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Seminoles-Gators save Rivalry Week

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Posted: Friday November 19, 1999 02:41 PM

  View the Ivan Maisel archives

So this is a big "Rivalry Weekend" in college football, Michigan-Ohio State, USC-UCLA. Well, at least Florida-Florida State hasn't let us down.

Sure, the Gators are tough to beat in Gainesville, but Steve Spurrier is doing his best to make life easier for FSU by juggling his quarterbacks. Last week he started backup Jesse Palmer. Now it's back to Doug Johnson. And Spurrier has hinted he may even alternate his quarterbacks on every other play like he did in a 1997 win over FSU.

But the problem with the Florida offense isn't entirely at quarterback -- it's a lack of big play ability at wide receiver, something the Gators always had in the past. I expect Chris Weinke to spread the ball around -- he's quit trying to force the ball to Peter Warrick -- and Travis Minor needs to pound away on the ground. In the end, the Seminoles march on.

Hammerin' Hokies

OK, all you Hokies. So your team is good, I mean really good. The way Tech manhandled Miami last week was impressive. Tech has the best defense I've ever seen in college football. So now its the Owls of Temple. Don't laugh, they beat Virginia Tech last year. Temple has a good quarterback in Devin Scott, but the Owls rank last in the Big East in rushing, and that means Corey Moore and Tech's defense will be able to tee off on Scott. A no-brainer here; even I can get this one right, Tech wins.

Irish home for the holidays

And finally, Boston College travels to South Bend and what a big game for Notre Dame. Sitting at 5-5, the Irish need to win the last two to be eligible for a bowl -- that's any bowl, even the Music City Bowl.

But don't worry, there won't be a trip to Nashville or any other city in December. Boston College will make sure of that Saturday. BC has the best running back in the Big East, in Cedric Washington. Notre Dame has struggled against the run and simply looks like a team that is beat. I like BC.

You have to wonder how much longer Notre Dame will tolerate Bob Davie and his mediocre teams. Notre Dame presents itself as being one of college football's elite, but tradition isn't winning any games. It's time for a change.

Trev Alberts is a college football analyst for CNN/SI and appears on CNN's College Football Preview, Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. ET.

 
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