Chris Martin, sports editor
San Diego State at Arizona, Saturday, 7 p.m. on KWBA
This game really scares me. The Wildcats are beat up on the O-line and I have a feeling team morale is a little low after Ohio State gave it to UA. This, unfortunately, is going to be another defensive game because both offenses have done absolutely nothing this year. This game won't provide much interest as the Wildcats win on talent in a half-empty Arizona Stadium.
Arizona 24, San Diego State 20
No. 13 Purdue at No. 21 Notre Dame, Saturday, 10 a.m. on NBC
No team in America faces the problem Notre Dame does. After losing a heartbreaker to Nebraska (it was Bob Davie's fault, he should be fired!), the Fighting Irish must also recover from losing their two best players - QB Arnaz Battle and DE Grant Irons - to season ending injuries. The Golden Domers will rally behind 6-foot-7 QB Gary Godsey and crush Drew Brees' hopes. Touchdown Jesus will be smiling Saturday.
Notre Dame 28, Purdue 24
No. 9 Washington at Colorado, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on ABC
Will Colorado fans kill Rick Neuheisel? He told me Tuesday that the media was overhyping his return to Colorado. Yeah right, Buffaloes fans have had this date circled for two years. Too bad for CU fans that Washington is so good this year because the Buffs are going to get roughed up in this one. This is the game in which Husky QB Marques Tuiasosopo officially enters the Heisman race.
Washington 38, Colorado 21
No. 3 Michigan at No. 14 UCLA, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on ABC
There is some bad blood in this game and it all revolves around Michigan RB Justin Fargas. UCLA wanted him badly but Fargas spurned the Bruins for Ann Arbor. UCLA wants revenge but won't get it, because the Pac-10 isn't at the Big Ten's level - ask Arizona. Running back Anthony Thomas and QB John Navarre will be too much for the Bruins' defense. This will be the Wolverines' first of two trips to Pasadena.
Michigan 37, UCLA 24
No. 6 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on CBS
Is there a better rivalry in football right now? The Gators are in for a long game as more than 110,000 fans clad in orange and white pack Neyland Stadium. The key here is going to be QB play and Jesse Palmer of Florida gets the nods over A.J. Saggs. Steve Spurrier will have his troops ready to play after opening the season with two cupcakes. Damn, the man is a genius.
Florida 21, Tennessee 17
Chris Suffecool, staff writer
San Diego State at Arizona, Saturday, 7 p.m. on KWBA
The Wildcats need a big win after a tough loss to Ohio State last week. San Diego State should provide them with that win. The defense will get a chance to lick the wounds Ohio State gave them and beat up on SDSU. Watch O.J. have a great game and for Leo Mills to rush for 100 yards as the Cats get ready for the Pac-10 season by crushing the Aztecs.
Arizona 31, San Diego State 10
No. 13 Purdue at No. 21 Notre Dame, Saturday, 10 a.m. on NBC
Touchdown Jesus has let down the Irish as of late. No miracles last week, and it ain't gonna get better this week. Touchdown Jesus goes on vacation and Purdue amasses over 500 yards of total offense. After Saturday, the Notre Dame faithful will be convinced that Drew Brees is the Anti-Christ. Too bad for Bob Davie because this will be his last season in South Bend.
Purdue 35, Notre Dame 3
No. 9 Washington at Colorado, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on ABC
Make no mistake, the Huskies are good, and are back in the national spotlight. Rick Neuheisel comes back to Colorado for the first time in two years. Fans in Colorado are some of the worst in the country, and will give Neuheisel a proper welcome by pelting him with random junk. He and the Huskies get mad and Tuiasosopo throws for four touchdowns.
Washington 49, Colorado 14
No. 3 Michigan at No. 14 UCLA, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on ABC
The last time the No. 3 team in the country came to Los Angeles, UCLA handed Alabama a beating. Michigan hasn't had a true test yet, beating up on Bowling Green and Rice so far this year. UCLA is battle-tested, and it will show on Saturday. UCLA beats the No. 3 team in the country for a second time in three weeks. Watch out Pac-10 - these Bruins are for real.
UCLA 28, Michigan 24
No. 6 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on CBS
I will not let the fact that I hate the Florida Gators almost as much as I hate ASU affect my pick here. Florida and Jesse Palmer are good, but A.J. Suggs will be a household name after Saturday. He gives a talented Florida pass rush fits as he stays cool and leads the Vols to victory. Burn in hell, Spurrier, you are way overrated and so is your team.
