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By Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY
Each Friday during the season, USA TODAY will highlight the biggest showdowns on the schedule. This weekend has several games to keep an eye on.
No. 7 Florida (4-0) at No. 1 Alabama (4-0) Time/TV: 8 Saturday/CBS. Surface: Grass. Line: Alabama by 8. Sagarin difference: Alabama by 4.58. S Robert Lester and S Mark Barron have answered any questions that might have existed about the readiness of the Crimson Tide's secondary. Gators RB Jeff Demps (foot) is probable, and his speed will be needed to complement newly discovered all-purpose threat Trey Burton. S Ahmad Black must again be everywhere at once as Florida tries to keep Alabama WR Julio Jones and RB Mark Ingram in check.
WEEKEND FORECAST: SEC, Pac-10 tilts highlight schedule
STAFF PICKS: USA TODAY writers and editors predict the games
No. 13 Stanford (4-0) at No. 4 Oregon (4-0) Time/TV: 8 Saturday/ABC. Surface: Artificial. Line: Oregon by 7. Sagarin difference: Oregon by 6.24. While these offenses with different looks can score in bunches, Stanford might prefer a more moderate tempo with QB Andrew Luck and LB-FB Owen Marecic powering the ball on clock-eating drives. But Luck will have to stretch the field, and Oregon FS John Boyett will be ready. Cardinal LB Chase Thomas will lead the effort to keep Ducks QB Darron Thomas from using TB LaMichael James and WR Jeff Maehl, who can pick up chunks of yardage with little openings. No. 8 Oklahoma (4-0) vs. No. 16 Texas (3-1) in Dallas Time/TV: 3:30 Saturday/ABC. Surface: Grass. Line: Oklahoma by 31/2. Sagarin difference: Oklahoma by 3.94. Thanks to last year's emergency relief work, QB Landry Jones has the Oklahoma offense in hand with help from WR Ryan Broyles and RB DeMarco Murray. But the Longhorns defensive backfield, featuring CB Curtis Brown and S Blake Gideon, is the team's biggest strength. Texas QB Garrett Gilbert and RB Fozzy Whittaker need a lot more help in front of them as they contend with Sooners LB Travis Lewis and DE Jeremy Beal. No. 9 Wisconsin (4-0) at No. 21 Mich. State (4-0) Time/TV: 3:30 Saturday/ABC. Surface: Grass. Line: Wisconsin by 2. Sagarin difference: Michigan State by 0.31. Badgers standout RB John Clay and Spartans LB Greg Jones figure to collide often. If Wisconsin wants those meetings farther downfield, QB Scott Tolzien must be sharp to open things up. MSU QB Kirk Cousins has been getting superb ground support himself from RBs Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell. They're likely to find Badgers LB Blake Sorensen nearby whenever they venture from the backfield. No. 20 Penn State (3-1) at No. 18 Iowa (3-1) Time/TV: 8 Saturday/ESPN. Surface: Artificial. Line: Iowa by 7. Sagarin difference: Iowa by 1.44. Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn has no sacks. That could change as he and DT Mike Daniels challenge a Penn State line that has struggled to protect freshman QB Robert Bolden and make holes for TB Evan Royster. But the Nittany Lions also have some disrupters, led by LB Chris Colasanti. Caution isn't Hawkeyes QB Ricky Stanzi's game, but he usually atones for miscues. Weekend TV games
Times p.m. Eastern. Lines by bodog.net. Jeff Sagarin?s power ratings show the relative strength of teams; where applicable, 3.01 points are added to the home team?s rating to calculate the difference.
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