As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Texas @ Tennessee (ABC): The battle for the “real UT” gets us underway. That said, I really lean Texas here, they seem better all around. Neyland is a tough road environment for sure, but I think the Horns can get it done.
• Illinois @ Ohio State (FOX): Ohio State has some issues, and Illinois is good… but I think the Buckeyes will be fine here.
• Wake Forest @ Louisville (ESPN): Louisville moved into the 2nd best team in the ACC slot by beating SMU last week, now they have to prove they belong there by taking care of business here.
• Colorado @ Baylor (ESPN2): It sure seemed like the Buffs had figured some things out, but… you get destroyed by Northwestern like that and well, I’m going to be hesitant to pick you again.
• Sam Houston State @ Texas Tech (TNT): Tech will be okay here.
• Colorado State @ Texas-San Antonio (ESPNU): I don’t know if either of these teams is good, but I’ll take UTSA at home.
• Virginia Tech @ Boston College (ACCN): The Hokies took care of Maryland last week, now comes a relative layup at Chestnut Hill.
• San Diego State @ Toledo (CBSS): I have to say, maybe I need to reserve a section in the OOC preview for G6 bangers. Of course, the Aztec’s issue is always that they can’t really score points. So even though I think they out-talent Toledo, I’ll take the Rockets to get to 21 points and the win.
• Ball State @ Kent State (ESPN+)
• Nevada-Las Vegas @ Akron (ESPN+)

12:45: South Alabama @ Kentucky (SEC): A layup for the Cayuts.

1:00: Lindenwood @ Eastern Michigan (ESPN+)

1:30: California-Los Angeles @ Maryland (BTN): September Maryland never really even got off the ground this season, but maybe that’ll work in the Terps’ favor? I still like the Bruins here.

2:00:

• Notre Dame @ Purdue (Peacock/NBCSN): Purdue, congrats, you’re no longer one of the worst Power 4 teams! Hope you like getting pummeled by your other in-state rival at home!
• Northern Illinois @ Georgia State (ESPN+)

3:00:

• Hawaii @ Wyoming (The CW):
• Central Arkansas @ Florida State (ACCN)

3:30:

• Utah @ Iowa State (FOX): Iowa State seems kinda bad? I like the Utes.
• Iowa @ Michigan (CBS): Speaking of first to 21… though honestly I think Iowa is actually good in games that don’t involve Iowa State. I like the Hawkeyes here.
• Mississippi @ Florida (ABC): Florida is favored in this game, which caused John Summerall to remark that they have “good drugs” these days. Unlike a lot of coach quotes along these lines, I think he’s right. The Rebels just took care of LSU at home, and they have the most dynamic QB in the SEC. I like them straight up here.
• Oklahoma @ Georgia (ESPN): OU is an unserious team this season.
• Boise State @ Western Michigan (ESPN2): Speaking of G6 bangers! Broncos on Broncos! Western probably should be undefeated, but without rehashing all of that they’re still pretty good. I’m still going to lean Boise just on a talent standpoint, but this could be fun.
• Texas Christian @ Central Florida (FS1): UCF is just kinda bad this year.
• New Mexico @ New Mexico State (“Rio Grande Rivalry”; CBSS): It’s a rivalry game, but New Mexico is just more talented and better resourced. Of course, that’s kinda always the case in this game. I don’t think this will be close, but it’ll be fun if the Aggies can make this a game.
• William & Mary @ Duke (ACCNX)
• Connecticut @ Miami (ESPN+)
• Stonehill @ Ohio (ESPN+)
• Gardner-Webb @ Marshall (ESPN+)
• Robert Morris @ Buffalo (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Houston @ Georgia Southern (ESPNU): Cougs all the way.
• North Carolina Central @ East Carolina (ESPN+)

4:15: Vanderbilt @ Auburn (SEC): Vandy? Sure, let’s go with that. I legit have no idea for this one.

