12:00 PM ET ESPN2: #16 Miami 2-1 (-3.5) @ Clemson 2-1 - The U is coming off of a 31-3 win over Pitt, where their defensive line just manhandled the Panthers' offensive line. Junior QB Jacory Harris is averaging 230 ypg with 6 TDs and 6 INTs. He's completing 64|PERCENT| of his passes, but he really needs to cut down on the interceptions - he has moments where he throws the ball into an area with multiple defenders and needs to learn to throw the ball away more often. Senior RB Damien Berry averages 75.3 yards per game with 1 TD on the season. The WR corps is led by senior WR Leonard Hankerson, who averages 80.3 ypg with 3 TDs. Junior WR Travis Benjamin is averaging 24.5 ypg returning punts (2nd most in the ACC). If you watched the Ohio State game, you should remember his blazing speed on that 79 yard return for a TD. The defense is anchored by senior DE Allen Bailey, who should harass Tigers sophomore QB Kyle Parker all game long. Parker (1st round pick by the Colorado Rockies) is averaging 167.7 ypg with 6 TDs and 1 INT. He had the crap knocked out of him in the Auburn game, so hopefully the week off allowed his body to heal. His WRs aren't all that impressive, as none have more than 100 yards receiving on the season. Sophomore TE Dwayne Allen leads the team in catches with 8 for 156 yards. The run game is where the Tigers offense excels. Sophomore Andre Ellington has 4 TDs and is 2nd in the ACC with 91 ypg. Junior RB Jamie Harper averages 51.3 ypg with 1 TD and has 3 receiving TDs. Senior S DeAndre McDaniel is the player to watch on defense for Clemson. Last season the former LB led the ACC in INTs with 8. The 'Canes and Tigers have met three times since Miami joined the ACC and all three games have gone to overtime with the road team winning each one.
3:30 PM ET ABC/ESPN: #8 Oklahoma 4-0 (-3.5) vs #21 Texas 3-1 - This year's Red River Shootout lost some of it's luster last week, when Texas lost at home to UCLA 12-34. The loss isn't what's so disconcerting for the Longhorns, it's how they lost. They turned the ball over 5 times and gave up 264 yards rushing, exposing their defense. Sophomore QB Garrett Gilbert played alright with 264 yards passing, 1 TD, and 1 INT. On the season he's averaging 221 ypg with 4 TDs and 4 INTs. The Texas run game has yet to find it's groove, as they've used a different starter almost every game (Fozzy Whittaker, Cody Johnson, & Tre' Newton). They have the 75th best rushing offense at 135.5 ypg, yet they've faced the 79th (Rice), 116th (Wyoming), 22nd (Texas Tech), and 94th (UCLA) run defenses this season. The WRs are experienced with seniors John Chiles & James Kirkendoll and junior Malcolm Williams. The defense should expect to see Sooners senior RB DeMarco Murray early and often. Murray averages 109 ypg with 7 TDs and is tied for the most carries in the Big 12 with 105. Sophomore QB Landry Jones is averaging 305.3 passing ypg (7th most in the nation) with 9 TDs and 3 INTs. Junior Ryan Broyles is his go to WR with 41 catches (national leader), 120.5 ypg (4th most in the nation) and 4 TDs. The offense may sound explosive, but they've been outscored 10-41 in the 4th quarter this season. The defense is giving up 421.3 total ypg, which is 97th most nationally, just ahead of my Rice Owls (not good). Their problems really lie in the second half of games where the run defense has given up 5.39 yards per carry (14th worst nationally) and 8 passes of 25 yards or more (2nd most nationally). This makes for a Sooners team that gets nice leads in the first half of games and blows them late (see Utah State, Air Force, & Cincinnati). In 11 of the last 12 meetings, the team that has had more rushing yards has won the game.
