Week
9 alright where has the time gone. Well the marquee game of the week took a bit
of a ding but we’re clearly into
Weekday
Slate (Thursday & Friday)
There
are only two games during the week… They’re football games.
SMU
at Houston (Thursday, 6:30 pm, ESPN)
USC
at Colorado (Friday, 8:00 pm, ESPN2)
Neither
one of these games is all that exciting but they exist, and we’ll watch. SMU is
still undefeated, and USC is tied for the Pac-12 South with the tiebreaker over
Utah.
Early
Slate (11:00 am to 2:00 pm)
The
early slate is weak this week. Wisconsin-Ohio State has lost it’s luster, and
the only really interesting games outside of that fairly good one are Miss
State-A&M and Oklahoma-KSU
Wisconsin
at Ohio State (11:00 am, FOX)
This
one is still a good one, but Brandon Peters found openings in the Wisconsin
defense at times on Saturday and Justin Fields is a whole different ball game. The
Badgers should be outpaced and outmanned, but they should have all the
motivation they’ll need after the upset this past week to the Illini.
Mississippi
State at Texas A&M (11:00 am, SEC Network)
A&M
is still on track to be one of the better 6-6 teams in history and a game in
which they welcome the Bulldogs to A&M shouldn’t be a problem.
Oklahoma
at Kansas State (11:00 am, ABC)
The
only way the Sooners don’t win this one is if Jalen Hurts makes a handful of
big mistakes and gives KSU repeated short fields.
|
Home
|
Away
|
Home
Rating
|
Away
Rating
|
My
Spread
|
Win%
|
Date
|
Time
|
TV
|
|
Houston
|
SMU
|
-0.586
|
23.914
|
-21.583
|
73.2%
|
10/24
|
18:30
|
ESPN
|
|
Colorado
|
USC
|
-5.544
|
10.834
|
-12.941
|
64.0%
|
10/25
|
20:00
|
ESPN2
|
|
Kansas State
|
Oklahoma
|
6.818
|
27.375
|
-16.478
|
67.8%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
ABC
|
|
Ohio State
|
Wisconsin
|
38.834
|
20.995
|
23.559
|
75.3%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
FOX
|
|
Texas A&M
|
Mississippi State
|
6.836
|
0.524
|
11.485
|
62.5%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
SECN
|
|
Purdue
|
Illinois
|
-5.273
|
-3.714
|
1.499
|
52.0%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
BTN
|
|
Rutgers
|
Liberty
|
-22.226
|
-1.107
|
-18.212
|
69.6%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
BTN
|
|
Pittsburgh
|
Miami (FL)
|
10.209
|
-8.872
|
21.359
|
73.0%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
ESPN
|
|
South Alabama
|
Appalachian State
|
-23.903
|
20.176
|
-43.220
|
96.6%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
ESPNU
|
|
Northwestern
|
Iowa
|
-7.410
|
12.695
|
-17.390
|
68.8%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
ESPN2
|
|
Army
|
San Jose State
|
-5.888
|
-11.328
|
8.220
|
59.1%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
CBSSN
|
|
Western Michigan
|
Bowling Green
|
-2.392
|
-20.633
|
19.781
|
71.3%
|
10/26
|
11:00
|
ESPN3
|
|
Rice
|
Southern Miss
|
-21.606
|
1.549
|
-22.128
|
73.8%
|
10/26
|
12:00
|
ESPN+
|
|
Ball State
|
Ohio
|
1.204
|
-9.207
|
10.954
|
62.0%
|
10/26
|
13:00
|
ESPN+
|
|
Wyoming
|
Nevada
|
6.366
|
-8.088
|
16.270
|
67.6%
|
10/26
|
13:00
|
-
|
|
Marshall
|
WKU
|
-2.232
|
1.043
|
-1.575
|
52.1%
|
10/26
|
13:30
|
-
|
|
Georgia Southern
|
New Mexico State
|
-3.698
|
-21.373
|
19.431
|
70.9%
|
10/26
|
14:00
|
ESPN3
|
|
LSU
|
Auburn
|
31.111
|
24.672
|
11.809
|
62.9%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
CBS
|
|
TCU
|
Texas
|
1.156
|
11.890
|
-7.017
|
57.8%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
FOX
|
|
Michigan State
|
Penn State
|
10.785
|
28.013
|
-12.660
|
63.8%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ABC
