As much as I have enjoyed EDSBS's "Football Apocalypse" theme since they started previewing weekends during the summer, I'm going to have to roll with the Worldwide Leader on this one, if only because Henry Mancini's classic theme is just too damn good.  

Seven games between ranked teams, plus Iowa State/Iowa and Clemson/Florida State just to make things interesting.  Where to even start?

Nebraska at Southern Cal

How about with the choice for Gameday, as the premier pregame show has been sucked into the vortex that is ESPN on ABC, Bob Davie and primetime.

While working out today, one of the ESPN's was showing old Tyson footage from the beginning of his career.  The opponent would be some guy that was 8-1 and Southland Champion, or something ridiculous like that, and Tyson would knock him out ninety seconds into the round.  Nebraska is the Tyson opponent, 2-0 against terrible competition and hailing from the miserable Big XII North.  I feel that Nebraska will hang around for a little longer than Arkansas did in this position last year, and even make it out of the first quarter before a fork is stuck in them (looking at you, Maryland), but I don't see them winning this game.

People forget that Bill Callahan isn't a good coach.  He took Jon Gruden's team a Super Bowl, and then set the Raiders on their downward spiral that seems to be bottoming out with this season, one in which they might not score a point all year.  Big Red Lovers, I know I exaggerate a bit, as going after pricey, aged veterans to make a run and then failing wasn't ol' Bill's decision, but it's not like he helped keep things together in the wake of the embarrassing loss to the Bucs.  

But what if all of this Reggie Bush Scandal stuff has an effect?  The Sovereign Nation of Troy cannot be pleased with the possibilities of forfeitures or revoked Heismans and championships, and that anxiousness will come through either in a swift kick of anger across the face of Zac Taylor or in an embarrassing primetime loss that causes confusion and terror at the top of the polls.

Pick: Southern Cal 31 Nebraska 17

Texas Tech at TCU

Tech just struggled with UTEP, who despite the lineage of starting quarterback Jordan Palmer, always looks absolutely terrible anytime I see them on television.  TCU struggled with Baylor to start the season, but they were embarrassed two years ago by the Pirate/Viking/Red Raider-hybrid from Lubbock.  If the Horned Frogs want any sort of credibility for their potential undefeated season, they need to not only win this game, but to have Tech play well through their Big XII slate.

Pick: TCU 27 Texas Tech 21

LSU at Auburn

The "JaMarcus Russel goes home" story doesn't do a lot for me, but the fact that both of these teams look like national title contenders early on certainly does.  Kenny Irons was handled last weekend, but he plowed through the Bayou Bengals last season in what Ron Franklin appropriately dubbed "The Upright Game".  I don't know if LSU's line is up to the task of protecting Russell long enough to make anything happen, and much like Steve Slaton made a statement Thursday night, Irons will make his imprint onto the Maxwell/Heisman scene Saturday afternoon.  Probably your game of the day.

Pick: Auburn 17 LSU 13

Miami (FL) at Louisville

Everybody remembers the Thursday night thriller from 2004, where Bobby Petrino's decision to punt to Devin Hester late in the game cost the Cardinals an undefeated season.  Now the scene has shifted from the Orange Bowl to Papa John's Stadium (Ah, commerce, you are fruitful), and Louisville is looking to make another undefeated run sans all-world running back Michael Bush, struck down in some Lexington-based hex in the opener.  Miami recovered nicely from their embarrassingly ugly loss to FSU, but I think they're walking to a "Fire Coker" trap.  Their secondary is great, but Brian Brohm combined with Petrino's schemes might be even better.

Pick: Louisville 38 Miami 34

Oklahoma at Oregon

One of these games I'm predicting so close is doomed to get out of hand, and methinks it might be this one.  Oregon showed a physical side in their win in over Fresno, perhaps fueled by their upset loss to these same Sooners in last December's Holiday Bowl.  Dennis Dixon is a player "who's as fast as he needs to be on the play" (Thank you, Dan Fouts), and while Adrian Peterson will be the best player on the field, Rhett Bomar played well against the Ducks nine scant months ago.  He's at Sam Houston State, and this game is in Autzen, not peaceful San Diego.  

Pick: Oregon 35 Oklahoma 20

Florida at Rocky Top

What was supposed to be a step on Urban Meyer's run to a potential national title turned into an old-fashioned UF/UT game when the Vols showed they've patched together some of the problems that plagued them last year.  Erik Ainge is unconscious right now in Cutcliffe's offense, while Chris Leak is showing some solid footing in Meyer's.  The main gripe about the Gators has been their offensive line, and if any team can roll out the front seven capable of stopping them, it would be Tennessee, even after the recent injuries.  Still, Leak seemed perfectly capable of leading the Gators over the Vols last year in a slugfest, so I'll say he pulls the road upset and does the same again.

Pick: Florida 26 Rocky Top 24

Michigan at Notre Dame

Pick coming tomorrow, although please refer to the link to Orson's preview above, as he goes a great job looking at the coaching aspect behind this game as opposed to our usual focus point (line play).