Saturday

Nebraska at Texas A&M, 2 p.m. ET, ABC
LAST MEETING: 1997 -- Nebraska 54, Texas A&M 14
SERIES: Nebraska leads 6-1
Back in August, everyone was talking about the toughest game for Nebraska being the one in Manhattan and how the Huskers would be able to deal with playing Kansas State on the road. I agreed with it, but at the same time I thought about this game, going to Kyle Field to play Texas A&M. Now the way everything's unraveled over the first four or five weeks I think it's pretty obvious this is going to be a challenging game.

The thing about Nebraska is when you expect the Huskers to dominate a team they just do enough to get by. And when you expect them to be challenged, then they go out and destroy a team. Because of that, I think you have to be careful to say this is going to be a tough game for Nebraska because of the way they can go out and take a game over.

The quarterback issue for Nebraska is a real problem. Are they going to be able to play a dinged-up Bobby Newcombe? Eric Crouch has a hip pointer, so third-string Monte Christo looks like he might eventually get some playing time. I think Newcombe's going to play, but you wonder what percent he's going to be. Plus, DeAngelo Evans is a little banged up.

Nebraska is going to have to win this game with defense and be able to create turnovers. The Aggies are plus-10 in the turnover margin, so they've done a good job of holding onto the ball.

Tennessee at Georgia, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
LAST MEETING: 1997 -- Tennessee 38, Georgia 13
SERIES: Tennessee leads 15-10-2
LAST 10 MEETINGS: Tennessee leads 7-3
For Tennessee, it's pretty clear. With Jamal Lewis out, the Vols will go with a pair of inexperienced tailbacks, sophomores Travis Henry and Travis Stephens. They're unproven at this point in big games. That will put the Vols in a predicament where they will have to rely on guys with some experience, such as fullback Shawn Bryson, quarterback Tee Martin, receiver Peerless Price. Guys that have been in big games and have been able to come through for them.

Georgia's aware of that, and the Bulldogs will gear everything to stop the run early in the game, especially on early downs, and then force Martin to throw the football when they know he's going to throw. To this pooint, Martin has not been able to get it done under those circumstances. So that's Georgia's game plan defensively, especially with Lewis down: stop the run and make Tee Martin beat them.

Georgia and Quincy Carter, the freshman quarterback I've been talking about since August, are the real deal. The Bulldogs lost 81 percent of their offense from last year, but as we've seen from last week's win over LSU, Carter is for real. The thing I like about him is he acts as if he's a polished veteran, like a senior. He's very poised. He didn't get too excited when he was 15-of-15 passing. He just went about his business.

This will be a great matchup because Tennessee's defense has been opportunistic and is very confident. With Lewis out, the Vols defense knows the onus is on them to slow down Georgia's offense. The key will be Carter's ability to get outside and make plays. If the Bulldogs hold onto the ball, I think Georgia will win the game.

LSU at Florida, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
LAST MEETING: 1997 -- LSU 28, Florida 21
SERIES: Florida leads 22-19-3
LAST 10 MEETINGS: Florida leads 9-1
The best thing you can say if you're a Florida Gator fan is that they have one quarterback now. That is big news and good news for the Gators. Whether they went with Doug Johnson or Jesse Palmer is irrelevant. Palmer can feel confident that he's the guy and he can go out there and execute the offense.

The big thing will be how quickly Steve Spurrier pulls the plug. If Palmer makes a few mistakes, does Spurrier go to Johnson right away? I think that can be detrimental I think Spurrier needs to stick with Palmer and let him make mistakes and just go with it.

There's a revenge factor after what happened last year in Baton Rouge, but talent-wise, the edge clearly goes to Florida. The Gator defense has been prone to giving up some big plays this year, and they have to be careful with Herb Tyler's ability to scramble and get to the outside. Kevin Faulk is always a dangerous threat on special teams, catching the ball out of the backfield and running.

The key will be Florida's defense, probably the most athletic in college football, and whether or not it can contain Tyler and Faulk and not give up the big play. If they do that, the Gators will win the game handily.

Kansas State at Colorado, 7 p.m. ET
LAST MEETING: 1997 -- Kansas State 37, Colorado 20
SERIES: Colorado leads 39-13-1
LAST 10 MEETINGS: Colorado leads 9-1
Even if Colorado were at full strength, knocking off Kansas State would probably be too much for the Buffaloes to achieve. They're banged up everywhere. There's not a position on the team that doesn't have injuries to deal with.

It's not really good timing for Colorado because, as much as Kansas State gets ridiculed for its schedule, now's in when people will start to pay attention that the Wildcats are for real. They're loaded offensively, and they have some big wide receivers. Darnell McDonald is probably their most gifted; he's about 6-foot-3, 200 pounds.

As much as people talk about Donovan McNabb, Michael Bishop is very similar and probably has a stronger arm. He's a guy I think people will be talking about even more after this weekend than they have been recently. On defense, you're probably looking at one of the most fundamentally sound and best in college football.

Even though this game is going to played in Boulder, it could get ugly in a hurry because of the injuries for Colorado, it could get ugly in a hurry. The Buffaloes have had trouble running the ball against Baylor and Fresno State, and here comes one of the best running defenses in college football.

It's going to put a lot of pressure on Colorado quarterback Mike Moschetti to be able to produce. That's when Kansas State is going to blitz him all day. I think the Wildcats are going to sack him and come up turnovers.

UCLA at Arizona, 10 p.m. ET
LAST MEETING: 1997 -- UCLA 40, Arizona 27
SERIES: UCLA leads 13-8-2
LAST 10 MEETINGS: Even 5-5.
I was in Tucson on Tuesday, and it's kind of like North Carolina. Arizona is a basketball school. The Wildcat fans follow a winner, and the fact that they're in the Top 10 and 5-0, there were lines at the ticket office probably 100 yards long. People are dying to get into this game. So the excitement level is at an all-time high in Tucson.

What's going to be interesting is that UCLA has yet to be tested. Arizona has five games under its belt. The Wildcats have played in big games they weren't expected to win, and they've grown up a great deal. Meanwhile, the coaches have been able to make adjustments after five games. UCLA is a young team on defense. The Bruins have only played three games and haven't been tested, so that favors Arizona.

I think it's going to be one of those high-scoring games where whoever gets the ball last wins the game. I see Cade McNown and the innovative Bruin offense being a little bit too much for the Arizona defense to stop. If you look all over college football, UCLA probably has the most complex system to prepare for. It's a lot like an NFL system. They'll put out five receivers at a time. McNown and the receivers are very intelligent. There are so many ways they can attack you.

I also think the Wildcats' double-headed quarterback, with Ortege Jenkins and Keith Smith, will be able to use all of their skills at the running back and the receiver positions. They have as much skill as Dick Tomey has ever had at Arizona. The young Bruin defense won't be able to stop them either. It'll be a shootout, and I think Arizona is going to come out on top.