As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Alabama @ Texas (FOX): This will be a great helmet game for the first few drives until Bama turns on the gas and leaves the Horns in the dust.
• Ohio @ Pennsylvania State (ABC): The Nittany Lions will have no problem with the Bobcats.
• South Carolina @ Arkansas (ESPN): This could be a fantastic early season game for these teams to figure out their level. I suspect Arkansas is, in fact, ahead of the Gamecocks, but both come in with about the same level or early season hype.
• Missouri @ Kansas State (ESPN2): I have no idea about either of these teams, so I’ll pick K-State at home.
• Duke @ Northwestern (FS1): This is sorta like the South Carolina-Arkansas game, but in the other direction: we’ll figure out who’s worse. I suspect that Northwestern will win, but it could be close, in a bad way.
• North Carolina @ Georgia State (ESPNU): Well, we know that UNC can’t defend worth a darn after what they did up in Boone last weekend, but Georgia State is not as talented as App State, so I suspect they won’t trouble the Tar Heels nearly as much.
• Wake Forest @ Vanderbilt (SEC): Wake by a lot.
• Southern Mississippi @ Miami (ACCN): I don’t really rate Southern Miss in this game, but I would be interested to figure out if the Canes are any good.
• Arkansas State @ Ohio State (BTN): Buckeyes roll.
• Western Illinois @ Minnesota (BTN)

12:30: Charleston Southern @ North Carolina State (ACC/RSN)

1:00: South Alabama @ Central Michigan (ESPN+)

1:30: Southern Utah @ Utah (Pac12)

2:00:

• Western Michigan @ Ball State (ESPN+)
• Lafayette @ Temple (ESPN+)

2:30: Marshall @ Notre Dame (NBC): Domers shouldn’t have any issues here.

3:30:

• Colorado @ Air Force (CBS): Colorado goes down I-25 to play their plucky in-state rival, and I’m not sure I like the idea. I think they’ll wind up being okay, but this could definitely be uncomfortable.
• Tennessee @ Pittsburgh (ABC): I’m taking Tennessee here since I think this will be a letdown for Pitt, both in terms of this being the week after the Brawl and also just that their offense is definitely much worse than last year.
• Washington State @ Wisconsin (FOX): Wisconsin should make this a breezy romp.
• Appalachian State @ Texas A&M (ESPN2): Here’s App State again, and I don’t think this is going to be as close as last week. Mostly because A&M is, um, a lot better than UNC.
• Furman @ Clemson (ACCN)
• Memphis @ Navy (CBSS): Navy lost to Delaware last week, which is, well, it’s not good! In fact, it’s really bad! Memphis by a lot.
• Maryland @ Charlotte (Stadium)
• Kennesaw State @ Cincinnati (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Houston @ Texas Tech (FS1): Houston burst some bubbles over in San Antonio with a narrow win the Alamodome, now can they do it against a future conference-mate in Lubbock? I’m going to go ahead and say yes.
• Virginia @ Illinois (ESPNU): I wish this was Indiana instead of Illinois so I could say “we’ve got Hoos and Hoosiers!” Alas. At any rate, both these teams are bad, but Virginia is probably worse.
• Samford @ Georgia (SEC)
• Iowa State @ Iowa (“El Assico”; BTN): Considering some of these other games, I have no idea how this wound up on the Big Ten Network. I don’t even get BTN in HD! At any rate, Iowa’s offense is definitely a relict of the pre-HD era. If you haven’t heard, Iowa won 7-3 last week. I assure you no touchdowns were scored. So yeah, that’s what we’re looking forward to here. Let’s hope against hope the Cyclones can actually move the ball a little, because if they can, that’s gonna be that for Iowa.
• Akron @ Michigan State (BTN): Sparty rolls.
• Indiana State @ Purdue (BTN)
• Wagner @ Rutgers (BTN)
• Portland State @ Washington (Pac12)
• Nevada-Las Vegas @ California (Pac12): Cal isn’t going to be any good this year, but UNLV is real, real bad.
• Norfolk State @ James Madison (espn3.com)
• Eastern Kentucky @ Bowling Green (espn3.com)

5:00: Alabama State @ California-Los Angeles (Pac12)

6:00:

