NCAA Week 4 Preview – Miami vs. Virginia Tech is the Game of the Week

Without a doubt the most interesting game this next Saturday pits the Miami Hurricanes against the Virginia Tech Hokies.  Both teams are ranked in the Top 25 NCAA Power Rankings with Miami, because of their terrific victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets looking like the Miami of old.

The Hurricanes are 2 and 0 on the season, 2 and 0 against the spread, and 2 and 0 against Top 25 ranked teams.  Because the team they beat in Week 1, the Florida State Seminoles, absolutely dominated the BYU Cougars on the road, Miami’s victory against the Seminoles is even more impressive.

Virginia Tech looked awful for most of their game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers this past Saturday, but the Hokies found a way to pull it out with 20 seconds left when they finally punched it into the end zone.  The Hokies have looked good this season and bad this season.  Whoever wins this game will have the inside track to the ACC Championship.

Virginia Tech vs. Miami is the game to watch on Saturday.

Mississippi and Florida Face Tough Opponents on the Road

If Mississippi expects to play in the SEC Championship game, they will have to traverse an amazingly difficult schedule.  That includes beating the South Carolina Gamecocks on the road on Thursday night.  Ole Miss has looked fantastic, but South Carolina is tough at home and Coach Steve Spurrier will not doubt have his team ready to take on the favored Rebels.

Before the season started, a lot of NCAA commentators were decrying the lack of talent in the SEC this year.  For some, Florida would waltz to the SEC Championship game, but as their non-cover against the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday proved, the SEC is always tough.  Florida is a great team, but they can be upset by an SEC team with some talent and a penchant for making big upsets.  That’s why the Kentucky Wildcats have to be taken seriously this Saturday.  Besides, the Gators haven’t covered in 2 out of their 3 games this year.

USC Tries to Bounce Back as Cal Gets a Test

USC will try to bounce back after their upset loss to the Washington Huskies by taking down the Washington State Cougars.  USC will once again be at least a -21 point favorite in a game.  USC should cover easily as Washington State is terrible and USC always bounces back from a loss, but if the Trojans let all of the talk regarding the Washington loss get to them, then the Cougars have a shot to beat the spread.

The new king of the Pac 10, the California Golden Bears, face-off against the Oregon Ducks in their first big test of 2009.  Oregon ended Utah’s winning streak this past Saturday and have finally put the ridiculousness that occurred after their loss to Boise State behind them.  Cal will have to be on their toes against an improving Oregon Ducks’ team.

Iowa Looks to Make a Statement in the Big Ten

Penn State is ranked in the Top 10 and is, no doubt, one of the better teams in college football right now.  Or, are they?  The Nittany Lions have beaten up on arguably some of the worst teams on the planet in recent weeks.  They didn’t cover the spread against Temple and now face an Iowa team that has been fantastic in the two weeks since barely beating Northern Iowa.  This will be a watershed game for both teams.  Whichever team wins this game is going to be the top threat to win the Big Ten, not Ohio State or Michigan.