Ten (Seven) Questions I can’t wait to be answered this weekend

1.) Can LSU-Auburn live up to the “best game of the weekend” billing? Probably not. Auburn is coming off its’ 3-2 soccer win over Mississippi State and LSU is on the road after delivering kind beatings to a I-AA and a Sun Belt opponent. Both teams have plenty to prove and with top ten rankings for each, one of them is going to take a tumble. Vegas likes LSU by 2 1/2, I like Auburn to cover at home in a very low-scoring game.

2.) Do Fulmer’s UT Vols have any heart left? Tennessee recovered last week after their heartbreaking week one loss to UCLA. The vols endured a hearty helping of Gator trash talk this week and are looking to avenge Florida blowing them out last year. Florida is favored by 7 1/2 and I’d love to pick Tennessee outright but I do like them to cover the spread.

3.) Can Arizona State upset # 3 Georgia? Not bloody likely. It’s hard to tell where ASU’s head will be at after their overtime loss to a crappy UNLV team last week. Georgia will look to establish the run early to control the clock and bring heavy pressure on ASU QB Rudy Carpenter to keep him from getting on track. Georgia will also be looking to improve on their lackluster 14-7 win over South Carolina last week. I expect another disappointing loss for the Pac-10, and more chest-beating from the SEC.

4.) Will anyone nationally either in print or on TV point out that #11 Texas Tech is playing their second I-AA opponent this season? Anyone?! Of course not. Instead, it will be another installment of the Graham Harrell/Michael Crabtree lovefest.

5.) Can Ohio State rebound after getting the scarlet and the grey kicked out of them last week? Two-time defending Sun Belt champ Troy comes into Columbus ranking 11th in total offense and 5th in total defense. That isn’t exactly the kind of rebound opponent a scattered Buckeye team was looking for. Ohio State is favored by 20 1/2 and I don’t think there’s any way they’re going to cover that, and they’ve got a pretty fair shot at losing depending on how much emotion they play with. The sub plot will be to watch the emerging quarterback battle between Freshman Terrelle Pryor and Senior Todd Boeckman.

6.) It’s funny to me that Texas gets a pass each year when Rice comes into town to take their Longhorn beating. Most other top ten teams get blasphemed whenever they schedule/obliterate in-state opponents. Yet very little is mentioned regarding Rice-Texas despite the fact that Rice has only come within four touchdowns of Texas once in the last five consecutive meetings. (I’m aware none of this is a question).

7.) After dispatching one of the worst Michigan teams in the last 25 years, can Notre Dame get the two-fer with a win over Michigan State? Don’t count on it. Notre Dame is still a mess and Michigan State needs a win to be 3-1 heading into conference play. I like Sparty in this one.

You’re welcome.