Abramson: As fun as these games have been most of the decade, this one will be rather boring. Michigan is awful and Ohio State is a BCS-caliber team. Does that mean I think OSU should be in a BCS game after they win Saturday? No, but we can talk about that later. On paper, this matchup is a joke -- Ohio State's Top 15 defense vs. Michigan's 105th-ranked offense. Michigan's quarterback situation is screwier than Jessica Simpson's sister naming her baby Bronx Mowgli -- but I don't think either of those guys is the starter next year. Michigan is going to finish the year 3-9 because Terrelle Pryor, Chris Wells and the Ohio State defense will completely dominate this game, 45-10.

Rose: OK, so this game isn't as big this season. But it's still a huge rivalry. It's still a national television game. And there's plenty at stake, despite Michigan's 3-9 record. First, Ohio State needs this win to at least share the Big Ten title. Depending on what happens in the Penn State-Michigan State game later, Ohio State could claim the Big Ten title and automatic BCS bid with a win. Ohio State holds the head-to-head tie-breaker against Michigan State, if those teams finish with identical 7-1 conference wins. If Penn State wins and ties Ohio State at 7-1, Penn State holds the tie-breaker. Still, an Ohio State win would give the Buckeyes a 10-win season and likely a BCS at-large bid, with Penn State earning the automatic conference bid. Now to the game. I just can't see Michigan putting up much offense against the Buckeyes. And I expect Terrelle Pryor and Chris "Beanie" Wells to run wild on the Wolverines. Ohio State wins easily, 33-14.

No. 15 Michigan State at No. 8 Penn State (-15.5), 3:30 p.m.

Abramson: A very special Saturday for Penn Staters. Most are afraid to say it, but I'm not: This will be JoePa's last home game as the Penn State head coach. Do I have a source? No, but the writing is on the wall. I envision Paterno walking into a silent locker room, laying the news on his players, thanking them, etc. This will be followed by a romping courtesy of his veterans, Derrick Williams, Daryll Clark, Anthony Scirrotto, Dennis Landolt, Josh Gaines, Tyrell Sales, etc. Javon Ringer has been one of the more enjoyable players to watch this year -- but I'm not sure how he'll fare against a dominant Nittany Lions defense. With PSU controlling its own BCS destiny, I like them to win one for the old man in front of a nutty crowd, 38-20.

Rose: This will be an emotional day in Beaver Stadium. It's senior day, so the players who helped resurrect the program from a dismal period earlier this decade, will be honored. It will also be the final home game for do-everything Penn State star Derrick Williams. There is also speculation that this could be Joe Paterno's final home game. On top of that, the Big Ten title is at stake. If Penn State wins, the Nittany Lions earn the conference's automatic BCS bid. It's also the first championship game in Beaver Stadium history. It will definitely be an electric atmosphere, with nearly 111,000 spectators on hand. Michigan State will be ready for this game. Javon Ringer could get 50 carries. Penn State, however, has one of the better run defenses in the country. Ringer will need quarterback Bobby Hoyer to make some plays. For Penn State, Daryll Clark must shake off some recent bad performances. Penn State would also be wise to run Evan Royster early and often, since Michigan State's run defense is eighth in the Big Ten. I think Michigan State will keep it close with Ringer chewing up the clock, but Penn State's offense can't be held down for long. The Nittany Lions with some late scores, 34-23.

Boston College at Wake Forest (-2), 3:30 p.m.

Abramson: Wake Forest has been terribly disappointing this year, a statement verified by last weekend's loss to North Carolina State. Just like the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference, there's absolutely no offense in Winston Salem. Running back Josh Adams is averaging just 45.8 yards per game on the ground, a far cry from last season 953-yard campaign (Adams has missed two games this year, for the record). What's more is Adams' drop off in finding the end zone -- he has two total touchdowns, compared with 12 last season. Meanwhile, Boston College (almost) controls its own destiny coming off an impressive win in Tallahassee. Chris Crane has been anything but efficient, but he knows how to win ball games. However, when you talk BC, you have to talk about the defense -- a unit that held F$U's Antoine Smith to 19 yards on 10 carries. Boston College's defense will shut down Adams, putting the game in the hands of Riley Skinner -- who faces a group that has a country-best 21 interceptions this season. I'm taking the Eagles, 24-13.

Rose: This season at least, the ACC always seems to have important games that will impact which teams make the conference title game. This one is no different. Boston College can win the Atlantic Division by winning its last two games. The Eagles impressed me last week by going to Florida State and going away with a 27-17. Chris Crane managed the game last week at quarterback for Boston College. And Montel Harris ripped through the Florida State defense for 121 yards and a touchdown. Boston College is only giving up 17 points per game. Wake Forest has had trouble scoring points. I see a result similar to last week's win against Florida State. Boston College's offense makes some plays and the defense shuts down Wake Forest. I'm going with Boston College, 26-16.

