As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Illinois @ Virginia (ACCN): So I’ll be honest. I’m writing this way too late. This is going to be almost entirely lightning round. I’m so sorry. I’ll at least try to say if it’s watchable or not as well. This one probably won’t be. Virginia.
• Western Kentucky @ Army (CBSS): Army.
• Oregon @ Ohio State (FOX): Ohio State – geez, this day is kind of dire so far, but this may still be your best bet even if the Buckeyes win by 2 touchdowns.
• Pittsburgh @ Tennessee (ESPN): Pitt.
• South Carolina @ East Carolina (ESPN2): The fact I had to think about this should give any Gamecocks fan pause. Regardless, USC.
• Tulsa @ Oklahoma State (FS1): Pokes.
• Miami @ Minnesota (ESPNU): Gophers.
• Alabama State @ Auburn (SEC)
• Youngstown State @ Michigan State (BTN)
• Indiana State @ Northwestern (BTN)
• Kennesaw State @ Georgia Tech (ACC/RSN): My mood right now is that we need to start looking for a new head coach, regardless of the result of this game. I expected 4-6 wins this year. This is now virtually impossible after last week’s disaster against NIU.
• Norfolk State @ Wake Forest (ACCNX)

1:00: Florida @ South Florida (ABC): Gators

1:30: Wyoming @ Northern Illinois (ESPN+)

2:00:

• Rutgers @ Syracuse (ACCN): Cuse
• Middle Tennessee State @ Virginia Tech (ACCNX): VPI

2:30: Toledo @ Notre Dame (Peacock)

3:00: Purdue @ Connecticut (CBSS): Purdue. Oh my word… yeah, Purdue.

3:30:

• Texas A&M vs. Colorado (FOX): TAMU
• Air Force @ Navy (CBS): AF
• Alabama-Birmingham @ Georgia (ESPN2): UGA 🙁
• Ball State @ Pennsylvania State (FS1): Nittany Lions
• California @ Texas Christian (ESPNU): I suspect there will be fewer than 9 interceptions in this one. The question is whether TCU has enough coherence on offense to overcome Cal’s stifling defense. I suspect they do.
• Buffalo @ Nebraska (BTN): Nebraska… probably?
• Georgia Southern @ Florida Atlantic (Stadium): Southern
• Temple @ Akron (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Mercer @ Alabama (SEC)
• South Alabama @ Bowling Green (ESPN+)

4:30: Iowa @ Iowa State (“El Assico”; ABC): I’m picking Iow State because I want them to win, not necessarily that I think they will.

5:00: South Carolina State @ Clemson (ACCN)

6:00: Portland State @ Washington State (Pac12)

6:30: Houston @ Rice (CBSS):

7:00:

• Texas @ Arkansas (ESPN): Longhorns
• North Carolina State @ Mississippi State (ESPN2): Wolfpack
• Appalachian State @ Miami (ESPNU): Da U
• Eastern Michigan @ Wisconsin (FS1): Wisky
• New Mexico State @ New Mexico (“Rio Grande Rivalry”; Stadium): New Mexico, but they’re awful as well so the Aggies will probably still cover 18.5.
• North Texas @ Southern Methodist (ESPN+)
• Texas State @ Florida International (ESPN+)
• Liberty @ Troy (ESPN+)
• Memphis @ Arkansas State (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Missouri @ Kentucky (SEC): UK
• Howard @ Maryland (BTN)
• Idaho @ Indiana (BTN)
• Georgia State @ North Carolina (ACC/RSN): UNC

8:00:

• Washington @ Michigan (ABC): Wolverines
• Jacksonville State @ Florida State (ACCN)

10:00:

• Vanderbilt @ Colorado State (CBSS): Rams
• San Diego State @ Arizona (Pac12): Aztecs

10:15: Utah @ Brigham Young (“Holy War”; ESPN): Utah, but this will probably be the most watchable game of the day.

