Mack Brown and Texas’s biggest hurdle of the season would presumably be at least against a ranked team.

Will having Vince Young, being the leading rushing team in the nation, outscoring opponents by 33 points per game, harboring national title expectations, and playing a team that lost to TCU, all finally mean Oklahoma’s jinx on the Longhorns will end?

Hokie fans should properly have their collective attention divided; there aren’t many more realistic chances for Texas to relinquish control of their #2 ranking.

Pay-per-view withstanding however, this region does not get the Texas-Oklahoma showdown.

So despite that shortcoming, and in between playoff baseball, here’s this weekend’s, and this region’s, best college football TV offerings.

First course – Virginia (3-1) at #18 Boston College (4-1) (1 p.m. – ABC)

This week was supposed to be the beginning of the brutal ACC schedule for the Hoos’.

Instead, UVA is trying to rebound from a loss with a road game versus the best defense (easily) they’ve faced so far; and oh yeah, don’t look ahead to hosting Florida State next week.

While nothing can be deemed from last week’s mauling of Ball State, looking back two weeks ago to a 16-13 road win at Clemson gives a bit of insight into BC’s defense.

The Eagles held Charlie Whitehurst to under 150 yards through the air, and held James Davis (who ran for over 100 yards against Texas A&M) to 44 on the ground.

My pick – BC 27, UVA 21

During commercials – Air Force (2-3) at Navy (1-2) (1:30 p.m. – CSTV)

As far as polls and BCS go, this game doesn’t mean anything.

As far as seeing a great show, and an all-out competitive football game, it never gets any better than two academies facing off.

Both teams average over 250 yards on the ground (which puts both in the top 10 in the NCAA).

Navy’s won two in a row in this series, and this is the first time this game has been held in Annapolis since 1997.

My pick – Navy 30, Air Force 27

Second course – #5 Georgia (4-0) at #8 Tennessee (3-1) (3:30 p.m. – CBS)

After a relative breather last week hosting Ole Miss, UT returns to another SEC classic for the third time in four weeks.

By the end of next weekend, with the Vols facing ‘Bama, Tennessee likely will have played four top 10 teams in five games.

The Bulldogs look really good so far this year, but not nearly as good as LSU looked (in Baton Rouge) a couple weeks ago.

Can’t let a week go by without an editorial comment in favor of a 1-A playoff, so here it goes: Tennessee (with their schedule) could end up the poster child for why an 11-1 team deserves a shot at the national title.

My pick – Tennessee 21, Georgia 20

During commercials – Arizona (1-3) at #1 USC (4-0) (3:30 p.m. – Comcast)

It’s rare in this neck of the woods to see USC, so take the opportunity, even if Arizona is the opponent.

Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and the other Trojan first-round picks might make this a quick blowout; but the entertainment value, of at least the first half, is well worth it.

Check in next week for USC at Notre Dame.

My pick – USC 49, Arizona 10

Last course – #6 Ohio State (3-1) at #16 Penn State (5-0) (7:45 p.m. – ESPN)

Well, Penn State has done it – they’ve made it to the big game still undefeated.

Being 5-0 and beating Minnesota by 30 are both very impressive feats, so it seems the Nittany Lions is at least returning to a winning season.

Now, to put themselves really back into the national spotlight, Joe Pa and the Lions have to capitalize on this potential return to Happy Valley glory.

In the ever-changing world of the Big Ten, Penn State has the same chance Michigan State had last week to grab the conference lead and take command.

No turnovers, no spectacular Ted Ginn returns, and lots and lots of Nittany Lion noise, and Penn will have a good chance.

My pick – PSU 31, OSU 24

During commercials – #11 LSU (2-1) at Vanderbilt (4-1) (7:00 p.m. – ESPN2)

If only Vanderbilt had not lost last week to Middle Tennessee State. In one terrible, Commodore-like loss, hopes of six wins and a bowl might have been dashed.

Yes there’s still a lot of season to go, unfortunately for Vandy, that season involves nothing but SEC games.

Whether in Nashville or Baton Rouge, and whether Vandy is 5-0 or 4-1, LSU is too good for Vandy, but not by as much as usual.

My pick – LSU 34, Vandy 21

Last week: 4-3

Season: 11-10

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com