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By David Shaw Sports Central Columnist

If there was ever a time to fake a groin injury to stay at home on the couch all day, Saturday is the day to do it. The majesty and drama of college football, this country's answer to soccer riots, come to a head this Saturday as a slate of games rarely seen outside of bowl season gets beamed into your living room.

Games such as Miami vs. Connecticut are good examples of just how most of the NCAA football season goes. Big games dot the landscape, but there are just as many David vs. Goliath games as there are Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird games. This weekend, for the first time and a long time, ridiculously overmatched teams are few and far between.

A few of these games have the potential to reorder entire conferences, completely alter the BCS picture, and cost a lot of bookies a lot of money. Let's run through a few of the biggies.

Game of the Day: Texas vs. Oklahoma

There are few things that divide the typical group of guys like an argument over which conference is the top one in the country. For those that back the Big 12, they have plenty of evidence to support their cause. Look at teams like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Iowa State and to a lesser extent, Nebraska, Colorado, a surprising Missouri, and the dangerous Texas Tech.

It is cliché to say that this game has BCS implications, but the fact of the matter is that the winner of this game has the inside track on playing in the Fiesta Bowl. Sure, there is a tough season in the Big 12 to be played through, but what could pump up a locker room more than a win over Texas or Oklahoma? Knocking off a top three team always seems to put an extra step in any swagger.

Prediction: Texas wins this one by a touchdown in a game marked by the disparity between the quarterbacks. Chris Simms is simply too good and Nate Hybl is simply too green -- even in this crucial home game for the Sooners.

Florida State as Center Stage Game: Florida State vs. Miami

Yes, Florida State took a big loss in Louisville a week ago, but make no mistake, they are better than their #12 ranking. Louisville loaded up against Florida State, pinning their aspirations for respect on their game against the Seminoles. To have a chance this week, Florida State is going to have to do the same thing against Miami.

This is where Florida State needs to reassert itself as a national power, even in their own conference. Going into a November 23rd game at North Carolina State, Florida State is going to need all the confidence they can find. A win against Miami would provide the biggest boost to a now struggling season. (It's amazing that a struggling season for Florida State is the probability to have only three losses.)

In a very similar way, Miami needs to steam roll through a quality opponent to have the momentum they need in a November 9th trip to Tennessee and a December seventh meeting with Virginia Tech. The luster of a big win at Florida is slowly fading, and routs against Connecticut and Temple just aren't enough to keep interest.

Prediction: Hard to bet against Miami and the way they've been playing -- especially at home. Their first loss this season will be November 9th, at Tennessee, but not sooner.

Will the Real Top 10 Team Please Stand Up Game: Tennessee vs. Georgia

Georgia has gotten dangerously close to quality teams this season -- a two-point win over Alabama and a three-point nail-biter against Clemson included. They have powered through lesser opponents, but Tennessee presents them with their first big-time opponent. With really only a game at Florida looming on the horizon for Georgia as far as further tests, this game can easily make or break the Bulldog season.

On the Tennessee side of things, they are coming off of a close one at Arkansas and a loss in the Swamp. Tennessee's confidence is low, but a win in Georgia is just what they need. This is a must-win game for the Volunteers, especially if they have aspirations of a Fiesta Bowl appearance.

Prediction: Tennessee knows exactly what is on the line and Georgia has had scares against quality teams. Tennessee wins a close one here, giving Georgia something to think about when as they travel to Florida in three weeks.

Obligatory Pac-10 Shoot Out Game: Oregon vs. UCLA

Not much to say here other than expect a high-scoring game. Oregon has played absolutely nobody yet this year. Their toughest game was a narrow win over Fresno State, but teams like Idaho and Portland State don't exactly scream quality. Their No. 7 ranking is a bit inflated for the schedule they've played, but they can certainly put points on the board.

UCLA is not only at home, but plays with quality wins over Colorado and Colorado State under their belt. They are a little out-gunned, but have played at a higher level than Oregon and its cake schedule.

Prediction: UCLA in an upset over the ill-prepared Ducks. Expect lots of points, lots of fireworks, and a shocked Oregon team saddled with their first loss.

Obligatory Big 10 Battle in the Trenches: Penn State vs. Michigan

This is the time when the Big 10 season gets good, and teams start falling to the Minnesota's and Purdue's of the world. Any team at any time can lose in this conference, giving it the reputation it holds. The Nittany Lions took a hard loss at home against the Iowa Hawkeyes (who came out of just about nowhere for the win) and pair up against a Michigan team that took a hard loss at Notre Dame.

The bottom line for this one is that anything can happen in the Big 10. To pick a winner here would be futile, and should never be attempted without the aid of premonitions and a crystal ball. Settle in and watch this one with ample snacks, you won't want to budge.

Prediction: I love the Big 10, I think they have a conference that can hold interest even in the years they lack big time games and programs (this year not being one of them). If I were placed at gun point to make a prediction, I give Michigan the edge at the Big House.

The Best of the Rest

LSU vs. Florida

LSU has been hyped, but untested. They go into the Swamp and lose a heart-breaker to a team that had had its heart broken... for the second time this season. Florida may be out of the title picture, and probably the BCS picture by the end of the season, but they still have a dangerous team. Florida wins a close one.

BYU vs. Air Force

Air Force is one of those teams that year in and year out plays amazingly well with very little publicity. The Mountain West conference is actually a very stiff football conference to play in, and Air Force has aspirations of another title. BYU presents Air Force with an always dangerous pass attack in one of their toughest games of the year. Air Force wins this one by a couple touchdowns, but BYU will keep it tough well into the third quarter.

Michigan State vs. Iowa

At the beginning of the season, you would have flip flopped the seasons these two teams have had. Michigan State fell from its lofty perch early, but Carlos Rogers gives them a chance on each and every play to score. The Hawkeyes may not be able to boast such a potent weapon, but they have played strong all year, with their only loss coming to red hot Iowa State. Iowa at Kinnick Stadium is a tough draw for a struggling Spartan team, and they will take the loss this weekend.

Don't Miss These

California vs. USC

USC wins this one, but it won't be easy against a surprisingly game California squad.

Arkansas vs. Auburn

Arkansas is on a high after their big win a week ago, but Auburn cools them off with a solid effort.

Texas Tech vs. Iowa State

Kliff Kingsbury and his Heisman hype meet Seneca Wallace and what very well could be Heisman reality. Seneca wins this battle.

Get out the hemorrhoid pad, work your couch butt grove a little extra, fake some sort of African disease, do whatever you have to in order to clear your schedule for some college football this Saturday. Besides, do you really need to clean the gutters this weekend? Didn't think so.

Thoughts? Comments? Games I over looked due to horrible ineptitude on my part? Have problems with my predictions? Click on the Write the Editor link or send a quick email to davidshaw@sports-central.org. Thanks!

Article courtesy of Sports Central.