3:30 PM ET ABC/ESPN: #11 Wisconsin 4-0 (-2) @ #24 Michigan State 4-0 - If you like to watch offenses run the ball well, this is the game for you. The Badgers average 257.5 rushing ypg (10th nationally), while the Spartans average 231.5 ypg (17th nationally). Wisconsin is led by the reigning Big Ten offensive player of the year, junior John Clay who averages 125.3 ypg rushing (9th best nationally) with 6 TDs. His backups are no slouches as frosh James White averages 67.3 ypg (10th most in Big Ten) with 4 TDs and sophomore Montee Ball averages 46.3 ypg with 3 TDs. Senior QB Scott Tolzien averages 212.8 pyg passing with 5 TDs and 2 INTs. He leads the Big Ten with 10.1 yards per attempt and is second in completion percentage at 76.2|PERCENT|. The team's leading receiver is senior TE Lance Kendricks at 74.8 ypg with 3 TDs. The run defense allows 94.5 ypg, but will be tested by the Spartans duo of sophomore Edwin Baker and frosh Le'Von Bell. Baker is 4th in the conference in rushing ypg with 112.3, while Bell is 5th with 99 ypg. The team should also have sophomore Larry Caper, who led the team in carries last season, for this one. Junior QB Kirk Cousins is averaging 215.8 ypg with 6 TDs, 2 INTs, and a 67|PERCENT| completion percentage. He spreads the ball around amongst his WRs with none averaging more than 50 ypg. Senior LB Greg Jones (1st team All-American last season) leads a run defense that is allowing 85.3 ypg. Coach Mark Dantonio is coming off a "minor" heart attack and will be in the press box calling the game (call of the year against ND). The home team has won the last five in this series.
3:30 PM ET CBS: Tennessee 2-2 @ #12 LSU 4-0 (-16) - The Tigers passing offense is 115th in the nation. Let that sink in for a minute. The 12th ranked team in the AP Poll barely passes for more yards than Air Force, a team that runs the triple-option. Junior Jordan Jefferson has a 2/4 TD/INT ratio and has passed for more than 100 yards in a game once and that was against a North Carolina team that was missing almost their entire starting defense to suspension. Les Miles would pull him for junior Jarrett Lee, but Lee is a pick-six machine. At this point though, what does he have to lose? I've read articles this week where Miles has asked the fans to please not boo the offense... it's that bad. This is a decent offense outside of their abysmal QB play. Junior RB Stevan Ridley is averaging 108.5 rushing ypg (4th most in the SEC) with 3 TDs. Their WRs are talented with senior Terrance Toliver and sophomores Rueben Randle & Russell Shepherd. There's little doubt in my mind that if the Dodgers had not signed frosh Zach Lee (their 1st round pick), he would be the QB of this team right now. LSU continues to win because their defense is outstanding, especially against the run, where they allow only 74.8 ypg (8th best in the nation). When teams throw against them, they're met with Heisman hopeful CB junior Patrick Peterson, who not only defends well, but also returns kickoffs and punts. Vols junior QB Matt Simms (Phil's kid) will have to avoid Peterson as he tries to move the offense. Simms is averaging 209 ypg with 6 TDs and 3 INTs. He has been sacked a SEC high 13 times this season, so that tells you about their offensive line and Simms' ability to avoid the rush. Senior WR Darius Moore leads the team with 55 receiving ypg and 4 TDs. Last week against UAB, he caught the game winning TD in double overtime. Junior RB Tauren Poole is averaging 79.5 ypg with 3 TDs, but he managed only 23 yards in said game against UAB. The defense has been very up and down so far. In the first half of games they're allowing only 2.68 yards per carry, but in the second half that number jumps up to 4.42. That said, expect a healthy dose of Ridley from LSU in this one. Tennessee is 20-7-3 all-time against LSU, but has lost 4 of the last 6 and is 1-9 against ranked teams since 2008.
