As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Friday

Noon:

• Iowa State @ Texas (ABC): Well, Rivalry Week isn’t what should be this year, but what is this year? 2020. Anyway, this could be be a fun one… provided Texas doesn’t play well and plays up/down to their opposition as usual. I have the Longhorns here.
• Massachusetts @ Liberty (espn3.com)

1:00: Nebraska @ Iowa (“The Heroes Game”; FOX): Well, none of the actual Big Ten rivalries are being played this weekend, but hey we’ll take the manufactured one. That said, should be Iowa all the way here.

3:30: Central Florida @ South Florida (“The War in I-4”; ESPN): UCF by a mile.

4:00:

• Wyoming @ Nevada-Las Vegas (FS1): We’ll get to the more interesting games here in a bit, but first this should a chance to get a good luck as some up-and-comers. I have Wyoming here.
• Central Michigan @ Eastern Michigan (CBSS): Even the MAC isn’t playing their top-line rivalries. I usually associated most big rivalries more with Thanksgiving weekend than being the last game of the season, but I guess outside of the SEC many conferences don’t see it that way. Maybe that’s an indication of where I’m from more than anything else. That said, in this game, I’ve got Central here.

4:30: Stanford @ California (“The Big Game; FOX): Ah, here we go, some rivalries! Stanford has… not been good this year. Neither has Cal really, as they’re both 0-2! I just still like their chances better.

7:30: Oregon @ Oregon State (ESPN): This game is, understandably, looking for a new name. In the meantime, I think this could actually be close. We’ll find out how good Oregon actually is. I expect the Ducks will win, but it may be closer than they’d prefer.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Clemson @ Florida State (ABC): Like with many of their ACC rivals, this there was a time when this game was a circle-it-on-the-calendar event. Not anymore. Clemson should wax the ‘Noles.
• Indiana @ Ohio State (FOX): I WANT TO BELIEVE… that Indiana can be competitive in this game. But Ohio State is just, like, really good.
• Florida @ Vanderbilt (ESPN): Gators all the way in this one.
• Appalachian State @ Coastal Carolina (ESPN2): Here’s the real intrigue for the noontime slot. App State has long been the emblem of fun G5 football that occasionally pokes one of the big boys in the eye. This game could well be the passing of a torch, or at a minimum the announcement that App now has more company in that tier. I like Coastal here.
• Illinois @ Nebraska (FS1): I think Nebraska might win this one?
• Arkansas State @ Texas State (ESPNU): Y’all, it’s been a long week. In addition to, well, everything else, I’ve also been dealing with ants. They are very annoying, and I have bought strong chemicals in attempt to convince them to go away. Hopefully that works. In meantime, I have no idea who’s going to win this game. I’ll go with the Bobcats at home.
• Louisiana State @ Arkansas (SEC): Y’all… y’all… Arkansas might win this game.
• Georgia Southern @ Army (CBSS): Triple option versus triple option! Southern doesn’t seem all that good this year, though, so I’ll take Army.
• East Carolina @ Temple (ESPN+)

2:00:

• Rice @ North Texas (espn3.com)
• Florida International @ Western Kentucky (espn3.com)

3:00: Texas-San Antonio @ Southern Mississippi (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Wisconsin @ Northwestern (ABC): Northwestern is currently undefeated. Unless this game gets called off after we go to print, they will not be after this game.
• San Diego State @ Nevada (CBS): That’s right, we’ve got the Mountain West on the prime CBS afternoon slot! (And you thought the Masters being on last weekend was weird.) So this one could well be pretty interesting. Nevada may be back after a few years in the wilderness, while SDSU has been a MWC power for most of the past decade. This one could be fun, but I’ll stick with the Aztecs.
• Cincinnati @ Central Florida (ESPN): Unstoppable force vs. immovable object, who will give? Well, probably UCF. Cincy will be far and away the best defense they’ve played, and the Bearcats can probably do enough on offense to win. Which is probably exactly how they’re drawing it up.
• California-Los Angeles @ Oregon (ESPN2): Ducks.
• California @ Oregon State (FS1): Bears.
• Georgia State @ South Alabama (ESPNU): Panthers.
• Iowa @ Pennsylvania State (BTN): Hawkeyes… wait, that’s not really an animal. That’s like, a part of an animal? I’m not sure I really internalized that until now. How does this not come up as an exceedingly weird mascot? I guess being an animal part still wins out over the “Crimson Tide”s and “Cardinal”s of the world.
• Middle Tennessee State @ Troy (espn3.com)

4:00:

