The 10 Best Games of College Football's Week 10

It’s not the best weekend for college football, but there are always enough games with good matchups and/or story lines to keep us occupied all day Saturday.

Duke and North Carolina face off this weekend in what would always promise to be an epic battle on the basketball court, but inside Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, it’s just two average teams doing battle on the football field.

Both teams are 5-3 overall, and a win for Duke would have it bowl eligible for the first time since 1994. The Blue Devils are even 3-1 in ACC play, while the Tar Heels are at the bottom of the ACC’s Coastal Division. This is a very winnable game for Duke, and the Blue Devils will be looking for their first win over UNC since 2003.

It’s a game to keep an eye on, but not in my weekly top 10 games of the week. As always, all times Eastern, and BCS rankings are used.

10. New Mexico at No. 14 Utah, Saturday, 6 p.m.

New Mexico hasn’t won a game, and is on the road visiting the Utes, who have lost just once in the last 21 games. So why should anyone pay attention to this game? Because Utah faces No. 6 TCU next week in a game that could not only decide the Mountain West Conference, but could have an impact on which non-automatic qualifier gets into a BCS bowl game.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham (pictured) hasn’t decided which quarterback start—regular starter Terrance Cain or freshman Jordan Wynn. The Utes should win handily, but beware the trap game.

9. No. 6 TCU at San Diego State, Saturday, 4 p.m.

As with Utah, TCU must be cautious of the trap game, only the Horned Frogs are facing a much tougher opponent. TCU is in San Diego to face an Aztecs team that has rebounded from a 1-3 start to win three of the last four.

Sophomore quarterback Ryan Lindley is getting it done through the air, with over 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns. His two favorite targets have been wideouts Vincent Brown (45 receptions, 778 yards, six touchdowns) and DeMarco Sampson (44, 595, 7).

But TCU has one of the nation’s top defenses, allowing just 13 total points in the last three outings. TCU is 8-0 and looking to keep on the inside track to a BCS bowl game, and even a possible berth in the BCS national championship game.

8. Virginia at No. 17 Miami, Saturday, Noon

Miami has been living on the edge the last two weeks with an overtime loss to Clemson, and then a one-point escape at Wake Forest. Now they play host to a streaky Jekyll and Hyde Virginia team that began the season 0-3, won three straight, but has now dropped its last two games, both at home, to Georgia Tech and Duke.

Miami needs a win to keep its hopes for an ACC title alive, while the Cavaliers need a solid game from Jameel Sewell if it has aspirations of postseason play. Sewell (pictured) was knocked out of last week’s 28-17 loss at Duke, so how his ribs hold up will be an interesting thing to note in Miami.

7. Navy at No. 22 Notre Dame, Saturday, 2 p.m.

While Jimmy Clausen continues to boost his Heisman resume at the expense of his more deserving teammate, Golden Tate (pictured), the Fighting Irish welcome in a Navy team eager to become bowl eligible.

The Midshipmen are again among the nation’s leaders in rush offense, led by running back Vince Murray and quarterback Ricky Dobbs. Murray has 638 yards and four scores while Dobbs has thrown for just 618 yards and three scores, but has rushed for another 584 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Navy can win this game, but needs to use ball control to keep the ball away from Notre Dame’s explosive offense, which will get a nice boost with the return of receiver Michael Floyd, who has missed the last six weeks with a broken collarbone.

6. Northwestern at No. 4 Iowa, Saturday, Noon

The Hawkeyes have more talent, but they’ve inexplicably struggled at home against lesser opponents. If Northern Iowa and Arkansas State took Iowa to task in Iowa City, then as the pressures of an unbeaten season build, Northwestern could be the team to step up and knock the Hawkeyes off the Big Ten roost.

Just don’t count on it.

Although Iowa has been living on the edge with close road wins at Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State, the Hawkeyes have done enough to remain unbeaten. When trailing at home to Indiana last week after three quarters, the Hawkeyes hit another gear to score 28 points in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi (pictured with coach Kirk Ferentz) shrugged off five earlier interceptions to toss a pair of touchdowns to give the Hawkeyes a lead they would not relinquish. That could have been the kick in the pants Iowa needed.

