BY BILL SPICER
Three weeks into the season and we FINALLY have a USC game that matters! Seems like we’ve been waiting ... since springtime for this. With a Saturday full of less than spectacular TV games, this is the steak, the main course, complete with the great Kirk Herbstreit and the glare of the national spotlights.
By not playing last week the Trojans have slipped in the public what-have-you-done-for-me-lately poll. Today the Trojans will need a strong showing to cover the 10-point spread, and more importantly, keep pace with the other two national championship contenders, LSU and Oklahoma. But keep the faith USC fan, coach Carroll has admitted this is a ‘big game,’ and with an extra week to prepare, the Fan says USC starts the hunt for a national championship in earnest today with the Nebraska Cornhuskers hanging tough early, and then falling by the wayside for a resounding Trojan victory! Game On channel 3 at 5pm.
Last week it was OREGON’s turn to stand up and for the Pac-10, with a smash mouth, no respect, statue of Liberty-loving victory over Michigan. But be advised Duck Nation; this was clearly not your father’s Wolverines, and I’m not sure how much to read into the win. Certainly it was a coming out party for Oregon QB Dennis Dixon, and his heroics won him the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Be careful, today Oregon takes on a hard-luck and angry Fresno State Bulldogs team that would love nothing more than a big revenge win at Autzen Stadium. The Fan expects a competitive game, and an Oregon win.
UCLA continues its affair with the Beehive state, today taking on the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City. Last week’s hard fought win over BYU didn’t produce the attention it deserved. Today the Bruins are a two-touchdown favorite.
California is a heavy favorite at home facing the cream-puff portion of their schedule with a game against the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech. But as Appalachian State has reminded us, you got to play ‘em to win ‘em.
Sneaking up on the Pac-10 big boys are Arizona State and Washington. Both are 2-0 and starting to gather some attention. At ASU, vagabond coach Dennis Erickson brings swagger and high expectation to the desert…and so far, so good. In Seattle we have a tremendous match up and is our Game2Watch. The Huskies haven’t won two in a row or had a quality win in who-knows-how-long, now they are sporting both! With mighty momentum on their side, they take on THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Are the dreaded Huskies indeed back? We’ll see today!
Hats off to the new guys, the VS. Network. Now you can add channel 71 to your line up for college football viewing. For the second week in a row this is where we go to see the Bruins play, and the VS. Network has 15 more games scheduled from the Mountain West, Big 12, and Pac-10 conferences.
Falling off the radar, but not TV, is the intriguing match up of the Colorado Buffaloes hosting the Florida State Seminoles. Both programs have seen better days, and each is desperate for a win.
Today we have 12 games on regular TV and cable today; here are the SuperFans
Notre Dame @ Michigan: Who will emerge as the cream of the swill?
Tenn @ Florida: If the Gators want to be in the conversation for national champs, it starts right here.
UCLA @ Utah: Dorrell may sweat this one, but the Bruins will triumph!
USC @ Neb: A sea of red turning to crimson.
Florida State @ Colorado: The Fans have great love for the Republic of Boulder, but that championship season is only getting smaller in your rearview mirror.
Ohio St @ Washington: This could be a signature win for the Ty Willingham era.
Boston College @ Georgia Tech: The RamblnWreck are the ACC’s best.
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