• Kansas State @ Iowa State (“Farmageddon”; FOX): One’s got wheat, the other’s got corn, and they meet, it’s FARMAGEDDON. Iowa State is K-State’s all-time second most played program (behind only Kansas). Thanks to conference realignment, K-State will become Iowa State’s most-played rival in three seasons since Mizzou and Nebraska have fled for greener pastures. (That’s right, Iowa State has played K-State 36 more times than Iowa.) And it’s still the 8th-longest rivalry, and likely soon to be 7th since Clemson-South Carolina probably won’t play this year. It’s been around a while! So, as for the game… well, the Cyclones should win.
• Kentucky @ Alabama (SEC): Bama.
• Virginia Tech @ Pittsburgh (ACCN): Virginia Tech has made no sense, so I suspect they will win this game to continue to ensue that status.

7:00: Tennessee @ Auburn (ESPN): Auburn has been all over the place this year, but not so much so that they’d lose to Tennessee.

7:30:

• Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma (“Bedlam”; ABC): Oklahoma State comes in as a 10 point favorite, but the saying still holds: “It’s Bedlam! Anything can happen and then Oklahoma will win.”
• Mississippi State @ Georgia (SEC): This might be the least pleasurable game to watch that will end 21-3 ever, and not just because Georgia will win.
• Missouri @ South Carolina (SECA): Well, South Carolina’s gone and done it, they fired Will Muschamp. Why now? Who knows, I guess they like paying him to not coach more than to coach. I still favor them here.
• Michigan @ Rutgers (BTN): I… Michigan might lose this game, y’all. Might.
• Liberty @ North Carolina State (ACC/RSN): Well, Liberty’s already beaten one mediocre ACC team, I guess they’ll probably make it two.

8:00: Arizona @ Washington (FOX): UDub.

10:30: Southern California @ Utah (ESPN): USC apparently believes in giving their fans a finish, because their first two games this year have been insane. That said, the Utes are probably better than either of the Arizona schools, and they always play with a chip on their shoulder. They should be able to close it out.

11:00: Boise State @ Hawaii (CBSS): And to wrap it up, Boise heads for the warm climes of Hawaii. A tropical escape sounds pretty good right now, I gotta say. Plus, they’ll probably win!

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Saturday

Noon:

• Indiana @ Michigan State (ABC): Nine Windiana, let’s do this! They should be able to handle Sparty.
• Texas Christian @ West Virginia (FOX): What is TCU this year? I don’t know, and neither do you. Going with the ‘Neers.
• Miami @ Virginia Tech (ESPN): VPI is favored in this game. Miami is ranked #9. VPI is unranked. 2020! I’ll take the ‘Canes.
• Army @ Tulane (ESPN2): Do you like it when teams run the ball? Then boy howdy have I got the game for you! Run early, run often, but Army should prevail in the end.
• Pennsylvania State @ Nebraska (FS1): Penn State is currently 0-3, but I suspect they won’t be after this one.
• Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (SEC): Uh, Kentucky, easily.
• Middle Tennessee State @ Marshall (CBSS): Did you know Marshall is 6-0? I consider myself fairly plugged into college football and I didn’t. But now you do. I’ll take them to go 7-0.

1:00: Illinois @ Rutgers (BTN): Rutgers will probably be .500 at 2-2 after this game. That’s weird. 2020!

2:00: South Alabama @ Louisiana (ESPN+)

2:30:

• Fresno State @ Utah State (FS2): There’s a lot of things that aren’t a good look these days. You can add “bring back the coach who got ya there years ago and then watch him completely torch every bridge extended to him” to that list as Gary Andersen was fired lasy week. Sheesh. Fresno figures to roll.
• Georgia State @ Appalachian State (espn3.com)

3:00: Texas-El Paso @ Texas-San Antonio (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Notre Dame @ Boston College (ABC): BC was fun and almost beat Clemson, but I went back and actually watched a replay of the ND-Clemson and both ND and Clemson are just on another level. Can BC turn the trick twice? Sure, if you mean “get out to an early lead but lose in the end”.
• Southern California @ Arizona (FOX): It’s been a long week y’all. A really long week. Honestly, right now, I’m going to blaze through the rest of these. So… LIGHTNING ROUND! ZONA
• Colorado @ Stanford (ESPN): BUFFS
• South Florida @ Houston (ESPN2): HOUSTON?
• Southern Mississippi @ Western Kentucky (CBSS): HILLTOPPERS
• Louisville @ Virginia (ACCN): UVA
• Texas State @ Georgia Southern (espn3.com)

4:00:

• Baylor @ Texas Tech (FS1): Baylor?
• Hawaii @ San Diego State (Yurca)

5:00: Northwestern @ Purdue (BTN): Northwestern?

