Saturday, October 30th - Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
Oklahoma took Oklahoma State very, very seriously and provided a 52-9 beating shifting the rivalry back to the Sooners. OSU should be better than last year even with questions in the passing game, but it won't matter as OU will be too loaded for the Cowboys to keep up. It won't be last year's blowout and 16 points is a lot to give away on the road for a rivalry game like this.
Predicted score in early August: Oklahoma 31 ... Oklahoma State 17
Oasis Casino Line: Oklahoma -16
Saturday, November 6th - Clemson at Miami
The Clemson schedule gets a few breaks (at least as many breaks as can be had in the new ACC) over the second half with Maryland and NC State coming to Death Valley. The one major bump in the slate comes in the Orange Bowl as Miami takes a break between three road games to try and handle the Tigers. If Charlie Whitehurst and the passing game get rolling and Miami's attack isn't to the point it should be, Clemson could pull off the upset. The Canes will win at home but it won't be by more than two touchdowns.
Predicted score in early August: Miami 24 ... Clemson 14
Oasis Casino Line: Miami -13
Saturday, November 6th - Kansas State at Missouri
By this point both Kansas State and Missouri will have played Nebraska. If the Huskers win both games this will be for second place in the Big XII North. If not, then this should decide who will be the North representative in the Big XII title game. Kansas State closed out last year by beating Missouri 24-14 in the regular season finale, and now the Tigers will return the favor as this will be the game Brad Smith earns his All-America status leading Mizzou to the big win. It isn't going to be easy as the Tiger D will have to figure out how to contain Darren Sproles, but the Wildcats won't be able to handle the Tiger balanced attack (and it will be balanced by this point in the season.)
Predicted score in early August: Missouri 20 ... Kansas State 17
Oasis Casino Line: Missouri -2
Saturday, November 6th - Notre Dame at Tennessee
The Notre Dame schedule isn't all that bad with the exception of two brutal road games at Tennessee and USC. The Vols will be taking time out of their busy SEC schedule to deal with the Irish. These are two of the tougher teams to figure out going into the season as each has question marks with the passing game and each has the potential to be in the top ten or battle for a winning record depending on how things start to play out. There's no reason to believe this will be a blowout either way with the Vols getting the upper hand at home.
Predicted score in early August: Tennessee 24 ... Notre Dame 17
Oasis Casino Line: Tennessee -10
Saturday, November 13th - Georgia at Auburn
This could be a preview of the SEC championship if Auburn can get by LSU early on. Georgia's defense should hold Carnell Williams in check even on the road. Tiger star CB Carlos Rogers will lock down on Fred Gibson forcing the Bulldog running game game to shine. It won't be easy, but it will do just enough to come away with the tough road win. Take David Greene over Jason Campbell in a big game.
Predicted score in early August: Georgia 20 ... Auburn 17
Oasis Casino Line: Auburn -1
Saturday, November 20th - Auburn at Alabama
A week after the tough showdown against Georgia, Auburn will have to gear up for the road game against its most hated rival. Alabama doesn't have it much easier the week before going to LSU. The Tide shouldn't need this win for a bowl bound year, but it wouldn't hurt to come away with the win as Mike Shula could use the victory. The Tigers are more talented and will be too strong by this point on both sides of the ball to lose, but talent means next to nothing in this emotional series.
Predicted score in early August: Auburn 23 ... Alabama 20
Oasis Casino Line: Auburn -1
Saturday, November 20th - Florida at Florida State
The best game of 2003 should be another great showdown as Florida State could be going for an Orange Bowl bid if everything goes its way. The Gators have struggled mightily against the Noles losing three of the last four and now has to do the near impossible (at least for them) and win in Tallahassee. It won't happen. The Seminole offense will be good all season long and should be fully humming by this point. Florida doesn't have the firepower to match.
Predicted score in early August: Florida State 31 ... Florida 20
Oasis Casino Line: Florida State -8
Saturday, November 20th - Michigan at Ohio State
If Michigan doesn't get upset, it should be 10-0 before going into the yearly showdown with the Buckeyes. The Wolverines have spoiled many big Ohio State seasons and this will be the year the favor is returned as Jim Tressel's squad will have no longer be inexperienced. It will take something magical for OSU to win this year's game, and Tressel will come up with it as the defense will get the job done in another tight classic.
