College Football Showdown: Week 3

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College Football Showdown

bringing you in-depth analysis, insight, and predictions on the top games of the week.

Sit back, relax, and read THE BEST NCAA Football Weekly Analysis of the BEST NCAA football games right here...

On Friday Night,

No. 13 Kansas @ No. 19 South Florida    (8:00 PM  E.T.)

This is the first major test of the season for these two teams. Conditions could be rainy and windy because of Hurricane Ike.

No. 13 Kansas    Kansas seems to be the favorite heading into this game, although they have not yet faced even a mediocre team this season. In their first two games, they outscored their opponents 69-10 in two uncontested blowout wins, 40 to 10 over Florida International and then 29-0 over confident Louisiana Tech, who was just coming off their win over the SEC's Mississippi State. Look for their offense to once again open up here.

No. 19 South Florida   After South Florida easily beat the easiest team on their schedule, Tennessee-Martin, 56-7, they headed into a more difficult game against Central Florida. As it turned out, it was a thriller, with the Bulls pulling it out in OT, 31-24. The defense may need some extra help, but the SF offense looks good for now.

Prediction: Kansas, 28-21.

No. 23 Cal @ Maryland   (Saturday, Noon ET)

The ACC has struggled mightily so far. Could this be the game where they turn it around?

No. 23 California

California had trouble with their first opponent, Michigan State. They ended up having to pull it out in OT, 38-31. Sure, the offense looked fine, but 31 points to Michigan St. isn't good.

In the next game, the Golden Bears rebounded with a decisive 66-3 win over conference rival Washington State. The Pac-10 looks impressive this year, but Cal could have a change at 2nd.

Maryland

Looking for an upset but not likely to get one, Maryland has not yet had one 1-A team and they've already lost a game. In the first week, the Terrapins squeezed out a depressing win over Delaware, 14-7. Not looking good for the offense. It was time for a turnaround. They sure didn't get one. The next game, Maryland fell flat on their face in a 24-14 loss to Middle Tennessee.

Prediction: Cal wins, 38-10.

UCLA @ No. 18 BYU    ( Sat, 3:30 PM ET)

UCLA  They had just one game, but it was impressive, 24-21 over highly ranked Tennessee. Look for a chance at 2nd in the Pac-10 this year.

BYU After a skin-of-their-teeth win over Washington, 28-27, with a questionable yet important ref call thrown in, it is up to BYU to show the world they don't need a referee's help to win. Their first win was nice, 41-17 over Northern Iowa.

Prediction: an upset alert here, UCLA over BYU, 34-24.

No. 9 Auburn @ Mississippi State   (Sat, 7 PM ET)

College Football's best conference shows off to the entire country.

No. 9 Auburn

Auburn's first game was, as predicted, a very easy 34-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe. In week two, a Southern Miss team who always slips under the radar was on the schedule. But the Tigers didn't slip like so many experts picked them to, winning 27-13. Now comes their first conference game, but it is one they should likely win.

Mississippi State

A disappointing 22-14 loss to Louisiana Tech shot the Bulldogs to the bottom of the SEC. But after an easy 34-10 win over SE Louisiana, can Mississippi St. show the Tigers their stuff?

Prediction: Auburn, 30-13.

No. 6 Ohio State @ No. 1 Southern California (USC)  (Sat, 8 PM ET)

The game of the week is nearly upon us...

No. 6 Ohio State

A struggle to the MAC's Ohio doesn't look good for the Buckeyes, but they did beat Youngstown State 43-0. In the Ohio game, after trailing in the 4th, Ohio St. had to return a punt for a TD to pull out a 26-14 win. Can they rebound and come through against the No. 1 team in the country?

No. 1 USC

It all is going good for the Trojans. a 52-7 win over respectable Virginia and a huge point spread over a top ten team. Southern Cal has looked amazing, but can they pull through win they need it most?

Predictions: USC, 45-36

No. 10 Wisconsin @ No. 21 Fresno State    (Sat, 10:30 PM ET)

No. 10 Wisconsin

Akron was an easy 38-17 win, but after falling down 14-0 against Marshall, things didn't look so good for the Badgers. Fortunately, Wisconsin scored 51 unanswered and ran away with it, 51-14. But a tough, late-night, west coast game looms dangerously ahead for the Badgers.

No. 21 Fresno State

Likely the best the WAC has to offer this year, Fresno State ran away with a competitive game against @ Rutgers, 24-7. Can they beat the Badgers now? Their coach is 10-1 in home openers!

Prediction: Upset again, Fresno State beats Wisconsin, 20-17.