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 Friday, December 13, 2002
UCLA looks for the upset in Pasadena.
By Brent Musburger
Special to BCSfootball.com
Each Tuesday throughout the season, ABC's Brent Musburger will give his five things to watch for the coming weekend.
1. Can UCLA do it again?
The UCLA Bruins have already knocked off one pretender, in then-third-ranked Alabama. Now they draw Michigan, and for the second time the No. 3 team in the country heads to the Rose Bowl. This game will be different, however. The Wolverines will use that 'Bama upset to keep their focus and concentration this week, because if Michigan wins, the Wolverines become a legitimate title contender. This is their first real test, after beating up on Bowling Green and Rice.
|  | | UCLA presents the first real obstacle of the season for Lloyd Carr's third-ranked Michigan Wolverines. |
Reasons to like UCLA in this game: Home cooking, and a running back by the name of DeShaun Foster.
Bigger reason to like Michigan: Lloyd Carr and his coaching staff are the most underrated in the country.
2. Keep an eye on South Bend
With option quarterback Arnaz Battle out with a wrist injury, converted tight end Gary Godsey starts at quarterback for the Irish. Gary's brother George is the starting quarterback at Georgia Tech. Gary Godsey is 6-foot-7, and weighs 239 pounds, and George is still miffed at Gary's decision to sign at Notre Dame instead of Tech.
Drew Brees gets his first challenge of the season, and should play very well in the Golden Dome.
The greater question falls on the other side: Can Gary Godsey handle the Purdue blitz? We'll find out.
3. Florida vs. Tennessee
How will the Florida Gators handle the crowd in Knoxville? The crowd will be as full and as loud as can be, and it will be extremely difficult for Steve Spurrier's troops to overcome.
With Georgia's loss last Saturday, the winner of this game becomes the favorite to win the SEC Eastern Division.
4. Eastern Michigan vs. South Carolina
Will the student body of South Carolina force the athletic department to buy a third set of goal posts after the Gamecocks go 3-0? South Carolina is well on its way, and I know it's early, but you have to believe Lou Holtz is the leading candidate for Coach of the Year.
5. Washington vs. Colorado
Washington enters this game 2-0 and confident, while Colorado is 0-2 and desperate. This is Rick Neuheisel's first trip back to Boulder after he bolted for greener pastures. This can be a tough, tough crowd, and Neuheisel had better bring earmuffs.
Brent Musburger a regular contributor to BCSfootball.com.
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