• Southeastern Louisiana @ Florida Atlantic (espn3.com)
• Kansas @ West Virginia (ESPN+)
• Old Dominion @ East Carolina (ESPN+)
• Holy Cross @ Buffalo (ESPN+)
• Alabama-Birmingham @ Liberty (ESPN+)
• Gardner-Webb @ Coastal Carolina (ESPN+)

7:00:

• Kentucky @ Florida (ESPN): Florida looked pretty good against Utah last weekend, all things considered. Kentucky is still better than they’ve been historically, but they’re lacking in offensive talent compared to last season. I’ll take the Gators here.
• Eastern Michigan @ Louisiana (NFLN): Sun Belt on the NFL network? Sure, okay, let’s do it. Uh, Cajuns will be Ragin’ all the way to the win column in this one, though.
• Stephen F. Austin @ Louisiana Tech (espn3.com)
• Alabama A&M @ Troy (espn3.com)
• Western Carolina @ Georgia Tech (ACCNX): I wasn’t able to watch basically any of the Clemson game, and if you wanna know where the average GT fan is at, I don’t really feel a need to go back and watch it. I’m personally nervous about this one because, well, we did lose to The Citadel that one time.
• Massachusetts @ Toledo (ESPN+)
• Central Arkansas @ Mississippi (ESPN+)
• Alcorn State @ Tulane (ESPN+)
• Northern Illinois @ Tulsa (ESPN+)
• Lamar @ Southern Methodist (ESPN+)
• Howard @ South Florida (ESPN+)
• Kent State @ Oklahoma (ESPN+)
• Florida International @ Texas State (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Southern California @ Stanford (ABC): Southern Cal has a bunch of wiz-bang new offensive toys and they appear to know how to use them. I doubt that The Cardinal will give them much cause for concern.
• Arizona State @ Oklahoma State (ESPN2): I’ve heard reports that Oklahoma State is back (to playing offense), so I’m cautiously optimistic for them in this one.
• Georgia Southern @ Nebraska (FS1): I suspect the Huskers can win this one. Probably. But still, Clay Helton and Co. won’t be fazed.
• San Jose State @ Auburn (ESPNU): Tigers should have no trouble with this one, but if they do…
• Southern @ Louisiana State (SEC)
• Texas Southern @ North Texas (espn3.com)
• McNeese State @ Rice (espn3.com)

8:00:

• Boston College @ Virginia Tech (ACCN): Expectations for the Hokies are low, whereas for BC they weren’t, but then they went and lost to Rutgers. As good as Rutgers might be, that’s still not ideal. Either way, the it’s tough to pick the road team in a night game in Blacksburg, but that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
• Hawaii @ Michigan (BTN): Michigan will have no trouble here.
• Idaho @ Indiana (BTN)
• Nicholls State @ Louisiana-Monroe (espn3.com)
• Tarleton State @ Texas Christian (ESPN+)

8:30: Eastern Washington @ Oregon (Pac12)

9:00:

• New Mexico State @ Texas-El Paos (“The Battle of I-10”; ESPN+)
• Chadron State @ Utah Tech (ESPN+)

10:15: Baylor @ Brigham Young (ESPN): Not exactly the teams I wanna see the most, but pickings are going to be otherwise slim in the late window, and BYU will be salty, at least. Still, it’s hard to pick them over the Bears.

10:30: Oregon State @ Fresno State (CBSS): Oregon State was able to dispatch Boise last week, which was a fantastic sign for the Beavers. That said, this is on the road and Fresno is a little bit better than Boise, so I’ll take the Bulldogs.

11:00: Mississippi State @ Arizona (FS1): And finally, SEC after dark! This one could either be a Miss State blowout or an absolute romp. My heart wants the latter but I suspect it’s going to be the former.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Saturday

Noon:

• Colorado State @ Michigan (ABC): I literally just cracked my knuckles, such is my determination to finish this before I need to finish packing and get out of town. So! Michigan follows up their dream season with a… not to challenging start. Good move! Wolverines win easily.
• North Carolina State @ East Carolina (ESPN): Yeah, so, ordinarily I would say something like I just said about doing road games at your pesky, but lower division, in-state rival… but NCSU has nothing to worry about here.
• South Dakota State @ Iowa (FS1)
• North Carolina @ Appalachian State (ESPNU): Whereas this one, hoo boy. Y’all, look, UNC should win easily! Should! I’d feel less certain if this was at night in Boone, but despite that there’s going to be some moment in the first half where App runs back a pick-6 or something and it’s going to, at least for a moment, feel like a potential long day for the fightin’ Mack Browns.
• Sam Houston State @ Texas A&M (SEC)
• Rutgers @ Boston College (ACCN): The fact I had to think about this for a moment says a lot about where both these teams are going. Rutgers got apparently the only person in the universe who can make Rutgers competent back, whereas BC hasn’t done much of… anything recently. Am I taking Rutgers? Against another Power 5 team? Hold me, I’m scared.
• Buffalo @ Maryland (BTN): There are times where I’d like Buffalo here. This isn’t one of them.
• Delaware @ Navy (CBSS)

