No. 15 Wisconsin is trying to get its third victory in Ann Arbor since 1994.
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ABC Washington at Oregon...3:30 Wisconsin at Michigan...7:30 BTN Mich. State at PSU........3:30 CBS Georgia at LSU.............3:30 ESPN Missouri at Alabama......7:00 FS1 Minnesota at Ohio St....Noon Colorado at USC..........10:30 NBC Pitt at Notre Dame........2:30 |
The Marquee Three
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When: Noon TV: FS1 Series: 74–12–5* (OSU) Favorite: Ohio State (-26) |
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REASON TO WATCH The Buckeyes have not covered the spread in consecutive games. Will they cover against Minnesota? |
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Storyline
This will be the 53rd* time Ohio State and Minnesota have faced each other in football. The Buckeyes hold a 45–7* advantage in the all-time series and are 23–3 when playing the Gophers in Columbus.
PJ Fleck's team lost to Iowa (48-31) last week and enters this contest with a 3–2 record.
Last week, Dwayne Haskins finished 3 yards short of Ohio State's single-game passing record. However, he did accumulate 462 yards of total offense and passed JT Barrett's 423 yards against Penn State (2017) as the program's best individual game performance.
Indiana Notes
The last time Minnesota defeated Ohio State was October 14, 2000. Glen Mason beat the Buckeyes 29-17 in John Cooper's last season as head coach. The Gophers are 45–37 (.549) since 2012 and PJ Fleck is 8–9 (.471) as Minnesota's head coach.
*Includes Ohio State's 2010 win.
Want more information? Check out The Rundown.
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When: 3:30 TV: CBS Series: 16–13–1 (LSU) Favorite: Georgia (-7) |
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REASON TO WATCH A battle of ranked teams that could have implications on Ohio State's CFP future. |
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Storyline
LSU (5–1) is coming off of its first loss of the season and hosts No. 2 Georgia (6–0) Saturday afternoon. This is the first time these teams have played each other since No. 9 Georgia defeated No. 6 LSU 44-41 in Athens. 2008 was the last time they faced off in Baton Rouge, Georgia won 52-38. This is the tenth time the schools have been ranked in the Top 25 when playing each other. The series is tied 5–5 in this scenario.
LSU Notes
With Ed Orgeron as its coach, LSU is 6–0 following a loss. 2015 was the last time the Tigers lost back-to-back games. This is only the third time in school history that LSU will face three Top 10 teams during the first seven games of the season. The other times this occurred were 1995 and 1951. Since 2009, the Bayou Bengals are 20–0 when playing a home game in the month of October.
Georgia Notes
Georgia is 6–0 in consecutive years for the first time in program history. It is also the 12th time the team has started a season with that record. To date, the Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents by an average score of 43-13. The offensive explosion can be attributed to sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm owning a passing efficiency ranking of 192.5. That puts him at 4th in the nation in that category.
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When: 7:30 TV: ABC Series: 50–15–1 (UM) Favorite: Michigan (-9) |
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REASON TO WATCH The loser of this game will likely be eliminated from CFP consideration. |
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The Storyline
This is the 67th time these schools have played and the 30th time the game will be held in Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines have won six of the last seven games in this series and 18 out of the last 20 as the home team. Wisconsin's only wins were in 1994 (31-19) and 2010 (48-28).
Wisconsin Notes
The Badgers (4–1) have won a school record 17 straight regular-season Big Ten games. The streak is also the nation's longest-active conference winning streak. Impressive, but also a little hollow since they have not played the Buckeyes in the regular season during that stretch.
QB Alex Hornibrook is 24–4 as teh Badgers' starter and has won 18 of his 20 Big Ten games. RB Jonathan Taylor is the nation’s leading rusher, averaging 169.8 yards per game. Taylor has topped the 100-yard plateau in all 5 games this season and is coming off his second 200-yard effort of the season (221 yards vs. Nebraska).
Michigan Notes
Michigan (5–1) has won five straight games and its defense is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in pass and total defense. The Wolverines want you to believe that they have been tough at home during Jim Harbaugh's regime. The team is 21–4 when playing in Ann Arbor. However, the impressive home record loses some of its luster when know that Harbaugh is 9–4 against Big Ten opponents when playing in Michigan Stadium. Half of those losses have been at the hands of Ohio State.
Thursday's Throwdown
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When: 8:00 TV: ESPN Series: 31–26–3 (TT) Favorite: TCU (-7) |
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REASON TO WATCH This is the battle for the Saddle Trophy. |
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The Storyline
Texas Tech (3–2) leads the nation in total offense (591.4 ypg) and is looking for its third-straight Big 12 road victory. The last time the Red Raiders won three consecutive conference road games was 2008. TCU trails the overall series, but is 19–13 against Tech when the game is played in Fort Worth. Shawn Robinson became the first freshman quarterback to start for Gary Patterson in last year's win over Texas Tech.
| TIME | GAME | CHANNEL |
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| 7:30 | GEORGIA SOUTHERN at TEXAS STATE | ESPNU |
Friday Night Lights
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When: 7:00 TV: ESPN Series: 2–0 (USF) Favorite: USF (-7) |
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REASON TO WATCH Will USF running back Jordan Cronkite run for over 300 yards again? |
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The Storyline
Last week, Jordan Cronkite ran for a school and American Athletic Conference record 302 yards and 3 touchdowns against UMass. With a win, USF (5–0) will start its second straight season with six wins and set a new program record for wins in a 4-year span. Tulsa (1–4) lost to the Bulls in Tampa last year by a score of 27-20.