Predicted score in early August: Ohio State 16 ... Michigan 13
Oasis Casino Line: Ohio State -1
Oklahoma took Oklahoma State very, very seriously and provided a 52-9 beating shifting the rivalry back to the Sooners. OSU should be better than last year even with questions in the passing game, but it won't matter as OU will be too loaded for the Cowboys to keep up. It won't be last year's blowout and 16 points is a lot to give away on the road for a rivalry game like this.
Predicted score in early August: Oklahoma 31 ... Oklahoma State 17
Oasis Casino Line: Oklahoma -16
Saturday, November 6th - Clemson at Miami
The Clemson schedule gets a few breaks (at least as many breaks as can be had in the new ACC) over the second half with Maryland and NC State coming to Death Valley. The one major bump in the slate comes in the Orange Bowl as Miami takes a break between three road games to try and handle the Tigers. If Charlie Whitehurst and the passing game get rolling and Miami's attack isn't to the point it should be, Clemson could pull off the upset. The Canes will win at home but it won't be by more than two touchdowns.
Predicted score in early August: Miami 24 ... Clemson 14
Oasis Casino Line: Miami -13
Saturday, November 6th - Kansas State at Missouri
By this point both Kansas State and Missouri will have played Nebraska. If the Huskers win both games this will be for second place in the Big XII North. If not, then this should decide who will be the North representative in the Big XII title game. Kansas State closed out last year by beating Missouri 24-14 in the regular season finale, and now the Tigers will return the favor as this will be the game Brad Smith earns his All-America status leading Mizzou to the big win. It isn't going to be easy as the Tiger D will have to figure out how to contain Darren Sproles, but the Wildcats won't be able to handle the Tiger balanced attack (and it will be balanced by this point in the season.)
Predicted score in early August: Missouri 20 ... Kansas State 17
Oasis Casino Line: Missouri -2
Saturday, November 6th - Notre Dame at Tennessee
The Notre Dame schedule isn't all that bad with the exception of two brutal road games at Tennessee and USC. The Vols will be taking time out of their busy SEC schedule to deal with the Irish. These are two of the tougher teams to figure out going into the season as each has question marks with the passing game and each has the potential to be in the top ten or battle for a winning record depending on how things start to play out. There's no reason to believe this will be a blowout either way with the Vols getting the upper hand at home.
Predicted score in early August: Tennessee 24 ... Notre Dame 17
Oasis Casino Line: Tennessee -10
Saturday, November 13th - Georgia at Auburn
This could be a preview of the SEC championship if Auburn can get by LSU early on. Georgia's defense should hold Carnell Williams in check even on the road. Tiger star CB Carlos Rogers will lock down on Fred Gibson forcing the Bulldog running game game to shine. It won't be easy, but it will do just enough to come away with the tough road win. Take David Greene over Jason Campbell in a big game.
Predicted score in early August: Georgia 20 ... Auburn 17
Oasis Casino Line: Auburn -1
Saturday, November 20th - Auburn at Alabama
A week after the tough showdown against Georgia, Auburn will have to gear up for the road game against its most hated rival. Alabama doesn't have it much easier the week before going to LSU. The Tide shouldn't need this win for a bowl bound year, but it wouldn't hurt to come away with the win as Mike Shula could use the victory. The Tigers are more talented and will be too strong by this point on both sides of the ball to lose, but talent means next to nothing in this emotional series.
Predicted score in early August: Auburn 23 ... Alabama 20
Oasis Casino Line: Auburn -1
Saturday, November 20th - Florida at Florida State
The best game of 2003 should be another great showdown as Florida State could be going for an Orange Bowl bid if everything goes its way. The Gators have struggled mightily against the Noles losing three of the last four and now has to do the near impossible (at least for them) and win in Tallahassee. It won't happen. The Seminole offense will be good all season long and should be fully humming by this point. Florida doesn't have the firepower to match.
Predicted score in early August: Florida State 31 ... Florida 20
Oasis Casino Line: Florida State -8
Saturday, November 20th - Michigan at Ohio State
If Michigan doesn't get upset, it should be 10-0 before going into the yearly showdown with the Buckeyes. The Wolverines have spoiled many big Ohio State seasons and this will be the year the favor is returned as Jim Tressel's squad will have no longer be inexperienced. It will take something magical for OSU to win this year's game, and Tressel will come up with it as the defense will get the job done in another tight classic.
Predicted score in early August: Ohio State 16 ... Michigan 13
Oasis Casino Line: Ohio State -1
