Irish eyes won't be smiling

Call this Risk-Reward Saturday. The Top 25 teams begin squaring off and playing Bowl Championship Series bingo, eliminating teams each week as they move towards the every elusive BCS bowl slots.

We have Texas vs. Oklahoma in Dallas. We have Southern Cal at Notre Dame in South Bend. We have Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech. We have Cincinnati at South Florida. In each case, the winner will advance and move up, and the loser will take two giant steps backward.

Southern Cal at Notre Dame
Southern Cal has beaten Notre Dame seven straight times. Most of the time the Trojans have been much better than the Irish. This year the gap is smaller, but USC is still better, although Notre Dame should be playing with a sense of urgency, knowing that the overall success of their season is very much on the line. It won't be enough.
The pick: USC 27, Notre Dame 21

Oklahoma at Texas
The Red River Rivalry is a bit tarnished with the Sooners coming in with two losses. But quarterback Sam Bradford (last season's Heisman winner) is back from injury. The Longhorns have not been tested yet, but they do have Colt McCoy at QB, who could be this year's Heisman winner.
The pick: Texas 29, Oklahoma 24

Cincinnati at South Florida
How good is Cincinnati? How good is the Big East? How good is Bearcats QB Tony Pike? We will find out in a matchup with a surprisingly tough South Florida team. Our gut feeling is that Cincinnati is better -- maybe much better -- than the Bulls.
The pick: Cincinnati 24, South Florida 10

Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
The Hokies destroyed Boston College last week. Georgia Tech outlasted Florida State. Virginia Tech features quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is getting better each week. Georgia Tech has Josh Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer. Looks like a tossup game, but we think Virginia Tech is a little tougher.
The pick: Virginia Tech 17, Georgia Tech 10

South Carolina at Alabama
Alabama is due for a letdown game and South Carolina is a few plays away from an unbeaten season. We know the ol' ball coach Steve Spurrier still knows how to put together game plans. Will it be enough to spoil the homecoming party for the Tide? Prabably not, but it will be close -- very close.
The pick: Alabama 17, South Carolina 15

Last week: 3-2
Season to date: 19-11