No. 14 BYU at No. 7 Utah (-7), 6 p.m.

Abramson: In addition to having taken over the now-defunct Cocktail Party as best rivalry game name in the sport, this year's game has serious weight on the postseason outlook. Utah enters the 2008 Holy War with its eyes on the BCS. BYU and quarterback Max Hall would love to spoil that and cap off an 11-1 season. Will the Max Hall from the UCLA game show up and throw another seven touchdowns, or will it be the Max Hall from the TCU loss, the one who threw two picks? Either way, it's going to come down to Max Hall, because running back Harvey Unga will be pulverized by a stout Utes defense. If you're one of the 16 people to get this game on TV, watch the matchup between Deshawn Richard from Utah and BYU wide receiver Austin Collie when they line up against each other. Collie is tops in the country with 119 receiving yards per game and Richard is coming off a two-interception performance last week. If Utah can limit the Cougars to four touchdowns, I think it will be enough for Brian Johnson and Matt Asiata to power the Utes' offense to its ninth win this season where the Utes have scored at least 30 points. I'll take Utah 38-28.

Rose: This game has huge BCS implications. BYU can share the Mountain West title with a win. It's doubtful the Cougars could earn a BCS at-large bid with a win, even with an 11-1 record. Meanwhile, Utah can not only win the Mountain West, but will undoubtedly earn a BCS at-large bid with a win. Plus, with Texas Tech-Oklahoma this weekend and Alabama-Florida in the SEC championship next month, Utah could move as high as No. 5 in the polls before its bowl game. Utah quarterback Brian Johnson has been great this season, with 2,333 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. But what I'm really impressed with is Utah's defense. The Utes have stepped defensively in big games (Remember the 13-10 win over TCU?). Plus, Utah has won some big games this season, including a win earlier this season against an Oregon State team that could end up in the Rose Bowl. BYU counters with quarterback Max Hall, who leads an offense averaging 36 points a game. Hall has thrown for over 3,400 yards and 34 touchdowns. I think this game comes down to a defensive stop. I think Utah makes the crucial defensive stand late in the game. Utah wins, 34-31.

No. 21 Oregon State at Arizona (-2.5), 7 p.m.

Abramson: I predicted Oregon State to falter last weekend and Mike Rose made sure to inform me I was wrong. Rose is officially on the Oregon State bandwagon -- I'm watching it come around the bend and haven't decided if I should hop on. That being said, I do think the Beavers will win this weekend. The Beavers are winners of five straight and they can thank Jacquizz Rodgers, who has averaged 136.6 yards per game in that stretch. He's rushed for at least 94 yards in all but one game this year. I expect a high scoring and intense game, but I will give the edge to Oregon State, but I'm not sold on the Oregon game, yet. Beavers win 43-32.

Rose: Believe it or not, this is a huge game. Oregon State can clinch the Pac-10 title and head to Rose Bowl by winning its final two games. Remember, the Beavers hold the head-to-head tie-breaker against USC. I just have a feeling Oregon State is going to do it. Jacquizz Rodgers has been spectacular for Oregon State with seven 100-yards games this season, including three in a row. Quarterback Lyle Moevao has been slowed by an injury and wasn't effective last week against Cal, but other players are stepping up on both sides of the ball. Arizona is 4-1 at home and already bowl eligible. I think this will be a close one, but Oregon State prevails, 31-27.

No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati (-6), 7:15 p.m.

Abramson: Perhaps it was too early to judge, but I left the Panthers for dead after Week 1. The Panthers have used a balanced attack and pressuring defense to win a few close ball games, but three big tests remain. For Cincy, clear Pitt in a home game and the BCS is one win away. Tony Pike has played in a huge way for Brian Kelly -- who could be gone after this season -- and is the reason Cincy is in its current position. In the last three wins (So. Fla, WVU, Louisville), Pike has 6 total TDs and two interceptions. I think if Jacob Ramsey can average 4.5 yards on at least 15 carries, Cincy puts itself in a good position to win this one, 23-16.

Rose: The winner of this game controls their destiny for a conference title and automatic BCS bid. Pittsburgh has never lost to Cincinnati. Quarterback Tony Pike has been playing very well for the Bearcats. Pittsburgh is led by star running back LeSean McCoy, who is over 1,000 yards for the season. I like Cincinnati for a couple of reasons: the Bearcats can crowd the box because Pittsburgh's passing game isn't very good. On the other side, Pittsburgh's defense has had some real bad games this season (Rutgers scored 54 points on the Panthers earlier this season). Cincinnati will have success throwing the ball in this game. I expect McCoy to get his yards, but Pittsburgh will need quarterback Bill Stull to make some big passes. While Stull has put up some decent numbers, he only has five touchdowns. Cincinnati will win a close game, something like 24-23.

