Let's take a look at some big ones going down this weekend. Booya. (games chronologically)
(21) Nebraska @ (24) Missouri (Thursday): Well, well, well. the Big 12 getting in on a little Thursday night delight. This should be a solid contest for pecking order in the Big 12 North. While Kansas and Nebraska were heavily favored in the North before the season started, Missouri has had a fast start to show that QB Blaine Gabbert can pick up right where Chase Daniel left off. This one also could be bitter sweet for either Gabbert or Nebraska. The highly touted Missouri QB spurned an early commitment to the Cornhuskers at the last minute to go and be Chase Daniel's successor at Mizzou. This could be an early elimination game in the Big 12 North.
(17) Auburn @ Arkansas : All the Chizik-haters are beginning to come around. He's got this team playing good football. Especially on offense. Maybe Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn deserves most of the credit. He has QB Chris Todd playing at a high level and has the running game hitting on all cylinders. Chizik's specialty is defense and the defense could use some work. But then again, so could Arkansas'. This one will involve some points being scored. To stay in the hunt in the SEC West Auburn has to take care of business here. Because a tougher schedule looms. Look for Todd & Hogs QB Ryan Mallett to be throwing it around the yard a little bit.
Boston College @ (5) Virginia Tech : This is a repeat of the past 2 ACC championship games, in which Virginia Tech was the victor in both. There's going to be defense, running the ball, and more defense. Virginia Tech needs a win here to keep rolling in the ACC. The way QB Tyrod Taylor has been throwing it the past 2 weeks is encouraging. BC doesn't need a win here, but they do want one. The ACC title game can easily be reached with 2 conference losses. But the Eagles would love to give the Hokies their first conference loss. And that minor league pitcher they've got tossing it around hasn't been a half-bad game manager thus far.
(15) Oklahoma St. @ Texas A&M : I see this as a big game because the question in Stillwater is how will this team react to losing their best player. WR Dez Bryant's recent suspension has cast yet another shadow on a season that was supposed to have some BCS promise. A problem in this offense coming into this game was if QB Zac Robinson had another target he could get the ball to when Bryant was doubled. Well, now someone REALLY has to step up. This team is just not as threatening not only on offense, but on special teams too. Bryant was one of the best punt returners in the nation. Can A&M rebound from the Arkansas loss to take advantage of a reeling team?
(13) Oregon @ UCLA : Oregon will try to stay hot on the road in Pasadena this weekend against a UCLA team that doesn't yet have an identity. The Ducks might have to do it without starting QB Jeremiah Masoli as he is still questionable to play this week with a bad knee. Backup Nate Costa seems like a viable solution if Masoli can't go, but UCLA's defense will be stingier than Washington St., who Costa saw last week. Oregon remains one of the top contenders in the PAC 10 and this one is a must if they want to think about a conference championship.
Wisconsin @ (9) Ohio St. : Wisconsin is in a similar boat as Auburn. No one saw them as a contender at the beginning of the year, yet they still have not sustained a loss. Well, this isn't Minnesota or Purdue, this is Ohio St. in the Horseshoe. This will be a huge test to see if the Badgers are a serious contender in the Big 11 or just another 9-3 Wisconsin team. The Buckeyes on the other hand have a reputation to uphold. The early loss to USC might have dashed their title hopes (for now anyway), but they are still intent on winning the conference and getting another BCS birth. They have rebounded nicely and QB Terrelle Pryor has looked better each week.
(3) Alabama @ (20) Ole Miss : The Tide have been rolling. I mean honestly, they have probably been the most impressive team thus far in the season. QB Greg McElroy has settled in nicely, the running backs have looked great (especially Mark Ingram), and this is a vintage Nick Saban defense. Ole Miss has been one of the bigger frauds this season. QB Jevan Snead is no where near a Heisman contender. Hell, right now he's struggling to be a competent quarterback. What was supposed to be an explosive offense with the likes of Snead, WR/RB Dexter McCluster, and WR Shay Hodge has been nothing short of a disappointment. That said, this is their chance to put a fly in the ointment. A home game with the Crimson Tide might be just what this team needs as a shot in the arm and a wake-up call...Who am I kidding, no it isn't. Good luck Ole Miss.
(10) TCU @ Air Force : This one might mean more than meets the eye. Obviously TCU is trying to keeps their BCS hopes alive with a victory, but Air Force has a 2 game head start on TCU in the Mountain West race at 2-0 in conference. Air Force still being in the hunt gives them plenty of motivation against the favored Horned Frogs. This one is also going to be a scrappy fight in the trenches. It pits the number 1 rushing offense in the nation (AF) against the number 1 rushing defense in the country (TCU). Add in a temperature high of 33 degrees and snow and you got yourself a football game.
Michigan @ (12) Iowa : Michigan's hot start came to a crashing halt last weekend in East Lansing to the rival Spartans. But their conference hopes aren't dead yet as they travel to another hostile environment in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have gotten by thus far by the skin of their teeth one would think that this weekend won't be much different. The Iowa defense has been tremendous but the offense will have to pick it up. Michigan has shown they can score points in bunches this season and if Iowa wants to be taken seriously as a contender they are going to need to be strong in all facets of the game. Every victory can't be a close one because one of these games late will come up and bite you. Ask USC. The truth is neither of these teams was supposed to be that good and here they are. Kudos to RichRod and Kirk Ferentz.
(1) Florida @ (4) LSU (at NIGHT oooooOOOOooooo) : And now for the big tamale. Will he? Won't he? The suspense is killing me. My personal opinion is Urban and Tim are playing a little game of Belichick and Brady. You can't count Tebow out of this NIGHT game. And I'm sure the people writing this Oscar winning script of Tebow Christ: Football Star are just licking their chops to add this to the final act. But being serious, if QB/FB/LB/Circumcisor Tim Tebow really is still fuzzy from that hit in Kentucky then he shouldn't play. There is way too much out there for him in the future to take a life/career threatening hit on Saturday NIGHT. The more we find out about concussions the scarier things get. On the other hand, I'd hate for this to be Florida's lone loss because their star couldn't go Saturday NIGHT. Even though the BCS won't let me 1/2 the time, I want to see the best play the best in the Championship game this year.
As for LSU, they have been playing a lot like Iowa this season. I'm not sure anyone really knows how good they are because they have been inconsistent in their wins. But the thing that matters is they have all been wins thus far. If Tebow can't go Saturday NIGHT LSU's chances jump astronomically. Though he's a polished passer, Florida backup QB John Brantley just doesn't bring the same game to the table. The gameplan changes for both teams and I think that change would definitely benefit the Tigers. Both teams are going to have to run well Saturday NIGHT to win and taking Tebow out of the equation will make life hard for the Gators. LSU got some Gators' players phone numbers again too so we all know how that goes. SEC fan is still taking it disturbingly close to European soccer fan levels. And did I mention that this game is in Baton Rouge......at NIGHT!
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