Gators, Trojans Draw Tough Tests in Week 3

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The New York Sun

September 15 has long loomed as the best Saturday of the early college football season, if not the entire campaign. The complete lack of luster of the Notre Dame–Michigan game does little to change that.

The day’s action will do much to clarify the conference pecking order, and establish favorites for Bowl Championship Series bids. Here’s a look at the key games.

No. 22 TENNESSEE (1–1)

At No. 5 FLORIDA (2–0)

3:30 p.m., CBS

The SEC takes center stage this week, with three outstanding matchups, none better than Tennessee–Florida. This has been the conference’s best rivalry for much of the past decade, and the loser routinely drops from league contention after just a few weeks of play.

Florida, the defending national champion, is off to a 2–0 start but has yet to play anyone of note. The Gators’ offense has improved over the unit led primarily by Chris Leak a year ago, as sophomore Tim Tebow has taken over as the full-time starter. Tebow was mostly used as a short-yardage runner last season. But he has already upgraded the Florida passing game, and has thrown for 536 yards and six touchdowns so far. Tennessee dropped its opener at Cal in a game that revealed major defensive deficiencies. The Volunteers were already inexperienced in the secondary, and they lost also starting corner Antonio Gaines for the season to a knee injury in last week’s win over Southern Mississippi.

Florida’s ability to take advantage of Gaines’s absence may be limited by its own injury problems. The Gators’ leading returning receiver, Andre Caldwell, will also miss this game with a knee injury.

Florida’s defense also has question marks. If given time to throw, quarterback Erik Ainge could lead the Vols to the road upset.

No. 1 USC (1–0)

At No. 14 NEBRASKA (2–0)

8 p.m., ABC

This is the opportunity that Nebraska and its loyal fan base have been waiting for — a chance to beat atop team and validate the school’s decision to ditch its option offense in favor of a more modern West Coast attack under former NFL head coach Bill Callahan.

Of course, the same could be said about four previous games against top 10 teams since Callahan arrived for the 2004 season. Nebraska lost all those games, including a date at USC last season, when the Huskers were oddly passive in their approach. Callahan continued to run the ball — at one point rushing on 15 of 17 plays even after falling behind 14–3 in the second half. It was as if his main goal was to keep the score close, but Nebraska still ended up losing by 18 points and failed to prove anything in the process.

Callahan won’t likely try the same strategy this year, not before a home crowd that knows Nebraska must be balanced on offense in order to have a chance. Starting quarterback Sam Keller is a fifthyear senior transfer from Arizona State who has his own history with the Trojans. He was the starter for the Sun Devils against USC two years ago, but threw five interceptions as his team coughed up an 18-point halftime lead and lost by 10.

Keller won’t have to do it alone. Nebraska’s latest standout I-back is Marlon Lucky. The nation’s third-leading rusher after two games, Lucky is averaging six yards a carry in wins over Nevada and Wake Forest.

USC sleepwalked through a season-opening win over punchless Idaho, then had last week off to prepare for its visit to Lincoln. Pete Carroll’s team is once again loaded with enough blue-chip talent to supply two national-title contenders, and his biggest task is getting everyone to play their role.

No. 21 BOSTON COLLEGE (2–0, 2–0 ACC) At No. 15 GEORGIA TECH (2–0, 0–0)

8 p.m., ESPN2

Virginia Tech was supposed to be the class of an improved ACC this season after the league suffered through a miserable 2006. But after just two weeks, the Hokies have fallen by the wayside following a dismantling by LSU last Saturday night.

That leaves Boston College and Georgia Tech as potentially the class of the conference (though Clemson would surely beg to differ). Since the Eagles and Yellow Jackets play in different divisions, this could be a preview of the ACC championship game.

Georgia Tech has developed a reputation as a great defensive team under John Tenuta, whose unit has finished in the top 30 nationally in total defense the past three seasons. This year, the Yellow Jackets are eighth after two weeks, allowing just 181 yards per game.

What makes this year’s team dangerous is that Georgia Tech is suddenly an offensive threat as well. Tailback Tashard Choice is the Jackets’ top weapon, and will sometimes take direct snaps from center in a version of the Arkansas “wildcat” offense.

Boston College has opened with a pair of conference wins and is also a potent offensive team, and if quarterback Matt Ryan can author a big performance against one of the nation’s best defenses, he will join the ranks of the quarterbacking elite.

Mr. Levine is a writer for FootballOutsiders.com.


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