|
|
Minnesota
|
Maryland
|
21.256
|
-5.556
|
29.962
|
82.2%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ESPN
|
|
Louisville
|
Virginia
|
3.318
|
11.938
|
-5.156
|
55.8%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ACCN
|
|
Iowa State
|
Oklahoma State
|
14.896
|
5.103
|
13.643
|
64.8%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
FS1
|
|
Nebraska
|
Indiana
|
4.790
|
7.490
|
2.596
|
53.2%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
BTN
|
|
Florida State
|
Syracuse
|
2.541
|
0.803
|
6.060
|
56.8%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ESPN2
|
|
Stanford
|
Arizona
|
-3.680
|
0.400
|
-0.617
|
51.1%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
P12N
|
|
Buffalo
|
Central Michigan
|
-10.496
|
0.826
|
-10.177
|
61.1%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ESPN+
|
|
Toledo
|
Eastern Michigan
|
-5.621
|
-2.171
|
-1.146
|
51.6%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ESPN+
|
|
Kent State
|
Miami (OH)
|
-8.009
|
-3.488
|
-3.570
|
54.2%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ESPN+
|
|
UMASS
|
Connecticut
|
-36.210
|
-25.180
|
-9.950
|
60.9%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
-
|
|
Charlotte
|
North Texas
|
-15.914
|
-10.878
|
-2.922
|
53.5%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ESPN+
|
|
Middle Tennessee
|
FIU
|
-11.058
|
-9.072
|
-0.831
|
51.3%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
NFL
|
|
Old Dominion
|
FAU
|
-22.058
|
1.682
|
-20.756
|
72.3%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ESPN+
|
|
Northern Illinois
|
Akron
|
-12.222
|
-39.815
|
28.127
|
80.2%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
ESPN3
|
|
Navy
|
Tulane
|
11.145
|
7.889
|
6.667
|
57.4%
|
10/26
|
14:30
|
CBSSN
|
|
East Carolina
|
USF
|
-11.515
|
-11.081
|
2.332
|
52.9%
|
10/26
|
14:45
|
ESPNU
|
|
Tennessee
|
South Carolina
|
-8.491
|
1.908
|
-5.202
|
55.9%
|
10/26
|
15:00
|
SECN
|
|
North Carolina
|
Duke
|
3.777
|
7.829
|
-0.774
|
51.2%
|
10/26
|
15:00
|
ACCN
|
|
New Mexico
|
Hawaii
|
-16.201
|
1.035
|
-15.941
|
67.2%
|
10/26
|
15:00
|
-
|
|
Alabama
|
Arkansas
|
31.725
|
-15.678
|
52.915
|
100.0%
|
10/26
|
18:00
|
ESPN
|
|
Temple
|
UCF
|
5.675
|
9.449
|
-2.490
|
53.0%
|
10/26
|
18:00
|
ESPN2
|
|
Tulsa
|
Memphis
|
-8.763
|
14.889
|
-22.350
|
74.0%
|
10/26
|
18:00
|
CBSSN
|
|
Kansas
|
Texas Tech
|
-8.336
|
-5.463
|
-1.389
|
51.9%
|
10/26
|
18:00
|
FS1
|
|
Arkansas State
|
Texas State
|
-3.402
|
-11.519
|
10.312
|
61.3%
|
10/26
|
18:00
|
ESPN+
|
|
Georgia State
|
Troy
|
7.435
|
-7.499
|
16.534
|
67.8%
|
10/26
|
18:00
|
ESPN+
|
|
Clemson
|
Boston College
|
35.662
|
-2.209
|
42.725
|
96.0%
|
10/26
|
18:30
|
ACCN
|
|
Michigan
|
Notre Dame
|
12.695
|
14.497
|
4.078
|
54.7%
|
10/26
|
18:30
|
ABC
|
|
Fresno State
|
Colorado State
|
-2.299
|
-15.683
|
15.702
|
67.0%
|
10/26
|
18:30
|
ESPNU
|
|
Kentucky
|
Missouri
|
-1.529
|
7.450
|
-5.164
|
55.9%
|
10/26
|
18:30
|
SECN
|
|
UCLA
|
Arizona State
|
-4.732
|
9.258
|
-10.904
|
61.9%
|
10/26
|
18:30
|
P12N
|
|
UTEP
|
Louisiana Tech
|
-22.117
|
7.583
|
-28.814
|
80.9%
|
10/26
|
19:00
|
EPSN3
|
|
Utah
|
California
|
21.879
|
0.001
|
25.745
|
77.6%
|
10/26
|
21:00
|
FS1
|
|
Air Force
|
Utah State
|
11.581
|
6.475
|
7.096
|
57.9%
|
10/26
|
21:15
|
ESPN2
|
|
Oregon
|
Washington State
|
20.303
|
1.188
|
23.284
|
75.0%
|
10/26
|
21:30
|
ESPN
|
|
UNLV
|
San Diego State
|
-16.917
|
10.356
|
-26.185
|
78.1%
|
10/26
|
21:30
|
CBSSN
|
Midday
Slate (2:30 pm to 3:00 pm)
Midday
slate is a bit better and at least there is some variety.
