12:00 PM ET ESPN: NC State 3-0 @ Georgia Tech 2-1 (-8) - There are only two undefeated teams in the ACC and NC State is one of them. This week we get to find out if they are to be taken seriously, as they go on the road to Hotlanta to face the Yellow Jackets. Junior QB Russell Wilson has completed 56.4|PERCENT| of his passes this season for 744 yards, 8 TDs, and no INTs. In '08 he was the ACC 1st team QB as a frosh with a 17/1 TD/INT ratio. Wilson is very athletic as he is also a member of the NC State baseball team (drafted in the 4th round this year by the Colorado Rockies - what is it with them and ACC QBs?). Frosh RB Mustafa Greene is averaging 4.4 yards per carry with 3 TDs. The WR corps is led by a trio of seniors in Jarvis Williams, Owen Spencer, and Darrell Davis. The defense (85.3 rushing yards per game allowed) will really be tested by the GT triple-option (345 rushing yards per game - 3rd most in the FBS). Jackets senior QB Joshua Nesbitt is averaging 4.7 yards per carry with 6 TD, while senior RB Anthony Allen is averaging 6.3 yards per carry, but has yet to hit pay dirt. They don't have the big play WR as they did a season ago with Demaryius Thomas (NFL), but then again they don't pass the ball all that often anyhow (Nesibitt has 9 pass completions). If the Wolfpack survive this test, it might be time to start considering them as a legit ACC Coastal contender.
3:30 PM ET CBS: #1 Alabama 3-0 (-7.5) @ #10 Arkansas 3-0 - In the biggest game of the week, the Crimson Tide travels to Fayetteville for a SEC showdown. For a while now the biggest question mark for Arkansas has been their defense. If they can not stop the Bama run game, they will have no shot at winning this game. Junior RB Mark Ingram came back last week from having his knee scoped and ran right through Duke. He carried the ball 9 times for 151 yards and 2 TDs, showing the power and explosiveness he had last season. Sophomore Trent Richardson gives them the best 1-2 punch at RB in the nation. He has averaged 6.9 yards per carry with 4 TDs and runs with great quickness and a determination to not be tackled. If Arkansas chooses to roll a safety down in the box to help on the run game, expect senior QB Greg McElroy (hasn't lost at anything ever it seems like) to burn them with any one of his trio of WRs (junior Julio Jones, junior Darius Hanks, and senior Marquis Maze). McElroy has completed 71.7|PERCENT| of his passes with 6 TDs and just 1 INT this season. In the games I've watched he really looks locked in with Jones, who leads the team in catches. On defense, they bring back just 2 returning starters, but also have junior DE Marcell Dareus (back last week from suspension) and coach Nick Saban working with the secondary. The secondary will have one of it's biggest tests of the season when they go against Razorbacks junior QB Ryan Mallet and his outstanding corps of junior pass catchers in WR Joe Adams, WR Greg Childs (Please!), and TE D.J. Williams. Mallet has thrown for 1,081 yards this season (the most in FBS) with 9 TDs and 2 INTs. Last week against Georgia, he led the Razorbacks on a game winning drive that was capped off by a 40 yard TD pass to Childs. Against Bama, they'll need to keep the defense honest by running the ball with junior RB Broderick Green. Last week they weren't able to do this down the stretch and they allowed Georgia to get back into the game. If you watch only one game this weekend, make it this one.
3:30 PM ET NBC: #16 Stanford 3-0 (-5) @ Notre Dame 1-2 - Stanford has not won in South Bend since 1992. If that is going to change, sophomore Andrew Luck is going to have to continue his excellent QB play. He has the 4th highest QB rating in the nation (192.3 if that number means something to you), 674 passing yards, 10 TDs, and no INTs. Last week against Wake Forest, he led the offense to 41 points... in the first half. The offense has been successful due in large part to their great offensive line, which is anchored by three seniors. Sophomore RB Stepfan Taylor leads the team with 157 rushing yards. Senior WR Doug Baldwin leads the team in catches (10), receiving yards (194), and receiving TDs (3). Fellow senior WR, Ryan Whalen is also someone to watch, as he led the team in catches and receiving yards last season. Junior LB Thomas Keiser leads a defense that has allowed only 13.7 points per game (15th fewest in the FBS) and 90 yards per game passing (best in the nation). Golden Domers' sophomore QB Dayne Crist will have his work cut out for him against that unit. Last week against Michigan State he was 32/55 for 369 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT. The trio of senior RB Armando Allen, junior WR Michael Floyd, and junior TE Kyle Rudolph account for almost 63|PERCENT| of the team's rushing and receiving yards, so look for them to be the key offensive playmakers for ND. The defense is giving up 443.7 yards per game, which is 19th worst in the FBS. They can not do that this week and expect to win the game.
