Sports Editor
This week definitely has the potential to be considered the best weekend of college football all year.
With all 12 teams playing in the forecast this week ranked in the top 20, putting out a record of 4-2 or better could prove to be a formidable task.
Last week was a war of attrition for many of our predictors, including myself. If it had not been for Washington State’s stroke of luck in regulation against USC, I would have had the year’s first 0-6 week. Nevertheless, Wazzu pulled out the win, and I stood at 1-5, as did R.J. Morgan, who has now dropped to two games under .500.
The Red River War highlights this week’s slate of games. The 97th annual battle between heated rivals Oklahoma and Texas will once again take place in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, and for the first time since 1984, both teams enter the game ranked in the top three. The Sooners have won the last two meetings, though, by a combined score of 77-17. Texas quarterback Chris Simms is playing his final game against the Sooners, and can literally make or break his legacy at Texas, by getting his first win over the hated Sooners.
Game two takes place at the Orange Bowl between the defending national champion Miami Hurricanes and in-state rival Florida State. The ‘Canes have owned the Seminoles the last two years, winning in both Miami and Tallahassee, Fla.
Coming off a big win in Tuscaloosa last week, the Georgia Bulldogs are looking for the third straight win over the Tennessee Volunteers this Satuday. The Vols were upset the last two seasons by Georgia, but are looking for revenge, and a spot at the top of the SEC Eastern Division standings.
After pulling off a big road win at Camp Randall against Wisconsin a week ago, the Penn State Nitany Lions return home to face Michigan in what could be another classic Big Ten Conference battle. JoePa and the troops are only meeting Michigan for the tenth time ever.
The final game this week is one of the most interesting matchups of the week takes place in the swamp between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers. Florida is coming off an embarrassing loss to the Mississippi Rebels last week, but can easily atone for that loss with a win over the defending SEC champions this Saturday. The Kentucky Wildcats proved, though that Florida is not invincible in The Swamp, so don’t quite expect the Gators to run away from the Tigers just yet.