All the top teams look like they will survive this college football weekend

Lots of mysterious dismal times in Lincoln, Nebraska. First the Cornhuskers gave former quarterback Scott Frost as head coach some added time to round his alma mater’s program into shape. About two weeks later, he was replaced.

Now 3-6 and in another up-and-down season, for some reasons, whether injuries, suspensions or players deserting the once proud Big Red program, No. 3 undefeated Michigan went from an 11-point early line favorite to what is now a whooping 29, and at Nebraska no less.

The Wolverines are good, really good, and are now at their highest perch in the nation’s top 25 at 9-0.

Tennesse had jumped from sixth to first but it didn’t last long after its next test was a nasty setback at Georgia, which had fallen to No. 3 and now is back at No. 1. Ohio State, which dropped from 2nd to 3rd, is now back at No. 2 and heavily favored from 35 to 40 points against visiting Indiana Saturday. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are happy to be back on top and is favored by 17 at Mississippi State.

But No. 4 TCU, one of the big surprises, could have some trouble at unranked Texas. Right behind are the Volunteers unhappy to spend some little time on top of the heap, and are favored by 21 versus visiting Missouri. At Oregon, it’s a clash of ranked teams when the No. 6 Ducks, 6-1, take on No. 24 Washington, No. 7 LSU is only favored by 3 at up-and-down Arkansas.

Once-beaten No. 8 Southern California is home Colorado Friday night and favored from anywhere between 21 to 34 points. UCLA is ranked ninth and a 20-point pick on a visit from Arizona. And in the 10th spot is two-loss potential power Alabama and on the road about 10 points better than Ole Miss, which holds down the 11th spot.

There are some other big choices, with unranked Air Force home to hapless New Mexico and a 22-point pick, in the battle of Florida schools, FAU heads for Florida International as a 16-point choice, No. 15 North Carolina favored by 15 at Wake Forest, No. 16 North Carolina State plays host to Boston College as a 21-point pick, No. 13 Utah went from 14 points to now a 24-point favorite against visiting Stanford.

At No. 14 is Penn State at home and favored by 11 over Maryland, Georgia Tech is a slim 2-point choice on a visit from Miami, No. 17 surprising Tulane might have a tough task at home from Central Florida and is only favored by 6. Surprisingly, disappointing unranked Oklahoma is favored by 8 at West Virginia. In their yearly match-up, its red-hot No. 20 Notre Dame on the road and about 24 points better than Navy.

At the Carrier Dome at suddenly disappointing Syracuse, the Orange are 7-point underdogs against No. 23 Florida State. It had been 6-0 on a record pace. Now it is 6-3.

In other Thursday games, Louisiana is favored by 3 over visiting Georgia Southern, and at Memphis, Tulsa is a 7-point underdog. On Friday, Cincinnati is home to East Carolina and favored by 6, and at UNLV, the home side is a 9 and one-half underdog against Fresno State.

And don’t forget Michigan at Nebraska. Maybe they should insert the mercy rule?