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Miami (FL) at Georgia Tech
The Canes are all of a sudden in the driver's seat in the ACC Coastal, but a loss will send them right back into the pack with about four other teams, including Georgia Tech. It may not appear as if it is the case, but this mess will all be sorted out in the next two weekends of football.
If Miami hopes to make their first ACC Championship game, they will have to win on the road in a hostile environment at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Are Robert Marve and company up for the challenge? Miami is young, but they have really come together nicely the past month or so after losing to Florida State. I am intrigued to see how their fast defense handles the Tech triple option, something they do not see very often. I still like Georgia Tech in this game, but in the ACC, you never know.
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH:
Florida State at Maryland
While Miami and Georgia Tech fight it out for first in the Coastal, Maryland and Florida State do so in the Atlantic. Losing to BC at home had to be deflating for the 'Noles, and now they have to face a Maryland defense that really put a clamp on North Carolina. It's quite simple for the Terps: win the next two weeks against FSU and at BC, and they go to Tampa. As for FSU, they need to win this one and get a bunch of help.
Boston College at Wake Forest
Along with Florida State and Maryland, BC and Wake also have an excellent shot of winning the division crown. From what I saw of the BC-FSU game, Chris Crane has grown into a reliable leader for the Eagles, and should give them a chance at going back to the conference championship for the second year in a row. I don't know what is going on in Winston-Salem, but the Deacons have come back to the pack in 2008, with losses in three of their last five.
Oregon State at Arizona
The Beavers are one step closer to Pasadena after defeating Cal at home last week, but this Saturday will be a real test. USC struggled mightily in Tucson a few weeks back, so Oregon State will have their work cut out if they hope to head into one of the biggest Civil War games in quite some time. Arizona, meanwhile, is coming off one of those old-school Pac 10 shootouts, losing 55-45 in Autzen Stadium a week ago. I don't think this one will see 100 points, but Arizona's defense is obviously vulnerable.
Ball State at Central Michigan
The Cardinals' chances of making the BCS are pretty much zero, but they still have a MAC title and undefeated season to play for. The Chippewas have matched Ball State blow for blow in conference play this year, as both enter at a perfect 6-0. However, CMU stands at 8-2 thanks to losses against Georgia and Purdue. This will be an exciting mid-week game tomorrow night, and I urge you to tune in.
Ole Miss at LSU
It's a light week in the SEC, highlighted by this game. A lot of people do not realize that Ole Miss-LSU once was an intense rivalry, based mainly on the two programs' dominance of the SEC in the 50s and 60s. Obviously, both have gone through some rough periods since, but LSU has reemerged over the past decade. With Houston Nutt now heading up the show in Oxford, you have to believe the Rebels will follow suit and place some new life into this feud.
Washington at Washington State
Now I know what you are saying: the Apple Cup rivals are a combined 1-19, and that one win was against FCS "powerhouse" Portland State. But these two teams might be so bad that they actually put on a good game. Each will probably play their best game of 2008, and at least build some momentum heading into next season after a year of embarrassing defeats. At least we shouldn't expect any 66-3 or 69-0 drubbings in what may be a matchup of two of the worst Pac 10 teams in history.
Louisiana-Lafayette at Troy
I think this is the first time all year we have featured a Sun Belt Conference game in this spot, but the Ragin' Cajuns and Trojans enter this one tied atop the league. The winner will find themselves headed to the New Orleans Bowl as league champion, while second place is not guaranteed an automatic bowl berth. Troy has to be pretty upset after blowing a 31-3 lead at LSU, and I look for them to come out fired up ready to prove the first three quarters last Saturday night were no fluke.
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