The B1G returns this week which only leaves one Power 5 conference not playing.
There's 4 ranked vs. ranked matchups and it's a good schedule overall with a number of critical games for potential conference contenders. Only 1 game postponed
so far which is a great sign especially considering that 2 conferences return to play this week. There are also a few late night offerings
this week with BYU playing late and the MWC starting up.
On to the games, highlights for this week:
Illinois at Wisconsin, Friday 8 Eastern BTN
Wisconsin is expected to be one of the contenders in the B1G West and should start off with an easy win.
Syracuse at Clemson, noon Eastern ACCN
This is likely another game where Trevor, Travis and the Clemson starters only play about a half of football. Syracuse is good at one thing,
they lead the nation in turnover margin, but on the other hand that shows you how bad Cuse has been with only having 1 win despite having a good
turnover margin. Plus starting QB DeVito and their All-American safety Cisco are both out. The 46-point spread might not be high enough.
Nebraska at Ohio State, noon Eastern Fox
OSU is fully expected to be in contention for a CFP spot and this should be a blowout win. We'll see how good they really are when they go to
Happy Valley next week.
NC State at UNC, noon Eastern ESPN
UNC is reeling after that loss to FSU, but NC State has only 1 loss and if they can win today their toughest game left is against Miami
since they have the fortune of avoiding both ND and Clemson on the schedule. However their starting QB Leary is out. Bailey Hockman will get
the start and had a decent showing last week against Wake but he struggled badly against VT a few weeks ago. Doeren is 3-0 against UNC at Kenan.
Auburn at Ole Miss, noon SECN
Both teams really need a win here, that's all I've got.
Alabama at Tennessee, 3:30 Eastern CBS
Bama is fun to watch with their incredible talent at the skill positions but this one won't be much of a contenst. Guarantano was terrible last
week against Kentucky and Tennessee has showed the last 2 weeks that they still have a ways to go.
ND at Pitt, 3:30 Eastern ABC
Pitt has lost 3 games in a row and even though 2 of them were 1-point losses, their defense has let them down in those losses giving up just over
30 points per game in those 3 losses. Also not good for Pitt is that Pickett is still expected to be out for this game. On the other side ND has been
great running the ball with freshman Kyren Williams leading the way, however they have some problems throwing the ball downfield. Book only has 8 completions
of 20 or more yards this season and he is 7 for 19 for 153 when targeting WR's on throws of 11+ yards downfield. ND's 4 wins are against teams with a
combined 5-16 record and 3 of those 5 wins have come against G5 or FCS teams. I think this one can be close if Pitt can bottle up ND's run game, plus Pitt
has traditionally played ND close.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State, 3:30 Eastern Fox
OSU is the only undefeated team left in the Big 12 and ISU is undefeated in conference play. The winner here has a huge leg up on getting to the
conference championship game, especially if it's ISU since they already beat OU.
Penn State at Indiana, 3:30 Eastern, FS1
Not that easy of an opener for PSU and they have Ohio State next week.
South Carolina at LSU, 7 Eastern ESPN
2 teams heading in opposite directions this season? If LSU doesn't win this one they don't have many chances left for a win this season. Their easiest
games left after this are at Arkansas who is no longer a gimme, and Ole Miss.
Michigan at Minnesota, 7:30 Eastern ABC
Tanner Morgan is the 2nd leading passer behind Fields returning in the B1G and Michigan will have a new starter at QB.
Virginia at Miami, 8 Eastern ACCN
Miami is still very much in the ACC race despite the Clemson loss, and with a few tough games still left on the schedule
they definitely can't afford a loss here.
Cincinnati at SMU, 9 Eastern ESPN2
Don't look now but Cincinnati is in the top 10 and SMU is undefeated.
There's 4 ranked vs. ranked matchups and it's a good schedule overall with a number of critical games for potential conference contenders. Only 1 game postponed
so far which is a great sign especially considering that 2 conferences return to play this week. There are also a few late night offerings
this week with BYU playing late and the MWC starting up.
On to the games, highlights for this week:
Illinois at Wisconsin, Friday 8 Eastern BTN
Wisconsin is expected to be one of the contenders in the B1G West and should start off with an easy win.
Syracuse at Clemson, noon Eastern ACCN
This is likely another game where Trevor, Travis and the Clemson starters only play about a half of football. Syracuse is good at one thing,
they lead the nation in turnover margin, but on the other hand that shows you how bad Cuse has been with only having 1 win despite having a good
turnover margin. Plus starting QB DeVito and their All-American safety Cisco are both out. The 46-point spread might not be high enough.
Nebraska at Ohio State, noon Eastern Fox
OSU is fully expected to be in contention for a CFP spot and this should be a blowout win. We'll see how good they really are when they go to
Happy Valley next week.
NC State at UNC, noon Eastern ESPN
UNC is reeling after that loss to FSU, but NC State has only 1 loss and if they can win today their toughest game left is against Miami
since they have the fortune of avoiding both ND and Clemson on the schedule. However their starting QB Leary is out. Bailey Hockman will get
the start and had a decent showing last week against Wake but he struggled badly against VT a few weeks ago. Doeren is 3-0 against UNC at Kenan.
Auburn at Ole Miss, noon SECN
Both teams really need a win here, that's all I've got.
Alabama at Tennessee, 3:30 Eastern CBS
Bama is fun to watch with their incredible talent at the skill positions but this one won't be much of a contenst. Guarantano was terrible last
week against Kentucky and Tennessee has showed the last 2 weeks that they still have a ways to go.
ND at Pitt, 3:30 Eastern ABC
Pitt has lost 3 games in a row and even though 2 of them were 1-point losses, their defense has let them down in those losses giving up just over
30 points per game in those 3 losses. Also not good for Pitt is that Pickett is still expected to be out for this game. On the other side ND has been
great running the ball with freshman Kyren Williams leading the way, however they have some problems throwing the ball downfield. Book only has 8 completions
of 20 or more yards this season and he is 7 for 19 for 153 when targeting WR's on throws of 11+ yards downfield. ND's 4 wins are against teams with a
combined 5-16 record and 3 of those 5 wins have come against G5 or FCS teams. I think this one can be close if Pitt can bottle up ND's run game, plus Pitt
has traditionally played ND close.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State, 3:30 Eastern Fox
OSU is the only undefeated team left in the Big 12 and ISU is undefeated in conference play. The winner here has a huge leg up on getting to the
conference championship game, especially if it's ISU since they already beat OU.
Penn State at Indiana, 3:30 Eastern, FS1
Not that easy of an opener for PSU and they have Ohio State next week.
South Carolina at LSU, 7 Eastern ESPN
2 teams heading in opposite directions this season? If LSU doesn't win this one they don't have many chances left for a win this season. Their easiest
games left after this are at Arkansas who is no longer a gimme, and Ole Miss.
Michigan at Minnesota, 7:30 Eastern ABC
Tanner Morgan is the 2nd leading passer behind Fields returning in the B1G and Michigan will have a new starter at QB.
Virginia at Miami, 8 Eastern ACCN
Miami is still very much in the ACC race despite the Clemson loss, and with a few tough games still left on the schedule
they definitely can't afford a loss here.
Cincinnati at SMU, 9 Eastern ESPN2
Don't look now but Cincinnati is in the top 10 and SMU is undefeated.
