As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Utah @ Colorado (FOX): It appears the Buffs are going to get away with it until further notice.
• Texas @ Arkansas (ABC): This is an old Southwest Conference rivalry, though Texas doesn’t really want you to know this. Either way, I don’t think Arkansas has a chance to make this a rivalry again in this edition.
• Clemson @ Pittsburgh (ESPN): If Clemson’s ballon was popped, then Pitt’s was destroyed by a large artillery shell. I suspect it’ll be easier for the Tigers to recover.
• Tulane @ Navy (ESPN2): I think Tulane will just out-athelete Navy here.
• Ohio State @ Northwestern (@Chicago, IL; BTN): The only reason to watch this is to see football played at Wrigley.
• Louisiana Tech @ Western Kentucky (CBSS): Hilltoppers all the way here.
• Liberty @ Massachusetts (ESPN+)

12:45: Louisiana-Monroe @ Auburn (SEC): As much as I want to believe this overachieving ULM team could do this… I just can’t. Auburn isn’t this bad, right? Right?

1:00: Coastal Carolina @ Marshall (ESPN+)

1:30: Murray State @ Kentucky (ESPN+)

2:00:

• Mercer @ Alabama (ESPN+)
• Florida International @ Jacksonville State (ESPN+)
• Florida Atlantic @ Temple (ESPN+)

2:30: Michigan State @ Illinois (FS1): I’d prefer to bot think about this game. Illini.

3:00:

• Syracuse @ California (The CW): We’re getting down to the short end of the season, and despite the abysmal luck Cal has had they have a very good chance to make a bowl game. It’d really help their cause to get this one. I imagine though no one over In Berkeley is super crazy about an 11:30 am local time kickoff, though.
• Hawaii @ Utah State (Team1Sports)
• Sam Houston State @ Kennesaw State (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Louisiana State @ Florida (ABC): Possibly the biggest “not-actually-a-rivalry” rivalry in the SEC is still on the schedule. I think this is kind of a coin flip. I’m taking LSU but if Florida has their starting QB they have a puncher’s chance.
• Virginia @ Notre Dame (NBC): Virginia is having a nice little season. The Irish will break up the party, at least this week.
• Pennsylvania State @ Purdue (CBS): Penn State’s position as the Third Best Team In The Big Ten is surprisingly durable even after expansion. Suffice it to say, they won’t have any issues here.
• Boston College @ Southern Methodist (ESPN): If you told me you’d have SMU leading the ACC in Mid-Novembet, I’d call you a liar. I’m still not convinced by them, and BC could well knock them off, but I’m going to stop short of saying that’ll happen.
• Louisville @ Stanford (ACCN): Whereas I can guarantee the Cardinals will beat the Cardinal.
• Oregon State @ Air Force (CBSS): Oregon State is really taking on the chin this year, and normally I’d be concerned about what the Falcons would throw at them. With this year’s edition of Air Force, not so much.
• South Florida @ Charlotte (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Nebraska @ Southern California (FOX): I am completely devoid of opinions about these teams. I mean, I definitely have thoughts about the programs but when it comes to the 2024 Cornhuskers and Trojans it’s just “file not found”.  They’re not good. They’re not awful. They’re just there. I’ll take the Huskers I guess.
• Baylor @ West Virginia (ESPN2): See above. Is everyone outside of like BYU and K-State interchangeable in the Big 12 this season? It sure feels that way sometimes. I’ll take Baylor here.
• James Madison @ Old Dominion (“Royal Rivalry”; ESPNU): JMU is a slight favorite, to which I would say: why? I’m definitely taking the Monarchs over the Dukes here.
• Troy @ Georgia Southern (ESPN+)

4:15: Missouri @ South Carolina (SEC): Gamecocks, please save us from the idea of Mizzou being a there near the playoff. Please.

5:00: Arkansas State @ Georgia State (ESPN+)

6:00: Rutgers @ Maryland (FS1): I feel as though the schedule is taunting me at this point. Surely there’s some payoff below this? Either way, I’m taking Rutgers here.