Florida State (-1) at No. 25 Maryland, 7:45 p.m.

Abramson: It wouldn't follow the 2008 ACC suit if Maryland wins this game. It would make it too easy to figure out -- Maryland, and the rest of the conference, cannot find an identity. Maryland is coming off a big win and Florida State off an even bigger loss. Seminoles running back Antoine Smith was shut down last week and I expect him to explode against an average Maryland defense. In a conference with not much to show, Maryland does not have enough solidarity to represent the ACC in a BCS game (31-0 loss to Virginia, 35-27 win over Cal...I can't figure it out). Two of Florida State's three losses have come against Boston College and Georgia Tech, two very good programs, and the defense is ranked in the Top 5, so I'm going to take the Seminoles, 20-13.

Rose: Maryland, much like Boston College, controls its destiny in the ACC. If Maryland wins out, the Terps head to the ACC title game. Maryland had to rally to beat No. 16 North Carolina 17-15 last week. In fact, Maryland has won all of its games against ranked teams this season. The Terps need running back Da'Rel Scott to have a big game. He did last week against the Tar Heels, rushing for 129 yards. Florida State had a tough times stopping Boston College's running attack last week. I think that will be the case this week. Maryland will grind it out on the ground and the defense will limit Florida State. Maryland will win and move a step closer to the ACC title game. Go with the Terps, 20-16.

No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma (-7), 8 p.m.

Abramson: The Texas Tech basketball team set a pretty high bar Thursday night by scoring 167 points, but I won't put it past this football team to eclipse that total this Saturday. My head says Oklahoma, but I would really love it if Texas Tech played for a national title. There are a lot of TTU haters out there, but I am entranced when I watch that offense get momentum. It's like hijacking an 18-wheeler in Grand Theft Auto IV -- at first you're saying "Really?" ... but once it gets moving, it blows up everything in its path and you're spending the next 3 1/2 hours in awe. Like every other game the Red Raiders have played this year, the key for Oklahoma is getting pressure on TTU quarterback Graham Harrell. When he gets time in the pocket, there's nobody that can deliver better. The Sooners have much more talent from top to bottom, but is the group from Lubbock a team of destiny? It just depends on how destiny fares against Gerald McCoy, Auston English and Jeremy Beal. I want to see the Sooners press Michael Crabtree almost every play, forcing Harrell to look elsewhere and think on the fly, with men in his face. I think Oklahoma has learned a lot from its loss to Texas and how it can't press if they're trailing on the scoreboard. Sam Bradford has the best ranking of a group of five Big 12 quarterbacks ranked in the top 10 for passing efficiency. The Sooners are a national championship caliber team and won't make the same mistakes that Texas and Oklahoma State did, so I'm taking OU 45-41.

Rose: This week's game of the year in the Big 12 heads to Norman. What more can you say about Texas Tech? The Red Raiders have been great this season. Texas Tech averages 48 points per game, quarterback Graham Harrell has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns, and Michael Crabtree 78 catches for over 1,000 yards, including 18 touchdowns. What makes Texas Tech so good is that the Red Raiders have a rushing attack. Baron Batch has rushed for 667 yards and Shannon Woods has 588 yards and 11 touchdowns. Texas Tech's defense has also stepped up in key situations. Oklahoma gives up a lot of points (24 per game), but the Sooners score a ton (51.4 per game). Sam Bradford has put up great numbers (over 3,400 passing yards and 38 touchdowns), despite not playing much in the fourth quarters of games. Texas Tech has played big games this season, beating then-No. 1 Texas and Oklahoma State. But Texas Tech hasn't played a really big, big game. Under Bob Stoops, Oklahoma has played in big, big games and has won those games. Oklahoma has been here before, Texas Tech hasn't So I like Oklahoma at home, 38-34.

Rose: Miami was impressive last week against Virginia Tech, showing a tough defense. In fact, the young Hurricanes have been the hottest team in the ACC, winners of five straight. The Hurricanes also lead in the Coastal Division and control their destiny. Meaning, if Miami wins out, punch that ticket to the ACC title game. Georgia Tech, however, absolutely needs this game and is playing at home. Miami sits at 4-2 in the ACC, while Georgia Tech is 4-3. That, coupled with a tough Georgia Tech defense going up against a young Miami offense, leads me to believe that this is probably a game an inexperienced, but emerging Hurricanes team won't win. The Yellow Jackets will undoubtedly pressure Miami quarterback Robert Marve and should be effective against running back Graig Cooper. Georgia Tech's triple option rushing attack is piling up 220 yards a game, led by 1,000-yard rusher Jonathan Dwyer, a battering ram who will wear down the athletic Miami defense. This will be a low-scoring game, but Georgia Tech will win, 17-13.

Jeremy--

I was planning on posting about this today, but saw you and Rose beat me to the punch, so I'll pile on.