5:00:

• Nebraska @ Michigan State (BTN): Speaking of teams that I don’t think are very good, Sparty hasn’t done much to inspire confidence, whereas Nebraska has sailed to 3-0. This is a crucial test for the Huskers to prove that the progress is real.
• Wisconsin @ Pennsylvania State (Peacock/NBCSN): This could really set the tone of the rest of either of these team’s seasons, but I think it’s more likely to be negative for the Badgerse.

6:00:

• Incarnate Word @ Texas State (USA)
• Delaware @ Virginia (ACCN): Hoos roll.
• James Madison @ Old Dominion (“Royal Rivalry”; ESPN+)
• Long Island @ Florida International (ESPN+)

6:30:

• Central Michigan @ Miami (The CW): I still kinda like Miami here.
• Louisiana @ Charlotte (ESPN+)

7:00:

• South Carolina @ Alabama (ESPN): Bama is just better.
• Kansas State @ Cincinnati (ESPN2): We’re getting to the point of the season where teams will start to take their first loss, but definitely not their last, and that’ll be true for either of these teams. Neither of these teams has much for me to go, so in that case I just sorta lean K-State? Ask me again about these teams next week.
• Oklahoma State @ West Virginia (FS1): I hadn’t paid a lot of attention to West Virginia this season, and then they up and beat Virginia. Naturally, of course, Oklahoma State has the upset of the year so far, and if they keep the offense rolling they’ll probably be fine here. But this game as “sneaky good” written all over it.
• Kennesaw State @ Arkansas State (ESPN+)
• Southern Mississippi @ Tulane (ESPN+)
• Mercyhurst @ Western Kentucky (ESPN+)
• Middle Tennessee State @ Jacksonville State (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Arizona @ Washington State (CBS): Zona all the way, unfortunately.
• Texas A&M @ Louisiana State (ABC): Weird seeing this one this early in the season, but Lane will have to pick up the pieces quickly after last week. I certainly like his chances against a team that just lost to… Kentucky? Aggies, what the heck?
• Oregon @ Southern California (NBC): This probably should’ve been the game of the week in the pick ’ems that I run, whoops. But anyway, we welcome a big West Coast matchup, though Oregon FAFO’d a bit over in Stillwater and comes in with a loss. Is this finally the USC team that can both score points and keep opponents from scoring every time? This will be their toughest test so far, and while I do like the Trojans here, they’ll have to prove it.
• Appalachian State @ North Carolina State (ESPNU): Low-key North Carolina rivalry here. Unfortunately I just don’t think App will be able to hang, but if this is close in the 4th quarter, get your eyes here.
• Troy @ Utah State (CBSS): The Aggies are turbobad, Troy rolls.
• Houston Christian @ North Texas (ESPN+)

7:45: Missouri @ Mississippi State (SEC): I didn’t know Missouri was ranked? I’ll guess they won’t be after this.

8:00:

• Tulsa @ Arkansas (SEC+)
• Florida Atlantic @ Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN+)

9:00:

• Missouri State @ Southern Methodist (ACCN): Pnies roll.
• Massachusetts @ Sacramento State (ESPN+)
• Oregon State @ Texas-El Paso (MWN)

10:00: Rice @ Fresno State (The CW): Bulldogs roll.

10:30:

• Georgia Tech @ Stanford (ESPN): After years of “all coast conference” jokes, my alma mater finally makes it to California. My brother and I will be in attendance, and we definitely need to see some improvement in basically… everything. The defense is bad, Alberto has a tendency throw awful picks, and the special teams aren’t that great. The Cardinal are in the running for one of the worst teams in the Power 4, and if we want to avoid being lumped into that group, we really need to show something against FBS competition that we just haven’t so far.
• Air Force @ Nevada (FS1): Air Force will be fine here.
• Northern Arizona @ Montana State (ESPN2)

11:00: Minnesota @ Washington (FOX): Who’s ready for some B1G After Dark? The Huskies are 3-0, but the Utah State result is very sketchy. Of course, the Gophers got mauled by Miss State, so.. yet another P4 tossup. I like the Huskies, but overall, I need this one to be fun.