After taking first losses, Miami and Cal jump right back into big games

Miami, Cal look to rebound in big games

This is not the ideal way to bounce back from a loss.

Miami and California, both coming off ugly performances in their first defeats of the season, get thrown right back into the grinder Saturday.

The 17th-ranked Hurricanes are home after a soggy and unsuccessful trip to Blacksburg, Va., to face No. 8 Oklahoma.

The Golden Bears, who plummeted from No. 6 to No. 24 in the rankings after getting drubbed at Oregon, return home for No. 7 Southern California.

Miami’s 31-7 loss to Virginia Tech dampened, but didn’t ruin, a good start to the season by the Hurricanes. They had already won two Atlantic Coast Conference games against ranked teams.

If Miami can rebound with a victory against the Sooners, who might have Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford back at quarterback, the Hurricanes should make another big jump in the rankings and talk of making a national title run can resume.

Lose to Oklahoma and, well, the ‘Canes are still in good shape in the conference and they emerge from the toughest part of their schedule 2-2.

Bradford hasn’t played since his right shoulder was sprained on a hard hit at the end of the first half of the season-opening loss to BYU. The Sooners won the next two in blowout fashion with back-up Landry Jones lighting accommodating defenses.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said whether Bradford plays will not be a game-time decision, but he expects to make an announcement late in the week.

“We’ll just see how the week goes,” Stoops said. “… We just have to feel comfortable that he’s healthy, that he feels good enough to make the throws we need to make and he’s ready to do it.”

At Berkeley, Cal and USC were supposed to be playing the game of the year in the Pac-10, a game with national title implications. With both the Bears and Trojans having already lost conference games, the matchup doesn’t quite have the zing anymore.

Still, one of the conference favorites will be buried in the Pac-10 race, so there’s a lot at stake.

The picks:

Aggies are ninth in nation in total offense … BYU 45-24.

Tide, Gators back-to-back; schedule maker clearly no Wildcats fan … ALABAMA 45-14.

Tigers haven’t played as well as their ranking suggests … LSU 24-21.

Broncos coach Chris Petersen played QB at Davis … BOISE STATE 50-14.

Hokies defense looked like old self vs. Miami … VIRGINIA TECH 24-3.

USC has won five straight meetings … USC 17-14.

Bradford or not … OKLAHOMA 28-24.

Buckeyes D looking for third straight shutout … OHIO STATE 28-14.

RedHawks on nine-game losing streak … CINCINNATI 58-10.

Frogs had streak of 27 games with a sack snapped last week … TCU 45-14.

Miners rank last in nation in total offense … HOUSTON 38-10.

Hawkeyes’ D makes them Big Ten contenders … IOWA 28-3.

Nittany Lions having O-line issues … PENN STATE 27-14.

Who were those guys in the Ducks’ uniforms at Boise? … OREGON 55-13.

Vandy was last team to hold Rebels’ Jevan Snead without TD pass … OLE MISS 28-14.

First road game for inexperienced Wolverines … MICHIGAN 31-24.

Jackets ran for 438 vs. Bulldogs last season … GEORGIA TECH 31-13.

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Last week: 16-7 (straight); 10-11-1 (vs. points).

Season: 72-15 (straight); 38-36-3 (vs. points).