Tennessee 84, Florida 3
Bryan Rosenbaum, staff writer
San Diego State at Arizona, Saturday, 7 p.m. on KWBA
Until the NCAA reinstates an old elementary school rule, where defenders have to count to 10-apple before they rush, Arizona QB Ortege Jenkins won't have any choice but to take a sack every down. With such a poor passing attack, a good backfield ceases to exist as well, and UA is staring at a losing season once again. Can it get any more frustrating? Umm....yes.
San Diego State 14, Arizona 7
No. 13 Purdue at No. 21 Notre Dame, Saturday, 10 a.m. on NBC
Irish QB Arnaz Battle and DE Grant Irons are out for the season with injuries. Can you say, "Season over" and "Meet the new Notre Dame coach, Terry Bowden"? Drew Brees and Purdue continue their march toward the Citrus Bowl as their passing-only attack, which will work fine this weekend, has no place in the Big Ten.
Purdue 31, Notre Dame 15
No. 9 Washington at Colorado, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on ABC
The Second Annual Neuheisel Bowl will end up being like the first one - over-hyped and meaningless. Washington looked great at times and awful at times last week against Miami. Their inability to finish the Buffs will cost them this week, as Pearl Street in Boulder is flooded by even more coffee-lovers, gallery-goers and bad one-man bands celebrating the CU victory.
Colorado 19, Washington 17
No. 3 Michigan at No. 14 UCLA, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on ABC
Forget the No. 7 Train in New York; the scariest ride in all of America is the A-Train, conducted by Michigan RB Anthony Thomas. Like a fast and productive Jerome Bettis, A-Train rumbles, bumbles and stumbles all over the field. When he needs a rest, QB and Heisman contender John Navarre can air it out to David Terrell. Bold prediction - injured QB Drew Henson sees mop-up work upon return.
Michigan 27, UCLA 14
No. 6 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on CBS
What do Tennessee, Florida, Tony Danza, Ted Danson, Chuck Norris and Bill Cosby have in common? They're all has-beens who appear weekly on CBS. Steve Spurrier's fits aren't funny anymore and "Thanks, Peyton" signs around Knoxville aren't either. With UT's eyes on Todd Helton chasing .400 and Manning chasing a ring, is there anybody left to make the fans belt out "Rocky Top" any more?
Florida 45, Tennessee 32
Keith Carmona, senior staff writer
San Diego State at Arizona, Saturday, 7 p.m. on KWBA
Strolling in to Tucson donning boardshorts and Reef sandals, the Aztecs are the pattycake opponents that the Wildcats need after being demoralized last week. These Californians (20 of 22 SDSU starters hail from So Cal) may be better dressed than the UA players, but that's the only category in which they dominate. O.J. will finally open up his air attack, leading Arizona to an offensive explosion.
Arizona 48, San Diego State 10
No. 13 Purdue at No. 21 Notre Dame, Saturday, 10 a.m. on NBC
A sports story from Indiana not involving Bobby Knight? Nah! When the Irish realize they don't stand a chance, they dress up as Boilermakers with signs reading, "HEY.....KNIGHT!" The General will quickly find his way to South Bend, rip out a section of the bleachers and massacre Drew Brees with it. Purdue counters with the only known Knight defense - the Myles Brand zero-tolerance attack, which slays the unemployed tyrant.
Purdue 31, Notre Dame 21
No. 9 Washington at Colorado, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on ABC
Washington is clearly the better team here, but a Neuheisel Homecoming celebration that will bring inebriated Boulder fans into the stands may be too much for the Husky defense. Sure Washington can stop Colorado's offense, but evading the beer cans and vodka bottles being hurled from the student section will prove to be much more troublesome. If you're betting on the game, take the Buffs with eight points and a six-pack of Fat Tire.
Colorado 16, Washington 13
No. 3 Michigan at No. 14 UCLA, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on ABC
So much for the Pac-10 re-establishing itself as a national powerhouse. UCLA's only offensive threat is DeShaun Foster, but after handing him the ball in nearly every first half play, the Bruins will be debilitated. The always putrid UCLA defense hasn't seen a back like Michigan's A-Train since Edgerrin James punished them for 299 yards in 1998. Sorry Tucsonans, hometown boy Brian Poli-Dixon won't save the day - these Wolverines are too good.
Michigan 38, UCLA 21
No. 6 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee, Saturday, 12: 30 p.m. on CBS
If it weren't for football, the South might as well cease to exist. They can toss the pigskin around quite well, but after that the entire region doesn't have any positive attributes. Somehow these inbred states keep producing good teams, yet I can't name any of their players off-hand. Let's go with the Vols in this one on the off-chance that Steve Spurrier's team bus crashes into the toxic Tennessee River.
Tennessee 21, Florida 17
