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Is anyone's appetite for college football diminished due to Notre Dame's lackluster performance thus far?
MINE IS NOT. There is still a loooooong way to go, both for ND and for the many fun storylines unfolding across the nation.
We've got two weekends of action before the Playoff Committee releases their first set of rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 1... I'll be eagerly watching everything I can, because it will be kind of nice (in a weird way) to see all of the drama and chaos and hurt feelings happening, while not simultaneously worrying that ND is getting screwed by the committee.
Let's point and laugh at the OTHER teams getting screwed, for once! But we've got some matchups to watch before we get there:
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19
- Wednesday night #FunBelt should see App State roll... but things do get weird during mid-week matchups.
THURSDAY, OCT. 20
- A lackadaisical ACC matchup on a Thursday night. One team has a new coaching staff, one team has an interim staff. This matchup should be ass, which means it will be off-the-charts fun, instead.
- #FunBelt on commercial breaks.
FRIDAY, OCT. 21
- Neither AAC team is very good. The line is 13, but Temple is baaaaaaad. You should probably watch the other game, which will be much more entertaining.
- WKU's new gunslinger already has 2300+ yards passing. UAB prefers to do their damage on the ground. Contrasting styles will make for fun offensive possessions that need to count for both sides.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22 - EARLY
- BIG NUDE SATURDAY... is a dud. Usually you'd be on the lookout for an Iowa upset, but they are so bad on offense, it's insulting to other bad offenses.
- Syracuse with a big test on the road at Clemson. They handled NC State last week, but keeping DJ U from free-styling for points will be tough, and Clemson is starting to hit their stride in general.
- The Bearcats get Ben Bryant healthy at QB after a bye. The ponies can score points, but can't prevent the other team from scoring. UC throws the ball deep at a good rate. Could be a fun shootout.
- Kansas is still playing with a backup QB. Baylor is still trying to get their footing. Could be sloppy but fun.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22 - AFTERNOON
- NOTE: This game is ONLY on Peacock, not NBC. GO IRISH. BEAT REBELS. I would usually talk about how this is a matchup to clean some things up and get the young guys plenty of reps... now, I'm just hoping the offense plays clean enough to cover the spread.
- EDITED TO ADD A @Dale SPECIAL: Dale says hammer the over, despite forecasted high winds.
- Lane vs BK. I hope Lane trolls the hell out of BK all day. LSU did look good against Florida, though....
- Top-ten PAC12 matchup! Winner is in the playoff convo in two weeks.
- The analytics LOVE Texas... but Oklahoma State is pretty damn good, even after a heartbreaking loss to TCU. Should be a good one.
- Philly J against another ranked opponent, but one that he might have some time to throw against.
- Mean Green Wave is ranked! Surprise AAC darling! And a QB that could be worthy of a transfer portal move if he keeps playing well...
- Seven games in one window is a lot, but I felt I should include this since I included the two above it.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22 - LATE
- #Pray4Bulldogs. They get Saban after a loss. It could get ugly.
- The weekend slate in general is woof. This is a good opportunity to turn on a Mountain West matchup in a primetime slot instead of as a night cap.
- As, I said, WOOF. Uninspiring Minnesota visits a team that just got murdered on national TV a week ago... and it's your primetime ABC matchup. Yikes.
- Another chance to see a matchup you might normally move to the back-burner. Kansas State just doesn't change. A mobile QB causing issues for opposing defenses, a lofty ranking when you didn't expect it, early season upset over an overrated Big XII foe, etc. etc. Does TCU avoid a hangover after their battle with OK State?
- This one should be entertaining, if the rest of the night slate is disappointing.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22 - NIGHT CAP
- Washington has been disappointing since their upset of also-disappointing Sparty. California is not great, but has some fun young guys. Enjoy a drink and watch until you're asleep.
- If you are somehow coherent enough during Wash/Cal, you can check this game just to avoid commercials during the other.
MINE IS NOT. There is still a loooooong way to go, both for ND and for the many fun storylines unfolding across the nation.
We've got two weekends of action before the Playoff Committee releases their first set of rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 1... I'll be eagerly watching everything I can, because it will be kind of nice (in a weird way) to see all of the drama and chaos and hurt feelings happening, while not simultaneously worrying that ND is getting screwed by the committee.
Let's point and laugh at the OTHER teams getting screwed, for once! But we've got some matchups to watch before we get there:
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19
| Time | Matchup | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30PM | Georgia State (+9.5) @ Appalachian State | ESPN2 |
- Wednesday night #FunBelt should see App State roll... but things do get weird during mid-week matchups.
THURSDAY, OCT. 20
| Time | Matchup | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30PM | Virginia (+3) @ Georgia Tech | ESPN |
| 7:30PM | Troy (+3) @ South Alabama | ESPNU |
- A lackadaisical ACC matchup on a Thursday night. One team has a new coaching staff, one team has an interim staff. This matchup should be ass, which means it will be off-the-charts fun, instead.