Let's break down the deal:

Will Muschamp has great job security.

Muschamp said of the Texas post: "This is a special place. I think it is 'the' elite job in the country." He might be right. There are few jobs that are better than the Texas job, if that.

Folks in Austin have to be happy -- Muschamp is one of the hottest names in the sport. This decade, he's been a defensive coordinator in Baton Rouge, Auburn, Miami (on the NFL level) and now in Austin.

However, Mack Brown has been extremely successful in Austin and it doesn't look like the 57-year-old is slowing down.

Opportunities will arise for Muschamp, but he's now the highest paid assistant in college football at $900,000, if I'm not mistaken. Texas has certainly showed him the love, and I expect he'll show it back...

It's unlikely in the forseeable future, but what if alma mater Georgia comes knocking?

Because I don't see that happening, Texas has its head coach locked up for what could be 25-30 years if all goes well? Ask any school if they would jump at the opportunity to lock up a good head coach for three decades and I'm sure the answer is yes.

I like the deal. You're dealing with a program that literally went out and purchased season tickets to OOC opponents just to ensure a ticket to another UT game (this was reported about the UT-UTEP game in Week 2). Everyone wins in this deal -- Texas locks up one of the top assistants in football and a Broyles Award finalst and Muschamp locks up a huge deal and a dream job.

I expect Virginia Tech to make a similar play for Broyles Award winner Bud Foster in the coming weeks. Foster is 49, however, and the stars might not align as well for Tech and its beloved defensive coordinator. But I think until this system proves faulty, we could see more deals like this lining up if the opportunity presents itself.

--Adam Abramson

Jeremy commented in a previous post if Adam and/or I would weigh in on schools naming coaching successors.

Texas just did it, with defensive coordinator Will Muschamp designated as the head coach once Mack Brown decides to retire.

But the Longhorns are not the only program to do this. Florida State has the arrangement already in place, with offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher set to take over for Bobby Bowden. Bret Bielema was prepared to take over for Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin. Purdue's Joe Tiller is retiring after Saturday's game and associate head coach Danny Hope will take over.

What do I think?

-- It's smart. It's important to have continuity in a program. This way when the transition is officially made, it's seamless. Plus, you won't have a messy divorce. When a longtime and successful coach leaves without a replacement ready, things can definitely get a bit out of hand. The Michigan saga last year involving Les Miles and Rich Rodriguez wasn't the best situation for the Wolverines. And schools won't risk losing prized recruits because they will know who is going to be their coach, one way or another.

-- It's good business. Instead of going out and throwing a truckload of money at a coach, schools can lock into an assistant-in-waiting for a reasonable price. And in these tough economic times, a bargain is always good. Also, the powerful alumni and the many season-ticket holders will have a sense of security, knowing that a coach is in place for the future.

-- It's reality. If programs don't lock up solid assistants by naming them as successors, you risk losing them to the NFL or other schools.

But this man, Buffalo coach Turner Gill, could be an excellent choice. He's taking the Bulls to their first bowl game and he's turned the program from an overreaching I-AA team into a decent squad in the MAC. He's done so by recruiting anywhere and everywhere, including a couple solid players from Nassau CC and a few from the city.

He also has the best team in Western New York. Might be worth a shot.

DE Jerry Hughes, TCU
LB Rey Maualuga, USC
DE Brian Orapko, Texas
CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
LB Brandon Spikes, Florida

The winner is announced Dec. 7.

I have never been the biggest fan of ESPN, but I was glad to hear that the network and the BCS inked an exclusive deal from 2011-2014.

While I think Joe Buck does a fine job calling BCS games on Fox, it makes no sense. We see zero football coverage from Fox's main channel during the year, then all of a sudden we're forced to tune in come January.

ESPN dedicates insane amounts of resources to covering college football and it does a really good job of doing it.

I guess this means the BCS is a go through at least 2014?

Robinson will coach the final two games of this season for the Orange.

Really no surprise. The big surprise is that it took this long for athletic director Daryl Gross to realize the situation wasn't working.

Robinson is 9-36 overall and 3-25 in the Big East in a little under four seasons. He still has a year remaining on his contract.

You knew it was going to end this way. The New York Times reported earlier this season that the school had hired a search firm to look for a replacement for Robinson. There were even the reports about former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr being seen on the Syracuse campus.

There's really no need to look back on what's gone wrong. Or how things have gotten so bad. Syracuse must make the right hire now.

There are so many names out there as possible replacements -- current NFL coaches, former NFL coaches, current college coaches, and current college assistants.

Robinson had both NFL and college coaching experience before he came to Syracuse. I have no idea what Syracuse will do. But I'd like to see a coach with Syracuse roots get the job.

The Orange need a coach that understands the tradition of the program. Syracuse needs a coach who will re-establish the tradition. Perhaps it will be UConn head coach Randy Edsall, who played and coached at Syracuse.

