Tennessee @ #15 Auburn
Last year Tennessee started out 1-2 with a bad loss against Florida and ending up winning the SEC East. This season has followed the script through three games but this Volunteer team isn’t even the best team in their own state (Hello, Vanderbilt). Auburn almost beat a great LSU team last week and even though they’re still pretty weak on the whole “competent quarterback” thing they should handle the Vols on the Plains.
Auburn 17, Tennessee 10
#9 Wisconsin @ Michigan
Positive thoughts: Michigan seems to have finally found a reliable quarterback-running back combo in Steven Threet and Sam McGuffie. Until the offense stops fumbling every other the time they touch the ball the defense is good enough to keep them in games against mediocre teams. Reality: Wisconsin is far from mediocre and they come into the Big House as one of several Big Ten teams ready to take out years of frustration on the weakened Wolverines. Et tu, Badgers?
Wisconsin 24, Michigan 13
#24 TCU @ #2 Oklahoma
With TCU, BYU and Utah all legitimate threats to get to the BCS, the little Mountain West is better than a few BCS conferences at this point. That said, the Horned Frogs haven’t played anybody nearly as good as Oklahoma this year. The Sooners have their sights set on the National Championship this year and so far they’ve been nothing short of ridiculously awesome. And since this isn’t a BCS bowl game don’t expect Bob Stoops to choke against a team with inferior talent.
Oklahoma 45, TCU 20
#8 Alabama @ #3 Georgia
Nick Saban makes enough money that he could probably bail out Lehman Brothers if he felt so inclined, but despite his outrageous salary St. Nick is still looking for his first big win at Alabama (a victory over the hapless Terry Bowden doesn’t count). Beating Georgia between the hedges would be a major statement that the Crimson Tide is back. Both teams are playing as well as anybody in the country right now, but a Black Out at home gives Georgia a slight edge.
Georgia 24, Alabama 21
#22 Illinois @ #12 Penn State
Ron Zook and the Fighting Zookers head into Happy Valley for an 8 pm kickoff. Bad things happen to visiting teams in Happy Valley at night, especially when Joe Paterno fields his best team since the 2005 version that won the Big Ten. Juice Williams is still under center for the Illini but the real challenge will be slowing down Penn State’s offensive juggernaut. Long live JoePa.
Penn State 35, Illinois 20
Record so Far: 6-6