While the Frogs just need to TCB against New Mexico to earn a trip to a BCS Bowl, the teams ranked above and right behind them still have plenty of football to play, and just one upset in those games could bring the Frogs' SOS back into the national focus. And there are some really big games this weekend:Wyoming (5-6) at Colorado State (3-8) (1:00pm Friday, The Mtn)
-This one is actually a pretty big one for the Frogs. A Wyoming win would give them, along with The Bronze Boot (the trophy for this apparently pretty heated rivalry), bowl eligibility. The more bowl teams the Frogs have beaten, the better. It also means a little more $$$ for the conference. The Rams, losers of eight straight, seem to have already quit on the season.
Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5) (11:00am Saturday, ESPN)
-If you were under the assumption that this was any sort of a friendly rivalry, think again. While the Tigers have already wrapped up the ACC Atlantic Division title, that won't mean quite as much if they don't hold the in-state bragging rights over the Gamecocks...who became every 14 year-old boy's favorite team 10 years ago when the "Cocks" hats starting showing up in malls across the country. I was far too clever for that cap, though, I had an "FU" Fordham University hat.
Utah (9-2) at BYU (9-2) (4:00pm Saturday, The Mtn and CBS-College)
-If you don't know anything about the Utah/BYU "Holy War", it's worth reading about. It may be one of the most underrated rivalries in the country. While it has decided the conference title in many a season, this year it's the "We Both Got Our Asses Whipped by TCU" Bowl. The winner gets a lock of Andy Dalton's hair and most likely a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl.
Virginia (3-8) vs. Virginia Tech (8-3) (2:30pm Saturday, ESPN)
-People that I've known that have lived in Virginia tell me this is a hilarious rivalry because these two schools have just about zero in common. It's basically SMU kids vs. aggy. With UVA Coach Al Groh on the hot seat before this season even started, there's a good chance that this will be his last game as the coach of the Wahoos. Will his players send him off in style, ala Ron Zook vs. Florida State in 2004 or Dennis Franchione vs. Texas in 2007?
SMU (6-5) vs. Tulane (3-8) (2:00pm Saturday)
-Who cares about this game less than I do? Most likely the alumni of these two schools. Even though the Mustangs appear headed to their first bowl game in 25 years (although with a loss and a win by Marshall, that would be in serious jeopardy), I can't imagine more than about 15,000 showing up for this one.
San Diego State (4-7) at UNLV (4-7) (8:00pm Saturday, The Mtn)
-What a power-down. I'd rather watch women's basketball.