7:00:

• Arizona State @ Kansas State (ESPN): Okay, okay, this is getting more interesting. To be clear, I like K-State here but ASU is at least capable of making this interesting.
• Boise State @ San Jose State (CBSS): Here’s your low-key game of the day. The setting may not make it seem this way, but the Silicon Valley Spartans are one of the better teams left in Boise’s schedule. Can SJSU contain Jeanty? Eh, I doubt it. But it should be interesting to watch.
• South Alabama @ Louisiana (ESPN+)
• Southern Mississippi @ Texas State (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Oregon @ Wisconsin (NBC): Ducks. Next!
• Tennessee @ Georgia (ABC): And here we are. This is the game of the day. The thing is that I, at least, have come up with a fair bit of SEC fatigue. At the present moment, the SEC and Big Ten are demanding a gaurunteed four bids each into the playoff. This is ridiculous, obviously, but the problem is the fait accompli of it all, as barring a miracle this is going to happen anyway. Ah, well, go Vawls.
• New Mexico State @ Texas A&M (SEC): I’m writing this from a Waymo and it’s late. Aggies! Er, the ones from Texas. Next!

8:00:

• Cincinnati @ Iowa State (FOX): Ah, we’re right back to the dire part of the schedule. I’ve cooled off on the Cyclones, but I think they’re still good enough to win here. This may be sneaky fun game, though.
• Alabama-Birmingham @ Memphis (ESPN2): Tigers. Next!
• Wake Forest @ North Carolina (ACCN): It’s been a lost season for the Heels, but they shouldn’t have a problem here.

9:30: Washington State @ New Mexico (FS1): Wazzu should continue to roll through the remaining portion of their MWC schedule.

10:15: Kansas @ Brigham Young (ESPN): Kansas appears to be back, but I’m not sure they’re going to be able to affect American’s most “getting away with it” team (now that Miami finally didn’t get away with it last week).

10:30: San Diego State @ Nevada-Las Vegas (CBSS): UNLV rolls.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Florida @ Texas (ABC): Okay folks, I need to be level with you. We, well, I, intended to have the bowl predictions ready by now as well as the weekly update. Unfortunately, I have failed in the first part and almost failed in the second. So except for a few things, this is going to be a LIGHTNING ROUND. Texas!
• Purdue @ Ohio State (FOX): Buckeyes!
• Minnesota @ Rutgers (NBC): Gophers?
• Miami @ Georgia Tech (ESPN): Okay, so, I have to talk about the alma mater, and it is our homecoming. Look, Miami is that much better this year and they got to this point undefeated. I have a good idea what to expect here, and I don’t think it’s that great for us. But, well, as last year’s game demonstrated, anything can happen. And I suspect we might need that.
• Navy @ South Florida (ESPN2): Midshipmen!
• West Virginia @ Cincinnati (FS1): Bearcats!
• Syracuse @ Boston College (The CW): Orange!
• Texas State @ Louisiana-Monroe (ESPNU): Monroe?

1:00: Liberty @ Middle Tennessee State (CBSS): I wish I could believe the Blue Raiders could do this, but alas.

2:30:

• Connecticut @ Alabama-Birmingham (ESPN+)
• Marshall @ Southern Mississippi (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Georgia @ Mississippi (ABC): My perhaps most controversial take is that Ole Miss is the Penn State of the SEC, but, well prove me wrong? As much as it pains me, I have to think Georgia is going to win.
• Michigan @ Indiana (CBS): #10Windiana?
• Clemson @ Virginia Tech (ESPN): Still going to pick Clemson here until proven otherwise.
• Army @ North Texas (ESPN2): Army until proven otherwise.
• Iowa State @ Kansas (@Kansas City, MO; FS1): I have to go with the Cyclones here.
• San Jose State @ Oregon State (The CW): Beavers!
• Duke @ North Carolina State (ACCN): NC State!
• Georgia State @ James Madison (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Colorado @ Texas Tech (FOX): Buffs?
• Temple @ Tulane (ESPNU): Green Wave!
• Kennesaw State @ Texas-El Paso (ESPN+)

4:15: South Carolina @ Vanderbilt (SEC): Vandy? Oof, that’s weird to say.

4:30: Jacksonville State @ Louisiana Tech (CBSS): Jax?

5:00: Arkansas State @ Louisiana (ESPN+)

6:00: Western Kentucky @ New Mexico State (ESPN+)

7:00:

• Mississippi State @ Tennessee (ESPN): Vols.
• Central Florida @ Arizona State (ESPN2): Knights.
• Oklahoma State @ Texas Christian (FS1):  TCU, probably.
• Maryland @ Oregon (BTN): Ducks.

