Friday’s games
State bragging rights are always on the line when the Tigers and Crimson Tide face off in the Iron Bowl. But for the second time in as many years, a spot in the national championship game also is at stake. Last year, undefeated Alabama drove for a late touchdown to rally and defeat upset-minded Auburn 26-21 despite receiving a season-low 30 rushing yards from eventual Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. In 2010, the location and roles are reversed as Heisman hopeful Cam Newton and the Tigers — already on their way to the SEC title game — can remain unbeaten and on track for a BCS championship berth with a win at their archrival. Arizona at Oregon Arizona leads the Pac-10 in rushing defense, allowing just 112.9 yards a game on the ground. But the Wildcats have their work cut out for them against Oregon’s “blur” offense, which — behind dynamic running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas — is averaging 291.1 rushing yards and 50.7 points a contest. The top-ranked Ducks have outscored opponents 306-60 at Autzen and have cracked the 50-point barrier six times this season. Arizona, ranked in the top 10 for most of the season, has hit the wall of late, scoring just 38 total points in consecutive losses at Stanford and against USC. Boise State at Nevada Local pundits are calling this game the biggest sports event in Reno since the 1910 heavyweight championship fight between Jim Jefferies and Jack Johnson. Nevada, behind coach Chris Ault’s Pistol offense, is the only team in the WAC to hang with Boise State the last three years. Can they get over the hump? A Broncos win likely is enough for them to vault No. 3 TCU in the BCS standings. They’ll jump even further if one of the other two undefeateds fall first.
Saturday’s games
No. 14 Virginia Tech vs. Virginia These teams are going in opposite directions. Virginia Tech (9-2) has won nine straight, has clinched its fourth division title in seven years and is heading to the ACC Championship game and a possible BCS bowl berth. Virginia (4-7) has lost three straight and has seen its bowl hopes die. Hokies QB Tyrod Taylor is a candidate for ACC player of the year. Virginia Tech has won the last six meetings. Florida at Florida State As far as its ACC fortunes are concerned, FSU (8-3, 6-2) can do nothing but watch the scoreboard and hope. A Maryland win over N.C. State will put FSU in the conference championship game for the first time since 2005. But there still is plenty at stake on the field for the Seminoles as they try to end Florida’s six-year reign in their heated in-state rivalry. Georgia Tech at Georgia This series has been dubbed “Clean, Old Fashioned Hate” and matches schools located 70 miles apart. At stake this year for Georgia (5-6) is bowl eligibility and perhaps coach Mark Richt’s job. Georgia Tech (6-5) has had a down year as well after winning the ACC title in 2009 under the flexbone option offense of Paul Johnson. Shepherd at Kutztown Last week, Shepherd (10-1) advanced in the Division II playoffs with a 40-6 romp over Shaw as sophomore RB Tommy Addison (Quince Orchard) rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown, bringing his season totals to 1,323 yards and 13 scores. Earlier this month, senior Deante Steele (Potomac, Va.) made Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” after the 11th return touchdown of his career, a D-II record. |
Rivalry schedule |
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Michigan at Ohio State Kansas vs. Missouri LSU at Arkansas South Carolina at Clemson West Virginia at Pittsburgh Mississippi State at Mississippi Oklahoma at Oklahoma State Notre Dame at USC Michigan State at Penn State |
