Ryan Casey staff writer

Stanford vs. Arizona

Ryan Casey: Arizona 34, Stanford 20. If you look at the numbers (Stanford sits at 2-2, the Cats 1-4) and the trends in the series (the Cardinal have won three of four matchups), all signs point to a Stanford victory at Arizona Stadium tomorrow. But look at this game logically, and you will find that the Cats take this one. The D will step up, and RK will have a career day with four touchdown passes. What's more, Mike Bell will enjoy his most successful game to date.

Michael Schwartz: Arizona 34, Stanford 17. Does anyone remember the last time the Wildcats smeared a team, winning a game by more than two touchdowns against a team not called the Lumberjacks? I don't, but this will be the week that changes. Things could get ugly for Arizona if it drops a winnable game like this matchup against the Cardinal, but if the Cats play like they did last week against USC, this one won't be close.

Kyle Kensing: Arizona 35, Stanford 10. For the first time since Mike Stoops took over as head coach, Arizona is not an underdog heading into a Pacific 10 Conference game. Stanford, meanwhile, is riding high from an upset of Washington State last week. Don't expect a repeat. Arizona is too much for the Cardinal and should roll.

Michael Schwartz staff writer

USC vs. Notre Dame

Ryan Casey: USC 49, Notre Dame 31. Think the Trojans are a little shook up after the Wildcats stuck with them through 3 1/2 quarters? Me too. Think it will make a difference? Me neither.

Michael Schwartz: USC 45, Notre Dame 24. USC and Notre Dame have hooked up the last three seasons with the same result - 31-point Trojan victories. While this Irish bunch comes in ranked No. 9 with a new head coach (Charlie Weis), all that means is that the Trojans' margin of victory will be smaller. No. 1 USC passed tough road tests at Oregon and ASU and will do the same in South Bend.

Kyle Kensing: USC 42, Notre Dame 14. Charlie Weis is a genius. Notre Dame football is back. Blah, blah, blah. Until the Irish beat a legitimate team, I'm not hopping on the bandwagon, as its two wins over national Top 25 teams were against Big Ten squads that are now struggling to stay above .500. Look for the combination of LenDale White and Reggie Bush to run circles around the Notre Dame defense in the most overhyped game since last year's Orange Bowl.

Kyle Kensing staff writer

Michigan State vs. Ohio State

Ryan Casey: Michigan State 31, Ohio State 14. Suddenly at 3-2, Ohio State isn't looking so hot. Michigan State looks slightly better, but that loss to Michigan two weeks ago looks even worse now after the Wolverines dropped one to Minnesota Saturday in Ann Arbor. The Spartans should be 6-0, and they're going to come out fired up about that.

Michael Schwartz: Michigan State 27, Ohio State 24. Maurice Clarett must be thinking about what could have been. If he had never decided to go pro, he would be a Buckeye senior likely with a bright NFL future ahead of him. Instead he's got no future after being cut by the Denver Broncos. While Ohio State has had plenty of time to get used to life after Clarett, I'll go with the upset in a thriller.

Kyle Kensing: Ohio State 31, Michigan State 21. Did you hear that thud? It was OSU's diminishing BCS hopes. The Buckeyes are smarting from their second loss, a 17-10 showing at surprising Penn State. With their title dreams officially dashed, look for OSU to take its frustrations out on a porous Michigan State defense.

Who will stand out at McKale Madness on Friday night?

Ryan Casey: Fendi Onobun, freshman forward. You probably won't realize this until the PA announcer actually calls out his name, but Lute Olson didn't bring in one of Mike Stoops' linebackers to play power forward. Meet Fendi Onobun, one of four freshmen on Olson's squad. Hailed as an athletic type who needs to learn how to harness his abilities, Onobun will be fun to watch.

Michael Schwartz: Hassan Adams, senior forward. McKale Madness is an overglorified way for Wildcat basketball fans to greet their teams. With Salim Stoudamire and his deft touch that thrilled the crowd in a shooting contest gone to the Atlanta Hawks, the night's highlight should be senior forward Hassan Adams wowing the fans in the dunk contest one last time. If he has come up with anything creative to go along with his sick athleticism, it will be a treat.

Kyle Kensing: Hassan Adams, senior forward. The highlight of last year's (Midnight) McKale Madness was the repeated replay of former walk-on Beau Muhlbach's famous missed dunk. With no blunders from last season to show, this year's highlight may actually be on the court. Look for Hassan Adams to, go figure, put on a Dominique-esque dunking showcase.