This is going to be a great weekend of games
Friday:
(5)Iowa @ Maryland - I think that this will be better than we deserve for a Friday evening game. Iowa at 5 seems high, but they might just sit there all season.
Saturday noon:
Tennessee @ Missouri - I've been encouraged by what I've seen thus far. I really do think that we would beat Pitt if we played that game again. The coaching, scheme, and preparation are there. The execution has not clicked yet. I wouldn't mind just seeing us run our asses off.
(8)Arkansas @ (2)Georgia - I'll be surprised if Arkansas is in this one going into the 4th quarter, but they've been surprising for a couple of seasons now. Either Arkansas is for real or Georgia is about to murderball Arky.
(14)Michigan @ Wisconsin - This is the answer to what to watch if Georgia bullies Arkansas. I think this will be a great game.
Texas @ TCU - Patterson loves sticking it to Texas, and all of their various new head coaches that they've had. I think this will be a great test for Sark in that conference. I think a lot of people are impressed with Texas because they blew by Texas Tech, but TCU has a much better defense.
Louisville @ (24) Wake Forest - I like Wake. <shrug> I'll have this on one of my screens for sure.
Saturday afternoon:
(7) Cincinnati @ (9) Notre Dame - Still trying to figure both of these teams out. This is Cincinnati's biggest game of the season. Could be an open interview for the USC (and/or LSU) job(s) as well.
(12) Ole Miss @ (1) Alabama - I hope this is as entertaining as last year's game. Would love to see Alabama take a hit.
(3) Oregon @ Stanford - Sneaky potential here for a great game.
(6) Oklahoma @ Kansas State - K State always makes this a good game. Struggling OU offense/QB on the road? You know that's gonna be wild.
Nevada @ Boise State - one of those Mountain West games that could be worth keeping an eye on from an entertainment perspective.
Saturday evening:
(10) Florida @ Kentucky - I don't think Kentucky will catch Florida coming out slow like we did. But Kentucky does manage to make this a game at times.
Miss State @ (15) Texas A&M - Kind of feel like State is a better team than their record shows. They did beat NC State, and they got robbed vs Memphis. Could be a(nother) statement win for Leach, who seems to cup check a better team from time to time. A&M still licking their wounds and down from the big loss last week?
(21) Baylor @ (19) Oklahoma State - this game is going to be nuts
Liberty @ UAB - <shrug> I wanna see it. UAB opens their new stadium. Freeze feels kind of stale at Liberty.
Indiana @ (4) Penn State - revenge spot for Penn St after that finish at Indiana last year. That loss sent their team spiraling. You know they've circled this game.
Boston College @ (25) Clemson - time to find out what kind of coach Dabo really is when expectations are dashed and there isn't much on the line anymore. Would be an awesome kill shot, though I don't think BC can pull it off. Clemson is going to get clicking and take it all out on someone eventually.
UConn @ Vanderbilt - the very definition of a car crash and I can't wait.
Northwestern @ Nebraska - feels like Nebraska's version of our game next week. Gotta win it to take yourself seriously. I have a soft spot in my heart for Nebraska because everyone lines up to piss on their graves too. The post-2000 risers (Auburn, LSU, Georgia, Clemson, Oregon, A&M, VaTech, Wisconsin) love that Nebraska and Tennessee are down. They think that if they kick us out that it will open up room for them in the Top-10 All-Time group.
Saturday night:
(22) Auburn @ LSU - this is one of those games where Coach O's back is against the wall. People are starting to give up on him and LSU. These games always come down to the end, too. Can't wait.
Arizona State @ (20) UCLA - great late night accompaniment to the SEC game.
Late nite tip:
(18)Fresno State @ Hawaii - otherwise known as the get-back game