College Football 2009 Week 4 Preview: Cheerleader Edition

After an excellent Week Three that saw the perpetually overrated USC Trojans drop out of the top 10 after falling to an unranked Washington team and an enormous leap by Miami into the nine-slot after slaughtering a talented Georgia Tech team, we look forward to an even better week as conference play opens up across the rest of the college football nation.  Cheerleaders beware, this is a dangerous week for upsets since only one of the top 10 teams will be facing a ranked opponent.

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 1 Florida (3-0) at Kentucky (2-0)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 5:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD)

As the lady-like verbal catfight with Lane Kiffin subsides late into this week, perhaps Urban Meyer will have time to put together a more dominating performance in Kentucky this weekend – unless his squad is still too under the weather to dominate.  Florida has taken the last 22 battles between these two schools.

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 2 Texas (3-0) vs. UTEP (1-2)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2:30 p.m. FSN (HD)

After a PB&J nourished Colt McCoy carried the Longhorns to a confidence building victory over the hated Red Raiders, Texas looks to pad its stats this week against a UTEP Miners team that has lost its last 10 to teams ranked in the top 10.  Expect this to get ugly…

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 3 Alabama (3-0) vs. Arkansas (1-1)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2:30 p.m. CBS (HD)

Bama is on a mission to prove voters that it is they who will be crowned No. 1 by the end of this season.  This will be a tough test for Saban’s Crimson Tide as they look to contain former Wolverine and current Razorback quarterback Ryan Mallet, who threw for 408 yards and 5 touchdowns in a loss to Georgia last week.

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 4 Ole Miss (2-0) at South Carolina (2-1)

Thursday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)

This will be the toughest test to date for the Rebels as they travel to a riotous South Carolina campus to take on a well coached Steve Spurrier team.  The Rebels also look to get a massive monkey off their back, as they haven’t won an SEC opener since 2003.

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 5 Penn State (3-0) vs. Iowa (3-0)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 7:00 p.m. ABC (HD)

It’s payback time.  After a critical win in Columbus last season, the Nittany Lions were on their way to a perfect season and a berth in the national title game…that is, until they visited their friends in Iowa.  Iowa upset Penn State on a last second field goal in a classic trap game and cost the Big Ten their third consecutive representative in the big one.

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 6 California (3-0) at Oregon (2-1)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2:30 p.m. ABC (HD) / ESPN-GP

Another tough road test for the Golden Bears after escaping Minnesota last week with a win.  Expect the Ducks to key on stopping Heisman candidate Jahvid Best if they plan on hanging around in this one.  Oregon hopes to open up Pac-10 play with a home win over Cal, which would put them right back in the thick of the rankings after a strong beatdown on Utah last week.

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 7 LSU (3-0) at Mississippi State (2-1)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 11:20 a.m. ESPN-GP / SEC Network

Les Miles looks to keep his Tigers on a trek toward the top spot in the polls.  LSU hasn’t lost to Mississippi State since 1999 and has outscored them 374-105 in the last nine meetings.

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 8 Boise State (3-0) at Bowling Green (1-2)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 6:00 p.m. ESPN-GP / KTVB / BCSN / ESPN 360

After a raucous victory at Fresno State last week, Boise State looks forward to starting a rather weak (read: pathetic) spot in their schedule.  They will be the first top-10 team Bowling Green has ever hosted and chances are they will be regretting the honor by halftime.

No. 9 Miami (FL) (2-0) at No. 11 Virginia Tech (2-1)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2:30 p.m. (ABC / ESPN) (HD) / ESPN-GP

Miami shot up the rankings like a rocket from No. 20 following their dominating performance in a vengeance fueled pummeling of Georgia Tech.  They are the only top 10 team to be playing a ranked team this week and this will be their third consecutive game against a ranked opponent (at No. 18 Florida State, No. 14 Georgia Tech), with No. 10 Oklahoma looming on the schedule for next week.

(click photo to view full gallery)

No. 10 Oklahoma (2-1) – bye week

Oklahoma gets to sit back and relax as Sam Bradford recovers and tries to get healthy for a big game at No. 9 Miami (FL) next week.