Week 4, season is rolling along with a good number of conference games happening but also some teams finishing up their non-conference warm-ups.
Cream rises to the top, turds eventually sink to the bottom, both are happening in college football this year. Thanks to easy (melted marshmallow soft) schedules most of the B1G and SEC are undefeated. Already looking up from the depths are Northwestern, Florida, and with terrible as an understatement, UCLA. The Bruins have already fired their coach as has Virginia Tech, another team waiting to be flushed. Also not drawing much sympathy Notre Dame is winless so far but their schedule gets much weaker as the season goes on.
No MAC-tion yet so the week starts with one game on Thursday night. Rice (2-1) is at Charlotte (1-2) if you are stuck for something to watch.
Friday night starts with Oklahoma’s battle for the basement. Oklahoma State (1-1) hosts Tulsa (1-2). Tulsa’s only win is against New Mexico Stale (as in almost rotten.) Not to be outdone, Okie Lite beat up on a currently winless FCS team only to lose a squeaker last week to Oregon by a mere 66 points. Cowboys are favored but pull a UCLA and lose this one and Gundy might be out the door looking for a new coaching job in a place worse than Stoolwater Oklahoma, good luck finding either.
The other Friday night game has Iowa (2-1) at Rutgers (3-0.) This will be the Scarlett Knights first game against a team with a pulse. Iowa lost to in-state rival Iowa State but has shown some signs of recognizing that the forward pass is actually allowed in the game of football.
Saturday morning could show us who is the cream of the B12 and who will be crying spilt milk.
(17)Texas Tech (3-0) is in Salt Lake to take on (16)Utah (3-0.) Not only are both undefeated but neither has been seriously challenged. The winner takes a grip on the early lead in the conference.
Only other early game of strong interest is Maryland (3-0) at Wisconsin (2-1.) Terrapins so far with one of the nation’s easiest schedules. Wisconsin coming off a loss at Alabama that was closer than the final score.
Mid-day has a traditional rivalry game. Oregon State (0-3) is at (6) Oregon (3-0.) This one should be over within the first half hour on the clock allowing for a switch to one of the day’s battles of ranked teams.
(22) Auburn (3-0) at (11) Oklahoma (3-0) has two ranked teams that many including their fans aren’t sure of. Auburn beat Baylor and two cream puffs, Sooners gave (21) Michigan their loss.
Speaking of the Wolverines they are favored to give Nebraska a dose of reality with their first loss. (21) Michigan (2-1) is at Nebraska (3-0.) Note to husker fans, Michigan isn’t Houston Christian.
Late afternoon another B12 game of interest, West Virginia (2-1) at Kansas (2-1.) Kansas favored big but may have a letdown after losing last week to rival Missouri.
Early evening has the last of the top 25 match-ups. (9) Illinois (3-0) at (19) Indiana (3-0.) Time to put the pillows away and find out which school actually has a real football team. Historically both have not been powerhouses but recently Illinois has been highly ranked. Hoosiers want to prove they are more than a basketball school.
Games between the top Florida schools always have talent and speed. Florida (1-2) is at (4) Miami (3-0) in a game that oddsmakers expect to be closer than records would indicate. Billy Napier may be coaching for his job with other power conference schools already firing coaches this season.
No jobs at risk in the Apple Bowl this year. The traditional rivalry, usually played late in the season is now a have and a have not with Washington (2-0) at Washington State (2-1.) At least the Cougars are still alive for this year's PAC championship, even with a big loss.
Blowout of the week, look to Tallahassee where Kent State (1-2) gets to contend with (7) Florida State (2-0.) Seminoles likely to be going deep into the roster early which won’t matter since even their walk-ons are faster than the Golden Flushes.
Garbage games of the week normally don’t include FCS schools but this week it was unavoidable. In a desperate attempt to not go winless Virginia Tech (Virginia Bletch?) (0-3) hosts Wofford (0-3) who has lost their last 5 going back to last year but has been close in all three losses this year. Should the Hokies play poorly in this one who knows what the fans might do.
Closer to home the other candidate for Garbage Game of the Week can be found in Fort Collins. UT San Antonio (1-2) at CSU (1-1) who should be winless but was gifted a win over that FCS powerhouse from Greeley UNC.
Boise State (1-1) is at Air Force (1-1) Boise is a big favorite between two teams that are both doing a lot of rebuilding this season.
Stepping down a level, Northern Colorado (1-2) is at Houston Christian (1-2.) Yes, the same Houston Christian that Nebraska took such pride in beating last week.
Small schools get into full conference play this week.
Fort Lewis, suddenly not at the bottom, actually looking down on multiple schools doesn’t want the good times to end. They have a good chance to win again this week. Black Hills State (0-3,0-1) at Fort Lewis (1-1,0-0.) Black Hills is not good.
Chadron State (1-2,1-0) is at Colorado Mines (2-0,0-0) Mines isn't ranked but is getting votes.
(12 ) CSU Pueblo (1-1,0-0) is at Colorado Mesa (1-1,0-0) Mesa trying to get back into conference contention, starting with Pueblo is not an easy way to do that.
And (7 ) Western Colorado (2-0,0-0) had a bye this past week, it may seem like another at Adams State (0-2,0-0.)
