The last few weeks we have been pretty spoiled when it comes to must see TV Top 25 matchups.
This week’s slate of matchups is a little light on quality, but there are still some matchups I will be watching closely.
#24 Ole Miss vs. #15 Texas A&M
This is probably the most intriguing matchup on the docket and both teams are coming off losses and trying to get back on track. Ole Miss suffered an embarrassing loss to Memphis on the road, while the Aggies took it on the chin at home courtesy of Alabama. Both teams need a victory badly to stay in the thick of the hunt in the SEC West, and with this game being in Oxford, I am leaning towards the Rebels to get back to their winning ways and hand A&M their second loss.
Prediction: Ole Miss
#17 Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech
Both teams in this one should throw the ball about 40-50 times apiece. Texas Tech barely won by double digits against Kansas last week, while Oklahoma rebounded from being upset by Texas by beating up on Kansas State despite not getting to Manhattan until midnight. The Sooners seemed to knock the rust off, and with this game being in Norman, I like the Sooners to win.
Prediction: Oklahoma
#8 Alabama vs. Tennessee
This game will be a battle of two blue bloods, but I’m not expecting any surprises in this one. Alabama’s loss against Ole Miss looks like an anomaly, and Jake Coker is playing with some confidence. Tennessee and Josh Dobbs showed they could battle back from a big deficit against Georgia, but they are playing a different kind of animal this week in Tuscaloosa. I like the Tide again this week.
Prediction: Alabama
#6 Clemson vs. Miami
This matchup will feature two very good quarterbacks, but only one can come out on top on Saturday. Clemson will take their undefeated record into Sunlife Stadium down on South Beach and if they better hope they don’t get caught looking ahead to their big matchup against Florida State a couple weeks from now. Clemson is no doubt the better team in this game, but if they come out sluggish on the road the Hurricanes can give them a hard time.
Prediction: Clemson
#3 Utah vs. USC
I’m still getting used to Utah being in the top five of the polls, and something tells me they are too. It is much different when you go from being the hunter to being the hunted. The Utes were able to pull away from Arizona State last week after struggling some, and now they will hit the road to play a struggling USC team who is looking to salvage their season in any way they can. The Trojans would love to spoil the Utes’ chances of making the playoff, and despite having only a 3-3 record, they are still pretty talented. I look for this game to be similar to last week for Utah, in which they struggle, but find a way to win.
Prediction: Utah