WEEKEND AHEAD

The weekend ahead will start showing some separation in the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 has two ranked teams tangling tonight on ESPN.



#21 Nebraska heads to #24 Missouri. Nebraska has one loss on the season that coming against #13 Virginia Tech. Mizzou comes into the game undefeated at 4-0. They have yet to be tested though and the next three games will show what they are made of after the Cornhuskers they have #15 Oklahoma State and then #2 Texas.



The biggest game of the week sees the #1 ranked Florida Gators heading to Baton Rouge to take on the #4 LSU Tigers on a Saturday night. Gators coach Urban Meyer has said any decisions on injured quarterback and Heisman candidate Tim Tebow will be a game day decision. Sources close to the program are saying the Tigers will be getting a dose of both Gator QB's, Tebow and pocket passer and back-up John Brantley. LSU has shown some great defense all season and shined on the road against Georgia in a defensive slug fest. The LSU offense is suspect and can not afford a shoot-out with the Gators. A Florida loss and it gets real interesting in the polls for the top four.


#3 Alabama gets a true test this weekend against #20 Ole Miss. Many are calling Nick Saban's coached Crimson Tide the best team in the SEC and possibly the best team in the country. Ole Miss is out to prove they belong with the elite and Rebel QB Jevon Snead is trying to fight his way back into the Heisman conversation.


Another interesting game in the SEC is #17 Auburn at Arkansas. The Tigers are a much better team under Gene Chizik and Auburn QB Chris Todd has already thrown for 7 more touchdown passes than last year and 5 less interceptions. The Tiger offense is the 5th best in the country in total yards and boasts the #2 scoring offense. The Razorbacks will be gun slinging with QB Ryan Mallet. Saturday starts a tough three game stretch for the Razorbacks with Auburn, Florida and Ole Miss.


#9 Ohio State gets to see if they have fully recovered from an early season loss to USC as the undefeated, and getting no respect, Wisconsin Badgers come into town. This will also be a test for the Badgers to see, if they start their late season fade as they have historically done.


#12 Iowa gets a visit from a Michigan team that is still smarting from an overtime loss to in-state rival Michigan State. Iowa and head coach Kirk Ferentz gets to show that beating Penn State on the road was no fluke and they are to be taken seriously. Michigan has found a QB in Tate Foricer.


A game to pay attention to is the #25 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the unranked, 2-3, fighting for their lives Florida State Seminoles. The Noles have been in the news all week but not for the rights reasons. There have been closed door meetings for head coach Bobby Bowden with administration, an angry Ann Bowden (Bobby's wife) and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees asking for Bowden to step down after this season. The players have said it is not a distraction but you have to wonder.


Another game of the radar and involving a ranked team is #13 Oregon and UCLA. The Bruins are a plucky bunch and Oregon is still trying to put behind them the opening night chaotic loss to Boise State. I'm calling this on my upset special for the week: UCLA wins.


Also, pay attention to the blog this weekend starting Friday evening as I will be spending some time with the Lenoir Ryhne University Bears football team as they get ready for their homecoming game against Wingate. Live blogging throughout Friday evening and all day Saturday. I'll be trying to give you,the reader, some insight into what these kids go through to get ready for a game.