7:00 PM ET ESPNU: Kentucky 3-0 @ #9 Florida 3-0 (-14) - Much has been made about the Gators fumbling problem this season and for good reason. They lead the nation in fumbles with 14 (5 lost), many of which have occurred during the snap between senior C Mike Pouncey and junior QB John Brantley. This isn't just a one game thing either, they have botched snaps in all three of the Gators games. Brantley has completed 62|PERCENT| of his passes for 452 yards, 5 TDs, and 0 INTs. Junior WR Chris Rainey is currently not on the team due to his stalking charge that stems from a series of text messages to his girlfriend. Junior WR Deonte Thompson has stepped up in his absence and leads the team in catches (13) and receiving yards (162). Junior RB Jeff Demps leads the Gators 15th ranked rushing attack (242 yards per game) with 310 yards. Kentucky's senior QB MIke Hartline has yet to throw a pick this season, a trend that the Wildcats hope continues against a Gators defense that leads the nation in interceptions with 10. Hartline has completed 72|PERCENT| of his passes for 680 yards with 5 TDs. Junior WR Randall Cobb (former QB) leads the team with 12 catches for 160 yards and 2 TDs. The offense in general is focused around senior RB Derrick Locke, who leads the SEC in rushing with 372 yards and 5 TDs. On the defensive side of the ball, their pass coverage has been outstanding thus far. They're second in the nation in pass completion percentage allowed (41.2|PERCENT|) and fourth in passing yards per game allowed (109.7). On special teams, the Wildcats are fifth in the nation in net punting yardage (48.3) thanks to junior P Ryan Tydlacka. Kentucky hasn't won in The Swamp since 1979.
7:45 PM ET ESPN: #12 South Carolina 3-0 @ #17 Auburn 3-0 (-3) - When Gamecocks frosh RB Marcus Lattimore was being recruited, the last two teams on his list were South Carolina and Auburn. This week those two teams face off in a battle of SEC undefeateds. Lattimore comes into this game second in the SEC in rushing yards (333) and tied for first in rushing TDs (5). He has added a power running game to the offense that few Steve Spurrier SC teams have had in the past. Lattimore's presence has allowed junior QB Stephen Garcia to manage the game with a 68.3|PERCENT| completion rate, 508 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs. He's mobile when has to be with 62 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs. The WRs are all tall and physical with four of them 6'4" or taller. The leader of that bunch is sophomore Alshon Jeffery who has 19 catches for 306 yards. Noticeably absent is senior TE Weslye Saunders, who has been suspended indefinitely for his possible contact with an agent in Miami and his living arrangements at a local hotel. The team will be playing with heavy hearts as former player and all-time SC pass catcher, Kenny McKinley was found dead this week, after an apparent suicide. To make matters worse, junior CB C.C. Whitlock's brother was shot to death over the weekend and senior OL Garrett Chisolm's father passed away last week. The Tigers are on the other end of the emotional spectrum, as they are riding high after a brutally physical OT victory over Clemson. Junior QB Cam Newton and the offense had a quiet first half and were faced with a 3-17 deficit going into half-time. In the second half however, Auburn was able to move the ball well and Newton led the team to 21 points in the third quarter. Newton is 6th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (103) and second in passing TDs (7). He's part of a rushing attack with frosh Michael Dyer and sophomore Onterio McCalebb that is 3rd in the nation in rushing yards per game (345). Senior RB Mario Fannin is expect back this week (shoulder), so this unit could be even better. Their match-up, minus junior OL A.J. Greene (out for the season w/ ankle injury), against the SC run defense, which has allowed the 6th fewest rushing yards per game (59.7) this season, is the one that intrigues me. Also on the Tigers side is junior Darvin Adams, who is the clear go to WR on this team with 10 catches for 214 yards and 2 TDs. The Gamecocks haven't beaten the Tigers since 1993.
8:00 PM ET ABC: #24 Oregon State 1-1 @ #3 Boise State 2-0 (-17.5) - How do you prepare for the Boise State blue turf? You paint one of your practice fields blue of course and that's exactly what Oregon State did this week. The Beavers lost to TCU in the opening week, had a week off, and then beat Louisville on the road 35-28. Sophomore QB Ryan Katz has completed only 47.1|PERCENT| of his passes with 301 yards, 4 TDs, and 0 INTs. Junior RB Jacquizz Rodgers has averaged 4.9 yards per carry for 207 yards and 3 TDs. His older brother senior WR James Rodgers has 7 catches for 102 yards and 1 TD. Their loss to TCU is understandable, but allowing Louisvile to gain 453 total yards is not. Louisville won 3 games against FBS opponents last season and two of those were against Syracuse and Arkansas State. Boise State, however, has looked impressive this season. Looks are something the Broncos will have to be concerned about the rest of the way, as their win against Virginia Tech has been devalued by their subsequent loss to James Madison. Junior QB Kellen Moore has completed 63.2|PERCENT| of his passes for 585 yards, 5 TDs, and 1 INT. The running game has been something of a committee with senior Jeremy Avery, junior D.J. Harper, and junior Doug Martin all receiving significant carries. The WR corps is lead by seniors Titus Young (10 catches, 174 yards, 1 TD) and Austin Pettis (9 catches, 161 yards, 3 TDs). Boise State hasn't lost a home game since 2001.
