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There are a ton of really good matchups this week. The surprising thing is there is only one that involves the Top 25. Cal has dropped out of the rankings so there matchup with USC doesn’t qualify, and South Carolina has lost it’s last three games making the matchup with Florida not mean as much. But I will do the best with what I got. So here we go………………..

#10 Georgia vs #17 Auburn

In the oldest rivalry in the south the road team has dominated. Last year an underachieving Georgia team went to the “Plains” and beat the Tigers 37-15 ending all hopes of a SEC and National title. Auburn has a 18-9 record when playing between the hedges as the Bulldogs have 13-9-2 record playing in the Plains. The Florida Gators will be looking hard at this game because they need a Bulldog loss to keep their slim East division hope alive.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN AUBURN HAS THE BALL
In the last seven weeks, Brandon Cox has completed 100-of-150 (.667) passes for 1,183 yards, six scores and just one interception, for a quarterback rating of 144.78. Cox, who has thrown 89 consecutive passes without an interception, is now third on Auburn’s all-time passing yardage list with 6,498 yards. Junior wide receiver Rodgeriqus Smith leads Auburn with 43 catches for 593 yards and five touchdowns.

Dannell Ellerbe leads the team with 65 tackles, which is 19 more than his next closest teammate. Reshad Jones set a career high against Tennessee with seven tackles and matched that total during the Bulldogs’ 42-30 win over No. 9 Florida. Currently, he ranks second on the team with 46 tackles. In his second career start, Geno Atkins tallied a career-high and team-leading eight tackles in the road win over Vanderbilt.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN GEORGIA HAS THE BALL
Antonio Coleman leads the team and is tied for 22nd nationally in tackles for loss with 12.5, and also leads the Tigers in sacks (six). His 12.5 tackles for loss are already more than anyone on the squad had last season. Coleman also returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Kansas State. Quentin Groves ranks second among among active NCAA players in career sacks with 26.

Redshirt freshman Knowshown Moreno is the second freshman in Georgia history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing, joining Herschel Walker. Moreno has 541 yards and six touchdowns in his last three games. Matthew Stafford has thrown 15 touchdowns and just six interceptions this season. Stafford is 13-4 at the starter. He completed passes to 10 different receivers in wins over Troy and WCU. (fromsecsports.com)

Auburn 28 Georgia 10

#15 Florida vs South Carolina

This is the third meeting between the Ol’ Ball Coach and his former team. Each game has had division hopes resting on it. In 2005 the Gamecocks ruined the chance of the Gators going to Atlanta in Urban Meyer’s first year with a 30-23 victory in Columbia. Last year a Jarvis Moss block of Ryan Succop’s 48-yard field goal as time expired is the play the Gators the most important of their season. Without that play they don’t win the SEC and National tiltles.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN FLORIDA HAS THE BALL
Tim Tebow’s passer rating of 179.13 is the highest in the nation. He has completed 67.7 percent of his passes, which is the 12th-highest mark in the country and is the best in the SEC. Tebow has thrown 12 passes for 40-or-more yards this season. Percy Harvin became the first player in school history to rush for more than 100 yards and have more than 100 yards receiving in the same game against Vanderbilt, totaling 223 yards on 20 touches (11.2 avg.).

A Freshman All-American last season, Eric Norwood is second on the squad with 56tackles this season, including 16.0 tackles for loss, third in the SEC. He has 5.0 sacks this season, which places him ninth in the league, and 12.0 sacks in his career in the Garnet & Black. He also has been credited with a team-high six quarterback hurries and three pass break ups.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SOUTH CAROLINA HAS THE BALL
This season, Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe rank as Florida’s leading tacklers with 88 and 64, respectively. Derrick Harvey has had a tackle for a loss in eight of the last nine games (each game except Troy) and a sack in three of the last six outings. Jermaine Cunningham ranks third on the team this year with 53 total tackles, 27 solo and 26 assisted.

Senior quarterback Blake Mitchell made his first start since the Sept. 22nd SEC contest at LSU. The start against Arkansas marked his fourth of the season and 21st of his career. With his 31-yard reception in the first quarter, Kenny McKinley extended his streak to 31 consecutive games with at least one reception, matching the third-longest streak in Gamecock history. With his 94 rushing yards last week, senior tailback Cory Boyd ranks 11th on the South Carolina career rushing chart with 2,149 yards. He needs just 85 yards to reach the tenth spot.(fromsecsports.com)

Florida 31 South Carolina 20

#1 Ohio State vs Illinois

The Ron Zook revival of the fighting Illini continues as his team travels to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes of Ohio State. In last year’s meeting the Illinois had it’s chances put couldn’t put the play they needed together as they lost 17-10.

