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Conference bragging rights on line

By RALPH D. RUSSO

AP College Football Writer

The first few weeks of the season often set the tone for which conference will be deemed best for the rest of the season.

It’s a debate that can be both fun and tedious. Does it really matter whether Kentucky is better than California when it comes time to figure out if the Pac-12 champion should be in the College Football Playoff?

The Southeastern Conference, which has touted itself on being No. 1 for years (and is usually correct), got off to a great start in week one going 13-1 with four victories against other Power Five conference teams. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 combined for four Power Five nonconference victories.

This week, nine nonconference games match Power Five teams, including No. 2 Clemson at Texas A&M (ACC vs. SEC); UCLA at No. 6 Oklahoma (Pac-12 vs. Big 12); No. 13 Penn State at Pitt (Big Ten vs. ACC); No. 15 Michigan State at Arizona State; and No. 18 Mississippi State at Kansas State (SEC vs. Big 12).

There are also numerous opportunities for teams from the Group of Five to make a statement against Power Five opponents. For those conferences, competing against each other for a spot in the New Year’s Six bowls, notable nonconference victories can help separate the competition. The big ones this week include: Georgia Tech at South Florida (ACC vs. AAC); Arkansas at Colorado State (SEC vs. Mountain West); and Utah at Northern Illinois (Pac-12 vs. MAC).

It’s never too early to build those resumes.

The picks:

No. 16 TCU (minus 21¢) at SMU (Friday)

The Horned Frogs have won six straight in the crosstown Battle for the Iron Skillet … TCU 49-21, BEST BET.

Arkansas State (plus 36¢) at No. 1 Alabama

Arkansas State is getting $1.7 million for this game, so don’t feel too bad … ALABAMA 45-14.

No. 2 Clemson (minus 12) at Texas A&M

The first big test for Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies comes too soon … CLEMSON 35-17.

No. 3 Georgia (minus 10) at No. 24 South Carolina

Bulldogs have won three straight and four of five in the traditional early SEC opener … GEORGIA 35-21.

Rutgers (plus 35) at Ohio State

Scarlet Knights have not scored against the Buckeyes since 2015 and have lost all four since joining the Big Ten by a combined 219-24. … OHIO STATE 55-8.

New Mexico (plus 35¢)at No. 5 Wisconsin

Can the Lobos’ option frustrate the Badgers’ typically stingy defense? … WISCONSIN 48-20.

UCLA (plus 30) at No. 6 Oklahoma

If the Bruins couldn’t handle Cincinnati in the Rose Bowl last week, can’t expect them to be ready to compete with the Sooners … OKLAHOMA 49-21.

Ball State (plus 34¢) at No. 8 Notre Dame

Good week for the Fighting Irish to get their new running backs confidence and carries … NOTRE DAME 52-13.

No. 17 Southern California (plus 5¢) at No. 10 Stanford

Cardinal star Bryce Love had 285 yards on 39 carries and two touchdowns in two games against the Trojans last season, both losses … STANFORD 31-27.

No. 13 Penn State (minus 8¢) at Pittsburgh

It’s a cool old-school rivalry that the Nittany Lions don’t love because there is little for Penn State to gain these days by beating Pitt and a lot to lose … PENN STATE 35-28.

No. 15 Michigan State (minus 5¢) at Arizona State

Sun Devils are 9-0 against Big Ten teams in Tempe, not including losses to Nebraska and Penn State before they were in the conference … ARIZONA STATE 34-27, UPSET SPECIAL.

No. 18 Mississippi State (minus 9¢) at Kansas State

The Wildcats barely escaped an FCS upset last week but expect a better effort from Bill Snyder’s bunch … MISSISSIPPI STATE 28-21.

UConn (plus 31) at No. 20 Boise State

Poor Huskies go from UCF to the Blue Turf … BOISE STATE 45-10.

Western Michigan (plus 28) at No. 21 Michigan

Shea Patterson and the Wolverines should be able to work out the kinks in that offense. Right?? … MICHIGAN 48-16.

Kentucky (plus 13¢) at No. 25 Florida

Gators’ winning streak against the Wildcats is at 31 …FLORIDA 28-20.

TWITTER REQUESTS

Iowa State (plus 4) at Iowa — @bkupka05

Officially dubbed the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series just in case corn did not already come to mind when these two play … IOWA 28-21.

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Record last week: 16-5 straight; 12-8-1 against the spread.

Upset specials: 1-0 (straight up).

Best bets: 1-0 (against the spread).

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://www.podcastone.com/AP-Top-25-College-Football-Podcast

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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP–Top25

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press.

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