6:30: Nevada vs. New Mexico (@Whitney, NV; FS2): Nevada

7:00:

• Arkansas @ Florida (ESPN): GATORS
• Oregon @ Washington State (FOX): DUCKS
• Southern Methodist @ Tulsa (ESPN2): PONIES

7:30:

• Wisconsin @ Michigan (ABC): There’s a lot of anxiety these days in Ann Arbor, but look, 2020 is weird, everyone’s on edge, I’m willing to give Michigan a pass on this one. And they could well beat Wisconsin anyway! I mean, I don’t think they will, but you know.
• Temple @ Central Florida (ESPNU): Temple is, well, Temple again UCF should roll.
• South Carolina @ Mississippi (SEC): Oh man Lane is going to troll Muschamp so hard y’all this is going to be hilarious.
• Florida State @ North Carolina State (ACCN): A few weeks ago, FSU beat UNC and it seemed like maybe the ‘Noles were turning it around. NOPE. They have since been blown out by Louisville and Pitt, and, well, NC State doesn’t figure out do worse than Pitt.

10:30: Nevada-Las Vegas @ San Jose State (FS2): One of these teams is 3-0, the other 0-3. After this, I figure SJSU will be 4-0, and I think you can figure out where that puts the Runnin’ Rebels.

11:00: Oregon State @ Washington (FS1): Oregon State figures to be a team to watch in the Pac-12 North, but UDub shouldn’t have any issue with an early days Beavers team.

Sunday

Noon: California @ California-Los Angeles (“Battle for California”; FS1): A few months ago, UCLA announced non-conference games they added to their 2030 schedule. Today, they were supposed to play Utah. Instead, they are playing Cal tomorrow (and they were originally supposed to play Arizona State). College football in 2020, y’all. Anyway, it’s Bears vs. Bears (well, Bruins, which is, you know, another word for bear) and who’s going to win? Eh, I’ll guess the Bruins.

You may ask yourself “what is that beautiful house?” You may ask yourself “where does that highway go to?”

You may ask yourself “hey where are your bowl predictions?”

Yeah, about that. The bowl schedule is almost totally up-in-the-air at the moment and teams have played a wildly varying number of games. I haven’t had the time to do all the research I need to do, especially given that I suspect there may be games that will be in doubt if they are even played.

Also, I am very incredibly busy. I may have time to look into it around Thanksgiving.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Arizona State @ Southern California (FOX): Naturally, we lead with a Pac-12 game, as is traditional. Wait, what? Yeah, that’s right kids, the Pac-12 will experiment with 9am local time kickoffs to try to get more of that sweet, sweet East Coast exposure. I’m not a Pac-12 fan, but I live on the West Coast and so do most Pac-12 fans, so I’m going to guess they’re not super crazy about this! But as pointed out on Split Zone Duo (like and subscribe, y’all), for the players it’s probably not that weird since they probably wake up at 6:00am for practice normally anyway. Makes sense, since college players have to go to class afterward, which would be main counter the usual thing you hear when West Coast NFL teams play East Coast teams (that is: “body clock”). So anyway, this game. So it turns out Clay Helton is still at USC for some reason? Yeah, that’s weird. I’ll take the Sun Devils.
• West Virginia @ Texas (ABC): I think writing the beginning of this post is the longest I’ve gone without checking election updates all week, so that’s good. Let’s talk about Texas. If they can play like they can when they’re playing Oklahoma or Oklahoma state, they’re set, so I have them favored. The problem for Texas, and perhaps more specifically for Tom Herman, is that the Longhorns tend to play up or down to their opponent. If they can figure out how to play up to a down opponent, then Texas might actually be “back”.-
• Michigan State @ Iowa (ESPN): Sparty’s broad shoulders sure shrugged off that loss to Rutgers by beating their biggest rival, so that must feel good. Just like how I still haven’t refreshed the New York Times website again even though it’s now after midnight here. (You never know!) Anyway, Iowa’s 0-2 with losses to Northwestern and Purdue, so yeah let’s roll with Sparty here.
• North Carolina @ Duke (ESPN2): Carolina all the way in this one.
• Michigan @ Indiana (FS1): Eh, Indiana, what the hell, let’s do it.
• Arkansas State @ Louisiana (ESPNU): I’m given to understand that the status of the Cajuns is that they are Ragin’.
• Nebraska @ Northwestern (BTN): You could watch this game, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Many other games in this time slot have more intrigue than watching Northwestern win this 12-9 or whatever.
• Liberty @ Virginia Tech (ACCN): VPI, hopefully.
• Louisiana-Monroe @ Georgia State (espn3.com)
• Southern Methodist @ Temple (ESPN+)
• Tulane @ East Carolina (ESPN+)
• South Florida @ Memphis (ESPN+)

1:00: Troy @ Georgia Southern (espn3.com)

2:00: Boston College @ Syracuse (ACC/RSN): I think BC is good? They seem good. They certainly have Clemson all they wanted last weekend for a half, and unlike Clemson, Syracuse is far less capable of mounting a second half comeback.