10:30:

• Stanford @ Southern California (FOX): Trojans
• Nevada-Las Vegas @ Arizona State (ESPN2): Consider… Arizona State
• Idaho State @ Nevada (Stadium)

11:00: Hawaii @ Oregon State (FS1): Beavers

As we get the season proper started, a quick reminder on the format of this post. I’ll do small descriptions of each contest involving two FBS teams on a regular linear television channel, otherwise it’s just listed here without commentary.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Saturday

Noon:

• Pennsylvania State @ Wisconsin (FOX): This is a real test for each time to see where they’re at going into a pivotal season for each. I think I have to prefer Wisky at home, but I can’t say I’m terrible confident about it.
• Oklahoma @ Tulane (ABC): Due to the events of Hurricane Ida, this is really Tulane going to Norman. Either way, the outcome would have been the same: the Sooners roll.
• Western Michigan @ Michigan (ESPN): Michigan fans have no idea what to expect in 2021, but I figure they’ll at least beat WMU.
• Stanford vs. Kansas State (Advocare Classic @ Arlington, TX; FS1): Well, for some reason Stanford and K-State are playing a neutral site game in Arlington. Good on them, I suppose. I like K-State here.
• Army @ Georgia State (ESPNU): Not sure how fun this will be. I’m not sure how good either team will be either. I’ll take Army as a Week 1 pick but I don’t feel good about it.
• Louisiana-Monroe @ Kentucky (SEC): Kentucky.
• Fordham @ Nebraska (BTN)
• Holy Cross @ Connecticut (CBSS)
• Colgate @ Boston College (ACCN)

2:00:

• Fresno State @ Oregon (Pac12): Oregon is a slight step up from UConn for Fresno. Just a “slight” one.
• Lafayette @ Air Force (Stadium)
• Rice @ Arkansas (ESPN+)

3:30:

• Alabama vs. Miami (Chik-fil-a Kickoff @ Atlanta, GA; ABC): I’ve heard Alabama may be worse this year, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
• West Virginia @ Maryland (ESPN): I still have zero confidence in Maryland, even with Tua’s younger brother up there in College Park.
• Indiana @ Iowa (BTN): Starting a Big Ten team in the first weekend of the season with another team in the same rough tier seems kind of unfortunate. I like Indiana here, but Iowa will be a test for them.
• Marshall @ Navy (CBSS): Navy.
• Miami @ Cincinnati (ESPN+)

4:00:

• Louisiana Tech @ Mississippi State (ESPNU): Miss State.
• Central Michigan @ Missouri (SEC): Mizzou.
• Massachusetts @ Pittsburgh (ACCN): Pitt.

4:30:

• Louisiana @ Texas (FOX): Texas. Yes, it’s fashionable to think the Cajuns (who are also Ragin’) will give them a run for this money, but that’s just it: it’s a fashion.
• Northern Iowa @ Iowa State (ESPN+)

5:00: San Jose State @ Southern California (Pac12): USC? Oh, right, what am I thinking, of course USC.

6:00:

• Gardner-Webb @ Georgia Southern (espn3.com)
• Campbell @ Liberty (espn3.com)

7:00:

