LOL
Good morning, beautiful people. Another weekend of college football is upon us. ‘Bama gets a Big 1o visitor today, with a very assy Big 10 start of 11 a.m., but fear not, there are some other games of interest to slake your thirst once that has been concluded.
Here’s what’s on today, what to watch, and why to watch it. Schedule courtesy of CFB Grid, and everything is in God’s Right and Proper Central Time Zone.
Must See TV — and most of it is local
Alabama vs. Wisconsin — Ordinarily, a three-touchdown
home game for the Tide wouldn’t be much of a riveting viewing experience, but both of these teams have to show us a lot. Can Alabama impose its will on the ground against a quality line? Can its own defensive line stop a concerted power rushing attack? Has Wisconsin’s retooled defense been as good as it looks against bad competition? What does the return of Ryan Williams mean? Can ‘Bama play a standard two whole weeks in a row? They’ve rarely done so the last several years (and that includes Saban’s final years). Can Simpson continue his evolution at the position and start taking the top off of the ball? There are a lot of things to watch for here.
Florida @ LSU — LSU is still running off the dopamine hit of a win at Clemson, while the Gators are trying to regroup following a homefield shart last week against the obnoxious USF Bulls. Losing wasn’t the problem, coaching was. And it’s hard to see Napier outcoaching a superior team on the road at night in Death Valley. Everyone’s sudden dark horse playoff team could walk out of here 1-2 before it even gets to the heart of the schedule. For the Tigers, another loss to a quality team cements Kelly’s reputation as a man cashing Saban-level checks for Jimbo-level results: 9-4 forever and ever.
UGA @ Tennessee — Is Aguilar actually all he’s been cracked up to be? Or are the Vols living under a delusion brought on by playing five worst defenses in D1 football and an even worse FCS squad? Is Georgia as fallible as they’ve appeared the first two weeks? This is a tough opener for both their SEC schedule and in facing a real team. No training wheels in Knoxville, where you’re always playing 15-on-11. Like Arkansas/Ole Miss, I’d wager we don’t actually know much about either of these guys. Unlike Arkansas/Ole Miss, we’ll have a very decent idea of how good both of them are when the final whistle blows.
Clemson @ Georgia Tech — Klubnik is completing fewer than 60% of his passes, the Tigers running game is MIA, and the offense generally looks sick. As for that vaunted defense? The passing games of LSU and Troy torched the Fighting Dabos….not exactly a ringing endorsement for the alleged standard bearer of the ACC. Can Tech win ugly up front against Uncle Clem? More importantly, can they stop turning the ball over? The Bees’ ball control has been hideous, while Clemson’s opportunistic defense is still Clemsony in that respect. One of two games today that will help tell us whether FSU is really the best team in the ACC.
USF @ Miami — Two ACC games today, and two contrasts in style. The Canes look to beat you will skill and precision, while the Bulls lean on their excellent line play and all-out chaos on the field. USF has already beaten two Top 25 teams, and find themselves ranked for the first time since 2019 or so. Miami can’t sleep on this group, or underestimate their dedication to havoc: USF is at its best when everything goes to shit. For now, the Bulls have the inside track on the G5 playoff bid, and with their early resume a loss won’t doom them. A win, meanwhile, would get Orlando rocking like it scarce has in a decade. Or, will Miami stake their claim as the ACC’s most best team, with a focused, businesslike beatdown of their upstart neighbors? And mercy, would that set up a war with FSU on October 4. The round-robin battle for Florida continues apace.
Keep An Eye On:
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M — The Aggies are probably the quietest undefeated team in the country. But they’ve not played anyone either, and I don’t think anyone truly trusts Marcel Reed under center either. The Irish played pretty well in Miami, but got uncharacteristically beat up front by a Canes team that looks fundamentally better than they did last season. Can the Irish rebound, find some answers at quarterback, and win those physical battles they lost two weeks ago? The Aggies under Elko have absolutely flopped in their biggest games so far. Hard to think of something bigger than a primetime national game under Touchdown Jesus’s welcoming arms.
Arkansas @ Ole Miss — These are two of the best offensive coordinators in the country, with two of the most efficient passing games so far. But what do we really know about either one of them? Little and less, I’d wager. And weirdly, no matter who wins, we probably still won’t have a good handle on either of them.
Washington State @ North Texas — No, I’m not on drugs. This could be the unhinged shootout of the week. If Notre Dame/A&M has too much defense for your liking, flip on over to this one.
Pitt @ West Virginia — The pass-first Panthers with a bad road coach meets their nemesis in the hollers against a run-first coach with a penchant for letdowns at inopportune moments. Two teams and fanbases that absolutely despise one another, and I think the series will be much better next season once Rich Rod has his team in place. The Backyard Brawl could still shape up to be a competitive affair this year in any case.
Memphis @ Troy — The Trojans passing game is absurdly good, and the Tigers play awful away from the Liberty Bowl. Memphis also uncharacteristically is fairly weak through the air this season, and have to win on the ground. Can the Trojans stop it, even when they know it’s coming? This could be another major upset in the race to determine who gets the G5 Playoff Spot (the candidates are rapidly dwindling with losses by UTSA and Boise State). For that reason, keep an eye on Duke visiting Tulane today as well. The Wave, Tigers and USF Bulls are the leaders in the clubhouse…for now.
Vandy @ South Carolina — The Gamecocks are undefeated, but have looked awful getting there. The ‘Dores staged a historical rally last week in Blacksburg, and look like a far better team this season than last. Is the home crowd enough to get USCe beyond an inconsistent passing game and a mediocre rushing attack?
Unwatchable Filth
UMass @ Iowa — The worst team in the country travels to Iowa City to watch the dullest team in the country. The Hawkeyes fanbase is one of the most hardened group of binge-drinkers you’ll ever encounter, but I don’t think they make enough Grain Belt to power through this one. What an awful, awful game…that I bet on. Sigh.
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Have a great day, and take care.