2:30: Massachusetts @ Marshall (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Florida vs. Georgia (“The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” @ Jacksonville, FL; CBS): Apparently Florida plays offense now? I mean, that’s what they were famous for back in the Spurrier (and to a lesser extent, Meyer) days. (They may be the only title-contending SEC school that is generally known for their offenses.) Georgia, well, Georgia doesn’t move the ball any more quickly than they absolutely need to, and I think Florida will be good enough to make them pay for that.
• Houston @ Cincinnati (ABC): Cincy looks unstoppable, and this version of the Cougars should present little resistance.
• Kansas @ Oklahoma (ESPN): Speaking of little resistance, boy howdy, name your score Sooners.
• Texas Tech @ Texas Christian (FS1): I have no idea what to make of this game, and I sort of think that feeling may be shared by many of the participates. TCU I guess?
• Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State (SEC): Vandy is so bad, y’all.
• Minnesota @ Illinois (BTN): Minnesota.
• Maryland @ Pennsylvania State (BTN): Maryland kinda has a pulse this year, but that’s not good enough to stop you from getting rolled by Penn State.
• Fresno State @ Nevada-Las Vegas (CBSS): Fresno figures come up aces against UNLV.

4:00:

• Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (FOX): Well, by the metrics, Oklahoma State was the better team against Texas last weekend, but they had a few bad bounces. Well, K-State is going to need more than a few bad bounces.
• Pittsburgh @ Florida State (ACCN): I don’t think either of these teams is especially good, but it seems like FSU’s loss to us gets weirder by the week. I’ll take the Seminoles.
• Appalachian State @ Texas State (ESPN+)

6:00: Western Kentucky @ Florida Atlantic (Stadiun/RSN)

7:00:

• Texas A&M @ South Carolina (ESPN): The Aggies should generally outclass South Carolina, and according to the fans and the people who fund Gamecock football, that shouldn’t be the case. Will Muschamp may not be in Columbia much longer.
• California-Los Angeles @ Colorado (ESPN2): Did you know Chip Kelly is still at UCLA? And that former UCLA head coach (and alum) Karl Dorrell is now the head man in Boulder? These things are both true. I’ll take the Buffs here.
• Baylor @ Iowa State (FS1): Go Cyclones.

7:30:

• Clemson @ Notre Dame (NBC): Well, two of the last three opponents my team has played were these two teams. Even without Trevor Lawrence, Clemson is still a fully operational battle station, especially given they had a week to figure it out last week against Boston College. I will take the Tigers here.
• Stanford @ Oregon (ABC): Stanford ain’t what it was during the Harbaugh/Luck days, and I don’t think this game will be bringing that back.
• Tennessee @ Arkansas (SEC): These two teams seem to be about on the same tier so far this season, which is a disappointment for the Vols but an awesome, expectation-exceeding improvement from last year. So I’ll take the Hogs here.
• Rutgers @ Ohio State (BTN): Rutgers played some 1870’s football last week and it almost worked! (Alas, that pass from #15 was just barely forward.) That said, no amount of laterals will be sufficient for Rutgers to defeat Ohio State.

8:00: South Alabama @ Coastal Carolina (ESPNU): That’s your 15th-ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, thankyouverymuch. They should have no issues with USA.

10:30: Washington State @ Oregon State (FS1): Ah, the first fall day here in the Bay Area today. A little cooler, a crisper. And so what a time for some proper #Pac12AfterDark live from Corvallis. And the Beavers may even be favored! I’m definitely favoring them, at least.