• Texas Tech vs. Houston (Texas Kickoff @ Houston, TX; ESPN): If it’s Houston’s not going to be good now, then wen? I will pick them here though.
• Oregon State @ Purdue (FS1): In one of the odder inter-sectional matchups, I’m not sure which way to go. Purdue should be better, but I can’t say I’ve kept up whole-heartedly with whatever the Beavers have been up to. I’m picking Purdue, but tenatively.
• Syracuse @ Ohio (CBSS): Duke already lost to a FCS team as I type this early Saturday morning, so Syracuse, please, have your stuff together.
• Norfolk State @ Toledo (espn3.com)
• Monmouth @ Middle Tennessee State (espn3.com)
• Southern @ Troy (espn3.com)
• Central Arkansas @ Arkansas State (espn3.com)
• Baylor @ Texas State (ESPN+)
• Akron @ Auburn (ESPN+)
• Eastern Illinois @ South Carolina (ESPN+)
• Nicholls State @ Memphis (ESPN+)
• Missouri State @ Oklahoma State (ESPN+)
• Abilene Christian @ Southern Methodist (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Georgia vs. Clemson (Duke’s Mayo Classic @ Charlotte, NC; ABC): Here it is folks, the Big One. The game of the week of the century. A lot of discussion has been centered around if a loss here would really hurt the standing of either. Personally, I think there’s plenty to lose. Clemson’s remaining schedule is soft. Is it sufficient for them to recover if they have 1-loss versus other undefeated or 1-loss Power 5 teams? I’m not sure. Georgia has more chances to recover if the lose here and then wind up with 1-loss, but what are their chances of actually ending with 1-loss in that case? It should be a fantastic game regardless. I’m going with Clemson because #thwg.
• Florida Atlantic @ Florida (SEC): Gators roll easily.
• Texas-San Antonio @ Illinois (BTN): Fortunately for the Illini UTSA is really not good.
• Northern Illinois @ Georgia Tech (ACCN): It’s Year 3 for Geoff Collins and company. I’m… cautiously optimistic? We’ve got a brutal schedule so getting back to bowl eligibility might be a lofty goal, but honestly being able to handle business in a game like this may be sufficient proof already. At least I hope so.
• William & Mary @ Virginia (ACC/RSN)
• Northwestern State @ North Texas (espn3.com)

8:00:

• Kent State @ Texas A&M (ESPNU): Aggies roll.
• Montana @ Washington (Pac12)
• East Tennessee State @ Vanderbilt (ESPN+)
• Southern Mississippi @ South Alabama (ESPN+):
• Duquesne @ Texas Christian (ESPN+)

8:30: Louisiana State @ California-Los Angeles (FOX): UCLA looked better last week against Hawaii, but in a battle in the trenches I’ll take some SEC boys anyday.

9:00: Bethune-Cookman @ Texas-El Paso (espn3.com)

10:30:

• Brigham Young vs. Arizona (Las Vegas Kickoff Classic @ Paradise, NV; ESPN): No idea about either of these teams other than a vague recollection Zona is kinda bad, so sure, BYU, why nt.
• Nevada @ California (FS1): The Bears should roll.
• New Mexico State vs. San Diego State (@Carson, CA; CBSS): Aztecs.

11:00: Utah State @ Washington State (Pac12): Cougs.

Sunday

7:30: Notre Dame @ Florida State (ABC): I’ll tentatively take Notre Dame here, but  this should be a good measuring stick for both teams.

Monday

8:00: Louisville vs. Mississippi (Chick-fil-a Kickoff @ Atlanta, GA; ESPN): Lane will almost certainly take the chance to hang 60+ on possibly one of the worst P5 teams.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

1:00: Nebraska @ Illinois (FOX): Happy Scott Frost Day! The Huskers by all rights should win this one, and in a way it works better for the relative poetic justice that will come later.

2:00: Connecticut @ Fresno State (CBSS): UConn gets their trek to be one of the worst FBS teams ever started bright and early.

3:30: Hawaii @ California-Los Angeles (ESPN): It’s getting to be put up-or-shut up time for Chip Kelly down in Pasadena. The Bruins should be able to hold off a depleted Hawaii team regardless.

6:00: Eastern Illinois @ Indiana State (ESPN+)

7:00: Alcorn State vs. North Carolina Central (MEAC/SWAC Challenge @ Atlanta, GA; ESPN)

9:30: Texas-El Paso @ New Mexico State

10:00: Southern Utah @ San Jose State (CBSS)

Picks so far this year: 0-0

Hey, so I wasn’t working today (a novel idea, I know) so I had a chance to crank out my… pretty much total guesses for how the bowls will shape up! We’ll see how it goes today. Word on the street is that some more games will likely be canceled, but absent that the first game is… Monday. I’ll be back then!

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Friday

7:00: Alabama-Birmingham @ Marshall (Conference USA Championship; CBSS): Well, UAB hasn’t played much, meanwhile Marshall has. As much as I wanna say “Go Blazers!” I think it’s going to be the Herd here.