8:00 PM ET CBS: #7 Florida 4-0 @ #1 Alabama 4-0 (-8) - The two best coaches in the country go head-to-head in a SEC slugfest. Nick Saban's team is coming off a come from behind win in Fayetteville, while Urban Meyers' crew is fresh off a thumping of Kentucky. The star amongst stars in this game is the reigning Heisman trophy winner, junior RB Mark Ingram. In just two games, he's averaging 154 ypg rushing (4th best nationally) with 4 TDs. It's amazing how great he looks after missing two games to recover from getting his knee scoped. His "backup" sophomore Trent Richardson is averaging 89 ypg (7th most in the SEC) with 4 TDs. The combination of the two with frosh Eddie Lacy (3 rushing TDs) is deadly as the Tide averages 244.8 rushing ypg (13th most nationally). With that kind of run game, senior QB Greg McElroy isn't going to throw the ball a ton, but when he does drop back he's efficient as he's 7th nationally in QB rating (178.6 if that means something to you) and 8th nationally in completion percentage at 71.3|PERCENT|. On the season he's averaging 224.8 ypg with 7 TDs and 3 INTs. Junior WR Julio Jones is very talented and averages 75.8 ypg receiving (4th most in the SEC) with 2 TDs. Despite the defense only returning 2 starters, they're 24th nationally in total ypg allowed (295.3). Opposing offenses are converting only 26.8|PERCENT| of their 3rd downs, which is good for 15th best nationally. Gators junior QB John Brantley leads an offense that has yet to fire on all cylinders with 355.8 ypg in total offense (78th nationally). Brantley is averaging 175 ypg with 6 TDs and 1 INT and 64|PERCENT| completion rate. I'm not sure if Alabama will respect his deep ball as the Gators have only 3 passing plays of 25 yards or more (8th worst nationally). Frosh QB/WR Trey Burton has added a new dimension to the offense with his ability to run. Last week against Kentucky, he rushed for 5 TDs and passed for another. Junior RB Jeff Demps has been in a walking boot this week (left foot), but is expected to play. On the season he's averaging 91.8 ypg with 2 TDs. Junior WR Deonte Thompson leads the team in receiving ypg with 62, but has yet to score a TD. Fumbles have been a bug-a-boo for the Gators as they have 14 on the season (5 lost), which is 2nd most nationally. Most of those have come on the exchange between senior C Mike Pouncey and Brantley. The calling card of this Florida team is their defense, which is allowing 295.5 total ypg. They lead the nation in INTs (12) and INTs returned for TD (3). If you're wondering about junior WR Chris Rainey, he's still suspended for sending threatening text messages to his girlfriend. Alabama has won 4 of the last 6 games in this series.
8:00 PM ET ABC/ESPN2: #9 Stanford 4-0 @ #4 Oregon 4-0 (-7) - Two of the highest scoring offenses collide in this battle of unbeaten Pac-10 teams. The Ducks have been nearly unstoppable through their first four games. Their offense is first nationally in ppg (57.8), third in total ypg (555), and fourth in rushing ypg (316.75). It all starts with sophomore RB LaMichael James who is averging 151.7 ypg rushing (4th most nationally) with 4 TDs. Where it ends though is anyone's guess. Senior RB Remene Alston Jr. is averaging 69.7 ypg rushing with 2 TDs, while sophomore RB Kenjon Barner is averaging 50.3 ypg rushing with 4 TDs. There are four other players on this team with 1 rushing TD, so this isn't a three-headed monster, it's a hydra. If you're thinking they just run the ball you'd be wrong as sophomore QB Darron Thomas has 10 TD passes. Senior WR Jeff Maehl is averaging 63.5 ypg receiving (5th most in the Pac-10) with 3 TDs. The defense was tested last week against Arizona State and it failed, giving up 597 total yards. The run defense looks alright on the surface (122.8 ypg allowed), but when you look at their game log you notice they gave up 182 yards rushing to Tennessee and 210 to Arizona State. How will they hold up when they face a Stanford rushing attack that averages 223.3 ypg? There are eight players on this Cardinal offense with at least 1 rushing TD, so don't think it's just one or two guys they have to worry about. Sophomore RB Stepfan Taylor leads the team with 66.3 ypg rushing and 1 TD. If the Ducks can slow down the ground game, Stanford will take to the air with arguably the best QB in the nation in junior Andrew Luck. Luck is averaging 228 ypg passing with 11 TDs (2nd most nationally), 2 INTs and the 11th highest QB passer rating in the nation (169.5). He's mobile too with 163 yards rushing and 1 TD (a 52 yarder). The WR corps is led by senior WR Doug Baldwin, who is averaging 55.5 ypg receiving with 3 TDs. Like the Ducks, the Cardinal run defense is suspect as it allowed 152 yards to UCLA and 207 to Wake Forest. This game has all the makings of a shootout and Vegas agrees as the over/under is 65.5 points. Stanford has lost it's last four games in Autzen by an average of 26.8 points.
