Kansas St. at Oklahoma
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: Norman, Okla.
Line: Oklahoma by 4 1/2
TV: None
Records: Kansas State (2-0), Oklahoma (3-0)
What’s at stake: Oklahoma hasn’t lost since 1999, and their reign atop the Big 12 will have to withstand a tough test from the Wildcats.
Overview: The defending national champions will face their first big test of the year when Kansas State heads to Norman this weekend. Oklahoma had a bye week last week, and because of the cancellations from the week before, it has not seen action in three weeks.
As a result, don’t be surprised if the Sooner’s look a little rusty at first. The Wildcats and Sooners both boast outstanding athletes on defense, which will make it very difficult for either team to put up many points. Oklahoma’s secondary might just be the best in the nation, and having linebackers like Rocky Calmus in front of it guarantees that Bob Stoops’ team is definite national-title contender material once again.
UCLA at Oregon State
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: Corvallis, Ore.
Line: UCLA by 3 1/2
TV: ABC
Records: UCLA (3-0), Oregon State (1-1)
What’s at stake: Oregon State suffered badly from its season-opening loss to Fresno State and needs a win to keep its major-bowl hopes alive.
Overview: UCLA helped itself out with a win against Ohio State last week but didn’t look spectacular in doing so. Four lost fumbles should have cost the Bruins a win, but a strong defensive showing and an inept Buckeyes offense made the difference in the game.
This will be a game that determines the top back in the Pac-10, with the Beavers’ Ken Simonton and the Bruins’ DeShaun Foster going head-to-head. Both had Heisman hopes coming in, but Simonton has dropped off with two mediocre performances while Foster has surged.
Notre Dame
at Texas A&M
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: College Station, Texas
Line: Texas A&M by 3
TV: ABC
Records: Notre Dame (0-2), Texas A&M (3-0)
What’s at stake: Notre Dame’s season. An 0-3 start would completely eradicate any momentum gained from last year’s 9-3 mark.
Overview: The Fighting Irish are in serious danger of seeing their entire year go down the drain before it ever really got on track. Kyle Field in College Station is hardly the place to get things rolling, either – Texas A&M is renowned for its raucous atmosphere on gameday.
And with Notre Dame calling on a new quarterback in Carlyle Holiday, who replaces sophomore Matt LoVecchio, the Irish won’t have it easy on Saturday. If the Irish can’t pull out the road win, Bob Davie will incur the wrath of more people in South Bend than he’d care to imagine.
North Carolina
at N.C. State
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: Raleigh, N.C.
Line: N.C. State by 1 1/2
TV: None
Records: North Carolina (1-3), N.C. State (2-0)
What’s at stake: The Tar Heels’ unexpected momentum after shellacking Florida State.
Overview: Wolfpack fans have to be at least a little nervous after seeing North Carolina tear perennial powerhouse Florida State to shreds last weekend. Fortunately for N.C. State, they don’t have to play in Chapel Hill, N.C. But home-field advantage may not be enough to overcome Julius Peppers and the swarming Tar Heels defense, which terrorized Seminoles quarterback Chris Rix last weekend.
Still, N.C. State was a bowl team last season, and Philip Rivers is the type of athletic quarterback that could overcome the strength of the North Carolina defense.
LSU at
Tennessee
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Place: Knoxville, Tenn.
Line: Tennessee by 10
TV: ESPN
Records: LSU (2-0), Tennessee (2-0)
What’s at stake: SEC supremacy, at least in the early going.
Overview: After seeing their game against Florida postponed, the Volunteers will now face the Tigers in the first big test of the year. John Henderson may be the best defensive player in the country, and if he spends the day in LSU’s backfield, the Volunteers will be tough to beat.
