Last week the same dilemma arose, but in that case, Wisconsin's matchup with Northwestern was just as good as some of the other games on paper, maybe a notch below Florida-LSU and Oregon-Washington. This week, they play Illinois. There is no reason to watch this game if you are me besides writing about it which I probably will chose to only include a blurb in our college football wrap-up post, SnoTap College Try.
The simple response would be stay at home, be in control, but I like to go out when I get a free night so that's out of the question. By the time the night games end, it is 10:30 pm and add on another 30 minutes to head east to Milwaukee. The next is stream the game which could work, but it is hard as hell sometimes to pay attention to both. I like to use the stream as a secondary game, not my main option. The final option is go to a bigger sports bar and hope like hell they are saving a television screen for Florida State-Clemson. I went with the third decision and we shall see how it ends up.
Get your beers and get your bros
5. Florida State at 3. Clemson 7:00 pm ABC - This is a must-watch game as I highlighted above in my dilemma. Two top teams, two Heisman candidates and something that feels like it will live up to the hype. The other thing is both teams are fun as hell to watch play football. Probably the inevitable question is who gets a couple stops to win this football game? Both offenses are great and will put up points. Florida State boasts the better defense even if they have yet to play many tough opponents. But on the other hand, Jameis Winston in this environment could lead to turnovers which could alter the game. This is a close game and a great game. This is truly a coin flip, but I go with the Tigers. Home atmosphere, senior quarterback gets them the win. CLEM 34-31
9. UCLA at 13. Stanford 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2 - I thought Jim Mora Jr. was refreshing on Dan Patrick today having to think about whether he would have liked Stanford to lose last week. Here's the growing problem about Stanford... Ty Montgomery is their only real threat on offense. Sure they have a good defense, but Kevin Hogan has regressed a bit this season. Montgomery can only make so many big plays before someone realizing it taking him out of the game especially returning kicks. I will take UCLA here. They have a good defense led by Anthony Barr whom I believe can handle the road atmosphere. Brett Hundley is not scared of anything. I like the Bruins in a close one. UCLA 23-20
24. Auburn at 7. Texas A&M 2:30 pm CBS - Auburn has to be the most surprising team of the season. Gus Malzhan making a difference in year one only makes the SEC West tougher. This should be another SEC shootout where apparently defense does not live anymore. Auburn has the seventh best rushing attack in the country to A&M's 104th rush defense... Uh oh. That could mean a big day for Tigers running back Tre Mason. At the end of day, you trust in Johnny Manziel because he has shown time and again, he can keep up with the best of them. Close battle, but a late Manziel touchdown proves to be the difference. TAMU 38-31
Channel flip worthy
USC at Notre Dame 6:30 pm NBC - Yes I put a battle between unranked teams pretty high. Why? I am completely fascinated by this matchup. First, it is one of my favorites every year. Second, USC looked pretty good last week, what will they do on the road? Third, what Tommy Rees comes to play Saturday night? I will take the Irish. I cannot trust USC just yet. Rees will be Mr. Hyde on Saturday and lead the Irish to a convincing victory. ND 30-17
6. LSU at Ole Miss 6:00 pm ESPN2 - Poor Ole Miss. They continue their gauntlet schedule having to play LSU after playing Alabama, Texas A&M in the last two weeks. At least, this is at home, not heading to Death Valley. The Rebels may have the most popular co-ed in college football, but that's not going to help them in this one. Even though Florida is not a great offense, I feel like LSU took a major step forward with their defense last week. That will continue to be on display in The Grove including a nice Zach Mettenberger game. LSU 35-14
UCF at 8. Louisville 7:00 pm ESPN (Played on Friday) - The last tough game for Louisville until December. They get shit on a lot about their schedule so I will spare everybody. This should be a great football game with Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater going head-to-head. If Bortles happens to outplay Bridgewater, expect to hear some rumblings about his draft stock for next season. I like Louisville in this one even though we are not going to see as much offense as some would hope with these two quarterbacks. LOU 27-17