8:00 PM ET ESPN: #22 Penn State 3-1 @ #17 Iowa 3-1 (-7) - For many years it has been the Hawkeyes who have come into this game as the underdog looking to knockoff the Nittany Lions. This season however, the roles have been reversed. Iowa plays a physical style of football with their offensive line often having their way with the opposition. Benefiting from this is sophomore RB Adam Robinson, who averages 96.3 ypg rushing (6th most in the Big Ten) with 6 TDs. Handing off to him is senior QB Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi averages 249.8 ypg with 9 TDs, 1 INT, and a 179.4 QB passer rating (2nd highest in the Big Ten). Senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos leads the team in receiving ypg (67.5), receptions (17) and TDs (3). What really makes this Iowa team so good is its defense. Against the run they allow 65.5 ypg (3rd fewest nationally) and against the pass they allow 162 ypg (21st nationally). The unit is led by an outstanding line that features seniors Adrian Clayborn, Christian Ballard, and Karl Klug. The Hawkeyes lone loss came at the hands of Arizona, who they uncharacteristically allowed to pass for 366 yards. It's doubtful that Penn State is able to repeat that sort of effort as frosh QB Robert Bolden is averaging 205.8 ypg with 3 TDs, 5 INTs, and 60|PERCENT| completion rate. The offense will lean on senior Evan Royster to help take pressure off of the young Bolden. Royster is averaging 74.3 ypg with 1 TD and hadn't broken out in any games this season, until last week against Temple, where he ran for 187 yards. At 6'5" junior WR Derek Moye leads the team in receptions (15) and receiving yards (244). Senior OL Lou Eliades is out with a torn right ACL, so the offensive line may struggle at times. Penn State hasn't won in Iowa City in 11 years.
8:00 PM ET ABC/ESPN2: Washington 1-2 @ #18 USC 4-0 (-10) - After last year's 13-16 loss to the Huskies in Seattle, this is a revenge game for the Trojans. One of the biggest reasons the Huskies were able to win the game is because much of their coaching staff is from USC, specifically head coach Steve Sarkisian. Someone who did not play in that game, but will play this time around is Trojans sophomore QB Matt Barkley. Barkley is averaging 235.3 ypg with 12 TDs, 4 INTs, and a 65.1|PERCENT| completion rate this season. He'll spread the ball around (8 different players have at least 1 TD), but his go to guy is senior WR Ronald Johnson, who averages 62.3 ypg with 5 TDs (leads the Pac-10). The Trojans feature a trio of good RBs in senior Allen Bradford (69.3 ypg 1 TD), junior Marc Tyler (72 ypg 3 TDs), and frosh Dillion Baxter (49.3 ypg). Baxter was highly touted coming out of high school and has slowly been integrated into offense. The defense is coached by legend Monte Kiffin, but it has yet to produce results as they're the 7th worst pass defense in the nation, allowing 282.3 ypg. That sounds bad, but most of it came against Hawaii who had 459 yards passing against them. I have to mention coach Lane Kiffin's need to go for 2 point conversions because it drives me nuts. The Trojans have attempted eight 2-point conversions this season and succeeded on just three of them. These are not situations where the team has needed two points to give themselves a two possession lead late in games, this is just Kiffin deciding he'd rather be up by 23 points than by 22 points. For Washington's sake, hopefully this comes back to bite him in the ass on Saturday. The Huskies have had their own troubles this season as senior QB Jake Locker has seen his Heisman campaign all but come to an end. Two weeks ago against Nebraska, he had a chance to cement his legitimacy as a candidate, but he came up small going 4/20 for 71 yards passing with 1 TD and 2 INTs. On the ground he had 59 yards and 1 TD, but it wasn't enough as they were blown out 21-56 at home. On the season he's averaging 208.7 ypg passing with 6 TDs, 2 INTs, and a 51.1|PERCENT| completion rate. He's 69th in the nation in QB rating (127.1), but it's still early. As I mentioned earlier, the Trojans defense is vulnerable against the pass, so this may be the breakout game we've all been waiting for from Locker. He has a good RB behind him in sophomore Chris Polk, who is averaging 88 ypg rushing (4th in the Pac-10) with 2 TDs. The main and almost only receiving threat on this team is junior WR Jermaine Kearse, who leads the Pac-10 in receiving ypg (112.7) and in receiving TDs (5). USC has won 7 of the last 8 games against Washington.