12:30: Richmond @ Virginia (ACC/RSN)

2:00: Southeast Missouri State @ Iowa State (ESPN+)

2:30: Bowling Green @ California-Los Angeles (Pac12): It’s probably appropriate for UCLA to start beating up on hapless MAC teams like their soon-to-be-Big Ten brethren.

3:30:

• Arizona @ San Diego State (CBS): We should be talking about the Aztecs finally breaking in their brand-new stadium, but we aren’t. I’m going to refuse to pick this game as well, but it’s hard not to root for Arizona to crash the party.
• Oregon vs. Georgia (Chick-Fil-A Kickoff @ Atlanta, GA; ABC): This probably isn’t the game of the day. Or the weekend. Reasonable minds accept that UGA will probably win. But! That sure is a lot of talent that was on that defense that isn’t anymore. There sure are still completely reasonable questions about Stetson Bennett leading an offense. By any reasonable prediction, Georgia’s defense is still going to be a top 1, 2, or 3 defense, but there’s no reason to think currently that they’re going to be able to field possibly the best defense in the history of college football again. And! Let’s recall last year, if Clemson was able to field a functional offense for the first three-quarters of the season, they probably would’ve won! And I can’t help but notice that almost all the questions about this game are about the nominal nearly-three-score favorites. So screw being reasonable, let’s get crazy: I’m taking the Ducks. Straight up.
• Texas-El Paso @ Oklahoma (FOX): It was fun for UTEP last year, but even with Brent Veneables (of all people!) being the head coach for the Sooners now, I expect them to win handily.
• Cincinnati @ Arkansas (ESPN): I think this game could be sneaky good. The problem is, of course, that Cincy is replacing their quarterback and best defenders, and Arkansas is the kind of physical that could definitely be a problem for the Bearcats. So, unfortunately, I think they’re gonna get womp’d.
• Tulsa @ Wyoming (FS1): I didn’t know until earlier today that Craig Bohl was still at Wyoming, and it’s sure been back for them the past year or two. But it’s been worse for the Golden Hurricane.
• Bethune-Cookman @ Miami (ACCN)
• North Dakota @ Nebraska (BTN): Breaking my usual rule of not commenting on FCS vs. FBS games to ask… is this gonna be it for Scott Frost? It’s not unreasonable. UND isn’t one of the classic “good” Dakotas, but the thing is… they’re all good now. Don’t schedule them!
• Houston @ Texas-San Antonio (CBSS): Meep meep and all was fun last year, but I actually think the Cougs have this one pretty handily?
• Norfolk State @ Marshall (espn3.com)

4:00:

• Brigham Young @ South Florida (ESPNU): Oh, this could be bad for the Bulls. Real bad.
• Troy @ Mississippi (SEC): It’s been a long time since Troy was good enough, and Ole Miss was bad enough, to make this interesting.
• California-Davis @ California (Pac12)

5:00: Nicholls State @ South Alabama (espn3.com)

6:00:

• Rice @ Southern California (Pac12): This sure seems like a quick, feel-good start for Lincoln Riley, getting to beat up on Rice again.
• Morgan State @ Georgia Southern (espn3.com)
• Middle Tennessee State @ James Madison (ESPN+)
• Florida Atlantic @ Ohio (ESPN+)

7:00:

