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By The Pigskin Prognosticator, PubClub.com’s College Football Expert
Texas A&M, USC and Colorado are falling, Notre Dame is falling and then rising, Ohio State and Penn State are finally going be tested, Michigan continues to beat up on wimps and blimps, Washington is saying “hey look over here!,” and Alabama continues to confuse.
As college football rolls into the Third Saturday of October (already!?) there is still a lot of intrigue remaining because there have been so few pivotal games played thus far in the season. The positive in this is that the game will like tease us – like a flirtatious sorority girl – right up until the end.
Now onto the games. All times Pacific because the Prognosticator lives on the West Coast.
Penn State at Ohio State (9 a.m., FOX)
The Pennsylvania Felines come down off the mountain to the flatlands of Ohio. It’s Coach Frankin in Franklin County and while Brutus is not the offensive brute he’s been the past few years, one would have to be nuts to count out the i-Dotters. The location of this game is the key element is the fans. Winner: Ohio State
Tennessee at Alabama (12:30 p.m., CBS)
It’s Beat Tennessee Week in T-town and the Third Saturday of October here is such a big deal there that none of the bars will serve anyone Jack Daniels. Each team thirsts for victory, not just becuase this is a bitter Southern rivalry but also because any hope of making the College Football Playoffs is on the line for both sides. Ol’ Smoky comes in not with a downfield passing game but a running one while the Pachyderms counter with a take-the-good-with-the-bad offense. Unlike this year, which was an offensive showcase, this game comes down to the defenses. PubClub.com will be on site to see first hand if the Tide rolls and is packing cigars for the road trip. Winner: Alabama
Washington State at Oregon (12:30 p.m., ABC)
The Ducks got their feathers rattled up at Washington last week – perhaps thier field goal kicker needs more practice rather than the coach going for fourth downs and touchdowns all the time –but fortunately for them, thier second encounter against the Evergreen State comes against a much easier opponent. The Waddlers, tho, can’t afford to slip up or else their season will go wide right and straight into the Alamo Bowl. Winner: Oregon
Michigan at Michigan State (4:30 p.m., NBC)
Big Blue is looking to leave struggling Sparty feeling even more blue – black and blue, really – in what might be one of the biggest beatdowns in the history of this in-state rivarly. Before it starts walking off with the Paul Bunyon Trophy, tho, it should know that a woounded rival is sometimes the most dangeous one. Sparty will fight with all his might but there’s not a lot of fight left in that team this lost season. Winner: Michigan
Utah at USC (5 p.m., FOX)
The troops of Troy limp back into the Coliseum with visisions of Leprechauns jumping in front of their passes in their minds and don’t get much relief this week. The visiting Utes are pretty feisty defenders, too and if those in charge of defending the big horse at quarterback then there will be no Conquest this week, either. Winner: USC
Arizona State at Washington (7:30 p.m., FS1)
The Sailgaters navigated through rough waters last week but returned to port as local heroes after skilfully tacking past the Ducks and now get smoother condiions against a team whose lone win is against Southern Utah. Captain Penix is in control at the helm and may well be steering the Sea Dogs to the College Football Playoffs. For thier part, the Sunsters are coming off a bye week and when this one is done, they will wish it would have continued for another week. Winner: Washington
Stanford at UCLA (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Prognosicator knew better last week but gave the Trampolines the benefit of the doubt that they would stay bouncing but they instead got bounced. Thus, this means this is the week they will bounce up rather than fall on their faces. As for the Farm Boys, well, they had their time last week in knocking off the Primes in prime fashion but it’s back to the plow this week. Winner: UCLA
About The Pigskin Prognosticator
The Pigskin Prognosticator has covered college football for daily newspapers and has been the beat writer for Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina and Clemson. He has been to games all over the country, including Tennessee, Texas, USC and UCLA.
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