UCLA at Arizona, 7 p.m.:
ESPN’s College GameDay is in Tucson, Arizona, for a match-up between the top teams in the vaunted Pac-12 South.
The Bruins have been led by true freshman quarterback Josh Rosen and a dominant defense led by do-it-all linebacker Myles Jack. Arizona, the reigning division champion, has a high-powered offense that has scored 54 points per game, though the defense is suspect without star linebacker Scooby Wright, who is out with an injury. The key is whether the Wildcats can stop UCLA’s explosive rushing attack, which averages 240 yards per game. UCLA has won the last three meetings in the series.
Texas A&M vs Arkansas, 6 p.m.:
It’s been a tale of two sides for two programs seen as darkhorses in the SEC championship race before the season. Texas A&M has won all of its games by at least 17 points, including a dominant victory over Arizona State in the season-opener. Arkansas, meanwhile, has tumbled to a 1-2 record with embarrassing home losses to Toledo and Texas Tech. The Razorbacks’ secondary has struggled, so stopping the Aggies’ high-powered spread attack will be their biggest challenge. This season has been an unmitigated disaster for Arkansas, but there’s still time for a turnaround. It will have to start on Saturday.
Utah at Oregon, 7:30 p.m.: While other Pac-12 programs have garnered more attention, the Utah Utes have quietly become one of the most dangerous programs in the conference. Just how far they can go in the Pac-12 could be determined when they travel to Eugene to take on the high-powered Oregon Ducks, who have been the most dominant team in the league for most of the last decade. Explosive Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams’ status is up in the air because of a finger injury. Whether he plays could be the deciding factor between another Duck victory or an impressive road statement by the Utes.
Tennessee at Florida, 2:30 p.m.: When Tennessee let a 17-0 lead slip away in an overtime loss to Oklahoma, it seemed like the Volunteers couldn’t catch a break in a big game. However, that loss could become a distant memory if they can beat the Florida Gators — a feat they haven’t achieved since 2004. First-year head coach Jim McElwain has led the Gators to a 3-0 start, though there are issues that Tennessee has the talent to exploit. This will serve as a season-defining game for Tennessee. A loss means another disappointing season on Rocky Top, but a win would serve as evidence of massive progress.
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