7:30:

• Florida State @ Notre Dame (NBC): Irish.
• Alabama @ Louisiana State (ABC): So this is really the game of the day, and I really believe that this will be worth it. It should be fun to watch, but I think that the night environment in Baton Rouge will allow LSU to prevail.

7:45: Oklahoma @ Missouri (SEC): Tigers?

8:00:

• Nevada @ Boise State (FOX): Broncos. Well, Ashton Jeanty specifically.
• Virginia @ Pittsburgh (ACCN): Pitt?
• Washington @ Pennsylvania State (Peacock): Nittany Lions.

9:00: Nevada-Las Vegas @ Hawaii (CBSS): Rebels.

9:45: Fresno State @ Air Force (FS1): Bulldogs.

10:15: Brigham Young @ Utah (“Holy War”; ESPN): It’s good to see this rivalry on again, but I have to think it’s BYU all the way here.

10:30: Utah State @ Washington State (The CW): Cougs.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Air Force @ Army (CBS): It’s hard to see anything other than Army turning Air Force into a fine mist in this one.
• Duke @ Miami (ABC): Miami’s remaining schedule is somewhat light, and that begins here. While Cam Ward is something of a random number generator at quarterback, I just don’t think Duke has the talent to hang with the Canes.
• Ohio State @ Pennsylvania State (FOX): With the weird schedule today, this game is FOX’s Big Nude Noon Saturday game. (The reason is because there are 37 FBS teams on byes this week and FOX wanted to keep primetime open in case of a World Series Game 7.) And so, here it is. Ohio State has already been dinged once by Oregon this season, and Penn State enters with no losses. But has James Franklin ever won this game? A win fast-tracks a Penn State showdown with those Ducks, but back when the the B1G had divisions Penn State had practically cemented the title of the “3rd best team in the East” because they never got over the hump. It’s also the stated position of this here website that James Franklin is destined to be the first head coach to ever lose a home playoff game, so that more or less means a loss here or in the B1G Championship. I suspect it’ll come here.
• Mississippi @ Arkansas (ESPN): Arkansas isn’t good, but I’m going to stick my neck out here and say that they’ll do to Ole Miss what they did to Tennessee, up to and including winning the game.
• Memphis @ Texas-San Antonio (ESPN2): It’s been tough for the Roadrunners this year, I see the Tigers taking care of business.
• Minnesota @ Illinois (FS1): I don’t see how the Gophers will score any points here.
• Virginia Tech @ Syracuse (The CW): Kyle McCord, whom I’d previously championed as the best quarterback in the ACC, had a nightmare start against Pitt last week. That said, VPI figures to present less of a challenge. I like the Orange here.
• Northwestern @ Purdue (BTN): This is a bit of a B1G Futility Bowl. Uh, Northwestern, maybe? I guess? (Boy howdy, though, SZD’s prediction that Wazzu would have more fun this year than Purdue seems extremely prescient at this point.)
• Toledo @ Eastern Michigan (ESPNU): All of the MAC games seem like coin flips this season, so I went and found a Michigan state quarter in my loose change. Tails it’s EMU, heads it’s Toledo.
  
• Stanford @ North Carolina State (ACCN): I don’t really have the energy anymore to make “lol this is an ACC game” jokes anymore. And NC State is going to win.
• Buffalo @ Akron (CBSS): I couldn’t find any New York or Ohio quarters earlier when I was looking, so we’ll actually try to make a prediction here. Ah, okay, Akron is terrible. Bulls all the way then.
• Maine @ Oklahoma (ESPN+)

12:45: Vanderbilt @ Auburn (SEC): It is 2022. Diego Pavia is handily beating a Hugh Freeze football team. It is 2023. Diego Pavia is handily beating a Hugh Freeze football team. It is 2024. Diego Pavia is…

2:30:

