Rivalries mismatched this time

While Florida State and Miami appear to be headed toward another close contest, two of college football's other storied rivalries look like mismatches.

Notre Dame and Michigan meet for the 32nd time Saturday, and Texas plays at Arkansas in the 35th anniversary of their most memorable game.

The eighth-ranked Wolverines are 13 1/2-point favorites at South Bend against a Notre Dame team that is coming off a disheartening loss to BYU.

The seventh-ranked Longhorns are also double-digit favorites on the road, facing an Arkansas squad that looks very little like the one that snapped Texas' 20-game home winning streak last season with a 38-28 victory. Quarterback Matt Jones is the only returning offensive starter for Arkansas.

"We're a different team now with a lot of younger guys and I don't know how much they know about Texas," coach Houston Nutt said. "Our younger guys probably don't understand that tradition of Arkansas- Texas."

In 1969, Texas was No. 1 and Arkansas No. 2 when they met in Fayetteville for the "Big Shootout." President Nixon came to the game and declared Texas national champions after the Longhorns' 15-14 victory. The memory still riles some Razorbacks.

As for Notre Dame, the Irish went out of their way to get a game in before Michigan came to town. The plan went awry. They lost to BYU, 20-17, in another anemic offensive outing under coach Tyrone Willingham.

"There's not one that's more important when you look at it, but at the same time, you know where your big games are," Willingham said. "That's something that just comes naturally."

Notre Dame has lost 10 of its last 15 games, including 38-0 to Michigan last season.

The picks:

Thursday

No. 19 Missouri (minus 10 1/2) at Troy State

The other Trojans are coming off impressive win over Marshall . . . MISSOURI 34-14.

Friday

No. 4 Florida State (plus 2) at No. 5 Miami

With some time to think about it, the pick's the same . . . FLORIDA STATE 23-20.

Saturday

Colorado State (plus 24) at No. 1 Southern California

Trojans had two weeks to hear how unimpressive they were in opener . . . USC 45-17.

Houston (plus 35 1/2) at No. 2 Oklahoma

Sooners have won eight straight against Texas schools -- most better than Cougars . . . OKLAHOMA 58-20.

No. 3 Georgia (minus 8) at South Carolina

Bulldogs are 12-1 on the road with QB David Greene . . . GEORGIA 24-17.

Arkansas State (plus 41) at No. 6 LSU

No missed kicks necessary for Tigers . . . LSU 54-10.

No. 7 Texas (minus 11) at Arkansas

Longhorns were irked by 'Hogs strutting around Royal Memorial Stadium last season .... TEXAS 31-13.

No. 8 Michigan (minus 13) at Notre Dame

Irish have won last two against Michigan in South Bend . . . MICHIGAN 30-13.

Marshall (plus 16) at No. 9 Ohio State

Zwick or Smith at QB? It hardly matters -- Buckeyes win with defense . . . OHIO STATE 24-13

No. 10 West Virginia (minus 20) at UCF

Kay-Jay Harris ran for 337 last week and may even get to start this week ... WEST VIRGINIA 44-17.

Eastern Michigan (plus 37 1/2) at No. 11 Florida

Hurricane Frances gave Gators an extra week off . . . FLORIDA 52- 10.

New Mexico State (minus 32) at No. 12 California

Golden Bears go for two straight 50-pointers . . . CALIFORNIA 49- 13.

Fresno State (plus 13) at No. 13 Kansas State

Bulldogs' big chance ... FRESNO STATE 22-19.

North Carolina (plus 20 1/2) at No. 15 Virginia

The Tar Heels struggled against William & Mary . . . VIRGINIA 44- 13.

Iowa State (plus 24 1/2) at No. 16 Iowa

Drew Tate is the Hawkeyes fifth starting QB in last five years . . . IOWA 37-9.

No. 17 Utah (minus 13) at Arizona

Coach Mike Stoops has first chance to show if the Wildcats are better . . . UTAH 34-17.

No. 18 Auburn (minus 13) at Mississippi State

The Tigers have won the last two meetings by average of 30 points . . . AUBURN 38-14.

Georgia Tech (plus 7) at No. 20 Clemson

Tigers improved to 4-0 in overtime last week . . . CLEMSON 28-24.

UNLV (plus 15) at No. 21 Wisconsin

Rebels upset the Badgers in Camp Randall last year. Not again . . . WISCONSIN 36-17.

Illinois State (no line) at Minnesota

Gophers go for a second straight 60-pointer . . . 55-7.

Temple (plus 27) at No. 23 Maryland

Owls have lost 18 straight against Top 25 teams. Make it 19. . . . MARYLAND 35-14.

Indiana (plus 20) at No. 24 Oregon

Ducks and Hoosiers haven't played since 1964 . . . OREGON 45-20.

Ball State (plus 30) at No. 25 Purdue

Cardinals give Boilermakers better game than Syracuse did . . . PURDUE 38-14.

Last week: 18-1 (straight); 5-12 (vs. points)

Season: 18-1 (straight); 5-12 (vs. points)

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