CNNSI.com college football writer Stewart Mandel weighs in with his forecast of the weekend's biggest games each Friday during the season.
Week 5
Sat., 3:30 p.m. EST | CBS
No. 10 Florida (2-1) at No. 4 Tennessee (2-0)
This is the moment Phillip Fulmer has waited 10 years for. Finally free of that “annoying” man in the visor, finally the prohibitive favorite against his biggest nemesis, he’s probably strutting around the office this week sporting a big “Aw, yeah” grin, throwing around high-fives. Then again, the combined score of these teams’ last four games is 99-98. No time to breathe easy.
Tennessee 27, Florida 23
Sat. 3:30 p.m. EST | ABC
No. 12 Notre Dame (3-0) at Michigan State (2-1)
Part of me says the fun has to end eventually for the Irish. Part of me says they haven’t seen an offense of Michigan State’s caliber yet, and they won’t be able to keep up. But at the end of the day, it comes down to a team that’s oozing with discipline against a team that’s become synonymous with screw-ups. Who would you pick?
Notre Dame 24, Michigan State 21
Sat. 3:30 p.m. EST | ABC
No. 7 Virginia Tech (3-0) at No. 19 Texas A&M (2-0)
It’s true, A&M’s Wrecking Crew is one of the few defenses capable of slowing down Tech’s Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones. Yet I have a feeling a “down” game for one of the Hokies’ prized runners is still somewhere in the 75- to 90-yard range. Meanwhile, the Aggies have absolutely no offense. I’m not kidding. I hear they’ve resorted to trying to score on punts.
Virginia Tech 19, Texas A&M 9
Sat. 7 p.m. EST | TBS
No. 11 USC (2-0) at No. 25 Kansas State (3-0)
You thought USC’s running backs looked good against Colorado? Now they add Justin Fargas, the most talented of all of them. But Kansas State’s always-tough defense can slow down the run, and besides, who goes into Manhattan, Kan., at night, on national television, and doesn’t come away humbled?
Kansas State 27, USC 24
Sat. 12:30 p.m. EST | Fox Sports
No. 17 N.C. State (4-0) at Texas Tech (2-1)
Ole Miss last week, now N.C. State this week? Didn’t these teams’ travel agents warn them they were going to Lubbock, Texas? The Red Raiders survived one vaunted QB last week in Eli Manning, but unlike the Rebels, the Wolfpack have a defense to go with their guy, Philip Rivers.
N.C. State 37, Texas Tech 26
Sat. Noon EST | ESPN2
Arizona (2-0) at No. 22 Wisconsin (4-0)
It’s been widely noted how the Pac-10 is kicking booty. The league is 22-4 in non-conference play -- not too shabby. But those four L's have all come on the road, three of them to ranked opponents in such intimidating locales as Lincoln, Neb., Ann Arbor, Mich., and Columbus, Ohio. In terms of atmosphere, Camp Randall ranks right up there with any of them.
Wisconsin 31, Arizona 22
Sat. 7 p.m. EST | ESPN2
Southern Miss (3-0) at Alabama (2-1)
The Golden Eagles are on fire, led by the nation’s No. 2 rusher, Derrick Nix. A lot of people around the country are probably pulling for them as one of the last remaining hopes for a non-BCS team to run the table. But this year’s version of the Crimson Tide don’t seem all that upset-prone.
Alabama 26, Southern Miss 19
Sat., 1 p.m. EDT
BYU (2-1) at Georgia Tech (2-1)
What does it take to become the nation’s fifth-leading rusher? Just speak up. Tech’s Tony Hollings did, walking into new coach Chan Gailey’s office last spring and asking if he could switch from defensive back to running back. Now, the Jackets just have to keep giving him the ball, something they inexplicably stopped doing for much of last week’s loss to Clemson.
Georgia Tech 38, BYU 31
