Some big games this week, big games that will likely have some influence over the teams going to the playoffs. There are also a bunch of games that will be sending teams the other direction. Maybe without their coaches. Every year we see coaches on the hot seat, seems this year that it is happening earlier than normal and with some bigger names than normal. Already have seen VT and UCLA fire their coaches, this week Gundy gets dumped. If they didn’t have a $60 million dollar reason not to we might even be hearing about Dabo Swinney although it is hard to fire a guy who has had that much success.
Only one game on Thursday night and it isn’t much to get excited about. Army (1-2) at East Carolina (2-2.) Army has lost this year to an FCS team then beaten Kansas State who was ranked at the time. East Carolina has won big against bad teams and lost big to good ones.
Friday night has two good matchups. Early (8)Florida State (3-0) is at Virginia (3-1.) Cavaliers with a strong start against a weak schedule. Florida State started by beating Alabama and has feasted on cupcakes since but the Seminoles have talent.
Later a big game for the Big 12. (24)TCU (3-0) in the desert at Arizona State (3-1.) Neither team has an impressive schedule so far, first real test for each.
Late game has teams going opposite directions. Houston (3-0) at Oregon State (0-4) Houston has been piling up points, Beavers haven’t stopped anyone. This one will likely be over early enough for fans to be well rested for Saturday.
Saturday has four games matching top 25 teams plus some others that could move teams in or out of the rankings.
The early schedule starts in the B1G with (21)USC (4-0) at (23)Illinois (3-1.) Illini are coming off a blowout loss to (11)Indiana while U$C has been beating up on weak teams. Trojans have a history of getting hopes up then falling apart. Does that start here in an early road game.
Somehow the name Notre Dame means a team with a losing record stays ranked. (22)Notre Dame (1-2) is at Arkansas (2-2.) Irish were considered almost a lock for the playoff this year but now they would almost certainly need to win out to get there. Gamblers don’t believe in them as they are less than a TD favorite over a mediocre at best Razorbacks team.
In a B12 game Kansas State (1-3) is favored over UCF (3-0) despite their only win being over an FCS team. UCF hasn’t played anybody good but has won big each game. They beat North Carolina by a big number, like the big number Belichick’s girlfriend may end up with when she moves on from her rich old man.
Mid-afternoon has a bunch of good games. (11)Indiana (4-0) coming off a blowout win over ranked (23)Illinois is at Iowa (3-1) who while not dynamic has a better offense than they have been known for in recent years. Hoosiers in their last three games have averaged winning 63-7. That’s not likely to happen against Iowa.
Auburn (3-1) is at (9)Texas A&M (3-0.) Tigers lost a close one last week at ranked (7)Oklahoma. In their last game A&M edged Notre Dame. Is this the game they start their yearly failure to meet expectations.
A big SEC contest has (4)LSU (4-0) at (13) Ole Miss (4-0.) Ole Miss slightly favored, LSU winning would make them a solid favorite for a playoff berth early on.
Washington (3-0) is hosting (1)Ohio State (3-0.) Huskies haven’t played anyone with a pulse. An upset here would push them into the rankings.
Early evening starts with another B12 battle. Arizona (3-0) in the cornfields at (14)Iowa State. Going against two top 25 match-ups that game probably won’t have a lot of viewers.
Instead many will be watching (17)Alabama (2-1) at (5)Georgia (3-0.) Alabama is trying to right the ship after an early loss to Florida State, Georgia stayed undefeated slipping by (15)Tennessee two weeks ago.
An even bigger game with big playoff implications has (6)Oregon (4-0) at (3)Penn State (3-0.) Ugly uniform U has cleaned up on a trash schedule. Pedophile U hasn’t beaten anyone either. One of them comes out with a big win.
This week we have a garbage game of the week plus a bonus garbage game. Northwestern (Northworstern?) (1-2) may actually get to .500 and get a conference win. How? By hosting UCLA (University of California Losing Again) (0-3.) If the Bruised up Bruins don’t win this one about the only remaining game that will provide any hope of a win is Nebraska because they can always lose.
UCLA isn’t the only major California school that is terrible. Stanford (1-3,) never a powerhouse, has struggled to keep up in the portal age. They are bad enough to only be a slight favorite against Sad Jose State (1-2) who almost lost to an FCS opponent.
