The BIG Take On Week 3

Just in case you didn't know, Ohio State and USC are getting together on Saturday night. OSU struggled against Ohio on Saturday, while USC sat back, looking at the TV, and enjoyed a team without talisman running back Beanie Wells. And now, it looks as though Wells may not even play against the Trojans.

Defense-wise, Ohio State didn't look too clever against Ohio, and they aren't going to look any better against a USC offense that exploded out of the box two Saturdays ago in its 52-7 destruction of Virginia. While Wells is missing for the Buckeyes, USC's Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson and CJ Gable should be able to pound OSU's defense all night long.

Having said that, expect OSU's James Laurinitis and Marcus Freeman mount up the tackles, with Ray Maluaga and Brian Cushing doing the same for the Trojans. Here's the great thing - this could one of the first 2008 game where you could see FOUR NFL defensive first rounders. SI think that Laurinitis, Maluaga and Cushing will definitely be the first guys out of the hat. We love Brian Cushing, a boy from New Jersey who's my mate on Facebook - but you can expect all four players to put on a show.

Quarterbacking the teams will be seniors Todd Boeckman and Mark Sanchez. Boeckman - a fifth year senior - is currently studying gardening in Columbus because he can't do any more classes there while playing football, while Sanchez' communication skills should mean that if turns out a newer version of Matt Leinart in the NFL (good, but not good enough), he can take Jesse Palmer's place on College Football Live. Seriously though, the stars are all in line for USC to win, and win by a mile.

My prediction? USC 35, Ohio State 14.

As for other games, Penn State should ghost by 0-2 Syracuse this weekend, unless Joe Paterno decides to "go conservative" this weekend or the rest of a weakened Nittany Lions' defense is all jailed/or get injured on Friday. Offensive-wise, Spread HD has been brilliant in the last two games, and we can expect more of the same on Saturday.

Michigan and Notre Dame will be a snorefest, with two weak teams battling it out for the role of who will stay on the National Map. I'll take Notre Lame, but not by much.

Georgia go to South Carolina - a team that embarrassed the Bulldogs last season - but don't expect the same thing to happen this year. I'm going for Georgia to win by 30.

The Wisconsin - Fresno State game's an interesting one. Wisconsin struggled early against Marshall. Fresno State is a better team than Marshall - so expect this one to be closer. This is actually my UPSET ALERT. Fresno State by 7.

Oregon- Purdue won't be too bad. Oregon doesn't seem to have missed a beat now in the offseason, with Justin Roper taking over the quarterbacking slot from Dennis Dixon. Roper's been a star, anchoring the Ducks to be the nation's top offense. The Boilermakers - who gave up 10 points in a laugher against Northern Colorado two weeks ago - will be a tougher proposition. Still, expect Oregon to win by a touchdown or two.

In the ACC, Georgia Tech vs Virginia Tech will be a battle of two low-scoring, uninspiring teams looking for a light. Sean Glennon's been miserable for the Hokies this season, while Georgia Tech (56th) and Virginia Tech (86th) are offensively pretty horrible. GT to win a close, if dull, game.

Oh, and Tyrone Willingham will be 0-3 after seeing his Washington team get obliterated against Oklahoma. If you fancy watching a future NFLer, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford is in that mould. And he's got two more years to look even better.