10 for TiVo: Big Ten Openers, ACC Clashes, and Intrastate Battles Highlight Week Four

We are already a month into the college football season. Wow, those four weeks went by quickly.

And what do we know?

We know that East Carolina will not be going to a BCS bowl game this year. We know that Fresno State won't be bursting any BCS bubbles. We know the same thing about BYU, thanks to the huge egg it laid against Florida State on its home field.

We know USC is still susceptible to the little loss, and Ohio State still can't win the big game. Then again, we know that Oklahoma can't either.

As we move on to week four of the season, the Big Ten begins conference play with a couple of key games for would-be contenders. The ACC has a couple of marquee matchups. There are a couple of big intra-state contests, and Southern Mississippi tries to knock off a ranked team on the road.

Some other games to keep an eye on this week, but not in my top 10, are top-ranked Florida at Kentucky, Fresno State continuing its difficult schedule at No. 14 Cincinnati, Illinois at No. 13 Ohio State, No. 24 Washington at Stanford, and Arizona State at No. 21 Georgia in what should be a defensive struggle. It'll also be interesting to see how unbeaten Indiana does in the Big House against No. 23 Michigan.

Without further adieu, here are this week's top 10 games (As always, all times Eastern).

10. South Florida at No. 18 Florida State, Saturday, noon

South Florida's chance at a road upset took a major hit this week when the news broke that quarterback Matt Grothe will be out with an injury. Enter Tallahassee native B.J. Daniels, who gets his first collegiate start against an aggressive, but mistake-prone Seminole defense.
Florida State was at its best last week in a 54-28 thrashing of then No. 7 BYU.
Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder is completing better than 65 percent of his passes, and will test a USF defense that has allowed just 20 points in three games, but those were against a pair of FCS teams and FBS newcomer Western Kentucky.

9. No. 22 North Carolina at Georgia Tech, Saturday, noon

If it weren't for a game higher on this list, this would be the ACC marquee matchup of the week.
The Tar Heels are unbeaten, and coming off a second-half beatdown of East Carolina. T.J. Yates (pictured, 13, with Ryan Houston) was superb in the win, going 19-of-24 for 227 yards and two scores.
There could be a lot of scoring in this one, although both teams have pretty good defenses. North Carolina boasts the nation's No. 7 rush defense, and will be going up against Tech's high-powered triple option spread offense.
The Yellow Jackets have won nine of the last 11, and this one's in Atlanta, so beware Tar Heels, you are on upset alert.

8. Michigan State at Wisconsin, Saturday, noon

The Badgers, at home for the fourth straight week, entertain disappointing Michigan State.
The Spartans were upset by Central Michigan and then beaten by Notre Dame the last two weeks. Their lone win is against FCS foe Montana State.
The Badgers are unbeaten, but wins over Northern Illinois, Fresno State and Wofford haven't told us much about them.
The offense has been helter skelter, and the defense very inconsistent. Michigan State may be 1-2, but this game will say a lot about Wisconsin as a potential contender in the Big Ten.

7. Notre Dame at Purdue, Saturday, 8

Purdue takes its first step toward a state title Saturday night in West Lafayette; the Boilermakers play Indiana on Nov. 21 to close the regular season.
The Boilermakers are on a two-game skid, losing a close one to Oregon before being upset last week by Northern Illinois.
The Fighting Irish rebounded from their loss at Michigan to hold off Michigan State last week. Notre Dame faces upstart Washington next week, and can't get caught looking ahead. The Boilers should be up for this game, so Jimmy Clausen and Co. better bring their A-game.
Purdue has something to prove, and a win over Notre Dame will help get its season back on track.

6. No. 4 Mississippi at South Carolina, Thursday, 7:30

The Rebels have their highest ranking in 40 years, but haven't won an SEC opener since 2003.
Winning in Columbia won't be easy, and Steve Spurrier will have his Gamecocks ready.
Jevan Snead has played well for Ole Miss, and will need to do so against a stingy Gamecocks defense that has 10 sacks through three games. Linebacker Eric Norwood leads the way for South Carolina with four sacks.