• Old Dominion @ Appalachian State (ESPN+)
• Tulsa @ Alabama-Birmingham (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Florida vs. Georgia (“The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” @ Jacksonville, FL; ABC): There’s no way Florida is going to win this game, full stop. The real question is probably whether Florida’s vaunted(?) no-shutout streak will live through it.
• Oregon @ Michigan (CBS): It’s a helmet game, and that’s why it’s on CBS. But otherwise, yeah, Michigan just, like, doesn’t have an offense. In a year where Iowa (Iowa!) is putting up numbers what they’re doing in Ann Arbor is just kind of embarrassing. So, yeah, Ducks all the way here.
• Kansas State @ Houston (FOX/FS2): I don’t think the Cougs can hang with this K-State team.
• Texas Tech @ Iowa State (ESPN): The Red Raiders have had kind of a weird year, but I don’t see them disrupting what is going on up in Ames.
• Arizona @ Central Florida (FS1): Zona comes into Orland on 4 straight losses. UCF has 5 straight. Something’s gotta give, and I suspect it’ll be UCF to beat the streak.
• Arizona State @ Oklahoma State (FS2/FOX): Speaking of Big 12 teams on 5 game losing streaks, this just seems like something of a lost season for the Pokes. I don’t think it’ll get  better here.
• California-Los Angeles @ Nebraska (BTN): Nebraska’s lost two straight to Indiana and Ohio State, which is understandable. They really should be favored against the Bruins at home.
• Middle Tennessee State @ Texas-El Paso (CBSS): This may be a fantastic Saturday to go do something else, y’all. Maybe go outside if the weather is good where you are, after all, it’s already November and winter is coming. I certainly can’t recommend watching this. I’ll go with UTEP because they seem to be able to kinda score points.
• North Carolina @ Florida State (ACCN): Is UNC’s defense bad enough that FSU has a chance here? Nah.
• Indiana @ Michigan State (Peacock): The Spartans couldn’t even beat the worst Michigan team in years, so I don’t like their odds against these Hoosiers, especially considering the potential hangover effect from last week.
• Louisiana-Monroe @ Marshall (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Navy @ Rice (ESPN2): Okay, so Notre Dame was just better than Navy, but this should be a return to form for the Midshipmen.
• Wyoming @ New Mexico (truTV): Seriously some of these games dire, y’all. Lobos all the way here?
• Coastal Carolina @ Troy (ESPN+)

4:15: Massachusetts @ Mississippi State (SEC): UMass is inept, yes. Mississippi State is terrible, yes. But I just can’t see any way Miss State loses this game. I just can’t.

7:00: Hawaii @ Fresno State (Team1Sports)

7:30:

• Wisconsin @ Iowa (NBC): Wisconsin seems to be improving, but I’m not sure how they’re beating an Iowa that can actually score points.
• Texas A&M @ South Carolina (ABC): TAMU is 5-0 in the SEC and Elko just cut a promo about how he’s there to coach football and not play politics. South Carolina is the SEC’s proverbial comedic rake stepping team, and this sure seems like the Gamecocks’ time.
• Louisville @ Clemson (ESPN): Louisville is the best team Clemson has played since Week 1, but since then the Tigers have quietly found their footing on offense and, well, Louisville’s defense ain’t Georgia’s.
• Southern California @ Washington (BTN): Can we move this game to a 10:00pm Eastern kickoff and get some classic Pac-12 After Dark? How can we make this happen? That said, I kind of like the Huskies here, mostly just to see how Lincoln Riley lashes out at the media after losing again.
• Georgia Southern @ South Alabama (ESPNU): South Al is definitely the favorite here, but this may well be the late game of the day. Definitely take a peek at this one.

7:45: Kentucky @ Tennessee (SEC): With their loss to Auburn last week, I don’t think we need to pretend Kentucky has a chance in this game.

8:00:

• Texas Christian @ Baylor (“The Revivalry”; ESPN2): These teams look pretty even on a baseline level, but Baylor still seems to have some offensive juice that the Horned Frogs just don’t possess.
• Pittsburgh @ Southern Methodist (ACCN): Naturally, this game is going to be pretty important to the ACC standings. That said, I just don’t really believe in SMU. I think this will be straightforward for Pitt.
• Colorado State @ Nevada (CBSS): I still think Colorado State is kinda bad, but they might be the second best team in the Mountain West this year?