5. No. 21 Wisconsin at Indiana, Saturday, Noon

Indiana is primed for a letdown game after its collapse last week at Iowa. Wisconsin has won five straight over the Hoosiers, including the last three by a combined margin of 100 points.

The Badgers were downright dominant in last week’s 37-0 thrashing of Purdue. Wisconsin’s John Clay (pictured)leads the Big Ten in rushing yards and touchdowns (839, 10) while Zach Brown and Montee Ball give the Badgers nice depth in the backfield.

Wisconsin’s defense has gotten better every week, and could give the Indiana fits in the backfield, especially defensive tackle O’Brien Schofield, who leads the nation in tackles for a loss.

4. No. 23 Virginia Tech at East Carolina, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Revenge will be on the minds of the Hokies when they travel to Greenville Thursday night.

ECU beat then No. 17 Virginia Tech to open the 2008 season in Charlotte. The Pirates thumped ranked West Virginia the following week in Greenville to propel themselves up to No. 14 in the national polls before a rush of injuries saw them fall from the rankings.

The Pirates still went on to win nine games and the Conference USA championship for the first time in school history. Both teams enter the game 5-3, and ECU wants another signature win over a ranked opponent. The Hokies want to make sure they don’t fall victim to the upset bug again under the lights of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

The spotlight will be on the two quarterbacks as both Tyrod Taylor and Patrick Pinkney (pictured) need to manage the game, and take what the two aggressive defenses are going to give them. Whichever team makes the fewest mistakes should win. One guy who could be a difference maker is ECU’s dynamic do-it-all playmaker Dwayne Harris.

3. No. 15 Houston at Tulsa, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Tulsa was hoping for better things this season, but at 4-4, the Golden Hurricane can still make a run at the West Division title of C-USA. It won’t be easy with conference front-runner Houston this week, and defending conference champion East Carolina coming to town next week. After that, it’s a road trip to Hattiesburg to face high-powered Southern Miss.

The Golden Eagles gave Houston all it could handle last week, but the Cougars pulled out a 50-43 win thanks to five touchdown passes from Heisman candidate Case Keenum (pictured). The Houston quarterback leads the nation in passing yards and touchdowns, and is among the leaders in completions and pass efficiency. He’s got 25 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Even in Houston’s lone loss, Keenum was lights out, tossing five TDs in the 58-41 loss at UTEP.

Houston has beaten Big XII teams Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. It also won in SEC country against Mississippi State. Should Boise State and TCU stumble along the way, a 12-1 Houston team could be right there ready to snatch up a BCS bowl berth.

2. No. 16 Ohio State at No. 11 Penn State, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Both teams need a win to try to keep pace with Iowa for the Big Ten title. Iowa beat Penn State earlier this year, and the Buckeyes get the Hawkeyes in Columbus next week. Ohio State controls its own Rose Bowl destiny, which is why Iowa fans are hoping for a home win for the Nittany Lions.

Ohio State leads the all-time series 10-6, but will need a solid game from Terrelle Pryor (pictured) in front of the 100,000-plus at Beaver Stadium. The Lions counter with veteran quarterback Daryll Clark, who has thrown for 2,158 yards and 18 touchdowns to nine picks. He’s also rushed for five more scores.

Ohio State’s offense has been struggling, and the Lions win with defense, allowing more than 20 points just once. But that was also their only loss—the 21-10 home defeat to Iowa.

1. No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Don’t expect a lot of points to be scored in Tuscaloose Saturday afternoon. Instead, expect an ugly, old-fashioned defensive battle between two of the nation’s best.

Alabama can essentially wrap up the SEC West title, meaning a spot in the SEC championship game with a possible berth in the BCS title game on the line.

LSU has the same hopes, and actually has an outside shot at landing in the BCS championship as well. To do so, it would have to find a way to slow down super soph Mark Ingram (pictured), who has carried the Tide to its 8-0 start.

Should LSU knock off Alabama, it could mean a rematch with No. 1 Florida in the SEC championship game. The Gators handed LSU its only loss of the year in 2009, and dealt then No. 1 Alabama its first loss last year in the SEC title tilt.

Both teams want another shot at the Gators, but have to first win Saturday to even think of getting that chance.