Published September 13, 2012 - 8:45pm
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Here’s the top five most interesting games in the country for week three:
#18 Florida at #23 Tennessee
Florida and Tennessee square off ranked for the first time since 2007. The lights don’t get any brighter than ESPN College GameDay and a night game at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee’s offensive juggernaut against Will Muschamp’s defense is must-watch football. The Vols and Gators are doing battle to get an early lead in the SEC East. Florida has won seven in a row.
#20 Notre Dame at #10 Michigan State
Notre Dame is fighting to go 3-0 for the first time since 1800, and the Irish haven’t beaten MSU back-to-back since ’93 and ’94. The visitor usually loses this game, and Michigan State opens as the early favorite. For the Big Ten to push for a national championship, MSU is really the only hope left, after a miserable week that saw Nebraska and Wisconsin lose. Nobody from the SEC will be watching this game, though.
#1 Alabama at Arkansas
This game would have been so much better if the Hogs wouldn’t have lost to ULM. But if the Razorbacks can find a way to scratch and claw their way to victory, it would make the ULL loss disappear. No, really it would. Alabama is the top team in the country, and they want to prove it each and every week and want nothing given to them. But if Tyler Wilson doesn’t play in this game for Arkansas, it could get ugly.
#14 Texas at Ole Miss
Ah, this is a sexy under-the-radar game all about conference pride. On paper, this is a blowout. But on paper we also thought Ole Miss would be bad this season. They are much improved and have many people anxious for this weekend. Texas boasts the top defense in the Big 12, but Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace is one of the top performers so far with a big arm and the ability to run as well. You have to think Texas wins this game, but the Rebels want nothing better than to shock the country on Saturday night.
Wake Forest at #5 Florida State
Wake, believe or not, has beaten Florida State three of the last five years, including last year’s 35-30 victory. FSU is very much in the national championship hunt, and Wake will try and pull out a victory on the road and get a conference win. We’ll know a little bit more about FSU after this weekend.
I’m more worried about Arkansas after the loss to ULM than I was before. On the road in a hostel environment, coming off an embarrassing loss, I just don’t see Arkansas going down without a fight. I also don’t see Wilson missing a chance to knock off the Tide, a team that bullies him year in and year out.
The Hogs are playing at home this weekend, but I am also worried about the team. John L. Smith just doesn’t seem to know what he is doing out there. Hopefully the Hogs will finally pull it out, and we can forget last weekend…WPS!