Saturday Spotlight

It's very easy to forget about college football while the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA preseason are all going on. But with the Red Sox and Rays not playing until 8:37, you need something to watch, and these college football games are there to fill the void. Here are the big matchups on campus this weekend.

#10 Georgia vs #22 Vanderbilt
Georgia has gone through a rough patch lately, but they can't afford to keep their heads down against an extremely surprising Vanderbilt team. As we've seen before, anything can happen in the SEC, but because Georgia is at home, I see them getting the win.

#12 Ohio State at #20 Michigan State
Terrelle Pryor gets a giant road test against a very good Michigan State team this weekend. The match-up to watch will be MSU 1,000 yard running back Javon Ringer against LB James Laurnitis. Whoever wins that battle will win this game, and I'm taking Michigan State at home.

#4 Oklahoma vs #16 Kansas
OU will try to rebound after their first loss of the season against Kansas. Both teams have great passing attacks, lead by Sam Bradford of the Sooners and Todd Reesing of the Jayhawks. This looks to game that will be decided by the defensive backs, so I'll take the Boomer Sooners.

#2 Alabama vs Ole Miss
As said before, anything can happen in the SEC. Ole Miss knocked off Flordia a few weeks ago, and look to do the same thing to the Tide. History is on 'Bama's side, as they've won the past four games against Ole Miss. It will turn in to 5 straight wins this weekend.

#17 Virgina Tech at Boston College
The ACC is still up in the air as BC and VT replay last years conference championship game. BC has been solid at home against ranked teams recently, winning their last 3 in a row. Don't expect many points in this game, it's going to be a defensive battle. I would not be supurised if it came down to the kicking game, and Tech has great special teams. I'll take VT on the road, but not by much.

#1 Texas vs #11 Missouri
This game features two amazing quarterbacks, Colt McCoy of Texas and Chase Daniel of Mizzou. Texas is the new #1 after beating Oklahoma in the red river shootout, and Missouri is looking to rebound after a loss to Oklahoma State last weekend. Both teams can put up a massive amount of points, so it will be up to each defense to try to get the win. I think Texas has a better D, and with home field advantge, they get the victory.

Enjoy the games!

Saturday's Big 3: Week 6

While Major League Baseball playoffs and regular season NFL action are now in full swing, it's hard to forget that there are still some great college football games on this weekend. Let's take a look at some of the top games for week 6:

#13 Auburn at #19 Vanderbilt
It's the first time in a long time that Vanderbilt football mattered. Now that Vandy has cracked the top 2o, they get a tough SEC test as Auburn comes to town. Vanderbilt averages 202 rushing yards per game, a fact that the Tigers D knows about. They'll look to stop the running attack of Jared Hawkins and Chris Nickson. I'll take Vandy at home to prove that they're not a fluke team.


#23Oregon at #9 USC
USC is looking for a rebound. After a loss to Oregon State that all but knocked them out of the national title picture, they're hungry to get back on the winning track back in Los Angles. Oregon ranks 8th in total offense, so Ray Maualuga and company have work to do this weekend. USC is too good to be beat again this season, and they're tough to beat at home. I'm taking the Trojans at home this week.


#14Ohio State at #18 Wisconsin
At the beginning of this season, this game had the potential to be huge. Though it's not as big as it could be, Big 10 title dreams are still on the line. The Badgers are scary at home, winning 27 of there last 28 at Camp Randall Stadium, and the fans won't do anything help to Terrelle Pryor or Chris "Beanie" Wells. Wisconson running back P.J. Hill looks to have a big game this weekend as the Badgers offense averages 218.5 yards on the ground. With a bruising running game and home field advantage, I'll take the Badgers.

More Upset Specials

USC. Florida. Georgia. Clemson. Wisconsin. What do these teams share in common? They were upset in another exciting week of college football. Oregon St. knocked off USC. Ole Miss upset Florida. 'Bama tripped up Clemson and Michigan protected the Big House.

We will remember week 5 of the college football season as the week where national title hopes were thrown out the window, and where the underdogs reigned supreme.

Weekend Of Upsets Continues

If you thought that Oregon St. beating USC was going to be the only upset this weekend, you were mistaken. Ole Miss knocked off #4 Florida today in the Swamp, where the Gators had won 21 of there last 22. Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Sneed tossed two touchdowns and ran for another, but the play of the game was on special teams. After Ole Miss took a late lead, but Flordia's Percy Harvin scored on a 15 yard rush, leaving the Gators just the extra point shy of a tie. But as the PAT went up, Rebles special teamer Kentrell Lockett charged over the Flordia line and blocked the game-tying kick.