22. Florida at 14. Missouri 11:21 am ESPN3 - This game lost its luster when James Franklin went out with a shoulder injury. New quarterback Maty (The hell kind of name is that?) Mauck did not look like he had it all together out there and going up against a tough as nails Florida defense does not sound like it will end well. Florida is banged up on offense as well losing Matt Jones, their running back, for the year, but I still like the Gators in this one. It is hard to go with a quarterback wet behind the ears with this defense. UF 24-9
TCU at 21. Oklahoma State 11:00 am FOX - It is apparent TCU is suffering from regression city from Trevone Boykin and missing Casey Pachall, both going hand-in-hand to the Horned Frogs slow start. Oklahoma State played well in this last game against Kansas State a couple weeks ago. I feel like Mike Gundy has the boys ready for this one and J.W. Walsh handles the tough TCU defense. OK STATE 28-16
Upset special
(Not really an Upset Special but work w/ me) 20.Washington at Arizona State 5:00 pm PAC-12 Network - Let it be known, I like this Washington team, a lot actually but this reeks of an upset. Technically, it is not if we are playing by Vegas rules as Sparky is favored by three points. They should be given Washington just faced Stanford and Oregon in the last two weeks. That's tough for any team and heading on the road does not make it easier. ASU 30-24
16. Texas Tech at West Virginia 11:00 am FOX Sports 1 - The next two games will employ my '11 am hell theory.' It is becoming obvious to me that road teams really do not like playing on the road this early. West Virginia proved that point stunning Oklahoma State at the time when it looked like the Mountaineers were a dumpster fire. Texas Tech looked shaky last week and I feel they are due for a lost, give me Clint Trickett or give me death! WVU 24-17
11. South Carolina at Tennessee 11:00 am ESPN - This might be a reckless pick. I fully acknowledge the fact the Gamecocks look like they are in the best position in the SEC East to get to Atlanta given Florida and Georgia's injury issues plus their losses. Tennessee should have beat Georgia. It is clear Butch Jones has gotten through to these guys led by the play of Rajion Neal at running back. I feel like South Carolina might wander in here a bit lackadaisical. Second straight road game, second straight 11 am game feels like trouble to me but this easily could blow up in my face. TENN 27-21
A palate cleanser for your Netflix binge watch
10. Miami at North Carolina 6:30 pm ESPN (Played on Thursday) - This pick was made on Tap's Thursday Night Picks.
15. Georgia at Vanderbilt 11:00 am CBS - The Bulldogs might have a bevy of injury issues, but they can handle the Dores on the road. I like Aaron Murray to have a nice bounce back game and hopefully the defense shows up too. UGA 31-21
Iowa State at 12. Baylor 6:00 pm ESPNU - Third straight game for Iowa State where they are facing some of the top teams of the Big 12. They cannot compete athletically with Baylor and the Bears are at Waco where they take care of business usually, seems to me like a Baylor drubbing. BAY 41-13
Iowa at 4. Ohio State 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2 - My buddy Josh is a Hawkeye grad. He told me last week he thought Iowa could beat the Buckeyes on the road. I looked at him like he was crazy, but I can at least see a little bit where he's coming from. Iowa is top ten in stopping the run this year and 26th in stopping the pass, they have an above average defense making them a contender in any game they play this year. But Ohio State is the superior team. I might like the Hawkeyes' chances if this was at Kinnick, not The Horseshoe. Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde do just enough in this one for an Ohio State win. OSU 24-16
25. Wisconsin at Illinois 7:00 pm Big Ten Network - Check out our Badger preview on this game!
Washington State at 2. Oregon 9:00 pm FOX Sports 1 - This is really here to show off the awesome helmets Oregon will be wearing for the Kay Yow foundation and the Ducks will roll along in this one. OREG 55-17
Sleep off your hangover
Arkansas at 1. Alabama 6:00 pm ESPN - BAMA 52-10
18. Oklahoma at Kansas 2:30 pm ESPN - OU 59-14
23. Northern Illinois at Central Michigan 2:00 pm ESPN3 - NIU 45-17
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