As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Thursday
7:30: Clemson @ Georgia Tech (ESPN): A brief history of Clemson-Georgia Tech, as I remember it:

• 2003: My freshman year and second ever college football game attended. The first was our 17-3 upset of Auburn two weeks prior, that involved rushing the field, tearing down the goal posts, and carrying phenom freshman QB Reggie Ball off the field. (Yes, that actually happened.) This game was considerably less fun, as we lost 39-3. I actually laughed out loud when I saw we passed 42 times. It’s like, well, maybe we would’ve been better off if Reggie passed at modern-GT passing rates. Anyway!
• 2004: Probably still a personal best vertical leap record for me, after the events described here happened. If you don’t want to read all of that, essentially, we scored two touchdowns in the last two minutes of the game and a freshman WR named Calvin Johnson became a bonafide star.
• 2005: That link above contains a pretty good summary of that game as well. I remembered what happened on that play before I even read the description of it. Good times.
• 2006: This game sucked, but if nothing else we still ultimately made the ACC Championship Game while Clemson was busy losing the division to Wake Forest.
• 2007: The general rule of this series is this: we either barely win or lose by a ton. Clemson was 4-0 and ranked #13 coming in, but it was mostly our defense the held the day. Clemson was held to 71 yards rushing (excluding sacks) and we had the game’s lone touchdown. I don’t really remember anything about this, but hey, we won 13-3.
• 2008: I was actually at this game, which, in a total coincidence, was Dabo Swinney’s first game. I think it’s pretty safe to say most everyone vastly underestimated him at the time (even the Clemson fans I was tailgating with), but it turns out the dude can recruit and knows how to delegate to his coordinators. His first game, however, was a 21-17 loss to Georgia Tech that featured 200 yards rushing and a game winning touchdown catch by Demaryius Thomas.
• 2009, Part 1: I don’t want to spoil anything, but you know what’s better than beating Clemson once in a season? Beating them twice! This game featured many things, including a fake field goal of… dubious legality by us as we ran out to a 24-0 lead on a Thursday night. Clemson then spent the next 30 minutes of football scoring 27 unanswered points, including some very long touchdown passes caught by guys like C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford. However, Tech battled back and kicked two more FGs to get a 27-24 win.
• 2009, Part 2: It’s not very often when you score the go-ahead touchdown with 1:20 to go that you think to yourself, “we left too much time on the clock”, but that’s the way this game went. It was cold and miserable in Tampa and the entire game was nerveracking. Both teams finished with over 400 yards of total offense. C.J. Spiller averaged 11.7 yards per carry en route to 233 rushing yards and four TDs, but Tech actually finished with more total yards. Neither team punted. Yeah, it was that kind of game, but somehow they didn’t score in that last 1:20 and we won 39-34.
• 2010: This game was considerably less exciting, but in terms of the rivalry, this was a close, 27-13 loss, though looking at the stats the scoreline may flatter us a bit.
• 2011: You know what’s fun? Upsetting a top-10 ranked Clemson team. We were 7-2 coming in, but our record flattered us and we had just lost two straight to Miami and Virginia. In retrospect, this wasn’t really an especially good Tech team, yet there’s Tevin Washington (not ever the best fit for the system) averaging nearly 7 yards per carry against Clemson. Tech led 31-10 and then held on for dear life, but it mostly worked and we won 31-17. Clemson’s national title hopes were derailed, but went to go to the Orange Bowl anyway for that infamous 70-33 shallacking.
• 2012: 2012 GT was not very good. The 47-31 scoreline flattered us in this one.
• 2013: Yeah, the top-10 Clemson thing doesn’t work so good when they’re at home. 55-31 including a garbage time touchdown.
• 2014: We won 28-6 in rare November matchup, but even then it was pretty obvious we did well because Deshaun Watson got hurt early in the game and had to give way to Cole Stoudt, who promptly threw three interceptions including two pick-6’s. He had only three completions to his own team. Suffice it to say, Clemson wound up with 190 yards of total offense. That’s not good!
• 2015: Yeah, so it turns out that Deshaun Watson guy is pretty good? By this time, the malaise of last year’s annus horribilis had fully set in and we meekly lost 43-24.

What does any of that have to do with this? Probably not much. Both teams are coming off encouraging victories this year, but about the only way we have any chance is to come out on top of a shootout, I think. Clemson has played us pretty well the past few seasons, coinciding with Clemson’s hiring of Brent Venables as their defensive coordinator, so it seems, shall we say, grim. We’re 8-6 over the period described here, but we’ve only won one of our last four. Yet, it’s college football, and somehow, somehow, history always seems to lurk, waiting to cast its shadow on the events of the present day. There’s always a chance.

