Big week for the toasts of the west coast: USC plays host to Ohio State, which has downgraded Beanie Wells and his foot to doubtful. James Laurinaitis might have to put on a Heisman-like performance to keep the Buckeyes in it if Beanie can’t go. The Trojans also thrive after bye weeks as Pete Carroll has won 10 of his last 11 after a week of rest. 

And upstart UCLA heads to BYU. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow was in charge of the Cougars for 17 years and led Robbie Bosco & Co. to a national title in 1984. As much as we like the Neuheisel Era, we see BYU doing to UCLA what Utah did to the Bruins last season.

It isn’t the sexiest game on Friday when Kansas plays South Florida, but it is a matchup of two programs on the rise. Mark Mangino and Jim Leavitt, the opposing coaches, have a history. They were together on Bill Snyder’s coaching staff at Kansas State.

Charlie Weis & Co. have turned to Springsteen, breaking out "Ramrod" before practice in South Bend on Thursday to get the team fired up. However, after last week’s debacle victory over San Diego State, can’t see how the Irish will down Michigan. The Wolverines haven’t shown much, but they hadn’t last year, either, before smashing the Irish in Ann Arbor.

Speaking of ugly, by the end of the day Saturday, Greg Robinson will probably wish the game was at Penn State and not in Syracuse as his record as coach drops to 7-31. He will be lucky if the final isn’t worse than 31-7.

Wisconsin journeys to Fresno State in a risky game. Pat Hill’s team upended Rutgers in New Jersey and could do some damage to the Big Ten’s ego. Figures to be tight, tight, tight. Sure the folks in the Valley will be jacked up.

Buffalo plays host to Temple. Turner Gill and Al Golden have their programs making baby steps. Gill seems to be a bit ahead of Golden and we look for Buffalo to bull its way to 2-1. Either way, one team will come out 2-1 and that is a minor miracle given where the schools were a few years ago.

North Carolina State was disgraceful against South Carolina. Clemson was embarrassed by Alabama. The Tigers had better tear the Wolfpack apart or Tommy Bowden is going to have major issues.

Skip Holtz and East Carolina head into a major trap game. Coming off the two huge upsets of Va Tech and West Virginia, the Pirates face a Tulane team that was stubborn before falling to Alabama. The double-digit line could be test by the Green Wave.

The Stoops Bros. have interesting games. Arizona has to prove it is real and gets a chance to start doing so against New Mexico. Not a great test, but a test nonetheless. Will the Hasselhoff make the trip? And Oklahoma gets a chance to drive enough nail into the Ty Willingham era as it faces Washington in Seattle.