Cream rises to the top, turds eventually sink to the bottom, both are happening in college football this year. Thanks to easy (melted marshmallow soft) schedules most of the B1G and SEC are undefeated. Already looking up from the depths are Northwestern, Florida, and with terrible as an understatement, UCLA. The Bruins have already fired their coach as has Virginia Tech, another team waiting to be flushed. Also not drawing much sympathy Notre Dame is winless so far but their schedule gets much weaker as the season goes on.
No MAC-tion yet so the week starts with one game on Thursday night. Rice (2-1) is at Charlotte (1-2) if you are stuck for something to watch.
Friday night starts with Oklahoma’s battle for the basement. Oklahoma State (1-1) hosts Tulsa (1-2). Tulsa’s only win is against New Mexico Stale (as in almost rotten.) Not to be outdone, Okie Lite beat up on a currently winless FCS team only to lose a squeaker last week to Oregon by a mere 66 points. Cowboys are favored but pull a UCLA and lose this one and Gundy might be out the door looking for a new coaching job in a place worse than Stoolwater Oklahoma, good luck finding either.
The other Friday night game has Iowa (2-1) at Rutgers (3-0.) This will be the Scarlett Knights first game against a team with a pulse. Iowa lost to in-state rival Iowa State but has shown some signs of recognizing that the forward pass is actually allowed in the game of football.
Saturday morning could show us who is the cream of the B12 and who will be crying spilt milk.
(17)Texas Tech (3-0) is in Salt Lake to take on (16)Utah (3-0.) Not only are both undefeated but neither has been seriously challenged. The winner takes a grip on the early lead in the conference.
Only other early game of strong interest is Maryland (3-0) at Wisconsin (2-1.) Terrapins so far with one of the nation’s easiest schedules. Wisconsin coming off a loss at Alabama that was closer than the final score.
Mid-day has a traditional rivalry game. Oregon State (0-3) is at (6) Oregon (3-0.) This one should be over within the first half hour on the clock allowing for a switch to one of the day’s battles of ranked teams.
(22) Auburn (3-0) at (11) Oklahoma (3-0) has two ranked teams that many including their fans aren’t sure of. Auburn beat Baylor and two cream puffs, Sooners gave (21) Michigan their loss.
Speaking of the Wolverines they are favored to give Nebraska a dose of reality with their first loss. (21) Michigan (2-1) is at Nebraska (3-0.) Note to husker fans, Michigan isn’t Houston Christian.
Late afternoon another B12 game of interest, West Virginia (2-1) at Kansas (2-1.) Kansas favored big but may have a letdown after losing last week to rival Missouri.
Early evening has the last of the top 25 match-ups. (9) Illinois (3-0) at (19) Indiana (3-0.) Time to put the pillows away and find out which school actually has a real football team. Historically both have not been powerhouses but recently Illinois has been highly ranked. Hoosiers want to prove they are more than a basketball school.
Games between the top Florida schools always have talent and speed. Florida (1-2) is at (4) Miami (3-0) in a game that oddsmakers expect to be closer than records would indicate. Billy Napier may be coaching for his job with other power conference schools already firing coaches this season.
No jobs at risk in the Apple Bowl this year. The traditional rivalry, usually played late in the season is now a have and a have not with Washington (2-0) at Washington State (2-1.) At least the Cougars are still alive for this year's PAC championship, even with a big loss.
Blowout of the week, look to Tallahassee where Kent State (1-2) gets to contend with (7) Florida State (2-0.) Seminoles likely to be going deep into the roster early which won’t matter since even their walk-ons are faster than the Golden Flushes.
Garbage games of the week normally don’t include FCS schools but this week it was unavoidable. In a desperate attempt to not go winless Virginia Tech (Virginia Bletch?) (0-3) hosts Wofford (0-3) who has lost their last 5 going back to last year but has been close in all three losses this year. Should the Hokies play poorly in this one who knows what the fans might do.
Closer to home the other candidate for Garbage Game of the Week can be found in Fort Collins. UT San Antonio (1-2) at CSU (1-1) who should be winless but was gifted a win over that FCS powerhouse from Greeley UNC.
Boise State (1-1) is at Air Force (1-1) Boise is a big favorite between two teams that are both doing a lot of rebuilding this season.
Stepping down a level, Northern Colorado (1-2) is at Houston Christian (1-2.) Yes, the same Houston Christian that Nebraska took such pride in beating last week.
Small schools get into full conference play this week.
Fort Lewis, suddenly not at the bottom, actually looking down on multiple schools doesn’t want the good times to end. They have a good chance to win again this week. Black Hills State (0-3,0-1) at Fort Lewis (1-1,0-0.) Black Hills is not good.
Chadron State (1-2,1-0) is at Colorado Mines (2-0,0-0) Mines isn't ranked but is getting votes.
(12 ) CSU Pueblo (1-1,0-0) is at Colorado Mesa (1-1,0-0) Mesa trying to get back into conference contention, starting with Pueblo is not an easy way to do that.
And (7 ) Western Colorado (2-0,0-0) had a bye this past week, it may seem like another at Adams State (0-2,0-0.)
Other words, assignment football at it's finest.