Not the greatest slate of games this weekend. But some interesting notes, and this weekend's results set up a great weekend of games next week.

ACC: Maryland rallied to beat No. 16 North Carolina, 17-15. The Terps have won all four of their games against ranked opponents this season. What a wild ride it's been for the Terps. Maryland didn't looked good last week against Virginia Tech, and then wins a big game this week. Just another week in the unpredictable ACC. What this win does is set up a huge conference game next week. With the loss, Miami (4-2 in the ACC) is in control of the Coastal Division. But the young Hurricanes must win at Georgia Tech (4-3) on Thursday night. In the Atlantic Division, Boston College's 27-17 victory over No. 19 Florida State puts the Eagles in control. If Boston College wins out, which includes games against Wake Forest and Maryland, the Eagles go to the ACC title game. Maryland hosts Florida State next Saturday night. Also, North Carolina State upset No. 24 Wake Forest, 21-17.

Big 12: No real surprises. No. 3 Texas won easily, beating Kansas 35-7. The big one is next Saturday when No. 2 Texas Tech goes to No. 5 Oklahoma. Missouri will be in the Big 12 championship game as the winner of the North Division. The Tigers beat Iowa State 52-20 today. The Tigers host Kansas next Saturday afternoon. Nebraska rolled to a 56-28 win over Kansas State. The Cornhuskers are 7-4 and have a chance to finish the regular season at 8-4. Colorado goes to Lincoln next week.

Big Ten: Some very interesting results today. No. 8 Penn State came out very sluggish, but turned it on in the second half and got a 34-7 win over Indiana. Ohio State, with Chris Wells getting 143 yards and a touchdown, beat Illinois 30-20. The Illini, now at 5-6, have been a huge disappointment this season. As for next weekend, Penn State can win the Big Ten by beating No. 15 Michigan State at home next Saturday. If Michigan State wins, the Spartans would need Ohio State to lose to Michigan. Ohio State needs to beat Michigan and have Michigan State beat Penn State to win the Big Ten. Northwestern beat Michigan in The Big House, 21-14. That gives the Wolverines eight losses, the most in a season in program history (129 years). Iowa hung on to beat Purdue, 22-17. Shonn Greene rushed for 211 yards. The Hawkeyes, at 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten, could end up playing on New Year's Day. Wisconsin is now bowl eligible after beating Minnesota, 35-32.

Big East: No. 22 Cincinnati, fresh off Friday night's win over Louisville, controls its destiny in the Big East. Cincinnati gets Pittsburgh at home next Saturday night. The Bearcats are 4-1 in the Big East, with Pittsburgh and West Virginia at 3-1. Remember, Cincinnati has already beaten West Virginia. Today's biggest story in the Big East was Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were once 1-5, but are now 5-5 after crushing South Florida 49-16. Give a lot of credit to Greg Schiano's team, and especially quarterback Mike Teel who has played very well after some very rough games this season. He threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns today.

Pac-10: No. 6 USC was tied 17-17 at halftime against Stanford, but blew open the game in the second half, winning 45-23. Let's not forget that No. 23 Oregon State controls the Pac-10. The Beavers are 6-1 and hold the tie-breaker with USC. Oregon State beat Cal today (a game some thought the Beavers would lose) 34-21. Now Oregon State must win at Arizona next week and then beat rival Oregon at home. Imagine USC going 11-1 and not winning the Pac-10? That would be a bad scenario for the Big Ten and the possibility of getting two teams into the BCS. Also, it would hurt teams like Boise State and Utah.

SEC: No. 4 Florida might just be the best team in the country. The Gators simply destroyed South Carolina -- and Steve Spurrier -- 56-6. It's the worst loss in Spurrier's career. And let's not forget that Tim Tebow is still in the Heisman race. Tebow threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for another touchdown. Percy Harvin is also playing extremely well. Harvin rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns. No. 10 Georgia had to hold on to beat Auburn, 17-13. Auburn had a good chance to win the game, with a fourth-and-1 play from the Georgia 14. But quarterback Kodi Burns couldn't connect with Ben Tate in the end zone with a second remaining. That might have been Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville's final home game. The Tigers have to win at No. 1 Alabama just to become bowl eligible. The Bulldogs are probably looking at the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. Alabama allowed Mississippi State to hang around for most of the first half, but the Crimson Tide got a 32-7 win. So Alabama must play Auburn in the Iron Bowl and then a date awaits with Florida in the SEC title game. No. 20 LSU almost got an embarrassing loss at home to Troy. LSU actually was down 31-3 in this game before rallying for a 40-31 win.

