Top 25 picks
Nebraska has something to prove. So does Kentucky. Throw Alabama in there, and Tennessee, too.
Call them measuring-stick games or temperature-takers. They’re games that can give a glimpse at the direction and health of a program and there are several on tap this weekend.
The Cornhuskers have the most notable. Top-ranked Southern California comes to the Heartland today.
Big Red has been taking baby steps toward returning to elite status in three seasons under coach Bill Callahan. There’s been progress, Nebraska won the Big 12 North last season, but the Huskers have yet to prove they’re capable of slugging it out with the best in the nation.
Last year in Los Angeles, Nebraska hung around but never actually threatened USC in a 28-10 loss.
The picks:
| Matchup | Time | TV |
| No. 1 USC (minus 10) at No. 14 Nebraska | ||
| USC 33-13 | 5 p.m. | ABC |
| Middle Tenn. (plus 40 1/2 ) at No. 2 LSU | ||
| LSU 55-13 | 5 p.m. | |
| Utah State (plus 45 1/2 ) at No. 3 Oklahoma | ||
| Oklahoma 58-3 | 12:30 | |
| No. 22 Tenn. (plus 8) at No. 5 Florida | ||
| Florida 27-24 | 12:30 | CBS |
| No. 6 Texas (minus 19) at UCF | ||
| Texas 40-14 | 12:30 | ESPN2 |
| The Citadel (no line) at No. 7 Wisconsin | ||
| Wisconsin 55-3 | 9 a.m. | |
| La. Tech (plus 33 1/2 ) at No. 8 California | ||
| Cal 58-14 | 3:30 p.m. | |
| No. 9 Louisville (minus 6 1/2 ) at Kentucky | ||
| Louisville 49-44 | 4:30 p.m. | |
| No. 10 Ohio St. (minus 4) at Washington | ||
| Ohio State 24-17 | 12:30 | ESPN |
| No. 11 UCLA (minus 13 1/2 ) at Utah | ||
| UCLA 32-14 | 2 p.m. | Versus |
| Buffalo (plus 34) at No. 12 Penn State | ||
| Penn State 48-10 | 9 a.m. | |
| Norfolk State (no line) at No. 13 Rutgers | ||
| Rutgers 50-3 | 12:30 | |
| No. 21 BC (plus 7) at No. 15 Ga. Tech | ||
| Georgia Tech 24-21 | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| No. 16 Arkansas (plus 3) at Alabama | ||
| Alabama 25-20 | 3:45 p.m. | ESPN |
| S. Caro. St. (no line) at No. 17 S. Carolina | ||
| South Carolina 51-7 | 4 p.m. | |
| Ohio (plus 20 1/2 ) at No. 18 Virginia Tech | ||
| Virginia Tech 34-10 | 10:30a.m. | |
| Fresno State (plus 16 1/2 ) at No. 19 Oregon | ||
| Oregon 39-27 | 4 p.m. | |
| Furman (no line) at No. 20 Clemson | ||
| Clemson 43-14 | 10 a.m. | |
| Western Carolina at No. 23 Georgia | ||
| Georgia 49-7 | 10 a.m. | |
| La-Monroe (plus 23 1/2 ) at No. 25 Texas A&M | ||
| Texas A&M 44-14 | ||
Last week’s record: 21-0 (straight); 10-7 (vs. points).
Season: 44-1 (straight); 19-18 (vs. points).