SPORTS EXTRA / FOOTBALL ‘99: COLLEGE PREVIEW : GAMES TO WATCH

SEPT. 11

Georgia Tech at Florida State

Georgia Tech fancies itself a national power and issued a CD to promote quarterback Joe Hamilton for the Heisman. Well, put up or get out of the recording industry. For the record, Florida State is 28-0 at home against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.

SEPT. 18

Tennessee at Florida

True story: In August, a famous coach tried to check into a Birmingham hotel for SEC media day.

“How you spell the last name again?” the clerk asked.

In headier times, Steve Spurrier might have screamed: G-E-N-I-U-S!

This is what a guy gets for going 10-2?

Expect Spurrier’s Gators to be at full redemptive chomp for the arrival of the defending na . . . natio . . . nationa . . . dad-gum, it’ll be tough for Spurrier to spit the words out.

SEPT. 25

Colorado at Washington

Thank you, schedule maker. Rick Neuheisel left a divided Colorado--half hated him, half helped him pack--when he took the Washington job. On arrival in Boulder, Gary Barnett accused Neuheisel of trying to take players with him.

Sit back and enjoy.

SEPT. 25

Michigan at Wisconsin

Until this game, life is Thursday night out at Madison Lanes; Wisconsin is the ball and the pins are Murray State, Ball State and Cincinnati. Suddenly, though, the season gets serious. Ron Dayne, the Badgers’ Heisman candidate, may have 900 rushing yards entering the game and still be looking to top 1,000 at game’s end.

OCT 16

Otterbein at Mount Union

Pack up the car and get to Alliance, Ohio? You’re darn tootin’. Should Mount Union win its first five games, the Division III Purple Raiders will be seeking their 48th consecutive victory with a chance to break Oklahoma’s NCAA record of 47 straight wins, achieved in the 1950s under legendary coach Bud Wilkinson.

OCT. 23

Florida State at Clemson

Bobby Bowden versus Terry Bowden went bust when Terry quit Auburn, but this father-son matchup is more intriguing. If the senior Bowden’s Seminoles are unbeaten before this game, Bobby will be seeking victory No. 300 against son Tommy’s team in Death Valley.

NOV. 6

Texas A&M; at Nebraska

If Nebraska can survive an Oct. 23 showdown at Texas, this could be a meeting of 8-0 teams. Texas A&M; pulled off the double whammy last year, defeating both Nebraska and Kansas State in Big 12 play. Nebraska fans have only recently pulled back the drapes after last year’s 9-4 season.

Is it sacrilege to think Texas A&M; should be favored to win this one?

Maybe. Nebraska has won 48 of its last 49 home games, the only loss last year’s stumble against Texas.

NOV. 13

Michigan at Penn State

The Big Ten title and a Sugar Bowl berth might be on the line in Happy Valley. Penn State looked unbeatable in its opener against Arizona, but what happens when the Nittany Lions lock up with a school from a conference that teaches tackling?

We’ll know more about Michigan after this weekend’s tester at home against Notre Dame.

NOV. 20

UCLA at USC

Close your eyes and picture the placards that await the Bruins at the Coliseum. “No Parking.” “Tow Away Zone.” “The White Zone is for Unloading Passengers Only.” This is the year USC beats UCLA, or so Trojan tailback Chad Morton has proclaimed. The last USC player who said that, and was correct, was Todd Marinovich.

NOV. 20

Florida State at Florida

The Seminoles haven’t won a game in The Swamp since 1993, the year Florida State won its only national title. Bobby Bowden might prefer this game earlier in the season, because it may take time for Florida to come together. The Gators have a young defense and are breaking in a new coordinator, Jon Hoke taking over for Bobby Stoops.