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{mosimage}Who will come out on top on a weekend packed with big games?

Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech, Thursday Night:

Two teams with great defenses and clueless offenses. This will be and ugly low-scoring game with Tashard Choice’s absence hurting GTech’s chance to win.

Prediction: 17-14 VT

Wake Forest at Virginia, Saturday:

The Cavaliers finally came back to earth last week in their loss to N.C. State as many people expected. Wake Forest is well-coached and has a multi-dimensional offense that will easily outscore UVA on the road.

Prediction: 27-10 Wake Forest

Wisconsin at Ohio State:

The Badgers haven’t quite lived up to expectations but are still a dangerous team as Jim Tressel’s teams have struggled against them in recent years.

But Wisconsin has found itself short of run-stuffers this year in their quest to get faster on defense and it will cost them against Beanie Wells and the Bucks.

P.S. The Big Ten Network has no business carrying this game.

Prediction: 28-17 OSU

Nebraska at Kansas:

Bill Callahan’s team showed that they haven’t quit on him yet in giving Texas a good game last week, but Kansas should be able to shut down a weak Huskers offense at home.

Prediction: 24-14 Kansas

Texas at Oklahoma State:

Without Vince Young, Mack Brown is starting to look very ordinary at coach again. The Horns are as talented as ever but something is just missing.

Oklahoma State has a ton of firepower and should be able to pull this one out at home.

Prediction: 38-24 OSU

Michigan at Michigan State:

Strange, evil things happen to UM in East Lansing, but it will take a lot for this MSU team to pull the upset this time.

Henne and Hart are both good bets to play this week. Expect Michigan to hand the ball off a good 40 times behind Jake Long and pummel MSU into submission yet again.

Prediction: 31-17 UM

Cincinnati at South Florida:

The wheels have come off both teams’ bandwagons a little bit. This game could go either way and has big bowl game implications.

Cinci’s offense is still a work in progress and will probably have a hard time against the Bulls’ fast defense.

Prediction: 21-17 USF

LSU at Alabama:

The Saban Bowl will bring out lots of emotion and theatrics, and it will be closer on the field than it should be thanks to the coaching matchup.

But LSU overall just has a little too much talent in this one.

Prediction: 28-20 LSU

Missouri at Colorado:

The Tigers have a dynamic offense, but Colorado is rapidly improving under Dan Hawkins.

This is a game that Missouri should win but I wouldn’t be surprised if Colorado wins and gets a bunch of turnovers.

Prediction: 40-32 Mizzou

Arizona State at Oregon:

This will be a shootout, that much you can count on. The Ducks’ injuries to skill position players will catch up them at some point, but not this week.

Prediction: 41-35 Oregon

Rutgers at Connecticut:

No one knows how or why the Huskies only have one loss, but Rutgers should be able to scratch out a win even on the road.

Prediction: 24-16 Rutgers

Texas A&M at Oklahoma:

The Sooners look great at times but people forget how young they are at QB and RB. Let’s hope they don’t make another title game and get embarrassed. Texas A&M has a ton of talent but no discipline or coaching, and they don’t run big running back Jorvorskie Lane nearly enough.

Prediction: 30-16 OU

Florida State at Boston College:

Everyone’s waiting for BC to get knocked off, but it won’t happen this week with FSU’s inept offense unless the Eagles turn it over a bunch of times. It could happen against FSU’s swarming D but probably won’t with Matt Ryan taking care of the ball.

Prediction: 27-14 BC

South Carolina at Arkansas:

South Carolina won’t win the East like some thought but they have a shot to salvage a New Year’s Day bowl. Both of these teams are very talented but also very flawed.

Arkansas will probably throw a few trick plays at the stout Gamecock defense because of their QB problems. I think a few of them will work and the Hogs will scratch out a victory in yet another close SEC game at night.

Prediction: 24-21 Arkansas