ESPN

ESPN's free College Football Challenge game is innovative, challenging, and a whole lot of fun. The full rules and scoring system are available on the College Challenge page (check the dropdown menu under the main fantasy tab) but the premise of the game is fairly simple: Pick a conference in which to play each week, then select a roster of five units -- Passing, Rushing, Receiving, Kicking and Defense/Special Teams -- from among the teams in your chosen conference.

You can change teams and conferences every week if you like, and you can also select multiple units from the same college team! You can create groups to compete against friends, plus there are weekly prizes, so new players can jump in anytime during the season.

Best of all, you won't have to go it alone. I'll be right here every week to break down the matchups and give you the lowdown on which units will be the top performers. This column usually will publish on Fridays, so for advice concerning weekday games be sure to check my blog. So without further ado, here are this week's top roster selections:

Rushing: Florida versus Troy. For Troy, there wasn't any shame in being tortured by Arkansas' Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. There's not much reason to think the Gators won't get their pound of flesh from the Trojans as well.

Passing/Receiving: Florida versus Troy. Troy's no pushover like the Western Kentucky team Florida faced last week, and Urban Meyer will look to run it first, but Tim Tebow still should outproduce the rest of the SEC signal-callers this week.

Kicking: Kentucky versus Kent. Kicker Lones Seiber is the most reliable among the SEC teams likely to light up the scoreboard this week, and Kent's defense should hold the Cats to field goal attempts on a few of their drives.

Defense/Special Teams: Tennessee versus Southern Miss. It's tempting to pick LSU, but they're facing a Virginia Tech team whose big playmakers on special teams might fatten the Tigers' points allowed total. Tennessee's stop unit will be out to restore its wounded pride against a pedestrian USM offense. Honorable mention: Auburn versus South Florida.

Rushing: Illinois versus Eastern Illinois. Illini quarterback Juice Williams is questionable, but either he or mobile backup Eddie McGee should have a field day here, along with tailback Rashard Mendenhall. Honorable mention: Iowa versus Syracuse.

Passing/Receiving: Purdue versus Western Illinois. Curtis Painter lit up Toledo through the air last week; his backups will do the same this week.

Kicking: Illinois versus Eastern Illinois. Of the two teams blessed with mismatches against I-AA foes this week, Illinois has the better kicker in senior Jason Reda. Honorable mention: Purdue versus Western Illinois.

Defense/Special Teams: Ohio State versus Akron. Iowa is just as likely to shut down Syracuse, but Ohio State gets the edge because of its superior special teams against one of the nation's weakest units. As for Purdue and Illinois, both have offenses that will put them so far ahead that the defenses are bound to give up some points after the game is decided and the second string is in. Honorable mention: Iowa versus Syracuse.

Rushing: California versus Colorado State. The Rams' offense can move the ball, but their slowish rushing defense will be overmatched by Cal's powerful attack. Tailback Justin Forsett should have a big day.

Passing/Receiving: California versus Colorado State. Again, speed is the problem for the Rams. California has too many weapons at wide receiver, and CSU will surrender yards in chunks.

Kicking: Washington versus Boise State. Washington won't have big-play ability in the vertical passing game, but look for them to move the chains consistently on the ground with mobile quarterback Jake Locker. Kicker Ryan Perkins is reliable.

Defense/Special Teams: Arizona versus Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks are one of the better I-AA teams, but Arizona and shutdown corner Antoine Cason won't allow them to do much offensively.

Rushing: Kansas versus SE Louisiana. The Jayhawks lit up Central Michigan for 52 points last week, rushing for 230 yards. This week they won't have to throw it as much in the red zone.

Passing/Receiving: Texas Tech versus UTEP. Kansas may win in a rout, but the Jayhawks are much more balanced. UTEP is generally tougher competition, but pass defense is not the Miners' strength. Tech should reach 400 yards in this one.

Kicking: Kansas versus SE Louisiana. Kansas kicker Scott Webb is a touch more reliable than his Texas Tech counterpart, plus the Red Raiders might only kick extra points. Honorable mention: Texas Tech versus UTEP.

Defense/Special Teams: Kansas versus SE Louisiana. The biggest mismatch of the day is the choice here over projected defensive struggles in Austin and Norman.

Rushing: Clemson versus Louisiana-Monroe. Florida State couldn't contain the Tigers' two-headed monster of James Davis and C.J. Spiller. Against ULM, it's not really even fair.

Passing/Receiving: Florida State versus UAB. The new Seminoles offense didn't come out of the gate strong against Clemson, but Jimbo Fisher's adjustments undoubtedly will yield immediate rewards against the Blazers' soft defense.

Kicking: Georgia Tech versus Samford. Tashard Choice will keep the Jackets' offense rolling along all day, and kicker Travis Bell is solid.

Defense/Special Teams: Georgia Tech versus Samford. The Bulldogs are not a strong I-AA team, and they really aren't likely to score. Honorable mention: FSU versus UAB.

Rushing: West Virginia versus Marshall. The Herd might hang in there on desire alone for a while, but they can't overcome the speed of Steve Slaton and Pat White for very long.

Passing/Receiving: Pittsburgh versus Grambling. The Panthers are hurting badly at quarterback right now, but the level of competition is low enough that many short passes will turn into big plays. It's a close call on this choice, given the progress Rutgers' Mike Teel seems to have made. Honorable mention: Rutgers versus Navy.

Kicking: West Virginia versus Marshall. Pat McAfee will be busy all day.

Defense/Special Teams: Pittsburgh versus Grambling. This one is more likely a shutout than not.

Tiebreaker: 61 (most points scored by a team in a game involving two Division I-A teams this weekend)

Will Harris is a fantasy baseball and college football analyst for TalentedMrRoto.com. You can contact him at WillHarris@TalentedMrRoto.com.