#3 ALABAMA AT KENTUCKY
The Alabama defense has been playing lights out all season, and it made an explosive Arkansas offense look like it was feeling its way through the dark. Now the Tide brings the nation's number two defense to the Commonwealth. Kentucky's offense couldn't get anything going against the Gators last Saturday, so it's hard to image how they'll move the ball against Alabama's immovable object of a defense. You have to feel sorry for the Wildcats, facing Florida and Alabama back-to-back.
#5 LSU AT #18 GEORGIA
LSU keeps winning games, and keeps losing respect in the polls. That's because the Tigers haven't come close to living up to expectations. Now they head to Athens, where the Bulldogs are 3 - 1 despite treating the ball like it's a live hand grenade. The Tigers have two goals on Saturday: Find a way to slow down Georgia receiver A. J. Green, and run the ball. If they succeed at those two tasks, they'll prevail between the hedges. All Georgia needs to do is hang on to the ball.
#24 AUBURN AT TENNESSEE
Auburn leaves East Alabama and heads to the hills of Tennessee for its toughest test of the season. The Tigers have been keeping the Scoreboard operators busy by averaging over 45 points and 526 yards of offense a game. The problem for the Volunteers is that they have no faith in their passing game, and they don't have the rushing attack to keep the ball away from the Auburn offense.
#15 MISSISSIPPI AT VANDERBILT
The Rebels had a few extra days to lick their wounds after getting shut down by the Gamecocks last Thursday night. But they have to pick themselves up and head to Nashville, where the Commodores no doubt smell blood. The problem for Bobby Johnson's crew is that they've only managed to score 12 points in their two conference games this season. It's hard to see how Variderbilt can keep pace on the Scoreboard.
S. CAROLINA ST. AT #25 SOUTH CAROLINA
Steve Spurrier's team spent the week basking in the glory of its upset-win over Mississippi, but the Ol' Ball Coach didn't let them enjoy themselves too long. He's not worried about South Carolina State, but he has a tough Kentucky team coming to Columbia next week, and then a dreaded trip to Tuscaloosa after that. That's why the second and third string players will see plenty of action on Saturday.
TEXAS A&M VS ARKANSAS (IN ARLINGTON)
The Razorbacks had been averaging 44 points per game until they ran into Alabama's buzz-saw defense. Now they head to Arlington to face a Texas A&M offense that ranks 1st and 4th in the nation in total offense and scoring offense, respectively. Arkansas will be able to score against the Aggies, but the problem will be on defense, where the Razorbacks rank nearly dead last in the country in defending the pass.
GEORGIA TECH AT MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Yellow Jackets used the element of surprise to clamp down on North Carolina last week. After running 4-2-5 defense in the first three games. Paul Johnson sprung a 4 - 3 scheme on the Tar Heels. Mississippi State is trying to overcome its disappointment at not being able to punch it in from the one-foot line to beat LSU. Dan Mullen's Bulldogs will lift themselves up and dust themselves off, but Georgia Tech will probably get the job done in Starkville.
#8 OKLAHOMA AT #21 MIAMI (FL.)
Miami was as hot as a Briggs & Stratton muffler until it got cooled off in the torrential rains in Blacksburg, Virginia. Now Oklahoma comes calling, and it has something to prove. The Sooners have been quietly pummeling everybody they've faced since their opening loss to BYU - of course, they've faced the likes of Idaho State and Tulsa. The Hokies showed what can happen when you pressure Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, and you better believe the Sooners took notice.
FLORIDA STATE AT BOSTON COLLEGE
Florida State used to play merciless football, but now it seems the Seminole players, like their head coach, are trying to live off of past exploits. They take a long trip to New England this weekend, where they'll face a Boston College team that ranks 104th nationally in total offense, but is coming off an overtime win against Wake Forest. If the Seminoles think that Boston College will be intimidated, they're sorely mistaken. We'll find out a lot about Bobby Bowden's team this weekend.
#9 VIRGINIA TECH AT DUKE
Judging from last Saturday's effort, the Hokies were tired of hearing they were overrated. The Virginia Tech defense looked like a school of piranha against Miami, and Frank Beamer would like to see a similar effort when they head to Durham. David Cutcliffe is hoping that Virginia Tech shows up fat and happy, but even that wouldn't help the Blue Devils to prevail.
VIRGINIA AT NORTH CAROLINA
The 0-3 Cavaliers took last weekend to think about things. But now they head to Chapel Hill to face an I angry North Carolina team that was completely shut down by Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels gained a paltry 154 yards on The Flats last weekend, and gave up 408 yards. They rank 106th nationally in total offense, but fortunately for them, the Cavaliers come to town ranking lllth nationally in the same category. This one will come down to turnovers and line play, and North Carolina has the advantage in both.
CLEMSON AT MARYLAND
Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen is in a world of trouble. The Terrapins are 1 - 3, including a loss to Middle Tennessee. Clemson only has one more win than Maryland, but its two losses are by a combined seven points to Georgia Tech and TCU, both ranked fifteenth in the nation at the time. Maryland doesn't play hard, and it shows up on defense where they're giving up over 38 points per game. The Tigers are the tougher of these two teams, and they'll prove it in College Park.
N.C. STATE AT WAKE FOREST
The Wolfpack takes the nation's number one ranked defense in yards allowed to Winston-Salem this weekend, but Wake Forest is no slouch on offense. The Demon Deacons are averaging 412 yards per game, but have been able to convert those yards into only 26 points per game. Neither one of these teams is prone to making turnovers, but N.C. State has the better defense, and that's why it will leave BB&T Field with a win.