Tim Tebow went 24/38 for 319 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Saturday's Big 3: Week 5

After #1 USC was knocked off by Oregon State, the number one spot is up for grabs. Let's see which games this week could produce the new #1

3) #12 Penn State vs #22 Illinois
JoPa and crew will try to derail Juice Williams and the Illini this week to keep their perfect record this season. Illinois, coming off a bye week, will try to prove that they're a better team then what they showed last game, a narrow win over Louisiana-Lafayette. In this battle of two top 25 teams, I'll take Penn State to remain unbeaten.


2) #2 Oklahaoma vs #24 TCU
It's a contest bewteen two unbeatans in Norman, OK this weekend as the Sooners take on the Horned Frogs. Oklahoma is led by Sam Bradford, a sensational quarterback who has tossed 12 touchdowns this season. Don't sleep on TCU though, who are unbeaten in their last two trips to the Sooners home stadium. All and all, Oklahoma is too good, and with the number one spot wide open, I can't see OU dropping this one.



1) #3 Georgia vs #8 Alabama
They're both 4-0. They're both in the SEC. They're both able to put up points. Georgia and Alabama is the biggest game on this weeks schedule. Georgia is looking to leapfrog Oklahaoma and show that they're the #1 team in the land, and Alabama wants to show a national audience that a win versus Clemson was not just a fluke. This game features two great running backs, Knowshon Moreno(9 TD) and Glen Coffee (8.6 Yards Per Carry). It also shows off two top freshman recivers, Julio Jones of 'Bama and A.J. Green of the 'Dawgs. Nick Saban and Mark Richt are two great coaches, but I see Richt and the Bulldogs to remain undefeated and cause a real debate for the number one team in the land.

Stay tuned!

Oregon State Stuns #1 USC

21-0. Not an unusual score at halftime for a game featuring the #1 ranked University of Southern California. The problem for Trojans fans however is that for the first time in a very long time it was not USC who had the twenty-one point lead. Instead it was an unranked Oregon State team. A team who lost its first two games of the season, week one at Stanford and then the following week at Penn St.

Call it a two week layoff. Call it a big win hangover. Call it a fluke. Any way you call it the Beavers, not the Trojans, walked away from Thursday night's game winners by the score of 27-21.

Led by freshmen tailback Jacquizz Rodgers and his 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns Oregon States jumped out to a 21-0 lead before USC got their act together in the second half.

Trojan's quarterback and Heismen hopeful Mark Sanchez threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns but was picked off late in the fourth quarter putting an end to any possible comeback.

The loss, by the team who many believed to be the clear cut #1 team in the country, shakes up an already unpredictable college football season. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season shakes out now that the mighty have fallen.

Saturday's Big 3: Week 3

Another college football Saturday is almost upon us, so let's take a look at the top three games for week 3.

3) #10 Wisconsin at #21 Fresno State
Fresno State coach Pat Hill has made a carrier of playing any team at any time at any venue. The Bulldogs traveled across the country to play Rutgers and got a victory. Wisconsin is lead by tailback P.J. Hill, a bruising, downhill runner whose already racked up four TD's in two games. I like Wisconsin going to the west coast and getting the win.

2) #2 Georgia at South Carolina
It's a clash in the SEC as National Champion hopefuls Georgia take on the old ball coach and South Carolina. Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno is showing everyone why he is a real threat to win the Heisman, scoring 6 times in the first two games. But this is 'Dogs first test on the road and the Gamecocks will be looking to get a loss to Vanderbilt out of their heads. This is an easy pick, I'm taking Georgia.

1) #5 Ohio State at #1 Southern California
This is the match up that college football fans have been waiting to see since the schedule came out. It is by far the most anticipated regular season game this year. The hype machine has been on all week for the so called 'clash in the coliseum'.

Ohio State did not look goodt after a narrow escape against Ohio, a game they played without their top runner, Chris "Beanie" Wells. USC has not played a game since their 52-7 trouncing of Virgina in week one.

Ohio State's D is lead by James Laurinaitis, and he'll be busy trying to stop the Trojan offense with RB Joe McKinght and QB Mark Sanchez, who looked great week one. USC is led by hard-hitting LB Rey Maualuga, who will have his hands full when Ohio State brings in dual threat QB Terrelle Pryor.

