College Football: Finding Out Who's Genuine in Week 9

The closer we get to the end of the college football regular season, the more we'll learn about the teams at the top.

Right now there are seven undefeated teams in the country. They are ranked 1-4 and 6-8 in the BCS. The only team that doesn't belong is No. 5 USC, which is 6-1. The Trojans can prove their merit this week at No. 10 Oregon, but it can't be forgotten that it's still the same team that lost to Washington. More on that game later.

Teams that should have no problem remaining unbeaten are No. 7 Boise State (hosting San Jose State) and No. 6 TCU (hosting UNLV). No. 2 Alabama is off this week after narrowly escaping upset-minded Tennessee last week.

Other unbeatens will be tested, as will some other ranked teams. With that said, I give you the 10 best games of the week (BCS rankings, and all times Eastern).

10. No. 8 Cincinnati at Syracuse, Saturday, noon

Without Heisman candidate Tony Pike behind center, the Bearcats still trounced Louisville last week as backup quarterback Zach Collaros was superb in relief. Collaros (pictured) completed 15 of 17 pass attempts for 253 yards and three scores in the 41-10 win.

The Carrier Dome has not been a tough place to play for Cincinnati. The Bearcats are 4-0 in Big East play against the Orange, winning on the road twice. The last defeat to Syracuse came in 2004, 19-7 at the Carrier Dome, when Cincinnati was still a member of Conference USA.

For the Orange to have a chance, former Duke basketball player Greg Paulus must take care of the ball. Paulus has nine touchdown passes to 10 interceptions this year. If Syracuse protects the ball, they have a chance. If not, the Bearcats will improve their record to 8-0.

9. Indiana at No. 4 Iowa, Saturday noon

The Hawkeyes should have no problem putting away a team that was blown out by Virginia. But this is the same Iowa team that struggled at home against Arkansas State and Northern Iowa.

Iowa moved to 8-0 for the first time in school history last week in dramatic fashion when St. Louis native Marvin McNutt caught the game-winning pass from Ricky Stanzi (pictured) on the final play of the 15-13 win.

Iowa will need Stanzi and McNuttto make plays again now that starting running back Adam Robinson is lost for the year with a sprained ankle. The starting job now falls to fellow freshman Brandon Wegher, who has 321 yards and three scores on 87 carries.

8. Southern Mississippi at No. 18 Houston, Saturday, 1

The Cougars only slip up against a schedule that includes wins over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Mississippi State is an inexplicable shootout loss at conference rival UTEP.

This week the Cougars welcome in the underachieving Golden Eagles, and their dynamic running back Damion Fletcher. The Southern Miss senior has 598 rushing yards with seven touchdowns.

Houston counters with Heisman candidate Case Keenum. The Cougars QB threw five touchdown passes in his team's 58-41 loss to UTEP. In seven games, Keenum has 20 touchdown tosses and more than 2,700 yards through the air. He also has three rushing touchdowns and has thrown just four interceptions.

Houston is ranked No. 1 in Conference USA in total offense, while Southern Miss is No. 2. The Eagles are the league's top-ranked defense, but will be tested against Keenum and his two favorite targets, James Cleveland and Patrick Edwards.

7. No. 24 California at Arizona State, Saturday, 3:30

After putting out an inept offense in two straight losses to Oregon and USC, Cal appears to have righted its ship. The Golden Bears have scored 94 points in the last two weeks - wins over UCLA and Washington State.

This week, Jahvid Best (pictured) and Co. step up in competition, traveling to face an Arizona State team coming off a disappointing loss to Stanford.

The Sun Devils need a win to prevent a downward spiral. Cal is the first of three straight ranked opponents, with No. 5 USC coming in next week before a road trip to Autzen Stadium to take on No. 10 Oregon.

The Sun Devils must protect Danny Sullivan if they're going to pull off the upset. Sullivan has been sacked 10 times this season, leading to five interceptions to just seven touchdowns.

6. No. 19 Miami at Wake Forest, Saturday, 3:30

Miami has won five straight over Wake Forest, and has never lost to the Demon Deacons as an ACC opponent.

While going through another disappointing season, Wake has talent, and Miami could have a letdown game following last week's overtime loss to Clemson.