Most of the current Buckeyes also remember last season, when an Illinois team that finished 2-10 gave Ohio State all it could handle in a 17-10 loss in Champaign, Ill. on Nov. 4, 2006 — two games before the Buckeyes beat Michigan in a matchup of the nation’s two top teams.”The amount of respect we have for that team is just about as high as anybody else,” Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline said. “Being able to watch them do what they’ve done this year so far, we have a lot of respect for them. … It’ll be a different game this year.”Offensively, 235-pound sophomore running back Chris Wells rushed for 169 yards on 21 carries and three straight second-half touchdowns. Wells is averaging 116.5 rushing yards for the season — and 174.3 in his last three games.Both Ohio State units, though, could be in for a challenge Saturday against Illinois, which ranks sixth in the nation in rushing, averaging 261.7 yards per game. Defensively, the Illini are allowing 19.1 points per game after giving up 26.7 last season.”I think the mentality has changed,” Illinois fullback Russ Weil told the school’s official Web site. “We are definitely expecting to win a lot more games. Everyone is working ten times harder every week in practice.”Rashard Mendenhall, the conference’s leading rusher with 1,314 yards, ran for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in a 44-17 win at Minnesota last Saturday night.Mendenhall, who has rushed for 390 yards and four TDs in his last two games, needs 17 yards to break the Illinois single-season record held by Antoineo Harris in 2002.The Illini, who are 2-1 versus ranked teams this season, are looking to avoid a 12th straight loss when facing the nation’s top-ranked team dating to a 20-13 win over Michigan State on Oct. 27, 1956.(fromespn.com)

Ohio State 45 Illinois 7

#12 Michigan vs Wisconsin

This is a key game for the Wolverienes. Since losing their first two games Michigan has reeles off eight straight and a ninth would set up a collassel showdown with Ohio State in the Big House.

“It’s been a difficult path, but we keep fighting,” Henne said. “There have been a lot of great guys that have stepped in this year and done a great job.”Henne is not only referring to Michigan’s frustrating start, but his own struggles to stay healthy. He missed two games early in the season due to an injured right knee. He returned only to suffer a right shoulder injury Oct. 20 at Illinois, but put together a gritty effort and passed for 201 yards and two TDs to lead the Wolverines to a 27-17 victory.Henne, named Big Ten offensive player of the week, isn’t the only Michigan player fighting through an injury. Top running back Mike Hart has been bothered by a right high ankle sprain. He played against the Spartans after sitting out the previous 2 1/2 games and was outstanding, rushing for 110 yards on 15 carries.”Obviously, as the game goes along it gets more irritating,” Hart said about the injury Monday. “But this week it’ll be fine. I’m not really worried about it limiting me this week.”With a Big Ten title on the line, it’s not surprising that the two Michigan stars are playing through painA defeat Saturday wouldn’t end the Wolverines’ chances at the Big Ten crown. If Michigan loses, it could share the title by beating the Buckeyes.After overcoming their poor start, though, the Wolverines aren’t interested in being co-champs.”You never want to tie anything, especially with Ohio State,” Hart said. “We want to win this game, and then go win the championship outright.”Michigan has won seven of the last eight against Wisconsin, including a 27-13 victory last year in Ann Arbor.The Badgers fell 38-17 to the Buckeyes last weekend. Wisconsin took a 17-10 lead midway through the third quarter, but Ohio State tied it late in the period before blowing the game open in the fourth.Because it played without leading rusher P.J. Hill, who’s also uncertain for Saturday because of a leg injury, Wisconsin relied heavily on the passing game last weekend.   Tyler Donovan was 17-of-29 for 238 yards and two touchdowns, but a deficient ground game cost the Badgers, as they rushed for a season-low 12 yards on 37 attempts.The Badgers have won 13 straight at home and 24 of their last 25 at Camp Randall Stadium. The Wolverines lost in their last trip to Madison, 23-20 in 2005, although they lead the series 48-11-1 and 21-4-1 at Camp Randall.fromespn.com)

Michigan 21 Wisconsin 3

#14 Texas vs Texas Tech

The Longhorns keep hanging around despite the inconsistent play of Colt McCoy and the defense. Jamaal Charles has been a spark of late including rushing for 216 of his career high 290 in the fourth quarter against Nebraska. The Red Raiders come into this game with as high power an offense as you can have led by Graham Harrel and wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

