INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Fast Forward
by Ivan Maisel
Posted: Wed September 23, 1998
USC (3-0) at Florida State (2-1)
UCLA (2-0) at Miami (2-1)
L.A. versus (F)LA. Left coast versus right. California is second
in the nation in producing Division I-A players. Florida is
third. So why is it that Florida State, Miami and Florida have
won four national titles in the last nine years, while Southern
Cal has gone 20 years without a title and UCLA has gone 44? The
Trojans and Bruins haven't been near the top of the rankings
simultaneously since 1988, when No. 2 USC beat No. 6 UCLA 31-22.
The Bruins are flying high these days, having won a school-record
12 straight. They will meet up with Hurricanes trying to rebound
from a 27-20 overtime defeat by Virginia Tech. One advantage for
Miami: The game is being played at noon, or 9 a.m. PDT, so don't
be surprised if UCLA waits until the second half to pull away.
The Trojans, who struggled to defeat Oregon State 40-20, will
play Seminoles who are still smarting from a 24-7 loss two weeks
ago to North Carolina State. The most enjoyable man-on-man
matchup will be Florida State wideout Peter Warrick against USC
corner Daylon McCutcheon. That's speed versus speed. Alas, the
rest of the Trojans won't be able to keep up with the Seminoles.
Washington (2-0) at Nebraska (3-0)
The Huskers spent last week healing the wounds that have cost
them five starters. Four of those players are likely to be back
in the lineup on Saturday. The Huskies, the last visitors to win
at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium—44 games and seven seasons
ago—beat Arizona State 42-38 solely by throwing and beat BYU
20-10 by overpowering the Cougars with better athletes. Neither
method will be effective in Lincoln.
Michigan State (1-2) at Michigan (1-2)
Those records look funny, don't they? The Wolverines will be
doing most of the laughing in this matchup as they take a step
back toward respectability.
Upset Special
Purdue (2-1) at Notre Dame (1-1)
Last season the Boilermakers snapped an 11-game losing streak to
the Irish with a convincing 28-17 win. Purdue quarterback Drew
Brees and wideout Gabe Cox will expose Notre Dame's shaky
secondary.
Issue date: September 28, 1998
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