• Utah @ Florida (ESPN): Ah, it’s nice to see the Gators schedule actual intersectional games where they’ll actually leave the state of Florida and non-SEC teams and non-tomato-cans will actually visit the Swamp. Let’s see who they picked… oh, oh no. Yeah, the same Utes that demolished Oregon twice with physicality and nearly pulled the same trick on Ohio State in the Rose Bowl are coming to town. I’ve got the Utes here.
• Illinois State @ Wisconsin (FS1)
• Grambling State @ Arkansas State (espn3.com)
• Army @ Coastal Carolina (ESPN+)
• Southeastern Louisiana @ Louisiana (ESPN+)
• Elon @ Vanderbilt (ESPN+)
• South Dakota @ Kansas State (ESPN+)
• Albany @ Baylor (ESPN+)
• Massachusetts @ Tulane (ESPN+)
• Miami @ Kentucky (ESPN+)
• Mercer @ Auburn (ESPN+)
• Liberty @ Southern Mississippi (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Notre Dame @ Ohio State (ABC): Speaking of the Buckeyes, there’s some big expectations for them this season, and a new look Marcus Freeman-led Irish side are looking to challenge them immediately. I think the Buckeyes will simply out-talent them in the Shoe, but if last season was any guide, if you can out-physical them, then they are beatable, as Oregon and Michigan showed.
• Memphis @ Mississippi State (ESPNU): Mike Leach teams are always good for a baffling loss or two in the non-conference schedule, so while this isn’t fun Memphis anymore, this could get spicy.
• Utah State @ Alabama (SEC): Let’s see, this one might be over by the… end of the first quarter? Yeah, that’s pretty much what relegates Bama to the SEC network.
• Southern Methodist @ North Texas (CBSS): I kinda liked SMU this season and in this game, but North Texas went into El Paso last weekend and won pretty convincingly at a sold-out Sun Bowl. I’ll take the Mean Green.
• Georgia State @ South Carolina (ESPN+)

8:00:

• Louisville @ Syracuse (ACCN): This is certainly an ACC game that will happen. Yep. ‘Cuse?
• Colgate @ Stanford (Pac12)
• Louisiana-Monroe @ Texas (LHN):
• Murray State @ Texas Tech (ESPN+)

9:30: Idaho @ Washington State (Pac12)

10:30:

• Boise State @ Oregon State (ESPN): I have had this as a Boise win, straight up, since the moment I laid eyes on this matchup. This could be one worth watching.
• Kent State @ Washington (FS1): Okay, so, look, UDub has had occasional trouble with season openers against lesser competition in the recent past. Like, the very recent past. Like, last season. At any rate, that’s a good way to get a coach fired, and (ultimately) it did. I suspect the new guy won’t have a problem with this one.

Sunday

3:00: Jackson State vs. Florida A&M (Orange Blossom Classic @ Miami Gardens, FL; ESPN2)

7:30: Florida State vs. Louisiana State (Sugar Bowl Kickoff @ New Orleans, LA; ABC): Hey, are you ready to reach too much into one of these teams’ seasons based on one game? Because that’s pretty much what’s gonna happen with this one. As a reminder, Brian Kelly (yes, the former Notre Dame head coach) is now the head guy at LSU. I am still baffled at that hire, but at any rate, I suspect it’ll probably net them the win here.

Monday

8:00: Clemson vs. Georgia Tech (Chick-Fil-A Kickoff @ Atlanta, GA; ESPN): Well, I guess I shouldn’t be starting a tracker of how many days until Geoff Collins’s buyout goes down so he’ll get fired, but that’s sort of where we are. I highly suspect I won’t have a long goodbye post whenever it happens. That is, unless something happens this season. The general consensus is that it’s 6 wins or bust, and I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we’ve got a pretty tough schedule this season. Like really tough. But here’s the thing, when the whole premise of your tenure was that we’re gonna recruit the Atlanta metro, Georgia, and the south, and make Tech an elite ACC team, at some point you’ve gotta show some progress. At that’s what’s been completely missing: progress. The UNC game last season looks more and more like an outlier. At any rate, Clemson doesn’t figure to spend the first three-quarters of this season not knowing how to offense again, but on the flip side, Dabo is replacing both coordinators with more-or-less unknowns. This one could be interesting, but I’m not filled with optimism.

Here it is! Actual, real, counts-toward-the-standings American football.