Auburn
at LSU (2:30 pm, CBS)
This
is probably the best high-profile matchup of the day, and a game that features
two of the best defensive fronts in the country. LSU has had the more consistent
offense, but only gets Death Valley in the afternoon. I think the offensive proficiency
gives LSU the edge, but it should be a fun watch.
Penn
State at Michigan State (2:30 pm, ESPN)
It’s
a PSU-Iowa rematch except in East Lansing, during the day, and less fun.
Texas
at TCU (2:30 pm, FOX)
Oklahoma
State at Iowa State (2:30 pm, FS1)
More
hot middle of the Big 12 action this week. Last week all but eliminated Oklahoma
State from contention to be in the top half of the 2-8 group. We also saw Texas
come back into the conversation after barely escaping Kansas. I think the TCU-UT
game has more excitement but a consistently good Iowa State year in year out is
a major accomplishment by Matt Campbell et, al. in Ames.
Miami
(OH) at Kent State (2:30 pm, ESPN+)
Before
you say anything in our fake conversation yes, this one belongs on here. Both Miami
and Kent are 2-1 in the decidedly mediocre (or worse) MAC East, tied with Ohio.
Kent State is coming off a loss to the Bobcats and a loss at home this week against
Miami leaves them a game back and a loss to both competitors. Miami (OH) wins
this and they’re in prime position to lose in the MAC Championship game.
Duke
at North Carolina (3:00 pm, ACC Network)
This
one matters because the loser likely has no shot at the division title while
the loser has a hope and a prayer.
Evening
Slate (6:00 pm to 7:00 pm)
A
rivalry game, an intriguing AAC matchup, and the Duke-UNC of the Pac-12. It’s
not the best week.
UCF
at Temple (6:00 pm, ESPN2)
Temple
has now been in an interesting game for like half the season and they’ve done
something different in each. They scored 21 on SMU and 30 on Memphis, they held
Georgia Tech to 2, but barely pulled out the win against what we now know is a
bad Maryland team. A win here and they set up a winner take all match against
Cincinnati, a loss and they have the ability to set up a three-way tie with one
loss where everyone lost to someone else. UCF is worse than the last couple
seasons but they’re still good and this one is the best game of Saturday night.
Notre
Dame at Michigan (6:30 pm, ABC)
The
Marquee matchup of the late slate is a game with a lot of history, good but
flawed teams, and Brian Kelly’s weird red face. The Michigan defense is less
explosive than last year but still very good, but ND is solid on both sides of
the ball compared to Michigan’s very good defense and middling offense.
Arizona
State at UCLA (6:30 pm, Pac-12 Network)
This
is Duke-UNC of the Pac-12 and only matters because it eliminates one of them.
UCLA has it’s QB back though so this one should be at least a little more fun
than Duke-UNC.
Late
Slate (9:00 pm to 9:30 pm)
A
couple #Pac12AfterDark games and an important Mountain West matchup.
California
at Utah (9:00 pm, FS1)
Cal-Utah
would have been fun with Garbers at QB but now it’s just going to be low
scoring weird affair that could be everything #Pac12AfterDark isn’t.
Utah
State at Air Force (9:15 pm, ESPN2)
This
is the best game of the late slate as well. Much like UCF-Temple the team that
wins stays in the race but one has a better chance if they win than the other.
Utah State hasn’t played Boise so if they win, they have a winner takes all
against the Broncos later in the year. If Air Force wins, they need Boise to
lose to USU to make a three-way tie possible. Watch this unless the Pac-12
games get weird.
Washington
State at Oregon (9:30 pm, ESPN)
Oregon-Wazzou
for its part should be high scoring but probably a blowout but you never know with
coming off a comeback win over biggest rival for the division crown Washington
last week.
An
alright week 9 ahead, plenty of conference race implications. The night is
carried by some real nice G5 games that most will overlook.
