Canes305 Looks at this Weekend's Top Games

Somebody's gonna fall on Saturday. A few upsets are brewing and a handful of marquee teams are about to get tested. ESPN is billing it as "Separation Saturday." I'm asking, who's "all in"?

Yesterday I blogged that Miami's Kyle Wright had some choice statements for Louisville. By drawing that line in the dirt, I was saying that Wright was "all in" with his Canes. This is a Texas Hold 'Em weekend for college football and a lot of teams will have bet it all on one hand.

1-1 Miami has a point to prove at Louisville. Is Nebraska back? A win at #4 USC could prove it. The Noles beat the Canes but then struggled against Troy. How will they fare against Clemson? The Tigers are 0-1 in the ACC. Another conference loss and they can kiss Jacksonville goodbye.

The SEC steals the spotlight this weekend. In the East, Urban Meyer hasn't won a big road game yet at Florida. Does he bring one home this weekend? #4 Auburn hosts #6 LSU in the West, in a rivalry that recently has been decided in the fourth quarter.

There are some serious "can't miss" games this weekend:


[5] #19 Nebraska @ #4 Southern Cal - This one was a toss up. I could've put #11 Michigan @ #2 Notre Dame, but I like the Reggie Bush sub plot this week. Plus, it's fun to leave the Irish out of any Top Five.

Do the Trojans really care about #5 losing his Heisman or any future sanctions taken against the school? No. They want to go out this week and get it done. Nebraska looks good, but they've played nobody (my condolences to Louisiana Tech and Nicholls State.)

USC smacked up Arkansas a few weeks back on the road, but it's not like the Razorbacks are anything to write home about. This game will challenge the Trojans and ol' John David Booty. Especially if NU channels the ghosts of "Blackshirts" past. Sure, Nebraska has the #11 ranked defense - but again, they played two soup cans. The Huskers' offense can make some plays, but against the Trojans' defense? USC is a little banged up on that side of the ball - making things a little more interesting.

Southern Cal should beat Nebraska by 10-14 points, but at this point of the season - on national TV - this has the feeling of a game which could sport some fireworks.

Hoping the Huskers can pull it out, but logic forces me to pick the home team.

>>> Southern Cal 31, Nebraska 21


[4] #7 Florida @ #13 Tennessee - This one all comes down to which Tennessee shows up. The one who rolled Cal or the crew that struggled against Air Force? Florida is finding some balance and they're looking pretty good. That said, they've played nobody.

Here's another game where you can throw the stats right out the window. These two squad hate each other, though the rivalry isn't as fun without visor-throwing Satan Spurrier on the sidelines. Still, there will be fireworks.

Can the Urban Legend finally win a big one on the road? This is Knoxville, not some Utah road trip. And what about Fulmer? Big boy has been on the hot seat a while now and a win over the hated Gators will certainly silence the critics.

The Vols' offensive line will have to continue to give Ainge a day and a half to throw the ball... which is no picnic against this Florida defense.

Need a little more drama? The lesser ranked team has prevailed the past few seasons. Will the trend continue? I'll bite and say, hell yeah. We've seen home teams falter on the main stage. That streak can last one more year.

>>> Tennessee 23, Florida 21


[3] Clemson @ #9 Florida State - This one isn't going to get too many headlines as the Tigers are unranked, but growing up a Canes fan - I'm a sucker for Bowden, Sweet Bowden. Little Tommy has risen up on dad as of late. Can Clemson work that magic again? We'll see.

Florida State's defense is legit, but the offense is porous. Lo-Lo Booker can sure run his mouth, but he hasn't been running the ball as of late. (6 carries for 18 yards against the *mighty* Trojans of Troy?)

Clemson looked good against Boston College last week and they blew a golden opportunity. How will they respond? The Canes ripped their guts out in a triple overtime loss in 2005 and it sent Clemson reeling. Will that be the story in 2006, or can CU put a heartbreaking loss behind them and rise up against a long-time ACC power?

