CFB 1A unbeatens-- who falls?

There are 9 Div. 1A teams unbeatern as of this week. Virginia Tech does not play 10/15. Among the other 8 which are likely to be upset?

Notre Dame over USC?
Colorado over Texas?
Virginia over Florida St.?
Vanderbilt over Georgia?
Mississippi over Alabama?
Michigan over Penn St.?
Washington St. over UCLA?
Kansas St. over Texas Tech?

I think the most likely upset is Michigan over Penn St. Penn St. played very hard in their upset of Ohio St. and they responded to all the hype and intensity. It's hard for a team to do that 2 weeks in a row, especially where you are playing away the next week against a team that was beaten away from home and so far has come back strong from each loss. Penn St. can't play as well as they did last week, and Michigan will almost surely play better.

The next most likely upset IMO is Notre Dame over USC. History does not carry any team or any results, but it does mean something in getting players "up" and fans be loud enough to disrupt the opponent's signals and concentration. The last 2 times ND had a team capable and in position to knock off the #1 team probably goes back to Miami in '88 and Florida St. in '93, and they did it. Notre Dame does have a history of ending opponents' winning streaks, also. And USC seems to have reached the point where they think they can overcome any lackadaisical performance in the 1st half. But having said all this, the fact is that ND is not nearly good enough defensively to stop USC as long USC is really putting out on offense. ND can keep it within 2 touchdowns, but USC will have to play really badly for ND to win.

 

By "taking ND over USC", do you mean you have money (or some kind of wager) on the game, or is that just an expression?

 

Consider this quote from an espn.com debate as to 'why Notre Dame will beat USC':

5. God and 80,000 people want it this way: Notre Dame has beaten No. 1 a record eight times in its history, and there's a reason for that. From Touchdown Jesus on down, the entire storied program seems to rise to these occasions -- with a serious home-field advantage to go with it. No offense to Oregon or Arizona State, but this will be the toughest road atmosphere USC has seen.

Is "separation of God and football" a reasonable idea?

Regardless, I don't agree, and unless USC plays very badly-- for them-- Notre Dame is facing a big defeat.

 

Maryland and Oregon St. have pulled some surprising upsets in the past with national ramifications. I think those 2 are the most likely upsets for this week, followed by Tennessee over Alabama, then Texas Tech over Texas. Arkansas over Georgia and Washington over USC would be shockers.

 

Alabama is a 3.5 point favorite over Tennessee.