#4 LSU at #10 Florida
Time: 3:30 p.m.
espn.go.com
Isn’t this always one of the best games of the year? This episode consists of an LSU team that apparently gets no respect from voters, dropping in the rankings once again, and a resurgent Florida team that’s dying to prove they belong back in the nation’s top-ten. CBS’s SEC Game of the Week will feature two of college football’s premier defenses, as well as offenses that revolve around the rushing attack. This grind-it-out kind of game will probably come down to the final possession–as it has routinely in the past–so whichever team pulls through in the clutch will be taking this one home.
#8 West Virginia at #11 Texas
texas.rivals.com
Time: 7 p.m.
Offense, offense, offense. West Virginia fits right in with the Big 12′s recent tradition. Averaging a whopping 441.5 passing yard per game, the Mountaineers love to air it out all game long. Texas gets the job done a bit differently, running an almost perfectly balanced offense and averaging 47.3 points per game. Both teams have proven they can put points on the board, so it’ll be up to their defenses to make the difference in this one. Expect this one to turn into a Wild West shootout, with the winner being whichever team can force the most turnovers, as punts will be at a minimum.
#21 Nebraska at #12 Ohio State
Bleacherreport.com
Time: 8 p.m.
In a battle of dual-threat quarterbacks and two of the top teams in a weak Big Ten this year, both teams look to continue their success this season–though for different reasons. Nebraska hopes to improve its Big Ten standing to compete for a conference championship, while the Buckeyes merely hope to progress as a program, as they are ineligible for the postseason due to NCAA sanctions. Both Taylor Martinez and Braxton Miller are arguably better with their legs than their arms, so it will be interesting to see which team’s defense adjusts first to playing an incredibly mobile quarterback. Coming off a tough win against Wisconsin last week, I fully expect Nebraska’s momentum to carry them to a win over Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes in the Horseshoe this Saturday.
#23 Washington at #2 Oregon
Oregonlive.com
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Coming off a huge upset of Stanford last week, Washington will be a little more optimistic about their chances against Oregon Saturday. However, its doubtful the future is nearly as bright as the Huskies believe. Oregon consistently wears away opposing defenses in the second half, and they’re fourth in the nation in points per game with 52.4. It’s unlikely that the Washington will be able to contain names like Mariota, Thomas, and Barner for four full quarters, but if they want to try, they can be my guest. Only scoring 23.3 points a game, the Huskies will need to step their game up if they want a shot at upsetting a second straight top-ten Pac 12 team.
