Weekend preview: Rivalry Week edition

Michigan wins the Big Ten with a victory. Easy as that, right? Wrong. Especially when you consider that Ohio State is 20-1 at home since the beginning of the 2002 season.

The Buckeyes will need Mr. Ted Ginn to serve Kool-Aid, return kicks/punts and catch passes in order to win. How about this: Michigan has never started a freshman at quarterback at Ohio State. Good luck, Mr. Chad Henne.

Expect a battle of defenses. But Michigan has a "wily" freshman at QB named Henne and another "old man" at running back, Mike Hart.

Pick: Wolverines

Leave it to Steve Spurrier to make a grand return (assuming it becomes official) to no other place than USC! That would be the University of South Carolina. It'll be sad not having Lou Holtz on the sidelines. But, knowing Lou as I do, never say never. There are plenty of places that need makeovers and who's better at getting a program turned around than Holtz?

Expect two things in this contest: the Gamecocks will play with a ton of emotion trying to win one more for Holtz and trying to impress their new big dog Spurrier.

And Spurrier will probably be studying the high school blue-chip book and learning names he needs to know. Congrats to the Gamecock nation on wooing two legendary coaches in a row to campus.

Pick: Tigers

• Iowa State:

Dan McCarney Show

I can't remember the last time I covered Iowa State. And most of you can't remember the last time Iowa State defense held opponents to just 127 rushing yards per game. How about World War II!

Speaking of history, Kansas State has won the last 10 meetings against Iowa State by a combined 438-105. Whew!

If the Cyclones win this week and next week against Missouri, ISU wins the Big 12 North.

Pick: Wildcats (I can't find a rational way to pick Iowa State – too much history)

• Virginia:

Cavalier Call-in

• Georgia Tech:

Chan Gailey Show

Could the bloom be off the rose for the Cavaliers? Will they be as motivated to win? Virginia's Wali Lundy needs to continue landing in the end zone. But that'll be tough to do because the Georgia Tech defense is playing well.

Tech has won four of its last five behind a defense allowing 195 yards per game in total offense and just 42 per game on the ground during that span. Virginia hasn't won in Atlanta since 1994.

Pick: Yellow Jackets

• Alabama:

Hey Coach

Iron Bowl mania and I wish I could be there. Auburn is chewin' up the opposition. Take a look at a few numbers: The Tigers are first in the nation in scoring defense, have outscored their opponents 194-26 in the first half, and are the only defense to allow fewer than 110 points all year!

So, how does Alabama compete? The Tide will run behind Ken Darby and try a fly-to-the-ball defense. Alabama is not going to throw it much, and it will be up to the Auburn defense to shut down Darby.

Pick: War Eagle – Tigers

Big week for these two brainiac schools meeting for the 107th time. Stanford has lost the last two against Cal after winning seven in a row. How will the Cardinal stop the Pac-10's best offense?

Cal's J.J. Arrington needs only 46 yards to break Chuck Muncie's school rushing record of 1,460. Cal has scored on its first possession in seven of nine games. Can Cal win big for the pollsters?

It would be a huge win for Stanford and a moral victory if it can make it a close game. Stanford was six minutes from beating USC.

Pick: Golden Bears. Hang in there, Stanford – just win the "other sports" challenges.

• Wisconsin:

Barry Alvarez Show

• Iowa:

Hawk Talk with Kirk Ferentz

This is the 80th meeting between these schools, so they'll now start playing for the Heartland Trophy. This will come down to Wisconsin's Anthony Davis running against the top rush defense in the league.

Wisconsin needs a win and a Michigan loss to capture a share of Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Iowa has created 16 turnovers in its last four games. Can Wisconsin hold on to the ball and its title hopes?

Pick: Hawkeyes

Plain and simple, Utah is playing to keep pace in the heated BCS standings. No way Utah can afford to struggle for that matter, or even play close with BYU – not a good reality for the Cougars.

BYU needs to win to avoid three straight losing seasons for the first time since a tough stretch between 1959-64. Utah leads the nation in offensive touchdowns at 58. The Utes need to add significantly to that.

Pick: Utes

• Oregon State:

Mike Riley Press Conference

Beaver Sports Talk

Here we go with another Civil War. The winner in the 108th meeting of these two teams becomes bowl eligible. The home team has won the last seven games in this series.

Oregon State with a win will have beaten their Northwest foes (Washington State, Washington and Oregon) in the same season for the first time since 1974.

Pick: Beavers

• Florida:

Gator Hotline With Ron Zook

• Florida State:

Bobby Bowden Show

It is not a good thing for the Gators that this is the game the Seminoles officially will dedicate the new Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium. Emotions will run even higher for the Seminoles.

But I have to tell you, the Gators will be full of adrenaline, too. Don't for a second forget the Gators are talented. But the Gator offense will have to deal with the FSU defense that ranks first in the nation in rush defense. Interesting nugget for Gators: This is the team's 1,000th game in school history.

Pick: Seminoles