I took a week off last week because the week before was a 1-7 week. I think I needed that week off just to sit back and enjoy the games. Anyway, I'm back and ready for a stronger, better week this week.

UCLA @ USC
It doesn't matter whether you think USC is better than Texas or not. The important thing is that those two teams play on a different plane than of the other 117 1-A football teams playing this year. The Bruins, although 9-1 (they lost 52-14 to Arizona???? 3-8 Arizona????), are nowhere near that level. Remember the 1998 team that was 10-0 and ready for the BCS Championship Game in the Fiesta Bowl until they gave up 299 yards on the ground to Edgerrin James on December 5 in Miami? That defense was ranked 91st in the nation; this one is twenty spots below that. And they're about to go against what is possibly the best offense in the history of the sport? Seems unfair.

But you must take into account that this is USC and UCLA. The battle of Los Angeles. The battle for the Victory Bell. As in all rivalries, the records must be tossed out the window. That is what give UCLA a chance in the Coliseum today. But the fact remains that the Bruin defense is bad, historically bad. If the Trojans punt 3 times today, UCLA should take that as a moral victory.

Also, after the unimpressive showing against Fresno State two weeks ago, anticipate USC to go into today's battle expecting a coronation. Remember the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma? 55-19 (38-10 at halftime), but the game was not as close as the score. Coronation game. This team destroys teams when a challenge is sensed. The game in Berkeley? No doubt. People see UCLA as a challenge. My advice for them is to look out. A storm’s a comin’.

This is Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush's final chance to impress Heisman voters. They will not come close to losing this game. They have won 34 games in a row for a reason.

USC 55, UCLA 17
(USC -21)

Big XII Championship
Colorado vs. Texas
The Longhorns find themselves in the same position as the Trojans. They’ve not lost since a 12-0 defeat to Adrian Peterson and Oklahoma in last October’s Red River Shootout. They are poised to clinch their second consecutive Rose Bowl trip. They’ve been eager to play USC since the beginning of last season. Their time has come.

Colorado, on the other hand, is reeling. They have lost their past two games, including a 30-3 home loss to a bad Nebraska team last Friday. They backed into this game, and no one is really sure how much they even want to play today.

But these Big XII Championship games have been doozies. In the very first one, Nebraska faced an undermanned Texas team on what was supposed to be an easy tune-up for the National Championship game against Florida State. Texas 37, Nebraska 27. Who can forget Sirr Parker’s amazing game as Texas A&M upset undefeated and #1 ranked Kansas State in 1998? In 2001, a Texas victory over these same Buffaloes would have earned them a Rose Bowl birth against #1 Miami for the BCS Championship. They lost. Two years ago, Kansas State upset #1 Oklahoma. History is not on the Longhorns’ side today.

But they’ve already defeated Colorado this year in a game that was not at all close. The Buffaloes don’t have the guns to put a true scare into Texas. Their only chance is if Texas plays tight. Texas will play tight, but not enough to lose.

Texas 41, Colorado 21
(Colorado +26.5)

West Virginia @ South Florida
This one is simple. South Florida lost at 4-6 Connecticut last week. Had they won, today’s game would have determined the Big East champion. The Bulls cost themselves a chance at a BCS Bowl in their first year in a big-time conference. That lost to the Huskies hurt. It hurt bad. It still hurts. Expect the Mountaineers to take advantage and gain more respect for themselves.

West Virginia 27, South Florida 10
(West Virginia -9)

The rest of the picks
Under — Louisiana State vs. Georgia
Philadelphia +4 Seattle
Green Bay +7 @ Chicago
New York Giants -3.5 Dallas
Atlanta +3 @ Carolina