What is the story about?
Mid-South
Airlines Shift
- Texas Tech-Utah: This is the first real snaps we’ll see from either side given how they’ve beaten down lower tier opponents like contending teams should and it could be the first leg of a series that will be revisited in December. 5th year senior Behren Morton has been a revelation so far for the Red Raiders, while Utah’s Devin Dampier has one of the highest ceilings of any quarterbacks in the nation. This could be a certified banger.
- Arkansas-Memphis: The Hogs lost a tough one last week in Oxford, but there’s no rest as they now keep the show on the road for a third straight road game against Memphis, who is favored over the Razorbacks in a toss-up.
- SMU-TCU: This could be the last Iron Skillet matchup in a while, which adds an additional level of vitriol to an already spicy cross-town rivalry. TCU took a week off following the UNC victory and then had a body bag game, so this will be a good test to see if the Frogs just took advantage of an underprepared Belichek team or are on their way back.
- Maryland-Wisconsin: Luke Fickell needs to win this game, full stop. Needs.
Sleeves Off Shift
- Michigan-Nebraska: Finally, a game where the Michigan head coach is suspended may actually matter. I don’t know if the Cornhuskers are good but I do think they are good enough to win this game if Michigan and interim Biff Poggi don’t carefully manage Bryce Underwood.
- Auburn-Oklahoma: John Mateer can lock up the much-coveted September Heisman with another solid performance in this game. For Auburn, this is the first of an absolutely brutal stretch where they go to Norman, College Station before hosting Georgia and Missouri. You have to think that anything less than winning half those games will put Brother Hugh on the hot seat.
- North Carolina-UCF: The Belichek meltdown on Labor Day received a lot of attention, but a very overlooked result from Week 1 was the Golden Knights barely hanging on for a 17-10 win over Jacksonville State. This could be a pretty messy (read: entertaining) game.
- NC State-Duke: We are aware of the 6-0 NC State threat and are monitoring and assessing the situation.
Sunset Bill Shift
- Southeastern Louisiana-LSU: I just hope both teams have fun tbh.
- Illinois-Indiana: Shit was sweet for the first quarter of the season for the Hoosiers but now the rent is due as the Top-10 ranked Illini come to town. I don’t want it to seem that I have a bevy of trust in BERT, but the line currently sits at Indiana -4.5 and I really want to know what Vegas sees that I do not.
- Florida-Miami (FL): LSU couldn’t land the death blow on the Billy Napier tenure, but Miami sure can this week.
- Arizona State-Baylor: This should be a pretty fun game, straight up. Not even close to being sold on either team being good but them meeting should be good.
Robert Kekaula Memorial Shift
- Cal-San Diego State: Welcome to the JKS Hive. There is plenty of room on the bus. But it is cool that San Diego State is getting to host a P5 school in a good exposure spot, even if it is Cal on a late kick.
- Wyoming-Colorado: Do I think Deion will lose to Wyoming? No, probably not. Am I going to verify this opinion? You bet.
- Michigan State-USC: Michigan State fans are (rightfully) very upset about an 11 p.m. local time kick, and I think that may actually factor into this game as I don’t think Michigan State is a 17.5 point dog in a neutral, normal setting. But welcome to the new college football, this is what ADs, universities and TV broadcasters wanted so here we are.
- Fresno State-Hawaii: ALOHA FRIENDS
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