No. 15 Texas looks for its fifth win in a row overall and fifth straight over the Red Raiders when they meet on Saturday in Austin.To extend those streaks, the Longhorns will have to slow down Texas Tech, which has the nation’s top offense, averaging 549.5 yards per game. Harrell leads the nation in passing with 4,412 yards and 38 touchdowns while Crabtree — who is just a freshman — has struggled recently, but remains ranked first in yards receiving (1,512), receptions per game (10.4) and touchdowns (18).”Crabtree is just putting up amazing numbers,” Longhorns defensive end Brian Orakpo said. “I can’t even do what he’s doing on a video game.”Last Saturday, Texas trailed by 21 heading into the fourth quarter, but rallied for a 38-35 win over Oklahoma State. Jamaal Charles had touchdown runs of 18 and 75 yards and Vondrell McGee scored from 1 yard out before Ryan Bailey kicked a 40-yard field goal at the final gun.Texas’ defense has surrendered 1,134 yards in the wins, and is that a major concern for Brown heading into this contest.Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy was 20-of-27 for 282 yards and a touchdown in the win over Oklahoma State, but also threw three interceptions. After throwing 29 TDs and just seven interceptions as freshman last season, McCoy has 16 and 16 this season.In last season’s matchup, Harrell had the better numbers, but McCoy and the Longhorns escaped from Lubbock with a 35-31 win. Harrell was 42-of-62 for 519 yards and three scores. McCoy, meanwhile, was 21-of-31 for 256 yards for four scoring passes.The Red Raiders (7-3, 3-3) avoided their third loss in a row this season with a 38-7 rout of Baylor last Saturday. Harrell was 37-of-46 for 433 yards and three touchdowns, eclipsing the 4,000-yard passing mark for the second season in a row and guiding Texas Tech to its 12th straight win over the Bears.(fromespn.com)

Texas 44 Texas Tech 19

#17 Southern Cal vs Cal

This is how far this game has fallen off the map. I almost forgot to preview it. Since being ranked number 2 the Cal Bears have really fallen from the elite. Losing three of their last four. The Trojans on the other hand rebounded from their loss to Stanford but lost a shot at getting back in the race by losing to Oregon.

When October began, it appeared this game would have a big impact on the national championship picture, let alone the Pac-10 title race.Because the rest of the month did not go nearly as well as USC or California hoped, these ranked teams are out of the BCS title chase and have very slim hopes of even winning the conference going into their matchup Saturday night.Southern California (7-2, 4-2) was a near unanimous No. 1 selection in the preseason rankings, but has not been among the top 10 since early October and heads into this matchup ranked 12th. Cal (6-3, 3-3), picked to finish second to the Trojans in the Pac-10, fell out of the poll altogether before re-entering this week at No. 24.That defeat opened up the No. 2 spot for California, which was 5-0 and coming off a road win over then-No. 11 Oregon.It was the Bears’ highest ranking since 1951, but it didn’t last long, and they would fall completely out of the poll before October was over. Cal followed the 31-24 victory over the Ducks with three straight losses, falling to unranked teams Oregon State and UCLA before an Oct. 27 defeat at then-No. 7 Arizona State.While Cal is tied for fifth in the conference, USC moved into a tie for third after a 24-3 win over visiting Oregon State last Saturday. The Trojans lost 24-17 at then-No. 5 Oregon the previous week to close a 2-2 October.USC had nine sacks last week while limiting Oregon State to 176 total yards, holding the opposition to 13 points or less for the third time in four games.USC is allowing conference lows of 15.9 points and 253.3 yards per game.Known in recent years for prolific offenses, the Trojans and the Bears have suffered from injuries and ineffectiveness at quarterback.USC’s John David Booty returned last week after missing three games with a broken finger, completing 19 of 33 passes for 157 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. A Heisman hopeful when the season began, Booty has thrown for more than 300 yards in only one of six games and his eight interceptions are one fewer than his 13-game total last year.Including Mark Sanchez’s inconsistent play while starting in Booty’s place, the Trojans have thrown for 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season.Nate Longshore sat out the first game of Cal’s three-game skid due to a sprained ankle and has been bothered by the injury ever since, throwing six interceptions in the last three games. He had only two during the Bears’ 5-0 start.USC has won the last three meetings, and is 21-0 in November games under Carroll.(fromespn.com)

USC 31 Cal 17