Under The Radar: Week 5

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops knows exactly what is coming to town this Saturday. The Horned Frogs have toppled the mighty Sooners in their last two trips to Norman (1996, 2005). Rest assured, Oklahoma will be ready this time. TCU enters this game with the nation’s top rush defense (32.5 ypg) and total defense (183 ypg). With seniors up the middle – James Vess (DT), Jason Phillips (MLB) and Steven Coleman (FS) – the Frogs have the most talented defense coach Gary Patterson has had in his eight seasons in Fort Worth.

Many outsiders will look at the OU’s 3-0 record by an average margin of victory of 40.7 points and think TCU will be its first test. Cincinnati and Washington are talented teams and the Sooners wiped the floor with them both. Heisman candidate Sam Bradford leads the nation’s top scoring offense (54.7 pts/game), however, the match-up to watch will be the nation’s top offensive line against an elite defensive front seven. If the Sooners can run the football with DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown, Bradford should be to take advantage of a secondary that will be creeping towards the line of scrimmage.

Frog to Watch: Steven Coleman, S
Sooner to Watch: Jermaine Gresham, TE
Line: Oklahoma (-17.5)

Maryland (3-1) @ Clemson (3-1), 12:00 pm (Gameplan)

This is a much bigger game than either team will admit. This is a chance for the Terps to prove that the 86 points they have scored in their last two wins are no fluke. This is their chance to make a statement and announce to the ACC that they are for real. Injured tailback Da'Rel Scott should be back and ready to run the football for what is slowly becoming one of the ACC's most balanced offensive attacks. The defense, however, has left something to be desired - especially against the pass (279 ypg, 109th). Watch out for future NFL star Darrius Heyward-Bey, who averages more than 20 yards per touch.

This is a chance to Clemson to silence the critics and re-establish itself as the challenger to Wake Forest before they head to Winston-Salem next Thursday night. Cullen Harper has been a shell of his 2007 self. He must improve on his 3:4 touchdown to interception ratio if the Tigers expect to win this game. The defense has improved mightily since being run out of the Georgia Dome, but this will be its first real test since the opening weekend.

Terp to Watch: Da'Rel Scott, RB
Tiger to Watch: Dorell Scott, DT
Line: clemson (-12.5)

Fresno State (2-1) @ UCLA (1-2), 3:30 pm (ABC)

Listen to this schedule: At Rutgers, Wisconsin at home, at Toledo, at UCLA. That may be the toughest collection of games to start a season of any team in the nation. This is a veteran, tested football team that will turn to its senior quarterback Tom Brandstater to pull out another road win. The Bulldogs have won five of their last twelve against the Pac-10 and since 1980 they are 18-21. Look for them to improve that record this week.

After the big win on Labor Day over Tennessee, the Bruins have been outscored 90-10. They have yet to score an offensive touchdown since that game and the myriad of injuries to an already porous offensive line does not help. Defensively, however, they are much better. UCLA has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher and have one of the top defensive tackles tandems in the nation with Brigham Harwell and Brian Price. It just won't be enough to stop the Bulldogs.

Bulldog to Watch: A.J. Jefferson, CB/KR
Bruin to Watch: Rahim Moore, S
Line: Fresno State (-7)

Other games to keep an eye on:

Arkansas (2-1) @ Texas (3-0), 3:30 pm (ABC)
One the nation’s most underrated rivalries

Northwestern (4-0) @ Iowa (3-1), 12:00 pm (ESPN Classic)
Will the Wildcats start the season 5-0?

Houston (1-3) @ East Carolina (3-1), 3:30 pm (CSTV)
Fantasy’s top QB – Case Keenum – versus a solid ECU defense

Marshall (3-1) @ West Virginia (1-2), 3:30 pm (ESPN360)
Very heated, in-state rivalry that means a lot more to Marshall

Navy (2-2) @ Wake Forest (3-0), 3:45 pm (ESPNU)
Pass to run ratio in this game: 10:1

Oregon (3-1) @ Washington State (1-3), 6:15 pm (FSN Northwest)
Make sure to watch Duck freshman quarterback Darron Thomas. You will thank me.

South Florida (4-0) @ N.C. State (2-2), 7:30 pm (ESPNU)
Can the fighting Tom O’Briens keep it rolling with another upset?

Nevada (1-2) @ UNLV (3-1) 10:00 pm (MTN)
UNLV is still flying high after pulling the upset win over Arizona State, but Nevada won't go quietly in the Battle for the Fremont Cannon.