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Saturday's Top College Football Games

(All times, EDT) (c) 2003, Los Angeles Times

No. 2 Oklahoma (4-0) at No. 5 Texas (4-0):

Kickoff: Noon, ABC.

Oklahoma update: Freshman tailback Adrian Pederson, who was playing
high school ball in Texas this time last year, became the first Sooner
to rush for 100 or more yards in his first four games. He gained 146
yards in 22 carries and scored one touchdown in last week's 28-13
triumph over Texas Tech.

Texas update: Cedric Benson leads the nation in rushing with 746 yards
(7.61 a carry) and four touchdowns. He gained 188 yards and scored
three times in last week's 44-14 rout of Baylor.

Story line: This is the 99th edition of the Red River Shootout and
only the ninth time both teams have entered ranked in the top five.
Oklahoma has won the last four.

The pick: Texas. The Sooners and Coach Bob Stoops have had the
Longhorns' number, but the latter comes in ranked higher in total
offense (third versus 11th) and total defense (17th versus 39th).

No. 13 Minnesota (5-0) at No. 14 Michigan (4-1):

Kickoff: noon, ESPN Classic.

Minnesota update: The defense has played well but the offense
struggled last week in a 16-7 victory over Penn State. The Nittany
Lions also blocked two Rhys Lloyd field-goal attempts and an
extra-point attempt.

Michigan update: Freshman Chad Henne seemed to strengthen his grasp on
the starting quarterback position by completing 17 of 21 passes for
316 yards in last week's 35-14 victory over Indiana. His competition,
Matt Gutierrez, remains sidelined because of a sore shoulder.

Story line: The Wolverines rallied from a 21-point deficit last season
to win, 38-35, at the Metrodome. They not only took the Little Brown
Jug, but went on to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.

The pick: Michigan, which has the edge defensively -- it's tops in the
nation against the run -- and on special teams. But with an offense
that ranks 83rd, the Wolverines had better not fall far behind.

Stanford (3-1) at Notre Dame (3-2):

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m., NBC.

Stanford update: With its only loss a 31-28 squeaker against
top-ranked USC, the Cardinal comes into South Bend wielding an
unfamiliar piece of anatomy -- the upper hand. It also brings J. R.
Lemon, who rushed for 162 yards and three touchdowns in last week's
27-13 victory over Washington.

Notre Dame update: What looked to be a resurging program is on its
heels again after Saturday's 41-16 home loss to Purdue. Lost to some
in that effort was the performance of quarterback Brady Quinn, who
completed 26 of 46 passes for 432 yards.

Story line: Starting with the game against the Cardinal, the Fighting
Irish goes shakily into what they figured would be a comfortable
stretch on the schedule. Next week they get a Navy team that is 5-0.

The pick: Notre Dame. The Irish are intent on venting their
frustrations and draw an opponent playing its first road game of the
season.

No. 7 California (3-0) at No. 1 USC (4-0):

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m., ABC.

California update: The Golden Bears showed no ill-effects of a
three-week rest in routing Oregon State, 49-7. Chase Lyman caught five
passes for 176 yards and scored touchdowns on his first three
receptions. The Bears rank second nationally in offense and 11th in
defense.

USC update: The Trojans, who have won their last 16 home games,
enjoyed an extra week to prepare for perhaps the strongest opponent
they'll play during the regular season. USC trails Cal in the major
statistical categories but will have a significant edge in one regard:
a sellout crowd of 92,000 at the Coliseum.

Story line: This is a rematch of last season's showdown, when the
Bears ended the Trojans' 11-game winning streak with a 34-31
triple-overtime triumph.

The pick: Cal. The Bears appear stronger on both sides of the ball and
are eager to show -- and seem capable of showing -- that last season's
victory was not a fluke.

No. 17 Tennessee (3-1) at No. 3 Georgia (4-0):

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m., CBS.

Tennessee update: Freshman quarterback Erik Ainge hasn't been
bad-mouthing this week's opponent -- not after trashing Auburn's
secondary last week and then performing miserably, with four
interceptions, in a 34-10 loss. Defensively, the Volunteers are 67th.

Georgia update: Freshman Danny Ware returned from a bruised lung last
week and showed he was healthy, rushing for 109 yards in a 45-16
drubbing of Louisiana State. Another freshman, Thomas Brown, added 81
yards, so the Bulldogs are strong on both sides of the ball. Their
only weakness seems to be punting. Gordon Ely-Kelso is averaging only
37.1 yards.

Story line: The Bulldogs have won the last four in the series after a
stretch during which the Volunteers won nine in a row.

The pick: Georgia. The Bulldogs are good at putting a big win behind
them and playing at the same level in a big game the following week.

No. 24 Louisiana State (3-2) at No. 12 Florida (3-1):

Kickoff: 7:45 p.m., ESPN.

LSU update: Receiver Skyler Green returned from an ankle injury last
week and played only a limited role in the Tigers' 45-16 loss at
Georgia. Little has gone right: LSU kickers are only seven of 11 on
extra-point attempts.

Florida update: Sophomore quarterback Chris Leak seems on the fast
track to greatness after a career-high 322-yard passing performance in
last week's 45-30 victory over Arkansas. The Gators are averaging 448
yards a game.

Story line: The Tigers appear to have been reduced to the role of
spoiler in the national championship drive -- going against a Gator
team that dealt them their only loss last season, 19-7.

The pick: Florida. Much of the Gators' success has come from their
ability to make big plays -- six pass completions of 35 yards or more
and five runs of 30 yards or more -- while the Tigers have become
known for giving them up.

This story appeared in < href="http://www.harktheherald.com">The Daily
Herald College FootballPete Thomas

posted by free news @ 9:52 AM