As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.
Noon:
- Louisiana State @ Vanderbilt (ABC): The conventional wisdom on this one is that between LSU’s offensive struggles and Vandy actually being kinda good, and at home, the Dores are favored. I see no reason to disagree.
- Washington @ Michigan (FOX): I’m not sure either of these teams are especially good, so I’ll go with “body clocks” and pick Michigan.
- Georgia Tech @ Duke (ESPN): And here we are again. While Wallace Wade Stadium should have some enthusiasm, this isn’t exactly Tiger Stadium at night. While we thankfully solidly beat VPI last week, this team still needs to demonstrate they can be front-runners. Or, if the underdog mentality helps at all, the Blue Devils are technically favored.
- Baylor @ Texas Christian (“The Revivalry”; ESPN2): I don’t know a lot about either of these teams, so I’ll go with TCU.
- Arizona @ Houston (FS1): Zona is so inconsistent, so I’ll take the Cougars.
- Army @ Tulane (ESPNU): I think this could be a fun match up, and while I think Tulane wins on talent Army should be able to hang.
- Connecticut @ Boston College (ACCN): BC, by a lot.
- Central Michigan @ Bowling Green (CBSS): Does Eddie George have it rolling at Bowling Green? Seems that way.
- Eastern Michigan @ Miami (ESPN+)
12:45: Oklahoma @ South Carolina (SECN): Sooner, by a lot.
1:00: West Virginia @ Central Florida (TNT): UCF, by a lot.
2:30: Buffalo @ Massachusetts (ESPN+)
3:00:
- Purdue @ Northwestern (BTN): Well, while this is still a battle of bad Big Ten teams, I think it’s safe to say neither is as bad as expected. I think I slightly like the Boilers here?
- Troy @ Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN+)
3:30:
- Mississippi @ Georgia (ABC): I’m sort of convinced Lane Kiffin is the James Franklin of the SEC. This does mean I’m picking Georgia here. Look, I’m not happy about this either.
- Ohio State @ Wisconsin (CBS): Buckeyes, by a lot.
- Texas A&M @ Arkansas (ESPN): Ol’ Bobby Petrino definitely had some tricks up his sleeve last week, but I don’t think any amount of tricks means they’ll be able to hang with the Aggies.
- Nevada-Las Vegas @ Boise State (FS1): Pay attention, because two of the biggest games of the afternoon are right here. In this one, we’ll find out the Mountain West frontrunner. I like Boise, but not nearly by as much as our friends in the desert.
- Old Dominion @ James Madison (“Royal Rivalry”; ESPNU): This one will determine the favorite in the Sun Belt East, which is actually kind of a big deal. I like JMU here, but this should be a good one either way.
- Southern Methodist @ Clemson (ACCN): I still don’t trust Clemson, but this isn’t last year’s SMU team.
- Wyoming @ Air Force (CBSS): I’ll admit I don’t have much of a read on this one outside of Colorado and Wyoming sharing a border. Let’s go with Air Force?
- Michigan State @ Indiana (Peacock)
- Coastal Carolina @ Appalachian State (ESPN+)
- Akron @ Ball State (ESPN+)
- Northern Illinois @ Ohio (ESPN+)
- Temple @ Charlotte (ESPN+)
- Texas State @ Marshall (ESPN+)
- Texas-San Antonio @ North Texas (ESPN+)
4:00:
- Texas Tech @ Arizona State (FOX): Unfortunately, I don’t see how this is anything other than another Texas Tech romp. Turns out they’re good.
- Memphis @ Alabama-Birmingham (“Battle for the Bones”; ESPN2): Memphis, by a lot. (One of the best rivalry trophies in the sport though!)
4:15: Mississippi State @ Florida (SECN): Napier may be done either way, but I still have a hard time seeing how Florida loses this one. Which, I suppose, is the problem.
6:30:
- Washington State @ Virginia (The CW): I think Wazzu is better than their record would indicate. (Ask the folks in Oxford, MS.) That said, I have to acknowledge that Virginia is better than I thought they’d be and I’m leaving slightly that way.
- Oregon @ Rutgers (BTN): Oregon, by a lot.
7:00:
- Texas @ Kentucky (ESPN): Texas, by a lot.
- Maryland @ California-Los Angeles (FS1): Exhibit A for two teams trending in opposite directions. It’s very much not September in College Park, and the “under new management” Bruins are suddenly competent. So yeah, UCLA all the way here.
- Pennsylvania State @ Iowa (Peacock)
- Hawaii @ Colorado State (Spectrum)
7:30:
- Tennessee @ Alabama (“Third Saturday in October”; ABC): This is very much a “styles make fights” game and I don’t think this is a particularly good match up for the Tide.
- Southern California @ Notre Dame (NBC): This is being billed as a chance for USC to get back in the “nationally relevant” conversation, which is why I like Notre Dame here.
- Florida Atlantic @ South Florida (ESPNU): USF, by a lot.
- Pittsburgh @ Syracuse (ACCN): “We’re not rivals, but we play a lot” sums up the vibes of this one. I think the Orange are slightly better, but the Panthers have themselves a new quarterback. What rules here? I’ll lean slightly Pitt but this should be wide open.
7:45: Missouri @ Auburn (SECN): Mizzou, by a lot.
8:00:
- Utah @ Brigham Young (“Holy War”; FOX): This will be one of the grittiest games of the day. Ultimately I think the Stormin’ Mormons have more grit.
- Cincinnati @ Oklahoma State (ESPN2): Cincy, by a lot.
9:45: Nevada @ New Mexico (FS1): This one should be close, in sense that neither of these teams are particularly good. I slightly lean Lobos here.
10:00: Lafayette @ Oregon State (The CW)
10:30: Florida State @ Stanford (ESPN): I would say “Florida State, by a lot” but… what’s going on in Tallahassee? I don’t think FSU will lose this, not at all, but if they do this is a Penn State level disaster for Mike Norvell and company.