- #FunBelt on commercial breaks.
FRIDAY, OCT. 21
| Time | Matchup | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30PM | Tulsa (-13) @ Temple | ESPN2 |
| 8:00PM | UAB (+2) @ Western Kentucky | CBSSN |
- Neither AAC team is very good. The line is 13, but Temple is baaaaaaad. You should probably watch the other game, which will be much more entertaining.
- WKU's new gunslinger already has 2300+ yards passing. UAB prefers to do their damage on the ground. Contrasting styles will make for fun offensive possessions that need to count for both sides.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22 - EARLY
| Time | Matchup | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00PM | Iowa (+29) @ Ohio State | FOX |
| 12:00PM | #14 Syracuse (+13.5) @ #5 Clemson | ABC |
| 12:00PM | #21 Cincinnati (-3) @ SMU | ESPN |
| 12:00PM | Kansas (+8) @ Baylor | ESPN2 |
- BIG NUDE SATURDAY... is a dud. Usually you'd be on the lookout for an Iowa upset, but they are so bad on offense, it's insulting to other bad offenses.
- Syracuse with a big test on the road at Clemson. They handled NC State last week, but keeping DJ U from free-styling for points will be tough, and Clemson is starting to hit their stride in general.
- The Bearcats get Ben Bryant healthy at QB after a bye. The ponies can score points, but can't prevent the other team from scoring. UC throws the ball deep at a good rate. Could be a fun shootout.
- Kansas is still playing with a backup QB. Baylor is still trying to get their footing. Could be sloppy but fun.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22 - AFTERNOON
| Time | Matchup | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 2:30PM | NOTRE DAME (-25) vs UNLV | Peacock |
| 3:00PM | West Virginia (+7) @ Texas Tech - O/U 65.5 | FS1 |
| 3:30PM | #7 Ole Miss (+2) @ LSU | CBS |
| 3:30PM | #9 UCLA (+6) @ #10 Oregon | FOX |
| 3:30PM | #20 Texas (-6.5) @ #11 Oklahoma State | ABC |
| 3:30PM | Boston College (+20.5) @ #13 Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 3:30PM | Memphis (+7) @ #25 Tulane | ESPN2 |
| 3:30PM | Purdue (+2.5) @ Wisconsin | ESPN |
- NOTE: This game is ONLY on Peacock, not NBC. GO IRISH. BEAT REBELS. I would usually talk about how this is a matchup to clean some things up and get the young guys plenty of reps... now, I'm just hoping the offense plays clean enough to cover the spread.
- EDITED TO ADD A @Dale SPECIAL: Dale says hammer the over, despite forecasted high winds.
- Lane vs BK. I hope Lane trolls the hell out of BK all day. LSU did look good against Florida, though....
- Top-ten PAC12 matchup! Winner is in the playoff convo in two weeks.
- The analytics LOVE Texas... but Oklahoma State is pretty damn good, even after a heartbreaking loss to TCU. Should be a good one.
- Philly J against another ranked opponent, but one that he might have some time to throw against.
- Mean Green Wave is ranked! Surprise AAC darling! And a QB that could be worthy of a transfer portal move if he keeps playing well...
- Seven games in one window is a lot, but I felt I should include this since I included the two above it.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22 - LATE
| Time | Matchup | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00PM | #24 Mississippi State (+21) @ #6 Alabama | ESPN |
| 7:00PM | Boise State (+3.5) @ Air Force | CBSSN |
| 7:30PM | Minnesota (+4) @ #16 Penn State | ABC |
| 8:00PM | #17 Kansas State (+3.5) @ #8 TCU | FS1 |
| 8:00PM | Pittsburgh (+2.5) @ Louisville | ACCN |
- #Pray4Bulldogs. They get Saban after a loss. It could get ugly.
- The weekend slate in general is woof. This is a good opportunity to turn on a Mountain West matchup in a primetime slot instead of as a night cap.
- As, I said, WOOF. Uninspiring Minnesota visits a team that just got murdered on national TV a week ago... and it's your primetime ABC matchup. Yikes.
- Another chance to see a matchup you might normally move to the back-burner. Kansas State just doesn't change. A mobile QB causing issues for opposing defenses, a lofty ranking when you didn't expect it, early season upset over an overrated Big XII foe, etc. etc. Does TCU avoid a hangover after their battle with OK State?
- This one should be entertaining, if the rest of the night slate is disappointing.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22 - NIGHT CAP
| Time | Matchup | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30PM | Washington (-7.5) @ California | ESPN |
| 10:30PM | San Diego State (-7) @ Nevada | CBSSN |
- Washington has been disappointing since their upset of also-disappointing Sparty. California is not great, but has some fun young guys. Enjoy a drink and watch until you're asleep.
- If you are somehow coherent enough during Wash/Cal, you can check this game just to avoid commercials during the other.
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