Stephen F. Austin at Arizona

Probably the only interesting thing about this game is what Arizona coaches choose to emphasize in the outcome: an offensive rebirth or a defensive clinic. Against another set of Lumberjacks (keep in mind the Wildcats’ 18.5-point average margin of victory over NAU the last two years), one would hope the team will shoot for both, especially with USC next on the bill.

Tom Knauer
senior writer

Arizona 24, Stephen F. Austin 6

This game is a sure thing. This pick is as easy as they come. Heck, Stephen F. Austin isn’t even in the NCAA Football 2007. However, I don’t think it’s going to be as huge of a blowout as everyone is expecting, especially after the pounding Arizona suffered last week at LSU coupled with the concussion to starting quarterback Willie Tuitama.

Ari Wasserman
staff writer

Arizona 28, Stephen F. Austin 6

Even if Willie Tuitama doesn’t end up playing Saturday, Adam Austin should prove to be a more than reasonable backup, and the Cats should dominate the Lumberjacks. Last week, the DI-AA squad was upset by Delta State, a D-II school. That’s almost as bad as losing to a high school team. After getting obliterated in Baton Rouge, Arizona will come out and score 17 points in the first quarter, the visitor’s section will be the smallest in Arizona Stadium history and SFA will want to rename its team the Adam F. Austin Lumberjacks if he plays.

Mike Ritter
staff writer

Arizona 44, Stephen F. Austin 13

No. 15 Oklahoma at No. 18 Oregon

The circumstances behind this rematch of last year’s Holiday Bowl couldn’t be worse for the then-victorious Sooners: You don’t have your starting quarterback, Washington’s just further exposed your defense’s weakness against the run and this time you have to play in the toughest road environment in the Pacific 10 Conference. After the beating the Pac-10 has taken against power conferences so far this season, it’s about time someone other than the Trojans steps up.

Tom Knauer
senior writer

Oregon 27, Oklahoma 21

Losing Rhett Bomar was too much of a blow to a team that already had its fair share of problems. After barely beating Alabama-Birmingham by seven in Week 1 and looking worse than their No. 15 ranking in last week’s meeting with Washington, they have a lot of work to do. This week will be the Sooners’ first test against a solid team. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is going to be a test they are going to pass in a hostile Autzen Stadium.

Ari Wasserman
staff writer

Oregon 27, Oklahoma 14

For the second week in a row, the Sooners will play a Pac-10 team. Their challenge should be greater this week, however, since last week was against a weak Washington squad. It’s also the third year in a row Oklahoma and Oregon will play each other, and Oregon is hoping this time will be the charm. OU may have dismissed QB Rhett Bomar from the team, but there are many other offensive weapons, including Heisman Trophy favorite Adrian Peterson. The Ducks should make it an interesting game, but the other Stoops brother will make sure his Sooners come out on top.

Mike Ritter
staff writer

Oklahoma 24, Oregon 20

No. 6 Louisiana State at No. 3 Auburn

This being one of those awkward same-mascot matchups, it’s at least nice that both these teams could challenge for the national title. (D-IAA Tennessee State vs. D-III DePauw? Not so great.) But in all seriousness, Auburn has a lot going for them. They have perhaps the best running back in the nation in Kenny Irons and home-field advantage against a team that beat them last year – and broke Auburn’s 13-game Southeastern Conference winning streak in the process – only because of a missed field goal in overtime. LSU’s not going to make this its third straight 45-3 victory.

Tom Knauer
senior writer

Auburn 21, LSU 17

I think we all saw how well LSU played last week, but the question is: How good is Auburn? The answer: Really good. Auburn’s Kenny Irons, who had 218 rushing yards and a touchdown in last year’s meeting, is something special, not to mention a preseason Heisman Trophy contender, and Auburn has won its first two games by a combined score of 74-14. Although LSU came out strong last week, traveling to Auburn isn’t exactly a piece of chocolate cake. LSU’s Tigers are going to need to make things happen this week, unlike last week when a jaded Arizona performance handed them the game early.

Ari Wasserman
staff writer

Auburn 31, LSU 27

In a battle of the two SEC Tigers, the Auburn ones are the favorite to win, but they are hoping that after LSU’s offensive onslaught against Arizona, they can stop JaMarcus Russell and Co. That could very easily happen, especially since Auburn’s defense might be the most aggressive in the SEC. The Tigers will win, but it’s the ones from Auburn who will prevail.

Mike Ritter
staff writer

Auburn 17, LSU 14

No. 11 Michigan at No. 2 Notre Dame

Notre Dame finally lived up to its preseason billing with its beatdown of then-No. 19 Penn State last weekend, but let’s face it: The Nittany Lions were ranked that highly only out of respect. In reality, their roster is littered with promising but young talent and lacks the backfield experience Michigan has in signal-caller Chad Henne and running back Mike Hart, both juniors. Still, this game qualifies as “”big”” on the Wolverines’ radar, so head coach Lloyd Carr will figure out a way to muck it up.

Tom Knauer
senior writer

Notre Dame 28, Michigan 17

I happen to be one of the very few people who think that Brady Quinn and Notre Dame are extremely overrated. After watching them get dismantled against Ohio State in last year’s Fiesta Bowl, I realized that they don’t have the speed and athleticism that these other big-time schools have. Fortunately for them, Michigan has also been on the downfall the past few years, and the game is being played in South Bend.

Ari Wasserman
staff writer

Notre Dame 31, Michigan 17

This one is not going to even be close. In fact, it might even be a repeat from last week, when the Fighting Irish made Penn State drop all the way down to No. 25 in this week’s poll. The combination of Brady Quinn, Darius Walker and Chicago Cubs minor league pitcher/Notre Dame wide reciever Jeff Samardzija will be just too strong to overcome for the Wolverines.

Mike Ritter
staff writer

Notre Dame 38, Michigan 20