You hate to say 'do or die' - but if the Tigers go down 0-2 in the ACC standings, they can write off representing the Atlantic division in Jacksonville this December. This game will define Clemson's season.

James Davis is running the ball well for the Tigers and C.J. Spiller looks like the real deal. That said, the Noles' front seven is the real deal (as Miami can attest.)

This will be vintage Noles. Mickey Andrews will have his defense harass Clemson QB Will Proctor. How will Clemson respond?

This one will be close and down to the wire. Based on Florida State's lack of a running game, the loss of mojo last week and the fact that the Tigers need this game more... I'll scream upset, yet again. Spiller's special teams returns could be a deciding factor.

>>> Clemson 19, Florida State 16


[2] #17 Miami @ #12 Louisville - Would this be #2 on everyone else's list? Probably not. Then again, those who saw the 2004 throwdown between these two squads might argue otherwise. Down 24-7 at the half, the Canes rallied to a 41-38 victory.

Miami has their backs to the wall right now. The past five times that's been the case (underdogs), Miami is 5-0. Many are pointing to last year's 27-7 win at Virginia Tech... but this Louisville team is much more potent on offense. The Canes' defense will have their hands full. Brian Brohm is the real deal. Unlike that fraud, Marcus Vick.

The Canes are still unproven on offense, but as we know - all it takes is one game to break things wide open. The Cardinals are hardly a defensive juggernaut, though they're stronger now than they were a few years back.

Louisville is averaging 60.5 ppg; albeit against the likes of Kentucky and Temple. Something tells me that Miami's defense will 'bring it' a bit more than the Cards' other foes. Miami's defense is for real. All those who harp on the 38 given up to UL in 2004? Remind them that N.C. State and North Carolina each put up 31 the next two weeks. The Canes were weak at LB and Bobby Petrino exposed it, giving the Wolfpack and Tar Heels a blueprint for how to score on The U.

The key to this game? Miami's ability to run and control the clock. Canes fans are clamoring for super-frosh Javarris James. He's not the answer this week. The U needs a steady diet of Tyrone Moss and Charlie Jones. Miami doesn't need flash. It needs to move the chains. Moss and Jones need to grind it out and keep the Louisville offense off the field, while keeping Randy Shannon's defense fresh.

Both teams need this game. The Miami demise is a hot topic, while Louisville has been labeled a team who can't win the 'big one'.

My call isn't blatant Miami homerism. I will call out The U when need be. The Canes defense asked the offense for 21 points, and Miami's QB Kyle Wright is taking this one personally. Can this be his Matrix-like transformation into the next Hurricane great? Or was his rant this week on the Dan LeBatard show nothing but hot air?

We'll find out on Saturday. With the Canes 5-0 in underdog games and the Cards never winning the big one, I'll stick with my boys here.

>>> Miami 27, Louisville 20


[1] #6 LSU @ #3 Auburn - By ranking alone, this HAS to be the weekend's biggest game. Two hard-hitting and high octane SEC foes? How can this not be more action-packed than last week's #1 vs. #2 match up between Ohio State and Texas?

The last few times these two have met, the victor has prevailed by three points or less. Will this one shake down the same way? Quite possibly.

Auburn's defense has gotten after opposing quarterbacks the past few weeks. How are they going to handle JaMarcus Russell? Big boy has had a day and a half in the pocket thus far this season, but LSU wasn't facing an Auburn defense. The Tigers' offensive line has lost a step since 2005, but they can still rise to the occasion.

Auburn's Kenny Irons ran like a madman in last year's contest. 218 yards and a touchdown, to be exact. Will that be the case again?

The past two years neither team topped 20 points. That could be the case again this year. A low scoring affair with two powerful place kickers deciding the outcome; Auburn's John Vaughn and LSU's Colt David.

I like homefield advantage and Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville as the difference makers.

>>> Auburn 19, LSU 17




.:Canes305:.