GAME OF THE WEEK

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 11, 1996 12 AM PT

FLORIDA STATE (4-0) at MIAMI (4-0)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 2.

* STORYLINE: A big game? Nah, just two schools that recruit the same kids and play for national championships every other year or so. The loser can probably kiss the national title away, because neither school can rely on strength of schedule to keep it in the picture.

* FLORIDA STATE UPDATE: The Seminoles were sputtering on offense until last week, when quarterback Thad Busby awoke from a three-game slumber and passed for 304 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-3 victory over Clemson. Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden was getting the itchy finger with Busby, who was on the verge of getting yanked in favor of redshirt freshman Dan Kendra. No problems on defense, where the Seminoles have given up 27 points in four games.

* MIAMI UPDATE: Considering he’s had 10 players suspended since he took the job last season, Coach Butch Davis has done a remarkable job. The Hurricanes have an 11-game win streak--currently the nation’s longest--while dealing with off-the-field paperwork. The defense has recorded consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1983. Quarterback Ryan Clement is fourth nationally in passing with a 170.7 rating.

* EDGE TO FLORIDA STATE: The Hurricanes’ schedule to date has been, to be kind, weak. Victories over Memphis, The Citadel, Rutgers and Pittsburgh were not chest-pumping. The Seminoles, on the other hand, appear to have worked out their kink on offense--Busby.

* THE LINE: Florida State by 4 1/2.

OTHER GAMES

LOUISIANA STATE (4-0) at FLORIDA (5-0)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 9 a.m., Channel 2.

* STORYLINE: The Gators will need an impressive (read: run-it-up) performance against the Tigers to prevent getting jumped in the polls by Ohio State. The Tigers are just giddy being ranked in the top 20 under Coach Gerry DiNardo.

* LSU UPDATE: The Tigers are 4-0 for the first time since 1978 and coming off a 35-0 victory over Vanderbilt. Tailback Kevin Faulk is seventh nationally in all-purpose yards (178.8 yards per game).

* FLORIDA UPDATE: The Gators have won 16 consecutive SEC games and are even better than last year because of defense. Under new coordinator Bob Stoops, the Gators have already scored six defensive touchdowns.

* EDGE TO FLORIDA: LSU has been a nice story, but the Tigers are not ready to take out Florida on the road just yet.

* THE LINE: Florida by 13 1/2.

ARIZONA (3-2) at USC (3-2)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., Prime Sports.

* STORYLINE: The Trojans lose again at home, and it amounts to a free-fall into oblivion. The Wildcats were busy scrambling for tickets this week; nearly half their roster consists of players from Southern California.

* ARIZONA UPDATE: The Wildcats are 4-18 against the Trojans, but the series is 3-3 since 1990. Quarterback Keith Smith passed for 149 yards and ran for 95 in last week’s 34-26 victory over Washington State.

* USC UPDATE: No more excuses. The Trojans will have four players back who were suspended for last week’s stupefying loss to Cal.

* EDGE TO USC: Consecutive home losses to Cal and Arizona? If it happens, Coach John Robinson had better run for cover.

* THE LINE: USC by 8 1/2.

ARIZONA STATE (5-0) at UCLA (2-2)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7.

* STORYLINE: After last week’s victory over Oregon, the Bruins are 1-0 in the Pacific 10 and have not been reduced to spoilers yet. The Sun Devils have been impressive, but all five of their victories have come at home.

* ARIZONA STATE UPDATE: The Sun Devils beat up on Boise State last week, 56-7, in a game in which most of the starters weren’t needed past halftime.

* UCLA UPDATE: The Bruins are an enigma. They play tough in a road loss to Tennessee, look awful at Michigan, but bounce back to beat Oregon last week in Eugene. Will the real Bruins please stand up?

* EDGE TO ARIZONA STATE: The challenge will be keeping focused on their first trip, but the Sun Devils won’t face anything tougher than Nebraska.

* THE LINE: Arizona State by 4.

WISCONSIN (3-1) at OHIO STATE (4-0)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 12:30 p.m., pay-per-view.

* STORYLINE: The Buckeyes hope to continue their rampage through quality opponents and state their case to be the nation’s No. 1 team. The Badgers have quietly assembled a quality team.

* WISCONSIN UPDATE: The Badgers may have the biggest offensive line in the country, weighing in at 300 pounds-plus from tackle to tackle.

* OHIO STATE UPDATE: Junior quarterback Stanley Jackson, a question mark before the season, has exceeded all expectations.

* EDGE TO OHIO STATE: The Badgers gave Penn State a scare two weeks ago, losing a 23-20 game in which they had a chance send to to overtime with a field goal. Ohio State destroyed Penn State, 38-7.

* THE LINE: Ohio State by 26 1/2.

WASHINGTON (3-1) at NOTRE DAME (3-1)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 11:30 a.m., Channel 4.

* STORYLINE: The Irish have to buck up and find a reason to finish the season after their probable national-championship ending loss to Ohio State two weeks ago. The Huskies have won three in a row since a three-point loss to Arizona State in the season opener.

* WASHINGTON UPDATE: The Huskies have not beaten the Irish in their three previous meetings but bring an interesting team into South Bend, with the Pac-10’s No. 2 defense and two reserves, tailback Corey Dillon and quarterback Brock Huard, who led Washington to a 27-6 victory over Stanford last week.

* NOTRE DAME UPDATE: It’s time to pick up the pieces. The Irish have had a week to mourn the Ohio State loss, but they’d better shape up if they still want to play in an alliance game.

* EDGE TO NOTRE DAME: The Huskies are a bit too inexperienced at key positions to pull off the upset, but don’t be surprised if the game is closer than expected.

* THE LINE: Notre Dame by 10 1/2.

THE LINE ON THE REST

Washington St. minus 10 at Oregon St.

Oregon plus 5 at Stanford

Tennessee minus 13 1/2 at Georgia

Pittsburgh plus 31 at Syracuse

Maryland plus 25 at North Carolina

Purdue plus 21 at Penn St.

Illinois plus 9 at Michigan St.

Minnesota plus 10 at Northwestern

Iowa minus 6 1/2 at Indiana

Temple plus 23 at Virginia Tech