11:00: New Mexico @ Hawaii: You can find this on the internet (and legitimately, I’m given to understand, but maybe it’s only on an app. I dunno, I’ll figure it out when I get there). Trust me, late night Rainbow Warriors football is the salve you need right now.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Boston College @ Clemson (ABC): Well, Trevor Lawrence is out, so that could work out for Boston College… to maybe cover. Clemson still prevails here.
• Michigan State @ Michigan (FOX): Well, losing to Rutgers doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence here, but this always feels like a game that’s closer than it should be. But I can’t see a winner other than the Wolverines here.
• Memphis @ Cincinnati (ESPN): This should be fun, but Cincy should be the winner in the end. May be the game to watch in this timeslot.
• Kansas State @ West Virginia (ESPN2): I still like K-State here, but I’m not sure why.
• Iowa State @ Kansas (FS1): Les Miles is at Kansas why exactly? Cyclones all the way here.
• Coastal Carolina @ Georgia State (ESPNU): Y’all, this could well be the game to watch for the nooner. Seriously. Ranked Coastal! A better than expected Georgia State! I like Coastal but give this a look.
• Georgia @ Kentucky (SEC): Georgia will presumably score enough to win this one? Maybe? Probably?
• Purdue @ Illinois (BTN): You could watch Purdue win this, but I’m not sure why.
• Wake Forest @ Syracuse (ACCN): Wake all day.
• Texas-San Antonio @ Florida Atlantic (Stadium/RSN): UTSA all day.
• Temple @ Tulane (ESPN+)

2:00: Central Florida @ Houston (ESPN+): I don’t normally write anything for these stream-onyl games but HOW IS THIS NOT ON TV?!?

3:00:

• Troy @ Arkansas State (espn3.com)
• Rice @ Southern Mississippi (espn3.com)

3:30:

• Notre Dame @ Georgia Tech (ABC): Improvement. That’s all I ask at this point. Measurable progress of any sort.
• Louisiana State @ Auburn (CBS): Tigers versus Tigers! And no one has any idea how to read this game! Seriously, I have no idea what to expect here. I’ll take LSU I suppose, but I won’t be surprised by either outcome.
• Northwestern @ Iowa (ESPN): This is certainly a game you could watch that is on at this time. Iowa.
• Texas Christian @ Baylor (ESPN2): I don’t what TCU is, but I will still take them over Baylor.
• Indiana @ Rutgers (FS1): These teams are both 1-0! Seriously! I mean, I’ll still take Indiana here but it’s a Big Ten game with intrigue!
• Alabama-Birmingham @ Louisiana Tech (Stadium/RSN): UAB?

4:00:

• Texas @ Oklahoma State (FOX): It’s late and I’ve got a headache and there’s a lot of games left. Which is good! That’s what I want out of a college football Saturday! But I need to get this one in the bin. But for this game, man y’all, what’s going at Texas? I guess they have this tendency to play up/down to their opponents, which can definitely serve them well against the Big 12’s last playoff hope in Oklahoma State. I’ll go ahead and take them here to win this and then suffer a disappointing loss later on.
• Appalachian State @ Louisiana-Monroe (ESPNU): Appy State easy.
• Mississippi @ Vanderbilt (SEC): Ole Miss for sure. What’s going on in Nashville?
• Virginia Tech @ Louisville (ACCN): No one expected much from the Cardinals this year, but here they are, looking pretty sharp. I’ll take them over VPI.

6:00: Boise State @ Air Force (CBSS): Boise.

7:00:

• Mississippi State @ Alabama (ESPN): Bama all day.
• San Jose State vs. New Mexico (@San Jose, CA; FS1): In a first, this one was moved from Albuquerque to San Jose for COVID reasons. I’ll take the Spartans to win this unexpected home game.
• Charlotte @ Duke (ACC/RSN): Duke should able to win this one… probably.

7:30:

• Ohio State @ Pennsylvania State (ABC): Well, Penn State was upset by Indiana last weekend. I don’t think that will have a huge effect here, as most would’ve expected them to lose the Buckeyes anyway.
• Navy @ Southern Methodist (ESPN2): I’m not sure how good SMU is this year, so Navy probably?
• Arkansas @ Texas A&M (SEC): Arkansas is better than anyone expected, but A&M’s talent should prevail in the end.
• Missouri @ Florida (SECA): This game is expected to be lopsided enough in the Gators’ favor that they put it on the alternate y’all.

8:00:

• Oklahoma @ Texas Tech (FOX): Sooners should be okay in this one.
• Louisiana @ Texas State (ESPNU): Will the Cajuns keep their preferred moniker for another week? Let’s see! I like them to.
• North Carolina @ Virginia (ACCN): UNC I guess? I need to watch UVA at some point this year.

9:30: San Diego State @ Utah State (CBSS): Aztecs?

10:15: Western Kentucky @ Brigham Young (ESPN): BYU all the way.

10:30: Nevada @ Nevada-Las Vegas (FS1): A rivalry game, yes, but one that the Wolf Pack should easily win.