Thomas Jones will provide a stiff test for the Virginia Tech defense.

Just kidding. We are going to the concert, but the fact is -- there's no game large enough to lure Gameday out of the studio this week. But, that does not mean you should write off the weekend. Here's my take on the games to watch.

Most Significant
Virginia Tech visits Virginia. This one is usually reserved for Rivalry Week. It's nasty and personal.

It's the most significant game of the week because the Hokies are legit national titles contenders and this represents their toughest road game. Watching the Cavs move at will against BYU, it was obvious they have plenty of athletes. For some strange reason, I think they actually pose a threat Oct. 30 when Florida State visits. They may be healthier by then.

The trick to beating Tech is preventing the defense and the punt block teams from scoring. If the Cavs minimize mistakes, they have a great chance to pull the home field "upset."

Bob Stoops' troops have scored 49, 41, and 42 points in three games. Each week, ex-JUCO QB Josh Heupel has broken the school passing yardage record and has almost 1,200 yards in three games!

Stoops is a bright young former defensive wizard taking over a big-time program in his first head coaching job. Sound familiar, Irish fans? Except for one thing: Stoops is enjoying the kind of golden honeymoon stage Bob Davie never did. Following the always-disoriented John Blake is not like following Lou Holtz.

But this is Stoops' first real big test: an Irish team that is truly desperate. Remember all the preseason talk about a BCS at-large bid? Hey, a loss here, and ANY bowl bid is starting to look grim.

Notre Dame has to finish 6-2 in its last eight to be eligible, and remember, there's a trip to Knoxville ahead. Saturday starts a momentous homestand for the program. Enigmas Arizona State and USC visit next. The Sun Devils are all messed up and the Trojans minus QB Carson Palmer. Both games are completely winnable and entirely losable.

As of now, Notre Dame may be the best 1-3 team ever. Its three losses have come to teams that are a combined 15-0. But that's small consolation. Davie-bashing is in vogue now and it's tough for me to defend him without looking like an apologist with an agenda.

Well, I'm not and I don't have one. But to lay the troubles at Davie's feet is naive and simplistic. Yes, he's made some clock management mistakes. But when the quarterback and his backfield mates don't execute and lose their poise it can make a staff look real bad. Plus, when things snowball -- like foolish penalties, officials' mistakes (see the Purdue game) and just plain bad breaks -- teams start "pressing" as Davie calls it. Like standing over a putt and thinking too much. In that respect, the Fighting Irish are a lot like the "Fighting Scot" Colin Montgomerie at the Ryder Cup. When they miss a putt, much of America is ready to roar in glee.

I don't think so, but I admire the spunky sell-job on the Boilers' October "Death March." Next up: the Buckeyes, Spartans, and Nittany Lions. Tiller also admits his team's top 10 ranking is "too lofty."

He'd better hope they are NOT too overrated, or this month will bring carnage. But the Boilers seem to be loose and ready. For now.

Meanwhile, Michigan's proud defense finally gets a crack at the glamorous Purdue attack and Mr. Brees that they have had to hear about for the last couple seasons. This is a veteran group (seven senior starters, and three juniors) that has a mean streak. They have already shown they can play disciplined defense -- reading keys and carrying out assignments. That was the key to stopping the option of Notre Dame and Syracuse, and is equally critical against the four and five-wide sets Purdue employs.

In a weird note, the last two meetings have a combined score of: Purdue 9, Michigan 8! They have been played in rain, sleet, snow, and mud. The forecast Saturday calls for much nicer weather.

It was my first time watching the Big 'en run in person. He's a little quicker and shiftier than he had looked on TV. The touchdown run in the second quarter was a good showcase of his skills.

But too often, he has no chance. The Badgers' O-line, which may be a little overrated anyway, justifiably had trouble blocking the horde of Michigan men in the box. The Badgers' execution of the passing game is ugly to watch from field level, and it ain't that pretty on TV, I realize. Amateur hour. Terrible timing.

Dayne has faced defenses stacked to stop him almost every play of his career. Very few backs could have gained Dayne's yardage under those conditions. Very few.

To say he's got no Heisman shot is wrong. Knee-jerk, talk show stuff. At the end of the season, how many remembered that Ricky Williams was throttled by Kansas State much worse than Dayne was by UM? Ricky lost a lot more fumbles in his career than Dayne will in his. Yes, Peter Warrick is probably my front-runner of the moment. But don't bash Dayne too badly.

Five questions: anything more is a test not a quiz and we'd never spring a surprise test on you. This is not an open book test.

1. Team with the longest Division 1-A win streak? Bonus points: last team to beat them.
2. Only unbeaten team left in the Pac-10?
3. Team that surrendered only one offensive TD in road games at Nebraska and Texas A&M.
4. Team that registered the decade's second biggest, beating Texas Tech after being shut out 52-0.
5. Name of East Carolina's head coach.

Top 7
My AP ballot now probably resembles that of many other voters. I elevated the Seminoles to the top spot for the first time, after they finally played a complete game Saturday. Their talent is tremendous, but they had looked so sloppy so often, I couldn't stomach ranking them above all others. I'll give you the Top 7, all unbeatens.

Upset alert
Last week I had hunches about East Carolina and Wyoming. Both underdogs won. I also thought that either Kentucky OR North Carolina would hang around for awhile. That one was wrong.

This Saturday on the upset watch, I give Virginia a good shot against the Hokies. The Aggies need to be a little careful in Lubbock, where they are a huge favorite. Oklahoma State is getting zero respect after taking Nebraska to the wire last year. Four TDs seems like a slap at the Cowboys.

Answers to Pop Quiz
1. Purdue has the longest win streak (10) and last lost to Penn State in October '98.
2. Dennis Erickson's Beavers are the lone Pac-10 unbeaten as they travel to the land of Troy.
3. Southern Miss allowed just one offensive TD, but four defensive scores in the two losses!
4.. North Texas shocked the Red Raiders, second only to Temple's upset of Virginia Tech last year on the Vegas upset charts.
5. Steve Logan is the Pirates' coach, the sport's Man of the Moment and a pretty nice guy in my book.