This Weekend in College Football: Week 9

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

  • Texas @ Baylor (ABC): Baylor’s not half bad this year and the ‘Horns are still trying to get better. This may be an upset, but I’ll take the Bears at home.
  • Michigan @ Michigan State (FOX): This game is high-anxiety for Michigan fans, though apparently not so much for Sparty fans? Either way, while Michigan State has been exciting this year, I just feel like the Wolverines are the better team. I’m going with them.
  • Iowa @ Wisconsin (ESPN): This game is going to be very, shall we say, offensively challenged. But in that case, the edge could well go to the better defense, and that’s where Iowa has an edge.
  • Cincinnati @ Tulane (ESPN2): Cincy should be able to take care of business here.
  • Texas State @ Louisiana (ESPNU): As should the Ragin’ Cajuns.
  • Rutgers @ Illinois (BTN): Rutgers? Both of these teams are not good, but I think Rutgers is a bit more competent. Yes, I know Illinois beat Penn State last week, but I thought that was a pretty weird circumstance and Penn State is apparently just stuck in the mud offensively with their quarterback not at 100%.
  • Indiana @ Maryland (BTN): Indiana should be able to pick up a win in College Park, at least.
  • Bowling Green @ Buffalo (CBSS): Bowling Green is 0-4 in MAC play so far, and after this I suspect they’ll be 0-5.
  • Miami @ Pittsburgh (ACCN): Pitt should be able to handle this miserable Miami team.
  • Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech (“Techmo Bowl”; ACC/RSN): It’s Tech v. Tech, though we’re still the real Tech. That said, this is a game where we’ve got to look like we have any sort of clue on defense. The secondary especially was supposed to be a strength and yet we seem to get burned multiple times a game.
    On another note, I’m in town for the World Series this weekend. I had considering braving the cold, blustery weather for Homecoming, but ultimately decided not to. I guess one place I’d like to get this program to is a place where I didn’t even think about it, as in, I’d be going for sure.
  • Massachusetts @ Liberty (espn3.com)
  • Central Florida @ Temple (ESPN+)

2:00:

  • North Texas @ Rice (espn3.com)
  • Iowa State @ West Virginia (ESPN+)

3:00:

  • Washington State @ Arizona State (FS1): Wazzu was directionless as expected, so the Sun Devils should be able to take care of business.
  • Missouri @ Vanderbilt (SEC): This is about as dire as it gets for the SEC. Vandy just can’t score points against SEC defenses though and I think even Mizzou will given them trouble.

3:30:

  • Texas Tech @ Oklahoma (ABC): The Red Raiders fired their coach earlier this week. While not entirely unexpected, it’s still interesting to see a mid-season firing. Suffice it to say, I don’t think this helps their preparation for the Sooners.
  • Georgia vs. Florida (“The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” @ Jacksonville, FL; CBS): About the only scenario that could keep Georgia out of the playoffs at this point is multiple losses, and this is about their only chance to pick up a loss before facing Alabama in the SECCG. So go get ’em, Gators.
  • Colorado @ Oregon (FOX): The Ducks seem to have a troubling tendency to play up or down to their competition, which probably means that this will be another game that should be a blowout be way too close for comfort and/or the playoff committee.
  • Florida State @ Clemson (ESPN): Probably on big ESPN because of the logos on the helmets, because it’s certainly not the quality of the football that will be played. But Clemson’s defense can bring it, so they should still be able to hold off the Noles.
  • Purdue @ Nebraska (ESPN2): If Nebraska is actually good, then they really, really need to win this game to have any shot at 6-6. And I think they will.
  • Texas Christian @ Kansas State (ESPNU): This game just strikes me as kind of dire. I like K-State here.
  • Minnesota @ Northwestern (BTN): Do we need to start talking about how Minnesota is 5-2 and will probably be bowl eligible after this game? I feel like they’ve been somewhat overlooked.
  • Louisiana Tech @ Old Dominion (CBSS): Tech been bad, but Old Dominion has been… worse.
  • Boston College @ Syracuse (ACC/RSN): Since starting 4-0 in non-conference play, BC is now 4-3. I suspect that will be evened to 4-4 after a visit to the Carrier Down.
  • Florida International @ Marshall (Stadium)
  • Southern Mississippi @ Middle Tennessee State (ESPN+)
  • Louisiana-Monroe @ Appalachian State (ESPN+)

4:00:

  • Wyoming @ San Jose State (FS2): Wyoming appears to have pulled off the same trick BC did above, and I think they’ll suffer a similar fate in San Jose.
  • Duke @ Wake Forest (ACCN): Wake will remain undefeated after this. They put up 70 on Army last week, and they could do it again against Duke.
  • Charlotte @ Western Kentucky (ESPN+)

6:00:

  • Texas-El Paso @ Florida Atlantic (ESPN+)
  • Georgia State @ Georgia Southern (“Modern Day Hate”; ESPN+)

7:00:

  • Mississippi @ Auburn (ESPN): Ole Miss is having a perfectly fine season, which means that Bo Nix and company are poised to get in and start wrecking it. I’m going to stop short of picking Auburn here, but I like their chances for sure.
  • Southern Methodist @ Houston (ESPN2): This is the kind of game they wanted between these schools in the American. SMU is 7-0 and Houston is 6-1. Both these teams are playing well, and this should determine who the second best team in the conference is after Cincy. I like Houston’s chances, honestly.
  • Kansas @ Oklahoma State (FS1): Oklahoma State is no longer undefeated, but this is the mother of all “get right” games.
  • Arizona @ Southern California (ESPNU): This game should not be as dire as it’s going to be, but USC should be able to win this one.
  • Kentucky @ Mississippi State (SEC): Miss State’s been better, but not better enough to stop the Wildcats.
  • Boise State @ Colorado State (CBSS): Boise is a bit of a wounded animal rolling into this one, and I don’t see it getting better for them at the hand of the Rams.
  • Oregon State @ California (Pac12): Cal can’t score points, so they’re pretty much toast in this one.

7:30:

  • Pennsylvania State @ Ohio State (ABC): Well, this was supposed to be the Game of the Week probably, but with Penn State’s quarterback situation and the way Ohio State is playing across the board these days means that this will probably be lopsided. Plus, it’s in Columbus.
  • North Carolina @ Notre Dame (NBC): Notre Dame should roll here.
  • Louisville @ North Carolina State (ACCN): I keep hearing that Louisville might be good, but I don’t buy it. I like NCSU to get to 6-2 here.

10:00: California-Los Angeles @ Utah (ESPN): This game will go a long way toward figuring out control of the Pac-12 South. It’s a classic matchup of stingy defense meets good offense. Who prevails? I like the Bruins, honestly, but hey, maybe Salt Lake will get weird on All Hallow’s Eve.

10:15: Virginia @ Brigham Young (ESPN2): Speaking of Utah locales on the weekend when most will be getting their Halloween on, UVA is going out to Provo in the middle of the season. Good like with that y’all!

10:30:

  • Washington @ Stanford (FS1): You may think UDub has “figured some things out”, but look deeper and see that only beat Arizona 21-16. Yeah, I’ll take Stanford.
  • Fresno State @ San Diego State (CBSS): This one should be worth saying up for. SDSU maybe “Iowa on a coast” (complete with the best punter in the country!), but if there’s a Mountain West team that can challenge them it’s Fresno. I think the Aztecs can play field position and keep it low scoring enough to win, but watch out if Fresno breaks containment.