Posted: October 1, 2014

Random thoughts on the upcoming weekend of college football.

Finally a Saturday slate of games worthy of 12 hours on the couch. We have suffered through some bad weekends but this weekend should make up for it. There are 6 games between Top 25 teams, so let’s get right to it.

1. The weekend gets going Thursday night with 5-0 Arizona traveling to Eugene to face the also unbeaten Oregon Ducks. Oregon’s defense has been vulnerable and Arizona is scoring points averaging 42 a game. They are going to need to at least match that if they hope to pull off the upset as they did last year winning 42-16. Over under on this game is 77 so points should come early and often. So look for a 10-3 halftime score.

2. The SEC has THE games of the weekend and it kicks off right at 12 with Texas A&M traveling to Mississippi State. This is a big weekend in the state of Mississippi. Kenny Hill is making everyone forget about Johnny football as the Aggies enter second in points scored averaging 51 per game. They are coming off of an overtime win against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Bulldogs are coming off a bye after beating LSU. Dual threat Dak Prescott is getting it done in both the air and ground and has Miss State poised for a big season. Psst, both teams rank in the top 20 in scoring defense as well. This should be a very close hard fought game.

3. The SEC keeps it going at 3:30 with Alabama and Ole Miss. ESPN Gameday heads to The Grove for the first time ever. The Quest was there last year and it is going to be a great environment. This is not your fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers or even last years, Alabama team. Alabama is an offensive force. Lane Kiffin is doing wonders with Blake Sims and that together with the Alabama defense makes the Tide a very difficult team to beat. Ole Miss has breezed through the early slate having not been tested and holding opponents under 10 points per game. That will not happen Saturday but if they can slow down the Tide offense, they have a shot at this game. Has there been a bigger weekend in Mississippi football?

4. Oklahoma gets its first test of the year going to TCU in the third match-up of top 25 opponents.
TCU comes in undefeated but an unknown as their 3 games have not exactly been against world beaters. TCU is known for its defense and comes in 2nd in scoring defense, but again, they have not played any offensive juggernauts. Oklahoma is scoring in bunches, so this game will be strength versus strength. Look for Oklahoma to get it done pulling away late.

5. The 3:30 slot is a busy one. A fourth game of top 25 teams has Stanford at Notre Dame. Notre Dame enters 4-0 having beaten some pretty good names in college football but they are a combined 7-11. Stanford comes in leading the nation in points against and yards against, but not exactly lighting it up on offense. This could be a sloppy low scoring game. I think Everett Golson gets it done at home.

6. The SEC night game has LSU at Auburn. Three top 25 games within the conference! Have you seen Auburn’s remaining schedule…8 games left, 6 are against Top 15 teams and one of the other games is South Carolina. Holy Cow! LSU is starting a freshman QB on the road in the conference. There is no reason to move off the couch, order in some pizza.

7. South Carolina at Kentucky – The Gamecocks better be careful in this game. The Wildcats are playing well and the Gamecocks are coming off blowing a 2 TD lead against the Missouri Tigers. South Carolina is already halfway through their conference schedule and are sitting at 2-2. A third loss would be catastrophic and the season could spiral from there. Kentucky is chomping at the bit after winning their first conference game in a half century last week. Not quite but it certainly seemed that way. If this game comes into the 4Q, uh oh Gamecocks.

8. The BigTen gets into the Top 25 match-ups with Nebraska at Michigan State. Nebraska enters 5-0 and after a stumble in their second game having to intercept a pass and return it for a TD to beat McNeese State, a game in which it certainly looked like Nebraska would lose, the Cornhuskers have picked it up a bit. Michigan State has had three weeks off since losing to Oregon (bye week, E. Michigan, and Wyoming) and will be looking to get its BigTen schedule off to a fast start. This will be a test. Going to need multiple tvs or a fast finger for this night lineup. But I will have gotten lots of practice from the 3:30 games.

9. 10:30 even gives us two games worthy of watching…Boise State at Nevada and Utah at UCLA.

There is no reason to go anywhere on Saturday or even to get up off the couch. Pee breaks are permitted but chose when because it should be wall to wall action. Gotta love these weekends.