5. No. 6 California at Oregon, Saturday, 3:30

Oregon has won two straight since the season-opening loss to Boise State.
Cal's Jahvid Best (4) is having a Heisman-worthy campaign so far, and is coming off a five-touchdown performance last week at Minnesota.
It's the conference opener for both teams, and it's in Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks are almost unbeatable.
This will be the first real test for the Bears, who want to prove themselves worthy of a top 10 ranking, and be considered as a top contender in the Pac-10.

4. Southern Mississippi at No. 20 Kansas, Saturday, noon

It's strength versus strength Saturday in Lawrence.
Kansas has the nation's third-ranked offense with quarterback Todd Reesing (pictured) at the helm, while Southern Miss brings in one of the country's best defenses.
The Golden Eagles are sixth best in stopping the run, but it'll be Reesing's arm that makes the difference in this one.
Southern Miss can offset that with a good ball-control offense, and it has such a back to do so in Damion Fletcher.
The senior tailback is one of the nation's most underrated backs, and has 344 yards and four scores so far in his team's 3-0 start.
The Eagles came from behind to beat Virginia at home last week, but Kansas presents bigger problems.
Virginia's Jameel Sewell was able to connect on a pair of long TD passes, so the Southern Miss secondary will have to do a much better job against Reesing if it hopes to pull off the road upset, and keep its BCS hopes alive.

3. Iowa at No. 5 Penn State, Saturday, 8

Iowa pulled off a big upset last year in Iowa City. Don't expect a similar result this year in front of the 100,000 people that will pile into Beaver Stadium Saturday night.
The Hawkeyes struggled to put away Northern Iowa, but then beat up on Iowa State and Arizona to run their record to 3-0.
Iowa's soft schedule is actually more impressive than Penn State's.
The Lions have beaten cupcakes Akron, Syracuse and Temple by a combined score of 90-20. Still, Penn State has done what superior teams are supposed to do to inferior opponents, beat them, and beat them bad.
Penn State has won 24 straight home games against unranked opponents. Saturday should be No. 25 ... should be.
One other note: I have no idea why College Gameday is setting up in Happy Valley for this game, when there are two better games on the schedule.

2. Texas Tech at No. 17 Houston, Saturday, 9:15

The Cougars jumped into the top 25 after upsetting then No. 5 Oklahoma State. Now they get another chance to prove themselves worthy of a top 20 ranking by playing host to another Big XII foe.
The Red Raiders were unable to upset Texas for the second straight year last week, but lost a closer-than-expected game.
One of two things could happen to Texas Tech this week—either a big letdown after the scoreboard loss, or a lift from last week's moral victory.
Houston has not played since its 45-35 win over the Cowboys two weeks ago, and its top-ranked scoring offense should be able to score points on the Red Raiders.
Conversely, Taylor Potts and Texas Tech could have some success against Houston's secondary. Potts is tops in the country in passing yards, and Houston's Case Keenum is third.
If you're looking at the over/under in this one, you probably want to take the over.

1. No. 9 Miami at No. 11 Virginia Tech, Saturday, 3:30

Why ESPN passes on taking a trip to Blacksburg for the second straight week is beyond me.
The Gameday crew set up in Austin for the Texas-Texas Tech last week, passing on the week's only game with two ranked teams in Blacksburg with the Hokies entertaining Nebraska. It ended up being a really good game.
This week, the Hokies welcome in another ranked opponent—a top 10 team no less—and ESPN takes its trio to Penn State.
Go figure.
This should be a great game. Both teams feature young, dynamic quarterbacks, and aggressive, get-after-it defenses.
It's the third straight week Miami will be facing a ranked team. If the 'Canes win Saturday, it'll be the first time since 2001 they were able to beat three consecutive ranked opponents.
Virginia Tech's defense will be tested against Jacory Harris (pictured), and a Miami offense averaging better than 35 points and 465 yards per game.
The Hokies rebounded well following their season-opening loss to Alabama by pounding Marshall before last week's come-from-behind, one-point win over the Huskers.
It's the first time in four years that Miami and Virginia Tech are playing each other with both as ranked teams.