Nebraska isn’t in the garbage game, in fact they aren’t in a game with a bye after losing yet another one score game. They get a week off to cook some meth, assault a few farm animals, and once again tell themselves that they still matter in the world of college football.
In the Rocky Mountain region there aren’t many rivalries more intense than New Mexico and New Mexico State. Usually it’s like the world championship of pillow fighting. This year New Mexico State (2-1) is at New Mexico (2-1) with what for them both are solid starts but they are still bad teams.
Not off to a solid start Air Force (1-2) is hosting Hawaii (3-2.) The Falcons have given up 49 points in each of their last two games. Meanwhile Hawaii has 3 wins at home but usually have far less success on the mainland.
Washington State (2-2) is at CSU (1-2.) Sheep are one bad call away from being winless including a loss to a bad FCS team. Lots of talk in Fort Collins about firing Head Coach Jay Norvell. Washington State has been giving up a lot of points but the CSU offense has shown an offensive ineptitude that is bad even by their standards.
After losing in Boulder Wyoming gets a bye week to heal some wounds.
The season is getting interesting for the smaller schools in the area.
Idaho State (1-3) is at an improved Northern Colorado (2-2.) The Bears had a win at FBS Colorado State stolen by the officials and played a very good South Dakota team close. Idaho State, coached by former Buff QB Cody Hawkins record doesn’t indicate how well they have played. Two of their losses were relatively close against FBS teams. In their last game they finally got an easier opponent. Understatement as they played Lincoln University of California? A team that doesn’t have a home field, has been playing football since 2022, and has an overall record of 3-42. And we thought Fort Lewis was bad. Final score, a tight 90-0.
Not much drama this week with the local small schools.
New Mexico Highlands (3-0,1-0) is at (7)Western Colorado (3-0,1-0) in the best game by the records. I will start believing in Highlands when they beat somebody decent.
Colorado Mesa (1-2,0-1) coming off a surprisingly close loss to CSU Pueblo goes to Chadron State (2-2,2-0)
Colorado Mines (2-1,0-1) lost last week at home to Chadron. This week they are at Black Hills State (1-3,1-1) trying to get back on track.
CSU Pueblo (3-1,2-0) should have their way this week with visiting Adams State (0-3,0-1) who only lost 45-6 last week against Western.
Fort Lewis (1-2,0-1) is still bad but improving. They have a real chance to get another win at South Dakota Mines (0-4,0-2) who looks to be truly terrible, maybe Adams State bad.
Only one game on Thursday night and it isn’t much to get excited about. Army (1-2) at East Carolina (2-2.) Army has lost this year to an FCS team then beaten Kansas State who was ranked at the time. East Carolina has won big against bad teams and lost big to good ones.
Friday night has two good matchups. Early (8)Florida State (3-0) is at Virginia (3-1.) Cavaliers with a strong start against a weak schedule. Florida State started by beating Alabama and has feasted on cupcakes since but the Seminoles have talent.
Later a big game for the Big 12. (24)TCU (3-0) in the desert at Arizona State (3-1.) Neither team has an impressive schedule so far, first real test for each.
Late game has teams going opposite directions. Houston (3-0) at Oregon State (0-4) Houston has been piling up points, Beavers haven’t stopped anyone. This one will likely be over early enough for fans to be well rested for Saturday.
Saturday has four games matching top 25 teams plus some others that could move teams in or out of the rankings.
The early schedule starts in the B1G with (21)USC (4-0) at (23)Illinois (3-1.) Illini are coming off a blowout loss to (11)Indiana while U$C has been beating up on weak teams. Trojans have a history of getting hopes up then falling apart. Does that start here in an early road game.
Somehow the name Notre Dame means a team with a losing record stays ranked. (22)Notre Dame (1-2) is at Arkansas (2-2.) Irish were considered almost a lock for the playoff this year but now they would almost certainly need to win out to get there. Gamblers don’t believe in them as they are less than a TD favorite over a mediocre at best Razorbacks team.
In a B12 game Kansas State (1-3) is favored over UCF (3-0) despite their only win being over an FCS team. UCF hasn’t played anybody good but has won big each game. They beat North Carolina by a big number, like the big number Belichick’s girlfriend may end up with when she moves on from her rich old man.
Mid-afternoon has a bunch of good games. (11)Indiana (4-0) coming off a blowout win over ranked (23)Illinois is at Iowa (3-1) who while not dynamic has a better offense than they have been known for in recent years. Hoosiers in their last three games have averaged winning 63-7. That’s not likely to happen against Iowa.