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Nebraska @ Ohio State (FOX): I’ll pre-emptively applaud Nebraska’s effort while also assuming the Buckeyes will absolute paste them.
• Notre Dame vs. Navy (@East Rutherford, NJ; ABC): It’s hard to see Notre Dame losing this, but… Navy is back, y’all. They’re going into the game undefeated and having one of the best seasons so far in history. They have an outside, but non-zero, shot at getting into the playoff by winning the AAC. The Irish also have Army on the schedule, in what figures to be the one time they’ll ever regret having both service academies on the schedule at the same time. Also, the Irish may be a tad nervous as a second loss to a non-Power 4 team will definitely torpedo their playoff hopes. (Pun somewhat intended.) This could be one to watch.
• Oklahoma @ Mississippi (ESPN): Oklahoma’s defense isn’t that good and their offense is terrible. It’s a lost season for Brent Venebles and company. Ole Miss will roll.
• Tulane @ North Texas (ESPN2): This one could be good, but I think the Wave are just a notch of talent above UNT.
• North Carolina @ Virginia (“The South’s Oldest Rivalry”; The CW): With the game in Charlottesville and the Hoos on a season that has, so far, exceeded all expectations, I like them to roll.
• Washington @ Indiana (BTN): Well, suffice it to say that every game out for 7-0 Indiana will be one of the important in the history of Hoosier football. (That is not an exaggeration.) UDub is for sure not what they were last year, especially on offense, but this will be one of Indiana’s bigger tests until the Big One against Ohio State.
• Charlotte @ Memphis (ESPNU): Tigers roll.
• Buffalo @ Ohio (CBSS): Bulls roll?
• Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech (“Techmo Bowl”; ACCN): Well, that sucked. Turns out making your offense completely one-dimensional is a bad way to try to win a football game. This team really needs Haynes King back, but there’s not really any reason to think that’ll happen in time for this game. About the only upside here is that the Hokies are not the Irish.

12:45: Arkansas @ Mississippi State (SEC): The “Sam Pittman somehow saves his job!” tour (aka the Neal Brown Award for Self-Preservation) figure to roll on in Starkville.

1:00: Georgia State @ Appalachian State (ESPN+)

2:00:

• Temple @ East Carolina (ESPN+)
• Central Michigan @ Miami (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Missouri @ Alabama (ABC): Okay, Bama probably just doesn’t have this year. The vibes going in this game are horrific. But… Mizzou isn’t really that good, you know? I think the Tide might surprise everyone and win this thing by 20.
• Illinois @ Oregon (CBS): The Illini are pretty good, but pretty good isn’t going to be enough to cut it against the Ducks this year.
• Texas Tech @ Texas Christian (FOX): I’ll pick Texas Tech here so I don’t have to think about this game a moment longer than I have to.
• Brigham Young @ Central Florida (ESPN): This has all the potential to be an interesting game. It’s for effective control of the AAC, and UCF is definitely not a terrible team. The problem is that BYU is just so physical, which, well, is always their reputation, but the Stormin’ Mormons are definitely following through with it this year.
• Maryland @ Minnesota (FS1): Minnesota, I guess?
• Northwestern @ Iowa (BTN): Y’all, this is running long and my team plays in less than 6 hours. So… LIGHTNING ROUND! Iowa!
• Rice @ Connecticut (CBSS): UConn?
• Wake Forest @ Stanford (ACCN): Stanford?
• Texas-San Antonio @ Tulsa (ESPN+)
• Northern Illinois @ Ball State (ESPN+)
• Bowling Green @ Toledo (ESPN+)
• Kent State @ Western Michigan (ESPN+)
• Wagner @ Massachusetts (ESPN+)
• Eastern Michigan @ Akron (ESPN+)
• Oklahoma State @ Baylor (ESPN+)
• Southern Mississippi @ James Madison (ESPN+)

4:00: Oregon State @ California (ESPN2): Cal, now that they don’t have to play an ACC game?

4:15: Texas @ Vanderbilt (SEC): This is possibly the most consequential Vandy home game ever. But, there’s not a lot of reason to think they’ll be able to pull of a stunning upset twice. Taking the Horns here.

5:00: Louisiana-Monroe @ South Alabama (ESPN+)

7:00:

• Florida State @ Miami (ESPN): The Canes definitely have a bit of a reputation for inflating this game way beyond its actual importance and letting it define their season in a negative way. Fortunately for them, FSU is so bad this year it doesn’t really matter.
• West Virginia @ Arizona (FS1): Neers?
• Utah State @ Wyoming (“Bridger’s Battle”; CBSS): Wyoming.
• Troy @ Arkansas State (ESPN+)
• Utah @ Houston (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Pennsylvania State @ Wisconsin (NBC): Penn State, as it remains the official position of this here website that James Franklin’s destiny is to be the first head coach to lose a home playoff game.
• Louisiana State @ Texas A&M (ABC): This non-rivalry rivalry promises to be fireworks again this year. I like LSU, but I’m not entirely sure why.
• Michigan State @ Michigan (BTN): This like should be the year where I feel like I can safely take Sparty, but I just… can’t. Even though Michigan is sort of like Worse Iowa this season.
• South Dakota @ South Dakota State (ESPNU)

7:45: Auburn @ Kentucky (SEC): Cayuts. Next!