7:30:

• Nebraska @ Rutgers (BTN): This is certainly a game happening (maybe) on today, Scott Frost day, of all days. Rutgers is probably going to win, right?
• Buffalo vs. Ball State (Mid-American Conference Championship @ Detroit, MI; ESPN): I have Buffalo all the way here.

8:00: Oregon @ Southern California (Pacific-12 Conference Championship; FOX): So this game might be played, and it might even be played with these teams in this location! So exciting! At any rate, if it’s played as scheduled, I guess I kinda have to go with USC at this point? While they’ve played a bunch of cardiac games, they’ve won, while Oregon’s losses are less understandable.

Saturday

Noon:

• Oklahoma vs. Iowa State (Big 12 Conference Championship @ Arlington, TX; ABC): Oklahoma still young, whereas for the Cyclones it feels like they’ve been waiting a while for this. I have this as pretty even, so I’ll say what the hey (hay?) and pick Iowa State.
• Northwestern @ Ohio State (Big Ten Conference Championship @ Indianapolis, IN; FOX): Northwestern’s defense is…. no, I can’t do it. Shenanigans or not. the Buckeyes are the better team.
• Texas A&M @ Tennessee (ESPN): Texas A&M in a romp.
• Florida State @ Wake Forest (ACCN): This is certainly a game that is scheduled to be played less than a week before Christmas. Leaving aside the “why?”, it’s gotta be Wake here.

1:30: Washington State @ Utah (FS1): I have a read on neither of these teams, so I’ll pick Utah.

3:00: Air Force @ Army (CBSS): Man, that Army-Navy game was something, mostly due to the interesting atmospheric conditions. I talked to noted West Point graduate, my Dad, and he said that he didn’t recall anything like that happening up there before. At any rate, fog or no, I like Army here.

3:30:

• Louisiana @ Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt Conference Championship; ESPN): This game could be really good, or it could be just Coastal from start to finish. I’m leaning toward the latter.
• Mississippi @ Louisiana State (SEC): The end of that LSU-Florida game sure was something, eh? So… the Tigers are going to get bombed to death by Ole Miss in this one aren’t they?
• Missouri @ Mississippi State (SECA): Mizzou seems smart enough to know how to beat 2020 Miss State, and I think they will.

4:00:

• Clemson vs. Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast Conference Championship @ Charlotte, NC; ABC): I think this will be a close, tight Clemson win that allows both teams to get into the Playoff.
• Minnesota @ Wisconsin (BTN): The axe is on the line, y’all! I think Wisconsin is just mediocre enough this year to give the Gophers a chance, but I’ll still call for the Badgers.

4:30: Boise State vs. San Jose State (Mountain West Conference Championship @ Las Vegas, NV; FOX): San Jose State is good, which means their head coach is probably halfway out the door to another job. I don’t think Boise can cream them this year, but I’ll still pick the Broncos until given a reason otherwise.

5:30: Illinois @ Pennsylvania State (FS1): Well, one of these teams already fired their coach, so I’m going with the one that didn’t: Penn State.

7:00: Stanford @ California-Los Angeles (ESPN): UCLA can play offense, sorta, so I’ll give them the edge over Stanford.

8:00:

• Florida vs. Alabama (Southeastern Conference Championship @ Atlanta, GA; CBS): I still think Florida is good enough to not get the doors completely blown off, but yeah, they’re not going to win or anything silly like that.
• Tulsa @ Cincinnati (American Athletic Conference Championship; ABC): Cincy knows that this their last chance to make a statement, and they’re going to make it by paving over Tulsa.

10:30: Arizona State @ Oregon State (ESPN): Well, here ya go, some Pac-12 After Dark to close out the 2020 “regular” season, such as it was. As is my tradition for late-season games in Corvallis, let’s check the forecast. It’s going to be a relatively warm 50 degrees or so, but blustery with winds out of the south-southwest at 15 to 25 miles per hour. There’s also a 61% percent chance of rain. Have fun, Sun Devils! I’ll take the Beavers.