Friday
7:30: Wyoming @ Eastern Michigan (CBSS): Wyoming.

8:00: Texas Christian @ Southern Methodist (ESPN): TCU… probably.

9:00: Southern California @ Utah (FS1): So… a player maybe (probably not) punched Clay Helton. There’s a quarterback controversy. Yep, things are just fine at USC. Just… fine, and really, they should be. Was anyone really expecting anything from them year? And their losses so far to Alabama and Stanford, which is not dishonorable at all! Yet, it seems pretty likely this where the wheels come off, as it were.

So, as usual, I won’t see most of these games because I’ll be at a thing, but here’s the idea: I write hurried previews while incredibly tired while also providing completely accurate TV listings. Also, I don’t preview games involving FCS teams (usually).

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Thursday
7:30:

• Indiana @ Florida International (ESPNU): 3-for-1 deals, recruiting, for one reason or another the Hoosiers are going down to Boca Raton for some reason. They’ll probably still win, though.
• Appalachian State @ Tennessee (SEC): Tennessee is everyone’s favorite to step into the void of the SEC East, so they’d do well to not stumble. I think they’ll carry the day here. I will say, though, either of these games are more interesting than the next few.

8:00:

• South Carolina @ Vanderbilt (ESPN): I really hope you don’t like points but instead like “defense” that mostly consists of two incompetent offenses. I probably wouldn’t show this one to someone who hadn’t seen football before, put it that way. And, yeah, I’m going with the Gamecocks anyway.
• Rice @ Western Kentucky (CBSS): Hey, it’s game, it’s on TV, and I’ll provide you an opinion slash wild guess: going with the Hilltoppers in this one.

9:00: Oregon State @ Minnesota (BTN): Just go to bed after the earlier games end. I mean, you probably still have to go to work on Friday, right? Minnesota likely prevails.

Friday
7:00: Army @ Temple (CBSS): Temple.

8:00: Colorado State vs. Colorado (@Denver, CO; ESPN): A rivalry is renewed! And you know what, I like that they play it on a neutral site, and that the Buffs have been consistently awful for so long I don’t feel weird about picking Colorado State.

9:00:

• Kansas State @ Stanford (FS1): I actually have several cousins who have played for K-State over the years, including one on the current roster. I was offered comp tickets to this game, but I had to turn ’em down because I’ll be out of town, but I hope y’all enjoy the Bay Area. On a more somber note, I also don’t really see how K-State is going to stop Stanford, and that’s before we even get into them having one of the best players in college football thing.
• Toledo @ Arkansas State (ESPNU): This feels more like a wacky weeknight game in November than September, but hey, that’s what you get on the first, blessedly NFL-less weekend of the season. Let’s keep rollin’ with the home team here.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Thursday
7:30:

• South Florida @ Central Florida (ESPN): UCF continues its quest to become one of the worst teams in the history of college football with a visit from a surging USF squad. I’d stick to the other game.
• Texas Tech @ Texas (FS1): At 4-6, Texas isn’t out of the bowl picture yet (especially with the “being short of teams” business) but time is running out for the ‘Horns. The Fighting Kingsburys recently got back into form after a 3-game losing streak by putting up 56 on K-State, so they figure to have the advantage here.

Friday
Noon:

• Navy @ Houston (ABC): This one’s tough to judge. These are both solid teams with potent offenses. Navy did beat Memphis by a larger margin, so I’m giving a slight edge to the Midshipmen.
• Miami @ Pittsburgh (ESPN2): I like Pitt a lot in this late season ACC tilt. Miami’s “mailing it in” status seems to vary based on the opponent, so we’ll see.
• Marshall @ Western Kentucky (FS1): If last year’s contest is any indication, then this will be one of the most exciting games of the weekend. Western Kentucky’s looked slightly better on the year, so I’ll go with them.
• Western Michigan @ Toledo (CBSS): Toledo should have this one.

2:30: Missouri @ Arkansas (CBS): Well, Mizzou has no offense basically, which makes this an apparently easy pick for the ‘Hogs, but you never know with the Fightin’ Berts.

3:30:

• Washington State @ Washington (FOX): It’s a bit of an inversion in the Apple Cup this year, eh? Three months after everyone was writing off Mike Leach and Co., they’re one of the mot improved teams of the year. I suspect coaches would take that sort of result against Portland State if it meant more seasons like this. So, yeah, I like the Cougs here.
• Iowa @ Nebraska (ABC): Someone, please, help? Anyone? I have to go with the Hawkeyes, though.
• Boise State @ San Jose State (CBSS): Boise’s down this year, but that happens sometimes. They should be able to beat the Spartans.

