As we approach the 3rd week of the college football season, the number of relevant match-ups seems to be increasing, as the number of games against South-East-Northwestern State and their like is starting to trail off. Let’s take a quick spin around the country to see what games might be worth following.
Big Ten
MSU, OSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are all 21+ point favorites this weekend, but the rest of the conference should provide for some competitive games. In particular, there are several Big Ten – ACC match-ups including Illinois at UNC (-6.5), Pitt at Iowa (-3), Nebraska at Miami (-5), Northwestern at Duke (-1), and VA Tech at Purdue (+5.5). Purdue is the only home dog here, but I am thinking the Big 10 can steal a couple of games and maybe even win the “Challenge”. In a continuation of last week’s inspiring performances, Indiana (-3) and Maryland (-7.5) are both favored and are hosting shaky teams (Western Kentucky and South Florida, respectively), yet I have no level of confidence that either team will win. Also, Rutgers travels to Penn State for the first conference game of the year. Somewhere the student section is shouting “who cares!?!”
ACC
Outside of the mini-Big Ten/ACC Challenge that will take place, this week marks the start of the actually relevant ACC conference games as Clemson travels to Louisville (+3.5). At the beginning of the season, this looked like a possible trap/test for the Tigers, but the Cardinals are not exactly setting the world on fire yet this year. Then again, how good is Clemson, really? They have the schedule to win a lot of games and challenge for a playoff spot. They probably won’t (because they are Clemson, after all), but this game might give us an idea of if they are for real. The only other game of consequence is when Georgia Tech (-1) travels to South Bend to play the Fighting Irish. Vegas obviously seems concerned at ND’s QB position. GA Tech looks to be the cream of the ACC Coastal Division and have put up 60+ points twice already this year. Is the winner a legit play-off contender? Perhaps so.
Big 12
Since the Big 12 seems to be allergic to real non-conference games, it is a slow week in the middle of the country once again. But, I will be curious to see the outcome when Texas travels to Berkeley to play Cal (-1.5). It is not that Cal is great or maybe even good, but if nothing else picturing a bunch of Texans on Berkeley’s campus is amusing. In the afterglow of the Toledo-Arkansas game from last week, I am also interested to see if Toledo (-6.5) can gets its 2nd Power 5 win in a row when they host Iowa State and if Arkansas (-10.5) can get back on track when Texas Tech comes to town. When was the last time a MAC teams was favored to beat a Big 12 team?
Pac 12
The headline game out West this week appears to be Stanford at USC (-8). I am surprised to see this line so tight as USC is at home and has blown a hole their first two opponents, while Stanford… has not. I would be surprised if Stanford were to cover here. BYU also travels to UCLA (-14) on a hot streak. If they beat the Bruins, I would bet that they are the favorite next week in Ann Arbor. Utah State at Washington (-3.5) might be fun, and Colorado (-3.5) vs. Colorado State definitely will be.
SEC
While almost half the SEC is still snacking on cupcakes this week, there are 4 pretty important conference games. Mississippi at Alabama (-8.5) and Auburn at LSU (-6.5) are the most important on paper, it is a bit hard to picture the road team winning is either case. For me, I like the Florida at Kentucky (+4.5) match-up. With the wildcats fresh off their win in Columbia last weekend, and with Florida struggling to beat East Carolina, I have to wonder if the home dog Wildcats will pull this one out. As for the Gamecocks, things don’t look up as they need to travel this week to Athens to play Georgia (-15.5)
Group of Five
Not a lot of action of note outside of the Power 5, but I would like to note the match-up of Memphis (-3) at Bowling Green. This has a feel of one of those February bracket buster basketball games. Both teams could challenge for their conference crown and if they do, a New Year’s Six Bowl is in play.
Enjoy!
Big Ten
MSU, OSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are all 21+ point favorites this weekend, but the rest of the conference should provide for some competitive games. In particular, there are several Big Ten – ACC match-ups including Illinois at UNC (-6.5), Pitt at Iowa (-3), Nebraska at Miami (-5), Northwestern at Duke (-1), and VA Tech at Purdue (+5.5). Purdue is the only home dog here, but I am thinking the Big 10 can steal a couple of games and maybe even win the “Challenge”. In a continuation of last week’s inspiring performances, Indiana (-3) and Maryland (-7.5) are both favored and are hosting shaky teams (Western Kentucky and South Florida, respectively), yet I have no level of confidence that either team will win. Also, Rutgers travels to Penn State for the first conference game of the year. Somewhere the student section is shouting “who cares!?!”
ACC
Outside of the mini-Big Ten/ACC Challenge that will take place, this week marks the start of the actually relevant ACC conference games as Clemson travels to Louisville (+3.5). At the beginning of the season, this looked like a possible trap/test for the Tigers, but the Cardinals are not exactly setting the world on fire yet this year. Then again, how good is Clemson, really? They have the schedule to win a lot of games and challenge for a playoff spot. They probably won’t (because they are Clemson, after all), but this game might give us an idea of if they are for real. The only other game of consequence is when Georgia Tech (-1) travels to South Bend to play the Fighting Irish. Vegas obviously seems concerned at ND’s QB position. GA Tech looks to be the cream of the ACC Coastal Division and have put up 60+ points twice already this year. Is the winner a legit play-off contender? Perhaps so.
Big 12
Since the Big 12 seems to be allergic to real non-conference games, it is a slow week in the middle of the country once again. But, I will be curious to see the outcome when Texas travels to Berkeley to play Cal (-1.5). It is not that Cal is great or maybe even good, but if nothing else picturing a bunch of Texans on Berkeley’s campus is amusing. In the afterglow of the Toledo-Arkansas game from last week, I am also interested to see if Toledo (-6.5) can gets its 2nd Power 5 win in a row when they host Iowa State and if Arkansas (-10.5) can get back on track when Texas Tech comes to town. When was the last time a MAC teams was favored to beat a Big 12 team?
Pac 12
The headline game out West this week appears to be Stanford at USC (-8). I am surprised to see this line so tight as USC is at home and has blown a hole their first two opponents, while Stanford… has not. I would be surprised if Stanford were to cover here. BYU also travels to UCLA (-14) on a hot streak. If they beat the Bruins, I would bet that they are the favorite next week in Ann Arbor. Utah State at Washington (-3.5) might be fun, and Colorado (-3.5) vs. Colorado State definitely will be.
SEC
While almost half the SEC is still snacking on cupcakes this week, there are 4 pretty important conference games. Mississippi at Alabama (-8.5) and Auburn at LSU (-6.5) are the most important on paper, it is a bit hard to picture the road team winning is either case. For me, I like the Florida at Kentucky (+4.5) match-up. With the wildcats fresh off their win in Columbia last weekend, and with Florida struggling to beat East Carolina, I have to wonder if the home dog Wildcats will pull this one out. As for the Gamecocks, things don’t look up as they need to travel this week to Athens to play Georgia (-15.5)
Group of Five
Not a lot of action of note outside of the Power 5, but I would like to note the match-up of Memphis (-3) at Bowling Green. This has a feel of one of those February bracket buster basketball games. Both teams could challenge for their conference crown and if they do, a New Year’s Six Bowl is in play.
Enjoy!
