Five Intriguing Games This Weekend – From the Bird’s Nest

It's hard to believe, but we're almost at the halfway point in the college football season.  From here on out, most of the really good matchups are in league play.

Here are some of the games to keep an eye on this weekend:

(13) MIAMI (3-0, 1-0)(-3) at FLORIDA STATE (1-2, 1-1) 2:30pm, ESPN--Let's see...the Canes have beaten Bethune Cookman, Toledo and Duke..and that ranks them 13th and has them as a favorite this weekend?  Florida State is unranked for the first time in, like, forever.  While Miami's margins of victory have been impressive, can they actually go to Tallahassee and win?  This is intriguing for a lot of reasons...

LSU (3-2, 0-1) (+2') at (21) FLORIDA (3-1, 3-0) 2:30 CBS--Now, how's THAT for a betting line.  LSU was embarrassed at home last week and it wasn't just because they might have been looking past Troy.  The Trojans were the more physical team.  Let that sink in for a sec.  Now, they're in Gainesville.  And they are a road dog against a ranked team by less than a field goal.  Hint:  If something looks too good to be true, it usually is.

SOUTHERN MISS (2-2, 0-1) (+13') at UTSA (3-0, 0-0) 6:00 pm Stadium on Facebook--The Golden Eagles are double digit dogs to...who?  It's a surprise only if you haven't been paying attention.  Frank Wilson's squad might be the most underappreciated team not only in CUSA, but maybe the entire country.  The Roadrunners are good.  Pure and simple.  USM can't afford another league loss.  They'll have to be awfully good on Saturday to avoid it.

MICHIGAN STATE (3-1, 1-0) (+10') at (7) MICHIGAN (4-0, 1-0)  6:30pm  ABC--Mark D'Antonio's club is probably a little better than people thought, but they'll be facing a Michigan team with a little motivation.  The last time the two teams played in Ann Arbor, the game ended in a most improbable fashion and the fans at the Big House haven't forgotten.  Neither have the Wolverines.

(11) WASHINGTON STATE (5-0, 2-0) (+2') at OREGON (4-1, 1-1) 7:00 FOX--Mike Leach's squad got a great win last week against USC, yet they are underdogs this week in Eugene.  Willie Taggart has gotten the Ducks improved faster than anyone expected and they'll be forgiven for stubbing their toe at Arizona State last weekend if they can get this one.  Wazzou had better be able to refocus in a hurry.  A trap game for sure...