One of the great things about college football is that rivalries are spread out every week. Saturday was a great day for teams battling for pride (Florida vs. Florida State), but also it was a shame to see emotions get out of hand (Clemson vs. South Carolina). With more classic games on the slate this week, we’ll call it Rivalry Week part II. Let’s keep the fighting to a minimum, though. Last week: 7-3 straight up, 2-8 vs. spread. Season: 49-21 straight up, 25-45 vs. spread.
 
No. 12 LSU (-4) at Arkansas (Little Rock), Friday, 2:30 p.m., CBS – The Tigers and Razorbacks battle for “The Boot” with Arkansas looking to become bowl eligible. The Hogs love to play spoiler and a win would get them to the Independence Bowl and likely send LSU to the Cotton Bowl. Quarterback Matt Jones always is dangerous; running and passing the ball, and he led the team to a comeback 21-20 win against LSU two years ago. The Tigers have managed to scrape by with wins like against Ole Miss last week, which probably is why collegefootballnews.com is calling them “the shakiest 8-2 team in America.” But a lot of players were on the 2002 team that blew the chance to go to the SEC championship that year, and they won’t let a shot at a solid season and very good bowl game slip away so easily.
 
Prediction: LSU 21, Arkansas 13
 
No. 22 Texas A&M (+10.5) at No. 5 Texas, 2:30 p.m., ABC – The Longhorns have put up big numbers against the Aggies the last two years, scoring a combined 96 points in those games. After a big scare at Kansas last week, UT probably has its head on straight and knows it must win to have any shot at getting into the BCS. Texas A&M is always dangerous, giving Oklahoma fits three weeks ago, and they’ve come a long way since being embarrassed in their opening game against Utah. This will be one of those grind-it-out, hard-nosed football games, but Texas running back Cedric Benson is making his case for the Heisman Trophy. Benson, who’s scored a touchdown in every game of his career, has 1,599 yards and 18 touchdowns this year. With Vince Young improving every week at quarterback, Texas will win in this game that won’t be as close as the score indicates.
 
Texas 34, Texas A&M 20
 
Notre Dame (-22) at No. 1 USC, 7 p.m., ABC – Auburn fans have quickly converted to Catholicism for the weekend, hoping the Fighting Irish can kick USC out of the No. 1 spot of the BCS rankings and propel the Tigers instead. Notre Dame has shown flashes of brilliance with an upset win over Michigan earlier in the year, but losses to BYU and Pittsburgh have made this an average year for ND. A win would help secure coach Tyrone Willingham’s job, but a loss could send him out the door. It will be up to the defense to contain the Trojans’ offensive juggernaut, but in the end the Irish’s offense will be ineffective.
 
USC 27, Notre Dame 6
 
No. 16 Virginia (+4) at No. 11 Virginia Tech, Noon, ABC – This will be the first time this rivalry counts as a conference game for the Cavs and Hokies, and it will have major implications in the ACC title race. The Cavaliers cannot mathematically win because of losses to Florida State and Miami, but a Virginia Tech win would set up a winner-take-all showdown with Miami next week. The Hokies have won six straight games and eight of their last nine, with the loss being 17-16 to N.C. State. The only other defeat was to No. 1 USC to open the year. Quarterback Bryan Randall has done wonders for this team, which was written off by many in August. Look for the wins to keep coming.
 
Virginia Tech 24, Virginia 17
 
Mississippi State (+6) at Ole Miss, 1 p.m. – This year’s Egg Bowl may be the worst ever, with the teams combining for a 6-14 record. With MSU’s program on the way up and Ole Miss on the way down, I give the edge to the Bulldogs, who will be much better next year under coach Sylvester Croom.
 
Mississippi State 28, Ole Miss 20
 
Southern vs. (No line) Grambling (New Orleans), 1 p.m., NBC – The Bayou Classic is always good times. Southern is looking to go undefeated in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Grambling is trying to stay above .500. Tigers’ All-American quarterback Bruce Eugene may suit up after missing most of the season since tearing his ACL in September. The rivalry between these teams is as good as any in the Southeastern Conference, and the bands’ halftime performance is worth the price of admission. Southern won in a shootout last year, and a win gets the Jaguars back to get back to the SWAC championship game in Birmingham. Look to see them there.
 
Southern 38, Grambling 14