WAC: No. 9 Boise State remained unbeaten with a 45-10 win over Idaho. The real question will be whether Boise State can get into a BCS bowl. The six champions of the major conferences make it. The SEC and Big 12 will get a second team in. I'm starting to believe that the Big Ten will likely get a second team if Penn State wins the conference and Ohio State finishes 10-2. But a lot will depend on the Pac-10 and whether Oregon State wins the conference title. If Oregon State runs the table and Penn State wins the Big Ten, USC will undoubtedly get an at-large bid. The BCS would then have to choose between Boise State, a potentially unbeaten Utah team and Ohio State for one spot.

Mountain West: No. 17 BYU beat a good Air Force team today, 38-24. So BYU (10-1) will play at No. 7 Utah (11-0), which beat San Diego State 63-14, next Saturday in a huge showdown.

Independents: Notre Dame is now bowl eligible at 6-4. The Irish had to hang on for a 27-21 win. Down 27-7, Navy scored and then recovered two straight onside kicks.

Conference USA: Not kidding here -- No. 23 Tulsa lost at Houston, 70-30.

South Carolina at Florida (-21.5)
Abramson: Florida is on a mission to win four straight games, three of which will come against ranked opponents. The first comes against a South Carolina team who cannot match up with UF, especially on the road. With Tim Tebow making a charge for the Heisman repeat and the Gators eyeing the national title, I don't see a slip up this week or next. The game I have my eye on is Florida State at the end of the season. I like Florida's defense to hold South Carolina to very few points and control the clock, 35-13.

Rose: Steve Spurrier is known for offense, but it's actually South Carolina's defense that is carrying this team. The Gamecocks have one of the best units in the SEC. Also, let's not forget that under Spurrier, South Carolina has played Florida tough in recent games. But South Carolina is 0-11 all-time in Gainesville. And the Gators have been on a tear, winning five straight after losing to Mississippi. Plus, South Carolina's offense is shaky. Tim Tebow is playing extremely well at this point, and the offensive balance with Percy Harvin, Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey make the Gators almost unstoppable. Couple that with an emerging defense and that should be more than enough for Florida to win comfortably. If I'm Florida, I put this game away early because you don't want South Carolina hanging around late. Florida wins, 34-10.

Ohio State (-10) at Illinois
Abramson: I'm not sure how good Ohio State really is, but I am sure that the team remembers last year's disaster against Juice Williams and Co. Ron Zook's bunch was a Top 5 rushing attack last season and can now boast the No. 42 ground game -- quite the drop off, and probably one of the main reasons Illinois has to fear bowl eligibility at 5-5. I'm taking Ohio State big for the second week in a row, 38-14.

Rose: Ohio State still has memories of last year's 28-21 loss to Illinois at home that almost took the Buckeyes out of the national title game. In that game, Ohio State's defense struggled to stop Illinois quarterback Juice Williams, who threw for four touchdowns. I am confident that Ohio State's defense is better prepared this time around. Williams has had a very strong season, with 20 touchdown passes, and is leading the team in rushing. But he is also prone to making mistakes (14 interceptions this season). Illinois has been so inconsistent this season that it's hard to imagine the Illini bringing their 'A' game and upsetting Ohio State. I really like what I'm seeing from Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Remember, Ohio State is still playing for the Big Ten title. If Penn State loses to Michigan State and Ohio State wins out, the Buckeyes hold the BCS tie-breaker over the Spartans. Ohio State wins, 37-20.

Mississippi State at Alabama (-19)
Abramson: I could really care less about this game, but I figured we should include it because Alabama has been held down by Miss St. for a few years now, and it's gotta be annoying. Alabama continues its roll to the national title with a huge win, 31-0.

Rose: This will be Alabama's first game as a No. 1 at home in quite some time. So I'm expecting a raucous atmosphere. Mississippi State has absolutely no offense. I think Alabama comes out, establishes its devastating running attack and cruises home. The Tide rolls, 38-0.

North Carolina (-2.5) at Maryland
Abramson: North Carolina has a very good chance to make the BCS with the Virginia Tech loss, and the Terps can't be feeling good after losing to the Hokies in a pretty poor fashion 10 days ago. UNC is a pretty average Top 20 team, but Butch Davis' kids know how to win football games -- just ask Miami. Maryland is a very hot-and-cold team and could ruin UNC's parade to the ACC title game, but I just don't see that happening to this Butch Davis unit. I think if North Carolina puts the heat on Chris Turner and can force a few turnovers, like its done all year, the Heels win 24-13.

Rose: With Virginia Tech losing, North Carolina is in control to make the ACC title game. Adam is right -- North Carolina doesn't win with a lot of style. But the Tar Heels win. And in the ACC this season, winning any way you can is most important. I didn't like how Maryland, particularly Chris Turner, reacted to the defensive pressure Virginia Tech brought a few weeks ago. The Terps will see much of the same against North Carolina. I like Butch Davis and the Tar Heels this week, 23-13.

