Campus Confidential

Not a bad Week 3...here we go.

LSU (-2.5) at Auburn
Abramson: Auburn is coming off of it's momentous 3-2 win over Mississippi State. I'm not sure what else to say except that it was 3-2. Either way, this game will feature two teams who can run the football, have some passing issues and play really good defense. I don't expect another 3-2 game, but I can see LSU covering with something like 10-6. I just can't see Ben Tate being able to run the ball against LSU's defense, a unit that has yielded less than 100 yards in its two games ... combined.
Rose: Expect two things from this game: the hitting will be fierce and the points will be scarce. This game is always a slugfest between two of the SEC's premier programs. Auburn's 3-2 win over Mississippi State has me worried about the Tigers' offense. Auburn is going to need more than Ben Tate to win this game. LSU, however, should be able to make enough plays on offense in this one. LSU running back Charlie Scott (23 carries, 262 yards, an eye-popping 11.4. yards-per-carry average and four TDs) will be the difference. LSU wins 13-9.

Georgia (-7) at Arizona State
Abramson: Georgia, coming off of its scare, finds itself in an interesting position. The Dawgs are heading across the country to take on a team that has been a force in the Pac 10. Is Mark Richt's team rattled by last week's scare or are they using it as fuel to put a smackdown on the Sun Devils? If I'm ASU, I grind on Georgia with intermediate and underneath routes and neutralize their speed with speedy offense. Once Rudy Carpenter sets in, you take your shots with the deep game and Dimitri Nance on the ground. I think Dennis Erickson will have a fine game plan, but I still have to go with Georgia because they can keep up with the Devils in a scoring race. I will say 31-27 Georgia.
Rose: Well, Georgia showed last week that its offense can be stopped, posting a 14-7 win over South Carolina. But Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and the rest of the Bulldogs will get back on track this week. Arizona State must be eager to play this game. What better way to forget last week's shocking loss to UNLV at home than to have the opportunity to beat the No. 3 team in the country on national TV at your place? This game will be close, because the Sun Devils are always dangerous in the desert. But Georgia pulls it out, 31-28.

Wake Forest at Florida State (-4)
Abramson: Doak Campbell is surely going to be rocking, but the Seminoles have a tough foe. Wake Forest is one of my favorites to win the conference at this point (along with North Carolina and Miami). Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner is going to shock a team that has beaten very weak opponents to this point. Keep an eye on Demir Boldin, Skinner's favorite target. I'm going 24-13, Wake.
Rose: Wake Forest is definitely a team to keep an eye on in what has become a wide open ACC. The Demon Deacons appear to be the favorite to capture the conference title. But not so fast. Wake needed a last-second field goal to beat Mississippi at home a few weeks ago. This team is good, but they're not going undefeated. Florida State hasn't played a good team, but I've got to believe the Seminoles will be fired up at home. Florida State wins 24-20.

Miami (-3) at Texas A&M
Abramson: I've been waiting a long time for Texas A&M to show off its blue collar attitude on the field, but it just isn't there and hasn't been for quite a while. Miami is young, fast and hungry. I think they run big over Mike Sherman's team, 24-6.
Rose: Texas A&M hasn't impressed me one bit. Miami, on the other hand, hung around with Florida for a while before losing. The Hurricanes are a team to watch closely the rest of the season. They have talented players. They're just inexperienced. This is the game where Miami starts to show it will be a good team. Hurricanes roll 27-10.

Florida (-7.5) at Tennessee
Abramson: Florida comes off its big win over Miami, which wasn't as easy as people in Gatorland had hoped. Florida has a lot of weapons and speed that can run circles around Tennessee which looked pretty slow against UCLA. I like Tennessee's running game, but Florida's improved defense can neutralize it with weapons like Jermaine Cunningham, Carlos Dunlap and Brandon Spikes. I expect Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin will blow by the Vols, 28-13.
Rose: Florida has more talent and will have the better players on the field in Knoxville. Tennessee has a chance at the upset if the Volunteers can get Arian Foster going. Foster is averaging almost eight yards per carry this season. If not, then Tennessee will be forced to have quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who has more interceptions than touchdowns this season, make plays. I like Florida, 28-17.

Notre Dame at Michigan State (-7)
Abramson: Notre Dame looked rather impressive against Michigan after starting the season a little flat. The problem the Irish face against the Spartans comes in the form of Javon Ringer. If he can get loose in the secondary, he's one of the most dangerous running backs in the country. If the Spartans take care of the football, they should win this game, but I think it will be close. I will say 26-20 Michigan State.
Rose: Not sure what to think about Notre Dame. I absolutely didn't expect the offensive display last week against Michigan. But remember, Michigan turned the ball over six times, so the Irish had some easy scoring opportunities. I like Michigan State's Javon Ringer to run wild. Spartans win 31-21.

Virginia Tech at North Carolina (-3)
Abramson: For Virginia Tech to win this game, several things are required. Long drives early in the game fueled by the rushing attack. Once the box becomes a little more cramped with defenders, the Hokies have to take shots down field, something they haven't done this year. With UNC stocked well at the skill positions, I will take the Tar Heels 20-13.
Rose: North Carolina's offense looked sharp against Rutgers a few weeks back. The Hokies have a better defense than the Scarlet Knights, but I like what I'm seeing from the Tar Heels. My concern is whether Virginia Tech can muster enough offense. I'll go North Carolina, 23-16.

Arizona (-2.5) at UCLA
Abramson: Arizona has no problem putting up points, even in the loss against New Mexico last week. What troubles me is the fact that UCLA has flat out not tried to run the ball this year -- to the tune of 38 yards in two games. That is the only stat that matters to me. If UCLA doesn't establish the run, it cannot win this game. And even if the Bruins discover offense on the ground, the defense has been woeful early on. I like Arizona in a shootout, 35-27.
Rose: UCLA's defense disappeared against BYU last week, getting lit up for 59 points and seven touchdown passes from Max Hall. The real key is whether UCLA will score enough points to keep up with the Wildcats. You probably won't see a Norm Chow offense go without scoring again. Arizona wins a wild one, 38-34.