This weekend won’t clear up the national title picture,but the winner of the Auburn Georgia game has a good shot at goingto the Sugar Bowl and maybe the Orange Bowl if some upsetsoccur.
Last week: 3-2 straight up, 1-4 vs. spread. Season: 38-17straight up, 21-34 vs. spread.
 
No. 5 Georgia (+4.5) at No. 3 Auburn, 2:30 p.m., CBS —There’s a lot riding on this Southeastern Conference matchup,with both teams playing for BCS bowl games. Auburn has had twoweeks to hear how its going to play for the national title, whileGeorgia’s season has been played down because it likelywon’t make it to Atlanta for the SEC championship game. But aBulldogs win could catapult them up the polls and get them in theBCS regardless. Both teams still need help to get to Miami, buteach has a lot to play for.
David Greene and the Georgia offense will go after Auburn likeit did LSU. If Greene limits the mistakes and throws a fewtouchdown passes, the defense will do the rest. Limiting CarnellWilliams and Ronnie Brown is always a tough task, but there’senough talent in red to get it done. Throw in the fact that Georgiais 15-1 in road games under coach Mark Richt (not counting neutralgames vs. Florida) and the big-game experience of UGA’ssuperstars, and that spells a Georgia win.
 
Prediction: Georgia 23, Auburn 17
 
Alabama (+7.5) at No. 15 LSU, 6:45 p.m., ESPN — TheAlabama defense is the best in the country and should stifleLSU’s running and passing game. The Tigers will need tostrike early with a big play and keep the ‘Bama defense onits heels. The Crimson Tide won’t put up gaudy numbers onoffense, so it will be up to the LSU defense to contain SpencerPennington and running back Ken Darby. Alabama has virtually ownedLSU in Tiger Stadium, losing only once to the Tigers30-28 in 2000)since 1969. But LSU has too much talent to let the tide slip awaywith a win.
 
Prediction: LSU 28, Alabama 27
 
No. 17 Miami (+3.5) at No. 11 Virginia, 2:30 p.m., ABC(regional) — As good as the Cavs have looked most of theyear, they did not show up in the one game where there were qualityathletes on the opposite side of the ball (a 36-3 loss to FloridaState). With Miami looking like a Pee-Wee team the last two weeksagainst two of the ACC’s bottom-half squads, the Hurricaneswill sweep into Chancelorsville with a lot to prove.
 
Prediction: Miami 30, Virginia 21
 
No. 21 Boston College (+7) at No. 10 West Virginia, 11 a.m., ABC— Circle this one as the upset of the week. West Virginia isnot expecting the Eagles and their quarterback Paul Peterson who isthe most underrated quarterback in the Big East. Look for this oneto play out similar to the Mountaineers’ loss to VirginiaTech earlier this year. BC will get a couple of early scores,perhaps off a turnover, and WVU will have to play catch up the restof the game. Unfortunately for them, they won’t catch up andBC will steal their free ride to the Fiesta Bowl.
 
Prediction: Boston College 28, West Virginia 14
 
No. 25 Texas Tech (+2.5) at No. 23 Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m., ABC— This should be a good match between two of the second-levelteams in the Big XII. A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal nearly ledthe Aggies to an upset over OU last week, and Tech’s defenseis nothing compared to the Sooners.
Texas Tech quarterback Sonny Cumbie and the “Playstationoffense” will put up close to its average passing yards pergame (411), but look for the Aggies’ defense to pull down atleast two interceptions and prevent the Red Raiders from gettinginto the end zone. Texas A&M gave up 72 points its last twogames, but it knows that Tech is going to pass on nearly everydown, and it will be ready.
 
Prediction: Texas A&M 24, Texas Tech 21