NCAA Preview & Predictions

By Nick Meyer
Associated Content


#5 West Virginia at #18 South Florida, 8 p.m., Friday
The Bulls ambushed WVU last year in Morgantown, now West Virginia Mountaineers" Pat White and company are looking for payback. South Florida's defensive speed will make it tough for the Mountaineers to get their spread-option attack going and South Florida pulls the upset in front of a raucous home crowd at night. WVU will probably still end up winning the Big East, however, especially as Noel Devine gets more carries and experience.
Prediction: 28-24 S. Florida

#21 Penn State at Illinois, 12 p.m. Saturday
PSU likes to play things close to the vest and choke the life out of the opponent, but Juice Williams has the ability to break an unexpected big play and that could spell trouble for Penn State.J Leman will help shut down the running game of the Lions and Anthony Morelli will be forced to win the game, which he might not be capable of. Illinois pulls of the upset and wins one for the Zooker.
Prediction: Illinois, 23-20

#6 California at #11 Oregon, 3:30 p.m. Saturday
The Ducks will also have an incredible home-field advantage, but their defense will get absolutely shredded by an explosive Cal offense in this one. Look for one of the NCAA's most exciting players, DeSean Jackson to step up his game on the big stage again like he did against Tennessee.
Prediction: 38-27 Cal

Kansas State at #7 Texas, 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Ron Prince has the Wildcats back on track and Texas is due for a letdown soon with the way they've been playing. But K-State won't sneak up on Texas after last year's upset win.
Prediction: 30-20 Texas

#13 Clemson at Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Clemson is and always will be a fraud as far as I'm concerned thanks to Tommy Bowden's ineptitude, but Georgia Tech has a coaching problem of their own and not quite enough talent to win this one.
Prediction: 21-17 Clemson

Michigan State at #9 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Mark Dantonio has the Spartans playing with more consistency, but their average O-line play will be their downfall against a strong UW D-line.
Prediction: 28-13 Wisconsin

#22 Alabama at Florida State, 5 p.m. Saturday
Okay, let's try this again. After throwing a few bucks on the 'Noles over Clemson on the strength of FSU's new offensive coordinator making a difference, I was burned, but I'll go with FSU one more time here. Alabama got far too much hype for beating a one-dimensional Arkansas squad at home a couple weeks ago.
Prediction: 21-17 FSU

#1 USC at Washington, 8 p.m. Saturday
Washington gets a boost from playing at home at night, but USC has them outclassed at every position except QB.
Prediction: 42-21 USC

Auburn at #4 Florida, 8 p.m. Saturday
Brandon Cox is not a Gator, therefore, he is Gator bait, as the old saying goes. Auburn snuck up on the Gators last year and Florida is much weaker on defense, but once again, home field is big here for Florida.
Prediction: 27-13 Florida