With or without Wells, who is a game-time decision to play, I see a victory for USC. I wouldn't be surprised if they won by 2 or more touchdowns.

Saturday's Top 3: Week 2

Is it all ready Saturday? Oh yes it is. There's not a great crop of games this week, but it's college football none the less. That being said, here's your top three games of the second week of the college football season:

3) Georgia Tech at Boston College

After a weak performance by the ACC in week one, the eyes of Tech and BC fans got much wider. The race for the top slot in the conference is open, and these two teams could be ones that fill the void. GT had an impressive performance on the running front, rushing for 349 yards in an option offense. BC is lead by their defense, epically by LB Brian Toal and Lineman B.J. Raji. It's strength vs. strenght, but I like the Eagles at home.


2) #8 West Virgina at East Carolina

An win over any top ACC team will open eyes. The East Carolina Pirates did just that by beating Virgina Tech with a blocked punt in their opener. West Virgina opened with a cupcake, but there have been questions about their defense. I like WVU's experience on offense, lead by Pat White. But after the huge upeset win, East Carolina fans will be rabid, and I'm going to take the Pirates in an upset.


1) Miami(FL) at #5 Flordia

A few years ago, this would have been the marquee game of week two. While Flordia has gone on to bigger and better things with Tebow and company, the Hurrcanies haven't had as much luck. That being said, whenever these two rivals meet up, it's bound to be a game that people will want to watch. Rankings really don't matter when state pride and bragging rights are on the line. If Flordia WR and Hesiman canndinate Percy Harvin possibly playing in this game, it's going to be a blowout. Harvin or not, I'm taking the Gators at home.

A New Number One

After the rout of Virgina this past Saturday, USC has jumped up two spots in the AP top 25 to claim the number one spot. With Georgia and Ohio State playing sub-par competition week one, it's only fair that SC gets the billing of the nations best team.

Clemson, who was in the pre-season top 10 dropped out of the top 25 all together after their loss to Alabama. Tennessee also fell out of the top 25 after a heartbreaking loss to UCLA.

Saturday's Big 3

Are you ready? It's the first Saturday of the college football season. Every week, I'll be taking a look at the 3 biggest games on the schedule and telling you who I like and why. So without further ado, Week 1's Big 3:

#3USC at Virgina

With the top two teams getting having cupcakes week one (Georgia v Georgia Southern, Ohio State v Youngstown State), USC has what seems to be the hardest game of the top three teams in the country. SC Quarterback Mark Sanchez, who had an injured knee, has been cleared to play in this game. Though the home fans will be charged up, and Sanchez and RB Joe McKnight will run over Virgina in this one.


#24Alabama at #9Clemson

Though this is a home game for Clemson, the game will be taking place in the Georgia dome. This will be a great SEC-ACC match up with two great head coaches going against each other. I'll be excited to see how Nick Sabin uses top wide out recruit Julio Jones, but Clemson has too much offensive firepower with a very underrated quarterback in Cullen Harper and two amazing running backs, James Davis and C.J. Spiller. I'll Take the Tigers over the Tide.


#20Illinois at #6Missouri

In what looks to be the most enticing game of Week One, Juice Williams and Illinois take on Heisman Hopefuls QB Chase Daniel and RB/WR/KR speedster Jeremy Maclin of Missouri. The Illini made a surprising run in to the BCS last year, getting beat by USC, and Missouri just missing out with a loss to Kansas. In a game that looks to be a barn-burner, I look to Missouri's defense to shut down Juice and Co. and get the win.

College Football Is Back!

August 28th and December 25th don't have anything in common. But for college football fans, today is very much like Christmas day, it is the beginning of the 2008-2009 college football season. Students, alumni, and fans of the game can brush their tailgating equipment off and get ready to enjoy another season.

There will be debates and hatred about the BCS and there is a Heisman Trophy that needs to be defended. There will be rivalries games that are really more then just a game, but give you the right to make fun of your rival school for an entire year. There is the option offense that's only seen in the college game, and so much more then the NFL can offer.

From the ACC to the SEC, the Big 10 to the Pac 10, the Big 12 to the MAC and everywhere else, we're all happy to see that first kickoff of the season. So no matter which side of the Florida v Miami, USC v UCLA or Michigan v Ohio State rivalries you're on, every college football fan can look at today as the day where national championship dreams start.