College Football: Games to Watch today

Texas QB Colt "45" McCoy and Ohio St. Heisman hopeful Troy Smith

Of course THE game to watch tonight, and what could be the game of the year if last years' battle in Columbus is any indication, is 1Ohio St @ 2Texas. But that game doesn't come on till 8 tonight, so in the meantime, here are 5 games to catch the eye of this college football fan:

-19Penn St. @ 4 Notre Dame, 3:30 The Irish nearly had their title hopes dashed early when they squeaked by Georgia Tech in Atlanta 14-10 last week. But Heisman candidate QB Brady Quinn will have to step it up today to outduel the Nitny Lions'

Anthony Morelli and a fired up Penn St. squad. This is the first meeting between the 2 perennial powerhouses in the last 14 years.

MY PICK: Irish 31, Lions 28

- 18 Clemson @ Boston College,3:30 The last time the Tigers ventured to Chestnut Hill a young Doug Flutie was the QB for the Eagles. Well now Junior Matt Ryan will guide the team against a Clemson squad who lost electrifying QB Charlie Whitehurst to the NFL, and replaces him with inexperienced senior Will Proctor. Look for the Eagles to be ranked after this one

MY PICK: Eagles 24, Tigers 17

- 12Georgia @ South Carolina, 7:45 Although Spurrier's Cocks are coming off a shutout of Miss. St. they only scored 15 points and had a measly 274 total yards, 84 rushing. That won't be good enough to get it done against a tough Bulldog squad, although Coach mark Richt used 3 QBs in last weeks' 48-12 whipping of W. Kentucky. This one should be a good one to establish early dominance in the brutal SEC East; I think the Head Cock finds a way to get this big one at home.
MY PICK: Gamecocks 17, Bulldogs 14

- Minnesota @ 22 Cal, 7 The Golden Bears were embarrassed last week by a Vol-unteer team that chewed up then-9th ranked Cal and spit them out, 35-18. Senior QB Joseph Ayoob will have to be on his game to defeat a stubborn Minny squad that shut out lightweight Kent St. in their opener last wee. But the Gophers 260-lb. running back Alex Daniels will give the Cal "D" a tough test, the same "D" that gave up over 500 yards to the Vols. Cal needs this one bad, though, and Minnesota is a long way from Berkeley.

MY PICK: Bears 38, Gophers 28

- 1Ohio St. @ 2Texas, 8 This is like Christmas in September for all of us ravenous college football fans: the earliest #1 v. #2 matchup ever and the first one since the 1Noles and 2Gators met in November 1996. It has all the makings of a classic: the Longhorns are the defending National Champs and beat the Buckeyes last year in Columbus on a late TD by Vince Young, although Ohio St. stud QB Troy Smith came off the bench to lead the Buckeyes back into the game and proved himself to be a Heisman-caliber signal caller. Plenty of media attention, star power on & off the field and over 85,000 burnt-orange clad loonies with their index finger & pinky raised waving the 'hook-em-Horns salute will be tough for OSU to overcome, but the experience and playmakers of the Buckeyes should bring them a payback victory.

MY PICK: Buckeyes 24, Longhorns 21

Ginn is juiced

hook'em horns

Sweed is sweet