Randy Shannon must ensure that Jacory Harris plays with focus, and that the Miami defense doesn't allow Wake QB Riley Skinner (pictured) to make plays downfield. Skinner's approaching 2,000 yards through the air, and has thrown 16 touchdown passes. He was just 13-of-25 for 173 yards in Wake's 13-10 loss to Navy last week.

Like the Hurricanes, Skinner will be looking to rebound as well against a Miami defense that has been susceptible to the big play.

5. No. 22 South Carolina at Tennessee, Saturday, 7:45

The Gamecocks are just 1-13 at Neyland Stadium, and the teams appear evenly matched. While Tennessee has had hard-luck losses to UCLA, Florida, Auburn, and Alabama, South Carolina has used defense to beat up on Ole Miss, North Carolina State, and Vanderbilt.

The 6-2 Gamecocks also own a 28-26 win over Kentucky and a shootout loss to Georgia, a team the Volunteers pummeled. What Tennessee must avoid is a letdown after coming within two blocked field goals of knocking off second-ranked Alabama last week.

Jonathan Crompton will be the best quarterback on the field, but it could be New Bern, N.C. native Montario Hardesty (pictured) that is the difference against a very good Gamecocks defense.

4. No. 11 Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt, Saturday, 7:30

Vandy is struggling at 2-6 and 0-5 in the SEC. The Commodores ranked 85th in rush defense while the Ramblin' Wreck come in as the nation's second-best rush offense. Mismatch, right?

Not so fast. This game is in Nashville, and while Georgia Tech is unbeaten in its last 11 matchups with Vanderbilt, the Commodores will not go quietly into the night.

Vandy has allowed more than 20 points just three times this season, losses to Georgia (34-10) and LSU (23-9) and Ole Miss (23-7). The Tech offense will have to play well against an opportunistic Vanderbilt defense.

Georgia Tech steps out of ACC play late in the year, and can't be thinking about the ACC race, with just Wake Forest and Duke remaining on the conference tilt as Tech sits atop the ACC's Coastal Division.

3. Georgia at No. 1 Florida, Saturday, 3:30

The Bulldogs have had two weeks off to get healthy and prepare for Florida. This is always a fun one in Jacksonville, but Florida has come out on top in 16 of the last 19 meetings.

Florida won last year's contest "between the hedges" 49-10 as Tim Tebow (pictured) accounted for five touchdowns and the Gators forced four turnovers.

This year, it's Tebow whose been prone to the turnover bug. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner has already matched his interception total from last year of four, and lost a pair of fumbles in a 23-20 win over Arkansas.

As has been widely reported, the Gators have been the recipients of some fortuitous calls from the SEC officials. A neutral site and national scrutiny of the referees could be just what Georgia needs to help it knock off the country's top-ranked club.

2. No. 3 Texas at No. 14 Oklahoma State, Saturday, 8

The last real remaining obstacle standing in the way of the Texas Longhorns and an undefeated season is Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys are without star receiver Dez Bryant, suspended for the rest of the season, but that didn't stop them from dismantling Baylor last week.

After all that talk about how poorly the Texas offense has played, the Longhorns smoked Mizzou 41-7 last week in Columbia.

Oklahoma State has made a habit of building a huge lead on Texas at halftime only to blow it in epic fashion in the second half. Colt McCoy (pictured) has never lost to Oklahoma State in three meetings, and Texas has won 11 straight in the rivalry. McCoy is completing nearly 80 percent of his passes in three games against the Cowboys.

Keith Toston has stepped up nicely in Bryant's absence, and he'll need another big game catching balls from Zac Robinson if Oklahoma State wants to avoid a 12th straight defeat.

1. No. 5 USC at No. 10 Oregon, Saturday, 8

Autzen Stadium (pictured) can be a house of horrors for most visiting teams, as USC found out in 2007. The Trojans return there Halloween night to face a Ducks team that has not lost since its week one defeat to Boise State.

After close wins over Purdue and then No. 16 Utah, Oregon has been downright dominant in four blowout victories.

The supposedly stellar Southern Cal defense, on the other hand, has struggled in shootout victories over Notre Dame and Oregon State. This is a very winnable game for Oregon, who can't hope to play for a national title as long as Boise remains unbeaten, but can gain the inside track to the Rose Bowl.

USC is not only playing for the Rose Bowl, but wants to continue to be in position for a possible berth in the BCS title game.