Cal at Oregon State (-3)
Abramson: If Oregon State keeps winning, they're headed to the BCS, but the final stretch isn't easy, starting this weekend with Cal. Then it's to Arizona and home vs. Oregon. The Beavers will rely heavily on Jacquizz Rodgers, one of the nation's top rushers and the catalyst to keeping Southern Cal from being No. 1. Two of Oregon State's three losses have come to Top 10 teams, and it's obvious this isn't an elite team. I see Cal's defense limiting Rodgers, while turning the heat up on quarterback Lyle Moevao via Tyson Alualu, Cameron Jordan and Zack Follett. The unravelling of Oregon State begins with a 32-30 loss.

Rose: Yes, Oregon State, not USC, controls its destiny in the Pac-10. Remember, it's the Beavers who can win the conference and head to the Rose Bowl if they win out. Lyle Moevao, injured shoulder and all, is expected to start against Cal. How effective he is will be a huge key to this game. Jacquizz Rodgers will likely have to carry the offense. Cal's defense, particularly with those linebackers, is tough. But I keep seeing Rodgers hiding behind his offensive linemen and running wild on USC earlier this season. Cal's offense has really gone in the tank with Kevin Riley at quarterback. Pac-10 games are usually high-scoring contests, but I see a low-scoring game, with Oregon State winning. I'm thinking the Beavers win, 23-14.

Boston College at Florida State (-7)
Abramson: Boston College has mystified me this season. Is this the team that loses to Clemson at home or the group that controls Virginia Tech and Notre Dame? I'm not sure that matters at this point, though, because Florida State is playing good football. Both teams feature Top 10 defenses, but I like the way F$U has been running the football with Antoine Smith -- it's been a long time coming. The 'Noles are close to reestablishing its dominance in the conference, and a win like this certainly helps. I'll take Florida State 13-10 in one of the weekend's better games.

Rose: Yes, Boston College has looked good this season, particularly vs. Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. But the Hokies have had issues scoring points, and the Irish have no running game. And, as Adam pointed out, the Eagles have looked bad. Florida State, however, has played fairly well all season. But I don't see Antone Smith running all over the Eagles. Yes, Florida State runs for 205 yards a game, but Smith has just one 100-yard game this season and has been held in check the past three games. Boston College has a pretty good run defense. So I think this game comes down to the quarterbacks. Chris Crane has more interceptions than touchdowns for Boston College. But I like Florida State's Christian Ponder. He gets better each week and the Seminoles will need him to make some plays against the Eagles. I think his evolution as a top quarterback in the ACC continues this week. I'm going with Florida State, 17-13.

Notre Dame (-3) at Navy
Abramson: Next week we'll discuss whether Charlie Weis is on the hot seat -- which has been a topic of discussion in many circles lately. I am not sure Navy can slow down Jimmy Clausen's 256 yards per game, and that will be the big difference in this one. The Irish aren't terrible on offense, and I think they can stop the Navy rushing attack. Last year's upset was fun, but I don't see a repeat...31-20.

Rose: Here are three reasons why I like Navy: 1)Navy will run every play, control the clock and keep Jimmy Clausen off the field. 2)Notre Dame's defense has trouble stopping the run. 3)Notre Dame has not beaten one quality team on the road all season. I like Navy, 23-20.

Sorry, Adam. Didn't mean to dampen your enthusiasm for tonight's game. I'm pretty excited about it, and I'll be watching.

This is a huge game in the ACC. Although it seems that every game is huge given the fact that there is no dominant team in the conference. But Virginia Tech looked good last week.

The Hokies and Hurricanes are both 3-2, tied with North Carolina at the top of the Coastal Division standings. So the winner of tonight's game takes over sole possession of first place.

Why Virginia Tech will win: The Hokies found some offense last week in the win over Maryland. Darren Evans ran for 253 yards and a touchdown against the Terps. Plus, Sean Glennon also played well at quarterback. He wasn't spectacular, but managed the game well and made the throws he needed to make. Virginia Tech rolled up over 400 yards of offense against Maryland. So that coupled with a defense that played well last week gives me some confidence about the Hokies winning this game. Granted, the game is not at Lane Stadium tonight. But I think last week's performances carries to this week.

The pick: Virginia Tech 19, Miami 16

I will provide a quick pick for tonight's game because I'm entirely deflated c/o Mike Rose.

In the 10:30 meeting this morning, I mention to Rose my excitement for tonight's game. His retort?

"Are either of those teams even ranked?" -- A playful jab that went straight to the kidney.

It's OK, though. Both teams are not where they want to be, but are still playing for a chance to be in BCS contention via an ACC title.

Miami is a four-point favorite, and the key for the Hurricanes is to stop the swagger Virginia Tech gained from its win over Maryland last Thursday night. If the Miami defense can stop the run, they have a pretty good chance in this game. The X-factor will be Jacory Harris, because when he's in the game, I expect Virginia Tech to tailor its game plan to a read-option style defense.

