Rivalries games could be classic mismatches
Two of college football’s storied rivalries look like mismatches.
Notre Dame and Michigan meet for the 32nd time today, and Texas plays at Arkansas in the 35th anniversary of their most memorable game.
The eighth-ranked Wolverines are 13 1/2 -point favorites at South Bend against a Notre Dame team that is coming off a disheartening loss to BYU.
The seventh-ranked Longhorns are also double-digit favorites on the road, facing an Arkansas squad that looks very little like the one that snapped Texas’ 20-game home winning streak last season with a 38-28 victory. Quarterback Matt Jones is the only returning offensive starter for Arkansas.
As for Notre Dame, the Irish went out of their way to get a game in before Michigan came to town. The plan went awry. They lost to BYU, 20-17, in another anemic offensive outing under coach Tyrone Willingham.
| The lineup | Time | TV |
| No. 1 Southern Cal vs. Colorado St. | ||
| Pick: USC 45-17 | 5 p.m. | ABC |
| No. 2 Oklahoma vs. Houston | ||
| Pick: OU 58-20 | 4 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 3 Georgia at South Carolina | ||
| Pick: Georgia 24-17 | 2:30 | ESPN |
No. 6 LSU vs. Arkansas St. | ||
| Pick: LSU 54-10 | 5 p.m. | |
| No. 7 Texas at Arkansas | ||
| Pick: Texas 31-13 | 5:45 | ESPN |
| No. 8 Michigan at Notre Dame | ||
| Pick: Mich. 30-13 | 12:30 | NBC |
| No. 9 Ohio St. vs. Marshall | ||
| Pick: Ohio St. 24-13 | 12:30 | |
| No. 10 West Virginia at C. Florida | ||
| Pick: W. Va. 44-17 | 3 p.m. | |
| No. 11 Florida vs. E. Michigan | ||
| Pick: Florida 52-10 | 10 | |
| No. 12 California vs. N. Mexico St. | ||
| Pick: Cal 49-13 | 3:30 | |
| No. 13 Kansas St. vs. Fresno St. | ||
| Pick: FSU 22-19 | 9 a.m. | FSN |
| No. 15 Virginia vs. North Carolina | ||
| Pick: Virginia 44-13 | 12:30 | |
| No. 16 Iowa vs. Iowa St. | ||
| Pick: Iowa 37-9 | 9 a.m. | |
| No. 17 Utah at Arizona | ||
| Pick: Utah 34-17 | 7 p.m. | |
| No. 18 Auburn at Mississippi St. | ||
| Pick: Auburn 38-14 | 9:30 | |
| No. 20 Clemson vs. Georgia Tech | ||
| Pick: Clemson 28-24 | 5 p.m. | |
| No. 21 Wisconsin vs. UNLV | ||
| Pick: Wis. 36-17 | 9 a.m. | ESPN |
| No. 22 Minnesota vs. Illinois St. | ||
| Pick: Minnesota 55-7 | 12:30 | |
| No. 23 Maryland vs. Temple | ||
| Pick: Md. 35-14 | 3 p.m. | |
| No. 24 Oregon vs. Indiana | ||
| Pick: Oregon 45-20 | 3:30 | |
| No. 25 Purdue vs. Ball St. | ||
| Pick: Purdue 38-14 | 10 | |