. Southeastern Conference officials are trying to reschedule it.
• Texas vs. #20 Oklahoma, 11 a.m. (Central)on FS1: When I was growing up, this game nearly always featured ranked teams — and I'm talking about Top 5 rankings — on both sides of the ball.
  
  It was a game that almost always had national championship implications. More often than not, it was called the game of the year — and not lightly, either. It wasn't merely an advertising gimmick.
  
  It isn't that way, anymore. But it is still a rivalry, which means anything can happen. In a lifetime of watching these games, I have seen the underdog win as often as the favorite. I taught at the University of Oklahoma during a period when the Sooners probably had their worst football teams in memory, but OU still managed to beat Texas a couple of times — even when Texas had the better team.
  
  OU has had the upper hand of late. While Texas has won two of the last three, the Sooners' record against Texas since Bob Stoops has been coach is 10–7.
  
  I pick Oklahoma.
• #21 Colorado at Southern Cal, 3 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12 Network: The Pac–12 hasn't been as predictable as it once was.
  
  Based on the rankings, I suppose one would expect Colorado to win this game. But Southern Cal has never lost to Colorado, not even once, in 10 previous meetings.
  
  Historically, this wouldn't be an upset, but because of the rankings make Southern Cal an upset special in this one.
• Arizona at #24 Utah, 9 p.m. (Central) on FS1: Arizona has seized the series lead with victories in the last four meetings, and the Wildcats have won four of the last five games at Utah.
  
  More often than not, though, the games have been close. Might not be so close this time. I pick Utah.

Last week: 17–4

Overall: 79–23

Last week's upset specials: 1–1

Overall upset specials: 3–7