In a game where it comes down to whose defense plays better, I have to take Bud Foster's unit from Blacksburg. You won't see Darren Evans run for 253 yards again, but if he notches 100 and a touchdown, I like Tech's chances to win this one, 20-16. After all, VT is the darling of Thusday night football on ESPN the last few seasons.

Back tomorrow with the rest of the picks.

Until then, let's remember the great play from my first player interviewee when I started covering VT football:

Here's a scenario that'll blow your mind:

Florida loses to ranked South Carolina or ranked Florida State. The Gators still advance to the SEC championship game and beat Alabama. Both are essentially eliminated from the BCS title game with such late losses.

Texas Tech loses to Oklahoma on November 22. The Big 12 South representative in the championship game is determined from the BCS standings. With Texas currently sitting at No. 3, can Oklahoma -- a team that Texas defeated on a neutral field -- leapfrog Texas to the No. 2 spot in the BCS standings? I think not, so let's say they move to No. 3, leaving Texas with the task of defeating Missouri for the conference title.

So, heading into championship weekend, the BCS would look something like:

1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Texas Tech
6. Utah
7. Florida
8. Penn State
9. Boise State
10. Georgia

Let's say Florida beats Alabama and Texas beats Missouri.

Would the championship be Texas vs. Oklahoma?

Could it be?

Share your thoughts.

By Adam Abramson

Let's compare TTU and Alabama to date:

Wins over a No. 1
Texas Tech: Defeated Texas at home on an amazing play right at the end of the game. It was the Longhorns' only defeat - remember when Colt McCoy upended Oklahoma? Texas is still in the Big 12 title hunt and firmly in the race for the national title.

Alabama: Laid a smackdown on Georgia in Athens, at night. At the time, the game was impressive. Nick Saban's bunch stormed out to a 31-0 lead and dominated in what was a statement game. The wheels have almost come off Georgia's bus, who struggled mightily with Kentucky this weekend.
Advantage: Draw. I will give Alabama the benefit of the doubt on this one - Athens is a tough place to play, and even though Texas is a better opponent than Georgia, TTU was at home, at night. So we'll call it even.

Other signature wins:
Texas Tech: A romping of Oklahoma State at home. The Pokes were supposed to match TTU offensively. Couldn't. They were supposed to slow down that high octane offense. They did the complete opposite. Oklahoma State isn't a team that will set the world on fire, but it's a group that played well at No. 1 Texas (remember the interception called back by a roughing the passer?) and won at then-No. 3 Missouri. Oklahoma State might be one of the best two-loss teams in the country right now.

Alabama: At Death Valley against LSU. Clemson is a 4-5 squad who doesn't even have the same coach as it did in August, time for everyone to get over that win. The key win is against LSU. It was on the road, late afternoon (night by game's end), and it had the whole Saban angle. There was a ton of emotion on both sidelines and a lot of undertones that played into this game. However, if you're truly the country's top team, you should realize your Xs and Os are much better than theirs, and they weren't. LSU is now a 6-3 team with losses in every key game its played this year. Alabama received four turnovers, one being a pick-6, but a shaky kicker and the inability to put together drives let this one go into overtime.
Advantage: Texas Tech

Hypothetical game: Texas Tech vs. Alabama
Alabama can't stop Texas Tech. Nobody can't. Oklahoma won't be able to in two weeks. The question is, then: Can Alabama keep up? Well, Oklahoma State's lightning offense couldn't. I'll bet the Oklahoma Sooners will give TTU a good run. But there's no chance Alabama could. Texas Tech averages 47.9 points per game, the Tide has reached that mark ONCE - 49.

The Tide does yield about 13 points per game, but its only faced one offense inside the Top 25 (Georgia, No. 22). It's faced just three ranked in the Top 50 for total offense (Arkansas State, LSU the other two). Texas Tech averages 130 more yards of offense than Georgia on a weekly basis. Again, you're not going to stop Texas Tech.

The Tide will be forced to keep up with an offense that's pretty average, but finds ways to win. Glen Coffee averages over 100 yards per game on the ground and would be the key for 'Bama in keeping TTU's offense off the field. The Red Raiders are a middle-of-the-road defensive team, but that might be enough against a middle-of-the-road offense. Oklahoma State boasts a Top 10 offense, and the Red Raiders gave up 20 points and 368 yards (OSU 42 points and 497 yards). I think Mike Leach's bunch would be up to the task of stopping a vanilla, smashmouth offense.

Advantage: Texas Tech

Like I said last week: If Alabama beats Florida in the SEC title game, I have no problem with the Tide playing for the national title. Until then, I cannot considering the group a contender based on the current body of work.

As for Texas Tech, it might not even get a shot at the conference title game. With the Big 12's dominance this year, it's only right to put the last-standing team among Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech in the title game, assuming a victory in the Big 12 Championship bout.