COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

By Arnie Leshin 

Can hardly wait for the Las Vegas college football odds, with the only thing clear is that 2nd-ranked Ohio State has a bye weekend.

Other than that, there’s still 14 undefeated teams in Division I. There are also 10 teams with only one loss.

And Saturday looks like a day that features stellar match ups, could also be one that brings another switch up at the top of the top 25 or even some lower ones.

As for the Buckeyes, they began ranked third when Alabama was No. 1. But the way they do it now, if your win isn’t impressive enough, you can drop down, with is what happened when the Crimson Tide came away with a close victory. They fell to third, Ohio State jumped them and settled into 2nd-ranked, and defending national champion Georgia made it back to the top of the heap, a spot the Bulldogs opened at until they had a tight tussle.

But there they are again looking down when they hit the road to tackle Vanderbilt (4-2), whose two setbacks were a total of 10 points. Then comes the toughie in the clash of unbeatens when No. 3 Bama hits the road to No. 6 Tennesse. That is an afternoon battle that is listed as the game of the day.

Then jump down to No. 4 Clemson that plays at now unranked Florida State, which lost a close tilt at home versus now No. 15 North Carolina State. Another dandy come next when No. 5 Michigan plays at No. 10 Penn State in another anticipated meeting, with this one kicking off in the morning.

Don’t check out yet, for at No. 6 Is Southern California and is takes on once-beaten, 20th-ranked Utah, which lost a close one at No. 11 UCLA this past Saturday. There’s more when it’s another matchup of undefeated teams as No. 8 Oklahoma State heads for No. 13 Texas Christian. Keep following the bouncing ball as No. 9 Mississippi travels to once-beaten Auburn.

Surprise. At the Carrier Dome that might seat 30,000 for this one, N.C. State bumps into undefeated Syracuse, a program that has risen to the successful times with its toughest test so far. The Orange is ranked 18th and has beaten Louisville, Virginia and Purdue, all power 5 teams. It has also rolled over winless Wagner, but every team usually has an easy one on the slate.

Now Mississippi State is like its biggest rival, No. 9 Mississippi, and is ranked 16th and also undefeated as it takes off for Kentucky, now ranked 22nd following its second defeat last Saturday, and being at home will no doubt be an advantage for the Wildcats to recover.

Then comes a loaded question when No. 9 Kansas with one loss, plays at disappointing Oklahoma. Will the Sooners lose again and make it three in a row after Big 12 setbacks to nemesis Kansas State and TCU. No rankings for Oklahoma and its storied gridiron program, and in the Big 12 it has followed behind the likes of Oklahoma State, TCU, Kansas State, Kansas and even Iowa State. At this point, the Sooners will probably still have their bowl game, but not the usual high one.

Other good one-loss teams are No. 12 Oregon and No. 14 Wake Forest.

Once again, a reminder of the probable big battles — Alabama-Tennessee; Clemson-FSU; Michigan-Penn State; Southern Cal-Utah; Oklahoma State-TCU; N.C. State-Syracuse; Texas-Iowa State, and even unbeaten, No. 25 James Madison at once-beaten Georgia Southern, and why not toss in Kansas against Oklahoma before the usual huge crowd in Norman.

You want early picks that you don’t have to bet your house on?

Try Georgia by 23 over Vanderbilt, Alabama by a slim 3 against Tennessee, Clemson getting past FSU by 12, Penn State having to outscore offensive minded Michigan and winning by 6, USC by 10 over Utah, TCU turning back Oklahoma State by 7, Ole Miss downing Auburn by 17, Syracuse with the home field advantage getting past N.C. State by 8, Mississippi State in perhaps a tight contest and a 10-point win over Kentucky, yes Kansas may or not hand Oklahoma another loss, but the Sooners escape by 7 points.

Texas in a close one at Iowa State and leaving with a 10-point success, No. 24 Illinois and unranked Minnesota maybe even going into overtime with the Gophers victorious by 6, and James Madison handing home team Georgia Southern a 14-point defeat.

Later in the week, we will see what Las Vegas does when it posts its own odds. But always remember, upsets always occur, but you have to wait until the final whistle to find them.