9:00 PM ET ESPN2: #22 West Virginia 3-0 @ #15 LSU 3- 0 (-9.5) - After Pitt's poor showing against Miami, this might be the Big East's last chance at a marquee non-conference win until the bowl season comes around. The Mountaineers have gotten great play from sophomore QB Geno Smith thus far. He leads the Big East in passer rating (157.7), passing yards (800), pass attempts (101), and completions (71). His 7 TD passes are second to only Ryan Nassib of Syracuse. His two main targets are sophomore WR Tavon Austin (21 catches, 281 yards, 2 TDs) and senior WR Jock Saunders (19 catches, 214 yards, 1 TD). On the ground, the Mountaineers are led by senior Noel Devine. The elusive back has 73 carries for 354 yards rushing (second most in the Big East) and 2 TDs. Senior CB Brandon Hogan (DUI) has been reinstated on the team and practiced with them this week. It hasn't been announced if he will be active on game day yet, but his presence would gladly be welcomed by secondary that allowed a 96 yard TD pass in the Marshall game. Speaking of defense, the Tigers have many great players at key positions, most notably junior CB Patrick Peterson. Smith would be wise to not throw it where ever Peterson is, as he has great hands and excellent return skills. Offensively, the Tigers have trouble moving the ball at times due to their lack of a passing game. They are last in the SEC in passing yards per game (120) due to junior Jordan Jefferson's less than average play. He has completed 57.9|PERCENT| of his passes for 344 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. There has been talk of removing him as the starter and inserting junior Jarrett Lee, who has his own set of issues (pick-six machine). Thankfully they are averaging 203 rushing yards a game with junior RB Stevan Ridley carrying most of the load (55 carries, 318 yards, 2 TDs). It's not as if they don't have good WRs because they do. Sophomores Russell Shepherd and Rueben Randley combine with senior Terrance Tolliver to make a talented corps of pass catches that would be putting up better numbers (25 catches, 275 yards, & 2 TDs) if not for Jefferson. LSU is nearly impossible to beat at home in non-conference games, as they've won 28 in a row there. Tack on the fact that this is a night game and the Tigers have a huge home field advantage. If the Mountaineers can put some points on the board early, this could be a very, very interesting game.
10:30 PM ET FSN: #5 Oregon 3-0 (-12) @ Arizona State 2-1 - If the Ducks season were a boxing match, then their first three opponents were a speed bag they warmed up with. They pounded those teams (New Mexico, Tennessee, & Portland State) 189-13 and never broke a sweat. Sophomore QB Darron Thomas has completed 53.4|PERCENT| of his passes for 562 yards, 8 TDs, and 2 INTs. The run game has been like a relay race, as six different players have at least 15 carries and three of those have at least 200 yards rushing and 2 TDs. Sophomore LaMichael James leads the team with 361 rushing yards and 3 TDs. Senior WR Jeff Maehl leads the team in receptions (13), receiving yards (233), and receiving TDs (2). The defense has been equally as impressive as they've pitched two shutouts and allowed Tennessee only 13 points (all in the first half). One chink in the Ducks defense may be their ability to stop the run. Against Tennessee they allowed Tauren Poole to rush for 162 yards and 140 of that was before half-time, when the score was 13-13. Running the ball isn't something the Sun Devils do all that great, as they've averaged 155.7 yards per game (7th most in the Pac-10). Sophomore RB Cameron Marshall leads the team with 167 yards rushing and 5 TDs, while frosh Deantre Lewis has 151 rushing yards and 1 TD. Junior QB Steven Threet (transfer from Michigan) has thrown for 841 yards (2nd most in the Pac-10) and completed 66|PERCENT| of his passes with 5 TDs and 3 INTs. Special teams is where AZ State has an edge, as they lead the nation in net punting average (52.8) with senior P Trevor Hankins and in yards per kick return (37.8) with junior CB Omar Bolden and frosh RB Kyle Middlebrooks. Against Wisconsin last week, Bolden and Middlebrooks each had 120 yards in kick returns, with Bolden taking a 97 yarder to the house and Middlebrooks returning one 95 yards, all the way to the Badger 1 yard line. Working against the Sun Devils is their 32 penalties this season, which is second most in the nation. Oregon has won 5 in a row against Arizona State.