College Football Week 3 Viewer's Guide

by Nejoshi

After watching LSU dismantle an overrated Virginia Tech squad last weekend, the nation's spotlight turns to the USC Trojans and Florida Gators, with both facing stiff tests that will help determine whether these teams really are among the nation's elite. USC travels to the Midwest to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers, while the defending champions renew their storied rivalry with SEC foe Tennessee in the Swamp.

The only other game this weekend that features two top-25 teams is an ACC showdown between Boston College and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 55-point win against Samford, but they may need 69 points for the second straight week to take down Matt Ryan and the explosive Eagles offense.

Other games to watch this weekend feature the 10th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes traveling west to face Washington in another proving ground for the Pac-10 as well as #16 Arkansas traveling to Alabama. This game should be especially interesting because it marks Nick Saban's first marquee game as the head coach of the Crimson Tide. Alabama may be 2-0, but Week 1's 52-6 victory over Coastal Carolina was hardly compelling, and the 24-10 win over Vanderbilt in Week 2 was not as close as the score suggests. However, this week offers a much different animal in Heisman hopeful Darren McFadden. We will find out just how much of a defensive mastermind Nick Saban is in that one.

Here are my picks for the top games of the week:

1. 1 USC (1-0) @ #14 Nebraska (2-0) It's a good thing the Cornhuskers won their game last week, a nail biting 20-17 win over Wake Forest, because if they would have lost, this game would have lost a lot of its appeal. Thankfully, this game gives USC a chance to defend its claim at the top, which has been threatened by blazing starts by LSU and even Oklahoma. Pete Carroll and the Trojans have a knack for stepping it up against opponents that they should beat, especially non-conference. Carroll's team hasn't lost a non-conference game since 2002 when Kansas State got them at the beginning of the season. Nebraska QB Sam Keller hasn't gotten off to a promising start, and the talented Trojan defense should haunt their Big 12 counterparts like they did in the Coliseum last year.

USC, 31-14

1. 22 Tennessee (1-1) @ #5 Florida (2-0) The Vols have done a good job at making this a rivalry over the last decade, with Florida leading the series 5-4 over the last nine meetings. However, the Gators have controlled recent history in the rivalry, winning the last two, and looking confident to make it three in a row in this series for the first time since 1997. Tim Tebow has looked flawless as the full-time quarterback. Let me rephrase that; the entire Gator offense has looked flawless through two games. They have put up 108 points and run their offense to perfection. But, facing Tennessee will be a new challenge for the offense, one that they should pass barely.

Florida, 27-23

1. 21 Boston College (2-0) @ #15 Georgia Tech (2-0) The ACC has been terrible this season, and it's beginning to become hard to believe that this team still has an automatic bid to the BCS, but this match-up may be the single best game on the ACC conference calendar. Amidst all the disappointing performances by ACC teams in the non-conference part of their schedule, these are two of three teams that are ranked and undefeated (Clemson is the other). First Team All-ACC quarterback Matt Ryan hasn't met expectations yet this year, and will be facing a ferocious Yellow Jacket pass rush. BC's defense isn't too bad either; they are the best rush defense, allowing only 1.2 yards per carry. You would usually think that these two teams would give us a shootout, but expect a defensive battle with Ryan making enough plays to help the Eagles prevail.

Boston College, 17-13

Upset Specials:

Washington (2-0) over #10 Ohio State (2-0) The Big 10 is continuing to look more and more shaky as each week progresses. Meanwhile, the Pac-10 seems to be going in the opposite direction, with four teams in the top-20, and the Huskies on the verge on becoming #5, especially if they can find a way to pull this upset. The Buckeyes are young and prone to getting rattled; playing in Eugene will be unlike anything these young kids have ever seen.

Alabama (2-0) over #16 Arkansas (1-0) Make no mistake about it, Darren McFadden will get big numbers on Saturday, but Crimson Tide freshman Terry Grant may have a bigger game, which might be enough to lead this team to a win. The Razorbacks will likely be relying on McFadden more than Alabama will be on Grant, but not by much. Neither team has offensive threats nearly as reliable as those two running backs and watching them duel throughout the night will be a treat to watch. Saban may be a liar, but the guy can coach college football, and he will find a way to contain McFadden enough for the Tide to roll to a nail-biting victory.

Keep Your Eye On:

1. 9 Louisville (2-0) @ Kentucky (2-0) The Cardinals have some major issues on the defensive side of the ball as shown by the 35 points that Middle Tennessee State put up in the first half of their game last week. They don't get any breaks this week when their in-state rival on the road. Brian Brohm has been the most impressive quarterback in the continental United States and has made sure that the offense has been on the victorious side of the shootouts the Cardinals always find themselves in. But, Kentucky's quarterback, Andre Woodson, hasn't been too bad either, with five touchdowns against no interceptions. The Wildcats offense has looked proficient in its first two games and their unit should give Louisville some serious problems again this week.