Auburn (3-1) is at (9)Texas A&M (3-0.) Tigers lost a close one last week at ranked (7)Oklahoma. In their last game A&M edged Notre Dame. Is this the game they start their yearly failure to meet expectations.
A big SEC contest has (4)LSU (4-0) at (13) Ole Miss (4-0.) Ole Miss slightly favored, LSU winning would make them a solid favorite for a playoff berth early on.
Washington (3-0) is hosting (1)Ohio State (3-0.) Huskies haven’t played anyone with a pulse. An upset here would push them into the rankings.
Early evening starts with another B12 battle. Arizona (3-0) in the cornfields at (14)Iowa State. Going against two top 25 match-ups that game probably won’t have a lot of viewers.
Instead many will be watching (17)Alabama (2-1) at (5)Georgia (3-0.) Alabama is trying to right the ship after an early loss to Florida State, Georgia stayed undefeated slipping by (15)Tennessee two weeks ago.
An even bigger game with big playoff implications has (6)Oregon (4-0) at (3)Penn State (3-0.) Ugly uniform U has cleaned up on a trash schedule. Pedophile U hasn’t beaten anyone either. One of them comes out with a big win.
This week we have a garbage game of the week plus a bonus garbage game. Northwestern (Northworstern?) (1-2) may actually get to .500 and get a conference win. How? By hosting UCLA (University of California Losing Again) (0-3.) If the Bruised up Bruins don’t win this one about the only remaining game that will provide any hope of a win is Nebraska because they can always lose.
UCLA isn’t the only major California school that is terrible. Stanford (1-3,) never a powerhouse, has struggled to keep up in the portal age. They are bad enough to only be a slight favorite against Sad Jose State (1-2) who almost lost to an FCS opponent.
Nebraska isn’t in the garbage game, in fact they aren’t in a game with a bye after losing yet another one score game. They get a week off to cook some meth, assault a few farm animals, and once again tell themselves that they still matter in the world of college football.
In the Rocky Mountain region there aren’t many rivalries more intense than New Mexico and New Mexico State. Usually it’s like the world championship of pillow fighting. This year New Mexico State (2-1) is at New Mexico (2-1) with what for them both are solid starts but they are still bad teams.
Not off to a solid start Air Force (1-2) is hosting Hawaii (3-2.) The Falcons have given up 49 points in each of their last two games. Meanwhile Hawaii has 3 wins at home but usually have far less success on the mainland.
Washington State (2-2) is at CSU (1-2.) Sheep are one bad call away from being winless including a loss to a bad FCS team. Lots of talk in Fort Collins about firing Head Coach Jay Norvell. Washington State has been giving up a lot of points but the CSU offense has shown an offensive ineptitude that is bad even by their standards.
After losing in Boulder Wyoming gets a bye week to heal some wounds.
The season is getting interesting for the smaller schools in the area.
Idaho State (1-3) is at an improved Northern Colorado (2-2.) The Bears had a win at FBS Colorado State stolen by the officials and played a very good South Dakota team close. Idaho State, coached by former Buff QB Cody Hawkins record doesn’t indicate how well they have played. Two of their losses were relatively close against FBS teams. In their last game they finally got an easier opponent. Understatement as they played Lincoln University of California? A team that doesn’t have a home field, has been playing football since 2022, and has an overall record of 3-42. And we thought Fort Lewis was bad. Final score, a tight 90-0.
Not much drama this week with the local small schools.
New Mexico Highlands (3-0,1-0) is at (7)Western Colorado (3-0,1-0) in the best game by the records. I will start believing in Highlands when they beat somebody decent.
Colorado Mesa (1-2,0-1) coming off a surprisingly close loss to CSU Pueblo goes to Chadron State (2-2,2-0)
Colorado Mines (2-1,0-1) lost last week at home to Chadron. This week they are at Black Hills State (1-3,1-1) trying to get back on track.
CSU Pueblo (3-1,2-0) should have their way this week with visiting Adams State (0-3,0-1) who only lost 45-6 last week against Western.
Fort Lewis (1-2,0-1) is still bad but improving. They have a real chance to get another win at South Dakota Mines (0-4,0-2) who looks to be truly terrible, maybe Adams State bad.