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What To Watch This Weekend (Nov. 19-21)

Devin Altschul |
November 19, 2010 | 12:39 a.m. PST

Staff Writer

I’m back in action with a great lineup this weekend. 

We've got great college football matchups on Saturday, not to mention some heated conference rivalries in the NFL on Sunday.

Let's take a look at this weekend's games to watch.

To start things off, No. 9 Ohio State will be playing at No. 20 Iowa Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in a classic Big 10 Conference showdown.

The Buckeyes are coming off a three game winning streak and are in a three-way tie for first place in the conference with Michigan State and Wisconsin. Iowa sits just one game behind in the Big 10 standings after their loss at Northwestern last weekend. The Hawkeyes are 5-1 at home, though, so expect to see them play with confidence.

On Saturday, the USC Trojans will be playing at Oregon State at 8 p.m. ET. The last time USC played the Beavers they were ranked No. 1 and left Corvallis after a 27-21 loss. The Trojans are averaging 35.2 points and defeated then-ranked No. 18 Arizona team last weekend. Oregon State has yet to lose three games in a row. Let’s see if the Trojans can break this streak. 

No. 8 Nebraska and No. 19 Texas A&M play Saturday in Texas in a matchup of the hottest team in the Big 12 North against arguably the hottest team in the Big 12 South.

Nebraska is tied for first in scoring defense with Missouri in the Big 12, allowing an average of 17.5 points a game. The Huskers were able to shut down the Jayhawks last week, while the Aggies are riding a four-game winning streak. If Nebraska wants to stop the Aggies, it will need to watch out for their main playmakers: quarterback Ryan Tannehill, wide receiver Jeff Fuller and running back Cyrus Gray.  A win here could land the Huskers a spot in the Big 12 championship.

On Sunday, the New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts at 4:15 p.m. ET, which will be exciting because they are two of the AFC’s best teams. The game also showcases a matchup between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, which is a reason in itself to watch because both are fierce competitors who hate to lose.

The Patriots are coming off a big win against the Steelers last weekend, while the Colts barely won last Sunday.

Everyone remembers last year when Bill Belichick took a gamble with his offense on fourth down and the Patriots lost. This year, however, the Pats' offense is finally gaining momentum and is ready for a big game against the Colts, who are without their two starting safeties. Let’s see if Brady and Co. can hold their own at home.

The Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday in a game that could determine who will be the NFC East champions.

Both teams have potent offenses, although the Giants stumbled badly against the Cowboys last week. New York is giving up the lowest total yards per game (270) in the NFL on average, but slowing down Philadelphia’s dynamic offense will be a challenge. Michael Vick is coming off a six-touchdown shredding of the Redskins and is leading the NFL with a 115.1 passer rating. Vick and speedy wide receiver DeSean Jackson are proving to be a lethal combination, so it will be key for the Giants to make big stops.

We will see if the Giants have what it takes or if it will be the Eagles who gain a confidence boost going forward.

To reach writer Devin Altschul, click here.

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