4:00: Oregon State @ Oregon (FS1): Oregon’s looked more like, well, themselves the past few weeks, which does not bode well for Oregon State at all.

4:30: Massachusetts @ Buffalo (ESPNU): Buffalo is mediocre. UMass is terrible. Easy pick!

7:30: Baylor @ Texas Christian (ESPN): Game of the day, except that everyone’s hurt. However, Baylor seems to have the much, much better Plan B, so I’m giving them a slight edge.

8:00: Tulsa @ Tulane (ESPNU): Well, Tulane just fired their coach, so… Tulsa?

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Thursday
6:00:

• North Carolina vs. South Carolina (@Charlotte, NC; ESPN): It’s a bit odd, as this is finally the year where people aren’t saying that this is North Carolina’s year. Does that mean they will actually be good for once? Steve Spurrier is also under about as much fire as a coach of his stature can come under, but despite all the issues I think the Gamecocks have, at least, this one.
• Florida International @ Central Florida (CBSS): Down in Florida, George O’Leary’s Knights may be poised for a very, very darkhorse run at being the best Group of Five team. It should start with a victory.

7:00: Oklahoma State @ Central Michigan (ESPNU): An odd away game for a Big 12 team, venturing up into MAC country, but unless MACtion is already in mid-season form it’s hard to see how this will work out for the Chippewas.

7:30: Alcorn State @ Georgia Tech (ACC/RSN): This is the most bizarre offseason I can recall in my 12 years of following Georgia Tech. We lost virtually all of our skill position production. Our defense was terrible last year, so the hope is mostly that it can’t be worse this year. Yet, we’ve got hype. We’re being mentioned as potential ACC champions along with Clemson and a reloading Florida State. We’re getting some press as a darkhorse playoff candidate. I mean, hey, if we get through the schedule we have this year with only one loss, then we’ll certainly deserve it, but still. By far the most plausible thing, though? Justin Thomas as a Heisman candidate.
I’m also happy to say I’m currently in the Atlanta area and poised to attend my first Georgia Tech home game since I graduated. Woo!

8:00: Western Kentucky @ Vanderbilt (SEC): I’m still scratching my head over how Vandy got so bad so quickly last year, and not only that, how it continues to look bleak this year. Can they top the Hilltoppers? I won’t call for the upset, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

8:30: Michigan @ Utah (FS1): Michigan playing in a strange land? On a Thursday? I’m sure some blue-and-maize types are really scratching their heads, but this provides a really interesting matchup and a test for Jim Harbaugh in his first college game in a while. I think Harbaugh proves how much of an upgrade his is pretty quickly, though I am only picking them in this one very tentatively.

9:00: Texas Christian @ Minnesota (ESPN): The Golden Gophers provide a stiff test as TCU shakes off the rust and dust, but once that happens sometime around halftime this one is not going to be pretty.

9:30: Duke @ Tulane (CBSS): I’m comfortably picking Duke in non-conference road games now? I mean, it is Tulane, but still, what is this world coming to?

10:00: Texas-San Antonio @ Arizona (Pac12): Hard to see the Roadrunners providing the Wildcats much of a test.

1:00: Colorado @ Hawaii (CBSS): I know I just said this, but terrible or otherwise banned from postseason teams are supposed to save this game for, like, November. Come on! Also, will CBSS just be broadcasting the feed of the super-homer Hawaii local announcers? Hopefully, yes. Also, the Buffs should win.

Friday
3:30: Charlotte @ Georgia State (ESPNU): Georgia State might win this one! Emphasis on the might. I’ll call that anyway. Also, who kicks off a game at 3:30 PM on a weekday?

7:00:

• Baylor @ Southern Methodist (ESPN): Baylor.
• Michigan State @ Western Michigan (ESPNU): No matter how much PJ Fleck rows, it’s Sparty all the way.
• Fordham @ Army (CBSS): Army, probably.

8:00: Weber State @ Oregon State (Pac12): Oregon State.

9:00: Kent State @ Illinois (BTN): So, again. Remember that time Illinois fired their head coach a week before the season started? Oh, right, that was last week. Geez louise, I mean, they were going to be terrible anyway, but still! They’ll win at least this one, though. Probably.

10:15: Washington @ Boise State (ESPN): This one should be worth staying up for, as Chris Peterson faces his old team immediately after leaving for his new one. As for a winner, I have almost no idea, but let’s go with Boise because it’d be more fun.