8:00:

• Kansas @ Kansas State (“Sunflower Showdown”; ESPN2): K-State!
• San Jose State @ Fresno State (truTV): Y’all, this might be a legit good game here in the late window. Give it a look-see for sure! But I do have SJSU here.
• Southern Methodist @ Duke (ACCN): ACC After Dark from… Durham, North Carolina is sure a choice. Ponies?

10:15: Cincinnati @ Colorado (ESPN): So, I guess Colorado is good now, so I can finally start picking against them again?

10:30: Washington State @ San Diego State (CBSS): Wazzu.

Midnight: Nevada @ Hawaii (Team1Sports)

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Miami @ Louisville (ABC): The Cardinals figure to be one of the stiffest tests of the season as of yet for these Canes, but I don’t think they’ll really have much trouble here.
• Nebraska @ Indiana (FOX): Speaking of stiff tests, you’ve got 5-1 Nebraska at 6-0 Indiana. Say what? Okay, the schedules have been pretty manageable so far, but we’re talking about the Hoosiers here, one of the least successful power conference programs in general. And these aren’t exactly your dad’s Cornhuskers, either. So which way is this one going to go? I think I like the home team.
• Auburn @ Missouri (ESPN): It’s Tigers on Tigers in Columbia, but yeah, there’s not really any reason to think Auburn stands a chance here.
• East Carolina @ Army (ESPN2): Army and Navy are ranked for the first time since 1945, so that’s a thing. And given who they’re playing this week, that should remain the case.
• California-Los Angeles @ Rutgers (FS1): Rutgers suffered a pretty disappointing loss last week, but UCLA is so woebegone right now that I can’t imagine they’re feeling excited about a 9am body clock kickoff in Piscataway.
• Wisconsin @ Northwestern (BTN): This will be the last game hosted this season in Northwestern’s temporary lakefront home, as the remaining two home games against Ohio State and Illinois will be at Wrigley. They’ll return to the windy confines next season, for now, the Wildcats figure to be competitive against a Wisconsin team that’s still trying to find its footing a little bit.
• Louisiana @ Coastal Carolina (ESPNU): They Cajuns, they figure to be a-ragin’ in this one.
• Virginia @ Clemson (ACCN): Nice little season you have there, Virginia. Be a shame if something happened to it. Something like a Clemson squad that is increasingly making that Georgia game look like an outlier, for instance.
• Wake Forest @ Connecticut (CBSS): There’s a very real chance UConn is going to make a bowl game two years in a row, and they absolutely stand a chance against a diminished Wake Forest.
• Arizona State @ Cincinnati (ESPN+)

12:45: South Carolina @ Oklahoma (SEC): Naturally, now that we were all wise to the Red River thing, Oklahoma went out and laid an absolute egg. Turns out, the offense is kind of broken! Probably not something you want when perennially feisty South Carolina rolls into town. I kind of like the Gamecocks here, as a matter of fact.

2:00:

