USC-Ohio St Share Spotlight With ND-Michigan

The Southern California-Ohio State game will have to share the spotlight Saturday with an old and storied rivalry being played just to the north that became far more interesting after the first week of the season.

Before the third-ranked Trojans and No. 8 Buckeyes begin their rematch of last year's USC romp, No. 18 Notre Dame plays at Michigan earlier Saturday.

Few coaches entered the season facing as much scrutiny as Charlie Weis and Rich Rodriguez. But after thoroughly impressive victories last week, there is reason for optimism for Weis' Fighting Irish and Rodriguez's Wolverines.

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen might be throwing to the best group of receivers in the country, with wideouts Golden Tate and Michael Floyd complimented by tight end Kyle Rudolph.

At Michigan, freshman quarterback Tate Forcier appears to be the perfect fit, a shifty and nimble run-pass threat, for the spread offense.

"He probably was more nervous than he let on," Rodriguez said. "But he didn't act like it, and he didn't seem like it on the sidelines or in pregame. He had a big smile on his face."

The last two seasons Michigan and Notre Dame have both been unranked when they played, turning one of the great college football rivalries into a black comedy. This is more like it.

USC turned last season's much-hyped meeting with the Buckeyes into a laugher. The Trojans won 35-3, but many of the stars of that game for USC - Mark Sanchez, Rey Maualuga - are now in the NFL.

The one positive to come out of that trip to Los Angeles for Ohio State was the play of Terrelle Pryor. As a freshman, he showed he was ready to lead the Buckeyes.

This season it's the Trojans coming in with a freshman quarterback. Matt Barkley looked good last week in a 56-3 victory against San Jose State. Facing a talented Buckeyes defense, in front of more than 102,000 at Ohio Stadium, will be a whole new deal for Barkley.

The picks: Thursday Clemson (plus 5½) at No. 15 Georgia Tech

Tigers tend to play better with low expectations ... GEORGIA TECH 28-24. Saturday Troy (plus 36½) at No. 1 Florida

Gators jump up in competition, but still unchallenged ... FLORIDA 55-14. No. 2 Texas (minus 33½) at Wyoming

Folks in Laramie are pumped for Longhorns visit - for now ... TEXAS 52-13. No. 3 Southern California (minus 7) at No. 8 Ohio State

Big Ten pride also on line at Horseshoe ... USC 28-17. Florida International (plus 34) at No. 4 Alabama

Tide could use break after slugfest with Hokies ... ALABAMA 35-7. Houston (plus 15½) at No. 5 Oklahoma State

Cougars QB Kase Keenum to test Cowboys improved D ... OKLAHOMA STATE 49-24. Syracuse (plus 28½) at No. 7 Penn State

Nittany Lions crushed Orange 55-13 at dome last season ... PENN STATE 55-14. No. 9 BYU (plus 17½) at Tulane

Can Green Wave catch giddy Cougars off guard? ... BYU 42-17. Eastern Washington (no line) at No. 10 California

EWU ranked 18th in FCS ... CAL 45-21. Vanderbilt (plus 14½) at No. 11 LSU

Vandy's last victory in Baton Rouge was 1951 ... LSU 28-10. Miami (Ohio) (plus 36½) at No. 12 Boise State

RedHawks on blue turf ... BOISE STATE 48-7. Idaho State (no line) at No. 13 Oklahoma

No worries for Sooners this week ... OKLAHOMA 58-0. Marshall (plus 19½) at No. 14 Virginia Tech

Last two meetings, Hokies won by average of 27 points ... VIRGINIA TECH 34-7. No. 16 TCU (minus 11) at Virginia

Horned Frogs expected tough road game ... TCU 31-14. No. 17 Utah (minus 13½) at San Jose State

Not much of break for Spartans after USC ... UTAH 27-13. No. 18 Notre Dame (minus 3) at Michigan

Underdog has won five of last seven meetings ... MICHIGAN 27-21. No. 19 North Carolina (minus 4½) at Connecticut

Heels LB Bruce Carter blocked three punts vs. Huskies last year .... NORTH CAROLINA 28-14. South Carolina (plus 7) at No. 21 Georgia

Makings of another low-scoring affair in series ... GEORGIA 17-14. Arkansas State (plus 23½) at No. 22 Nebraska

Second straight Sun Belt opponent for Huskers ... NEBRASKA 44-14. SE Missouri (no line) at No. 23 Cincinnati

Bearcats offense picks up pace ... CINCINNATI 52-14. No. 24 Kansas (minus 12½) at UTEP

Could be a tricky trip for Jayhawks ... UTEP 35-28. Bowling Green (plus 18½) at No. 25 Missouri

Like Chase Daniel never left Mizzou .... MISSOURI 46-20.