By The Pigskin Prognosticator, PubClub.com’s College Football Expert
This week is the Clash of the Titans with a few other games of mild interest scattered around like undercards to a big prizefight.
There is some concern in Athens and optimism in Tuscaloosa while elsewhere there is nervousness in Norman, a chill so deep on the Plains some are already talking about a Freeze out, smooth terrain on Rocky Top, when-does-basketball-season-start wisdom in Westwood and can-we-get-to-the-playoffs-already impatience in Austin.
Now onto the games. All times Pacific because the Prognosticator lives on the West Coast.
Friday, Sept. 27
Virginia Tech at Miami (4:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Gobblers, who have been playing like turkeys this year, take thier battered boys into the eye of the hurricane on Friday and it’s not just Helene they will be facing. The Hurricanes are a more powerful force than the Hokies can handle and they will be blown all the way back to Blacksburg. Winner: Miami
Washington at Rutgers (6 p.m., FOX)
Big 10 reality hits the Huskies hard as they must dog it across the country to New Jersey to play a Friday night lights game. They face an undefeated team, although with a schedule softer than a New York bagel, which got some scars last week in barely beating Virginia Tech. The Dogs will be able to penetrate the thin armor of the Knights on this night. Winner: Washington
Saturday, Sept. 28
Wisconsin at USC (12:30 p.m., CBS)
Bucky is making the trip to Los Angeles but this bunch of Fickle furries is not going there for the Rose Bowl, but to face some disappointed Trojans who are sharpening their swords after being booted from the Big House. A significant number of Badger alumni who live in Southern California will be at the Coliseum but they won’t be jumping for joy to start the fourth quarter. Winner: USC
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (12:30 p.m., ESPN)
This old-school Southwest Conference rivalry is always one of the more entertaining games of the year because of all the bizarre plays that take place in it. The result is predictable but the way it gets there is not. It works something like this: Arkansas starts out dominating the game and looks like it will rout the Cadets so bad the alumni start to to pass around a 10-gallon hat for another buyout. Then a pass that bounces off a helmet into the arms of an awaiting Aggie or a backwards fumble or some other odd happening by the Hogs will suddenly ignite an A&M explosion. The Sooies will then have a drive at the end of the game and be ready to win it, only to have the ball hit the crossbar on a field goal attempt. Winner: Texas A&M
Louisville at Notre Dame (12:30 p.m., Peacock)
The sometimes Fighting Irish took out all their Northern Illinois frustration on defenseless Purdue last week but things won’t be quite so easy when the Kentucky Birds fly into town. They will have their fists full trying to topple the Cards and in the end will have just enough fight in them to get the W. Winner: Notre Dame
Mississippi State at Texas (1:15 p.m., SEC Network)
The stark reality for Stark Vegas is the simple truth that, despite preseason excitement over a new coach, this team is not very good. And it’s facing one that is, which will leave the overwhelmed visitors see the golden Arch lead an offense that is going to reduce the State Dogs to whimpering puppies. Winner: Texas
Georgia at Alabama (4:30 p.m., ABC)
When Nick Saban was in charge of the Pachyderms, the team was able to put its foot down on Kirby’s Canines but fortunately for the visiting Dawgs, Saban is now on the ESPN College Game Day set and not the sideline. Instead, its Cool Kalen – who has yet to come close to breaking a headset in his first year in Tuscaloosa – and his introduction into big-time SEC football will be a test of his temperament. He’s got the team to continue to torment the boys in Silver Britches and if Kentucky can hold that team in check then Bama certainly can, too. This will be a more ferocious fido than the one that went to Lexington but the Tidal wave of offense will be the difference. Winner: Alabama
Oregon at UCLA (8 p.m., FOX)
The battered Bruins did little to cure the BBS (Battered Bruins Syndrome) of their fans last week in Baton Rouge and this week doesn’t look much more promising with the rising Water Fowl flying into Pasadena. Traditionally, the Baby Bears have demonstrated an uncanny ability to bounce back up after losses but this team is not showing any ability to repeat the pattern of its predecessors. Winner: Oregon
The Pigskin Prognosticator has covered college football games across the country as a reporter for several newspapers and media outlets.
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