Here’s the way my TV rundowns usually work. I list games at each time slot. I provide commentary for games between FBS teams on “actual” television. All other FCS and streaming-only games are merely listed for completeness. I use several abbreviations for TV networks and streaming services:

• CBSS: CBS Sports Network
• BTN: Big Ten Network
• ACCN: ACC Network
• SEC: SEC Network
• RSN: “Regional Sports Network”, essentially, check your local listings. It’ll be on something Bally Sports South/East/West/Southeast or NBC Sports Bay Area or some such. If it’s not available in your region, it may well be streaming on ESPN’s website.
• ACCNX: ACC Network Extra, essentially, this might be on an RSN, or else it’s streaming and requires you to have ACC Network
• SECA: SEC Alternate. Most traditional carriers that carry SEC Network will have an extra channel somewhere, you may have to dig for it it though.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon: Austin Peay @ Western Kentucky (CBSS)

12:30: Nebraska vs. Northwestern (@Dublin, Ireland; FOX): I don’t think anyone in Ireland asked for this, and I mean that generally, because I don’t think they asked for the battle of “NU” supremacy. I have a hard time predicting the Huskers to win, but they probably will, right?

3:30:

• Idaho State @ Nevada-Las Vegas (CBSS)
• Stephen F. Austin vs. Jacksonville State (FCS Kickoff @ Montgomery, AL; ESPN)

4:00:

• Connecticut @ Utah State (FS1): We all love Week 0, but this some real sickos stuff this weekend. It’s arguably the penultimate weekend of summer, so maybe consider going outside or something. Utah State all the way here, too.
• Wyoming @ Illinois (BTN): This game might be one of the one of the best games of the day, which says a lot more about the Illini than it does Wyoming. I’ll go ahead and pick the Cowboys.

5:00: Duquesne @ Florida State (ACCN)

7:00:

• Charlotte @ Florida Atlantic (CBSS): I, mean, look, I like to celebrate all parts of college football as much as the next guy, and maybe this’ll finally be Charlotte’s year, but… I can’t make you want to watch this, I just can’t.
• Alabama State vs. Howard (MEAC/SWAC Challenge @ Atlanta, GA; ESPN)

8:15: Florida A&M @ North Carolina (ACCN)

9:00: North Texas @ Texas-El Paso (Stadium): Y’all, the Sun Bowl is sold out for this one, and despite what I said above, I am just here for any sort of enthusiasm for the Miners and El Paso. And I like them to win, too.

10:30: Vanderbilt @ Hawaii (CBSS): Hawaii is in a bad way, but hey, they’ve apparently also sold out (their now tiny stadium since Aloha Stadium got condemned). Vandy is also… Vandy, but I honestly just cannot figure out how they lose this.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• East Tennessee State @ North Dakota State (NCAA Division I Playoffs Quarterfinals; ESPN)
• Colorado School of Mines @ Valdosta State (NCAA Division II Playoffs Semifinals; ESPN+)
• North Central @ Mount Union (NCAA Division III Playoffs Semifinals; ESPN+)

2:00: South Dakota State @ Villanova (NCAA Division I Playoffs Quarterfinals; ESPN+)

3:00: Army vs. Navy (@East Rutherford, NJ; CBS): Unfortunately, while the pageantry, pomp, and circumstance all figure to still be present for this game, it’s been a pretty rough go this seasons for the Midshipmen and Army figures to roll.

3:30:

• Mary Hardin-Baylor @ Wisconsin-Whitewater (NCAA Division III Playoffs Semifinals; ESPN+)
• Shepherd @ Ferris State (NCAA Division II Playoffs Semifinals; ESPN+)

8:30: Montana State @ Sam Houston State (NCAA Division I Playoffs Quarterfinals; ESPN+)

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Baylor vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12 Championship @ Arlington, TX; ABC): Well, I definitely completely struck out on the Utah-Oregon rematch. Honestly, though, I think the main thing for this game is whether or not Oklahoma State will be able to mentally reset after finally winning Bedlam. I think they can and they should be able to see out the Bears.
• Kent State vs. Northern Illinois (Mid-American Championship @ Detroit, MI; ESPN): Northern Illinois just has to be the luckiest team of this college football season. The anti-Nebraska, if you will. I think Kent State will upend them here, but with my luck it’ll probably be Huskies by 2 or something.