• Central Michigan @ Eastern Michigan (ESPN+)
• Tulsa @ Temple (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Michigan @ Illinois (CBS): Michigan’s offense is very limited, but the thing is that shouldn’t be a problem against Illinois. Especially an Illinois team that got taken to overtime by… Purdue. I like the Wolverines here.
• Alabama @ Tennessee (“The Third Saturday in October”; ABC): It’s not a night game in Neyland, and both teams have a loss, but that doesn’t really diminish the stakes in what could well be a playoff-elimination game (it’s my deep hope that at least one of the Big Ten or SEC fails to get four teams in). Unfortunately, I like the Tide because there’s still plenty of talent there, especially the kind of talent that can follow the blueprint used to stifle the Vols a few times already this season.
• Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech (@Atlanta, GA; ESPN): So, yeah, it’s been in the news this week that we took $10 million to move the Georgia game next season to Mercedes-Benz. Well, guess what, this game is part of that series too. The thing is, the season is still going well. We’re up to 5 wins and have a real shot at making a bowl for the second year in a row. The problem entering this game is two-fold. First, it’s the opponent. The Irish have seemingly recovered from their loss to NIU, most recently absolutely shellacking Stanford. Second, it’s injuries. Haynes King, the engine that makes our offense work, may miss this game. It’s going to be a tough one, most likely.
• Hawaii @ Washington State (The CW): While Boise’s win over this Wazzu team gives them the inside track to a playoff bid, Wazzu is still putting together a fine season themselves. This game won’t do anything to diminish that.
• North Carolina State @ California (ACCN): NC State feels like Cal’s best chance to get an ACC win so far, after losing their three other attempts by a combined eight points.
• Charlotte @ Navy (CBSS): (see the notes for the ECU at Army game above)
• Alabama-Birmingham @ South Florida (ESPN+)
• Florida Atlantic @ Texas-San Antonio (ESPN+)
• Rice @ Tulane (ESPN+)
• Houston vs. Kansas (@Kansas City, MO; ESPN+)
• Western Michigan @ Buffalo (ESPN+)
• Ohio @ Miami (“Battle of the Bricks”; ESPN+)
• Kent State @ Bowling Green (ESPN+)
• Toledo @ Northern Illinois (ESPN+)
• Texas State @ Old Dominion (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Colorado @ Arizona (FOX): The Buffs lost to K-State week, but it was still a useful data point. They were definitely in the game, until a late defensive lapse showed how much they missed Travis Hunter. Arizona can definitely get them as well, especially if he’s not playing. But the days of easily calling for Buffs losses appears to be over. I like Zona in this one, but I’ll no longer be surprised about a Colorado performance.
• Baylor @ Texas Tech (ESPN2): Baylor is terrible.
• Southern California @ Maryland (FS1): Maryland has the chance to do something funny, but the Terps are so disheveled this year that it’s hard to see them winning this one.
• New Mexico @ Utah State (truTV): Uh, Lobos, I guess?
• Wyoming @ San Jose State (NBCSBA/MWN)

4:15: Texas A&M @ Mississippi State (SEC): With Vandy reeling off two conference wins, Miss State is definitely the SEC’s basement dwelling team this season.

7:00:

• Louisiana State @ Arkansas (ESPN): The Battle for the Golden Boot (which is easily one of college football’s most unwieldy trophies) resumes in Fayetteville. Arkansas is better than anyone expected, and LSU is just… chaotic. But I think that chaos may help them, as I think LSU is capable of just outscoring the Hawgs.
• Ball State @ Vanderbilt (ESPN+)
• Arkansas State @ Southern Mississippi (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Georgia @ Texas (ABC): It’s another Game of the Century of the Week in the newfangled SEC. It sure would be something for Texas to fumble the bag after completely taking care of business in Red River, but it’s very hard to predict from over here. Georgia has never been about slingin’ the ball, and this season that especially means I think a team that can outscore them and then hold them off (like what Alabama did) can beat them. And I think these Longhorns can do that.
• Iowa @ Michigan State (NBC): Iowa is scoring 40 points in normal games, yeah, uh, Sparty doesn’t stand a chance here.
• Kansas State @ West Virginia (FOX): WVU isn’t bad or anything, but it just figures K-State is going to be able to handle business here.
• Central Florida @ Iowa State (FS1): I’m going to go ahead and say I’ll be surprised if Iowa State isn’t undefeated going into Farmageddon during Rivalry Week.
• North Texas @ Memphis (ESPNU): Memphis will be fine in this one.

7:45: Kentucky @ Florida (SEC): Who knows about the Gators this year, because they’re certainly not good. The thing is, neither is Kentucky. What does that add up to in a usually chippy game? I have no idea. I’ll pick the Cayuts because I figure the Gators will figure out some way to actively lose this.

8:00:

• Southern Methodist @ Stanford (ACCN): SMU? Sure, let’s go with that.
• Colorado State @ Air Force (CBSS): Colorado State is bad, but man, this is not Air Force’s year. Not at all.
• South Dakota State @ North Dakota State (ESPN2)

10:00: Nevada-Las Vegas @ Oregon State (The CW): This one will probably some real Pac-12 After Dark vibes, and I’m here for it. It’s been a tougher road to hoe for the Beavers, but they certainly should be able to hang with UNLV. The Rebels have an overtime loss to Syracuse as their only blemish, and they’ve otherwise been putting up oodles of points. This could be fun, and with it back in Corvallis I’ll lean slightly toward the Beavers.

10:30: Texas Christian @ Utah (ESPN): It’s a bit of a lost season for both of these teams. Utah is just so limited offensively without Cam Rising, but on the flip side TCU is a going to be a bit easier on them. I’ll somewhat reluctantly take the Utes here.