GAME OF THE WEEK

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 25, 1996 12 AM PT

OHIO STATE (6-0, 3-0) at IOWA (5-1, 3-0)

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

* STORYLINE: Iowa broke the big-game choke rap last week with its big win over Penn State. Are the Hawkeyes for Real, Part II, takes place Saturday in Iowa City. If revenge is not a factor, something’s wrong. Last year in Columbus, Ohio State took a 56-0 lead into the half before shutting down the engines. Iowa Coach Hayden Fry fears this Ohio State team might be better.

* OHIO STATE UPDATE: The only problem with the Buckeyes appears to be themselves. Quarterback Stanley Jackson was ejected in the second half of the Purdue game for kicking a Boilermaker. That’s the kind of bone-headed move that can cost you a Michigan game.

* IOWA UPDATE: So tell us again about that loss to . . . Tulsa? All will be forgiven if the Hawkeyes run the table and get back to Pasadena. Iowa may get hobbled tailback Sedric Shaw back for this one, although backup Tavian Banks isn’t too shabby, having rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns against Penn State.

* EDGE TO OHIO STATE: Iowa has a stingy defense that has given up only three points in six fourth quarters, but the game may already be decided by then. Ohio State is due for a choke any week now, but we sort of have Nov. 23 vs. Michigan penciled in for that.

* THE LINE: Ohio State by 14.

OTHER GAMES

ALABAMA (7-0, 4-0) at TENNESSEE (4-1, 2-1)

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

* STORYLINE: Battle of Southeastern Conference Eastern (Alabama) versus Western (Tennessee) powers in what used to be a great rivalry until Florida became a distraction for both schools.

* ALABAMA UPDATE: Crimson Tide is winning with Ugly Ball, with seven victories coming against seven unranked opponents with a combined record of 18-27. That said, Alabama hasn’t lost to Tennessee in Knoxville since 1984.

* TENNESSEE UPDATE: The Volunteers still haven’t recovered from their Sept. 21 loss to Florida, but because of top-10 attrition, still have a shot at an alliance bowl with a strong finish.

* EDGE TO TENNESSEE: The Volunteers will be rested after an off week and proved last year they can beat the Crimson Tide, whipping Alabama in Birmingham, Besides, two home losses to top-10 teams is against the law in Knoxville.

* THE LINE: Tennessee by 15.

MIAMI (4-2, 2-0) at WEST VIRGINIA (7-0, 3-0)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPN

* STORYLINE: In two weeks, after losses to Florida State and East Carolina, Miami has gone from sixth in the Associated Press poll to 25th and kissed away its national title hopes. Like a bad dream, West Virginia keeps recurring, ready to take on all 200 million doubters.

* MIAMI UPDATE: The Hurricanes are coming off successive home losses for the first time since 1984. Quarterback Ryan Clement will start despite injuring his non-throwing shoulder last week.

* WEST VIRGINIA UPDATE: How bad is the Mountaineer offense? It scored only one touchdown in last week’s 30-10 victory over lowly Temple.

* EDGE TO WEST VIRGINIA: The Mountaineers are catching Miami at the right time at home and can seize control of the Big East race with a victory.

* THE LINE: West Virginia by 4.

UCLA (2-4, 1-2) at CALIFORNIA (5-1, 2-1)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., Channel 9.

* STORYLINE: The Golden Bears try to shake off last week’s loss to Washington State and keep focused on staying in the Pac-10 race. UCLA takes comfort in knowing it has as many conferences losses as USC.

* UCLA UPDATE: The defense is a shambles, the tailback is in the doghouse. Bob Toledo, the honeymoon is over. Might be time to pull one of those spiffy USC-beating game plans out of the bag.

* CAL UPDATE: Visions of an undefeated season slipped away when the ball slipped out of quarterback Pat Barnes’ hands last week at Pullman.

* EDGE TO CAL: First-year Coach Steve Mariucci isn’t Midas, after all, but he has already turned a 3-8 team into a winner.

* THE LINE: Cal by 2 1/2.

VIRGINIA (5-1, 3-1) at FLORIDA STATE (5-0, 4-0)

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

* STORYLINE: A rematch of one of last year’s best thrillers, when Virginia ended Florida State’s 29-game Atlantic Coast Conference winning streak in Charlottesville, 33-28, with the Cavalier defense stopping Warrick Dunn at the goal line as time expired.

* VIRGINIA UPDATE: Coach George Welsh put a media gag order on the team after 13-7 loss to Georgia Tech, and it bounced back with a 62-14 trouncing of North Carolina State last week.

* FLORIDA STATE UPDATE: The Seminoles are coming off a bye week and should be rested for this grudge match.

* EDGE TO FLORIDA STATE: The Seminoles have been itching for this rematch and are 20-0 in ACC home games.

* THE LINE: Florida State by 17.

USC (4-3, 2-2) at WASHINGTON STATE (5-2, 3-1)

* KICKOFF: Saturday, 7:15 p.m., Prime Sports.

* STORYLINE: OK, show of hands for those who thought the Trojans would start this game trailing Washington State in the Pac-10 race? Not to worry, USC Coach John Robinson has predicted his team is going to win six consecutive games to close the season.

* USC UPDATE: The Trojans try to recover from last week’s overtime loss to Arizona State, a defeat that effectively ended USC’s Rose Bowl hopes.

* WASHINGTON STATE UPDATE: Running back Michael Black became the first in the Pac-10 to rush for more than 200 yards this season with 214 against Cal. Quarterback Ryan Leaf is third in Pac-10 efficiency behind Cal’s Pat Barnes and Arizona State’s Jake Plummer.

* EDGE TO USC: We’ll have to go with Coach Kreskin in this one. The Trojans have won the last eight against the Cougars and 24 of the last 25 dating to 1958.

* THE LINE: USC by 3 1/2.

THE LINE ON THE REST

Washington minus 6 1/2 at Oregon

Arizona St. minus 14 at Stanford

Oregon St. plus 19 1/2 at Arizona

Illinois plus 12 at Northwestern

Wisconsin plus 3 at Michigan St.

Penn St. minus 15 at Indiana

Michigan minus 13 at Minnesota

Boston College plus 11 1/2 at Syracuse

Pittsburgh plus 30 1/2 at Virginia Tech

Temple plus 1 at Rutgers