2:00:

• Southeastern Louisiana @ James Madison (NCAA Division I Playoffs Second Round; ESPN+)
• Kennesaw State @ East Tennessee State (NCAA Division I Playoffs Second Round; ESPN+)

3:00:

• Utah State @ San Diego State (Mountain West Championship; FOX): I think the Aztecs still have some severe questions to answer against this resurgent Aggies squad. Their defense and field position game should be strong enough to win at home, but either way the main entertainment here is watching The Punt God boom ’em.
• Incarnate Word @ Sam Houston State (NCAA Division I Playoffs Second Round; ESPN+)

3:30:

• Appalachian State @ Louisiana (Sun Belt Championship; ESPN): These two teams have quietly put together really strong seasons and this could well be one of the best games of the day. However, with the game in Lafayette, the Cajuns have to be the favorites to rage at home.
• Southern Illinois @ North Dakota State (NCAA Division I Playoffs Second Round; ESPN+)

4:00:

• Houston @ Cincinnati (American Athletic Championship; ABC): The Bearcats dodged a bullet by Notre Dame quickly replacing Brian Kelly with defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, as their own coach, Luke Fickell, was almost certainly the top external candidate. While Fickell is probably still on the boards at some other jobs—after Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly got new jobs I’m not sure I can be surprised by anything anymore—it’s unlikely that he’s going anywhere. I can imagine there will be many eyes here, even though this is the “lesser” game compared to the one below. Houston will be the second strongest challenge the Bearcats have had all year. The Cougars are 11-1 and have the talent to challenge Cincy. However, as I mentioned before the SMU game I feel like this is a team that really plays up and down to their opponents, and we saw what they did to the Ponies. I like Cincy here.
• Georgia vs. Alabama (Southeastern Championship @ Atlanta, GA; CBS): Much was made last weekend that after the overtime thriller in Auburn, Nick Saban actually smiled after a win, which was taken to mean that it’s a bit more of a struggle for this team. Well, against Georgia, the struggle will be real. This Alabama offense isn’t as good as it’s been the past few years, but they will be, across the board, the most talented offense this Georgia defense will face. (Conversely, this will be best defense Georgia has faced since Clemson in Week 1.) Yes, UGA is the favorite, and I have them as a favorite as well, but this is realistically the first time all season that Georgia is in any danger of losing. As a Georgia Tech alum and fan, I of course generally want Georgia to lose all of their games. Unfortunately, that presents two major quandaries for me:
  1. My most hated team growing up was Alabama, and they’re still my second least favorite.
  2. A Georgia loss here likely doesn’t knock them out the playoff (it would have to be the sort of thing where Bama just somehow completely exposes them as massive frauds), and most disconcertingly, an UGA loss could knock Cincy out if they finish undefeated but not by an impressive margin over Houston.
  This is the true doomsday scenario. At least when these two played for a national title I could at least go with “well, if UGA loses then we’ve still won a national championship more recently than them” but that doesn’t really work here. Again, I think they’ll probably win. I would also like to see Cincinnati make the playoff. That’s how I’m going to have to frame it.
• Prairie View A&M @ Jackson State (Southwestern Championship; ESPN2)
• Tennessee-Martin @ Montana State (NCAA Division I Playoffs Second Round; ESPN+)

8:00:

• Michigan vs. Iowa (Big Ten Championship @ Indianapolis, IN; FOX): What Michigan did to Ohio State, well, we knew it could be done. Oregon laid the groundwork in Columbus. But Michigan amped up the aggressiveness and toughness to 11. If not for some pure talent plays by Ohio State’s elite wide receivers, the margin in the The Game would’ve been a blowout. The problem for Michigan is that they now have to play Iowa, a team that has no pretentions about ever beating elite teams on talent. They will try to be more physical and tough than the Wolverines and force them into uncomfortable situations. Like I said about Oklahoma State above, part of this too for the Wolverines will be ensuring they aren’t too high after finally beating their rival. I think that this team can do it, and I have them as favorites,
• Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest (Atlantic Coast Championship @ Charlotte, NC; ABC): While the game in Indianapolis will probably be tough and gritty, down in Charlotte there’s going to be some points y’all. Kenny Pickett is still one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but Wake can get the score up there as well. I think this game will easily break 100. I have Pitt, but it could well come down to whoever has the ball last.

9:00: South Dakota State @ Sacramento State (NCAA Division I Playoffs Second Round; ESPN+)

11:00: Southern California @ California (FS1): And finally we have the season’s only COVID-makeup game. Originally, it was thought that this would be played so that one or both of these teams could get bowl eligible, but they both lost last weekend, so at 4-7 that’s not going to happen. It turns out that Cal just plain needs the money from the gate receipts and concessions and stuff, but I gotta ask, who is going to go? At least USC has reasons to be excited with Lincoln Riley coming to town, and I imagine he’ll be on the scene in Berkeley tomorrow night. I’ll take the Trojans here.