College Football Week 5 Preview

5 games to watch today

1.) Alabama @ 5 Florida 3:30, CBS

'Bama should be 4-0 like UF entering this SEC tilt, but their "idiot kicker" Leigh Tiffin missed 3 FGs & and extra point in the Crimson Tide's 24-23 OT loss to Arkansas last week. This is somewhat of a real test for the Gators, but if they're as good as everyone says they are they should handle Bama fairly easily.

MY PICK: Gators 31-17

2.) 3 USC @ Washington St. 7P EST

UPSET SPECIAL. The Trojans travel to Pullman to face the Cougars today without their top offensive weapon, WR Dwayne Jarret. He had hoped to play despite a sprained shoulder but was not cleared to participate. So USC QB John David Booty will have one of the toughest tests of his starting career to date: travel to a hostile road environment and beat a good (3-1) Wash. St. team without his number one receiver. They struggled with Nebraska at home with Jarrett; look for them to fall out of the title hunt without him.

MY PICK: Wash St. 24-21

3.) 24 Ga Tech vs. 11 Va. Tech

These technical powers clash when the Yellow Jackets take on the Hokies in Blacksburg. Both teams are upstarts in the ACC, but Ga. Tech has the benefit of QB experience with senior playmaker Reggie Ball, out for revenge for last seasons 51-7 Hokie beatdown, also in Blacksburg (don't aske me why.) Plus Va Tech will be without starting WR Josh Morgan who along with starting DE Chris Ellis were arrested early Monday and suspended for the game. Without those 2 the Hokies will have it tougher, but not too many teams win in Lane Stadium. It should be closer but not close enough for The Ramblin' Wreck. Hint: watch for the blocked kick.

MY PICK: Va Tech 34- 31

4.) Purdue @ 12 Notre Dame

At 4-0 Purdue is enjoying a nice season. Now they travel to South Bend to face an Irish squad absorbing a lot of slings and arrows (and pints) after a crushing loss to Michigan and miraculous comeback win at Michigan State. The Irish will be out to prove their detractors wrong when the take on the overmatched Boilermakers today; they may be undefeated going in, but they won't leave the grounds of Touchdown Jesus unblemished.

MY PICK: Irish 42- 20

5.) 1 Ohio State @ 13 Iowa 8P, ABC

The game of the day caps off the entire day as the nation's #1 team travels to Iowa City to battle one of their conference rivals in Kinnick Stadium tonight. Not a place for the feint of heart to play, but if any team can overcome the obstacle of a hostile crowd its the Buckeyes, who only travelled to Austin and beat the #2 team, the defending National Champ Longhorns a few weeks back. If the Hawkeyes try to shut down playmaking WR Tedd Ginn Jr, then QB Troy Smith will burn 'em. If they somehow contain the elusive Smith, then RB Antonio Pittman will gash them on the ground. If those 3 offensive weapons don't do in Iowa then OSU's overachieving defense, led by LB James Laurinitis (3 INTs) will keep the Hawkeyes down. Although the atmosphere will be wild, and Hawkeye QB Drew Tate is a heck of a player, look for this one to come up A.B.C.- Another Buckeye Conquest.

MY PICK: Buckeyes 27-21