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When: 10:00 TV: ESPN2 Series: 22–19–2 (UTAH) Favorite: UTAH (-13.5) |
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REASON TO WATCH The perfect game for those of you without a social life. |
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The Storyline
Utah (3–2) hosts Arizona (3–3) for the 21st time in Salt Lake City and holds an 11–9 advantage at home. Last week, Wildcat running back JJ Taylor rushed for 284 yards at Oregon State. That total is the 4th highest in Arizona history and the most rushing yards for a Wildcat in a road game. Taylor might find gaining yards a little bit more difficult this week against Utah's defense that is ranked third against the run.
| TIME | GAME | CHANNEL |
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| 7:00 | HOLY CROSS at HARVARD | $ESPN |
| 9:00 | AIR FORCE at SAN DIEGO STATE | CBSSN |
Saturday's High Noon Showdowns
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When: Noon TV: ESPN Series: 44–28–4 (Iowa) Favorite: Iowa (-5) |
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REASON TO WATCH To see if Indiana can get the Big Ten East another win against the B1G West. |
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The Storyline
Indiana (4–2) is holding its 106th homecoming game. Unfortunately for the Hoosier alum, the football team has lost more games (55) than it has won (44) during the annual event. Receivers Nick Westbrook and J-Shun Harris II had over 100 yards receiving in the loss to Ohio State last week.
Since 2017, Iowa (4–1) is 10–0 when scoring 20 or more points. The good news for Iowa is that its defense has only allowed two rushing touchdowns and is holding opponents to 2.7 yards per carry. The bad news is that Indiana's offense is directed by dual-threat quarterback Peyton Ramsey.
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When: Noon TV: ABC Series: 7–4 (NEBRASKA) Favorite: 'CATS (-3.5) |
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REASON TO WATCH Northwestern's Clayton Thorson needs 152 passing yards to join J.T. Barrett as the only players in B1G history to pass for 9,000 yards and score 20 rushing touchdowns. |
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The Storyline
Northwestern (2–3) is looking for its first conference home win over Nebraska (0–5) in program history. Scott Frost is looking for his first win as Nebraska's head coach. A victory by the Wildcats will give Pat Fitzgerald his 90th win, will be the team's third win over the Cornhusksers in four games and be Northwestern's tenth win in 11 Big Ten games.
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When: Noon TV: BTN Series: 7–6 (Maryland) Favorite: Maryland (-25.5) |
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REASON TO WATCH Chris Ash's days on the Rutgers sideline might be numbered. |
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The Storyline
Rutgers (1–5) heads to Maryland (3–2) to try and stop its five-game losing streak. The Scarlet Knights scored two unanswered touchdowns to defeat Maryland 24-17 last year. Maryland running back Ty Johnson is 65 yards away from becoming the fourth player in team history to gain 4,000 all-purpose yards. This is the 96th homecoming for Maryland and the team is 57–34–4 when the alums come back to campus.
| TIME | GAME | CHANNEL |
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| NOON | FLORIDA at VANDERBILT | ESPN |
| NOON | OKLAHOMA STATE at KANSAS STATE | ESPNU |
| NOON | AKRON at BUFFALO | CBSSN |
| NOON | TENNESSEE at AUBURN | SEC NETWORK |
Saturday's Tweeners
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When: 2:30 TV: NBC Series: 48–21–1 (ND) Favorite: Notre Dame (-21) |
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REASON TO WATCH The last time these teams played at Pitt, they combined for 137 points. |
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The Storyline
2012 was the last time Pitt (3–3) visited South Bend and the Panthers lost 29-26 in 3OT. Pittsburgh needed some overtime magic last week to defeat Syracuse 44-37.
On paper, Notre Dame (6–0) should have little difficulty with its opponent from Pennsylvania. However, nine of the last 11 games in this series have been decided by single digits and the Panthers have four victories. Irish running back Dexter Williams had a career-high 178 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns against Virginia Tech. If he has a similar performance Saturday, Notre Dame should remain undefeated.
| TIME | GAME | CHANNEL |
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| 12:20 | DUKE at GEORGIA TECH | ESPN Extra |
| 12:30 | LOUISVILLE at BOSTON COLLEGE | ESPN Extra |
| 3:00 | ESPN GoalLine | ESPNGL |
The Dirty 3:30
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When: 3:30 TV: BTN Series: 16–15–1 (MSU) Favorite: PSU (-13.5) |
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REASONS TO WATCH The teams play for the Land-Grant Trophy. |
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The Storyline
Michigan State (3–2) will face its first ranked opponent of the 2018 season as the Spartans travel to State College. Mark Dantonio's team is 9–5 in its last 14 games against ranked opponents and has won four of the last five contests against the Nittany Lions.
Penn State (4–1) is looking to start a new home winning streak as its 16-game streak was snapped by Ohio State two weeks ago. The Nittany Lions lost to Michigan State by a score of was 27-24.
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When: 3:30 TV: FS1 Series: 44–43–6 (Air Force) Favorite: Purdue (-10.5) |
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REASON TO WATCH To scout the Boilermakers before next week's game. |
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The Storyline
Purdue (2–3) and Illinois (3–2) are even when this game is played in Champaign. If the Boilermakers win, they will also square up the overall series at 44–44–6. A key to Purdue winning this game might be turnovers. Lovie Smith's Illini rank sixth in the nation by averaging 2.4 takeaways per game. If the Boilermakers hold onto the ball, it should lead to their third straight victory.
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When: 3:30 TV: ABC Series: 60–45–5 (UW) Favorite: Washington (-3) |
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REASON TO WATCH This game has Pac-12 implications. |
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The Storyline
Washington (5–1) is looking to separate itself from the Pac-12 North. The Huskies are also trying for their third street win over Oregon. Somewhat remarkable considering that the Ducks won every game in this series between 2004 and 2015. Chris Peterson's squad was able to shake off its Week 1 loss to Auburn and has won every game since.
Oregon (4–1) is led by quarterback Justin Hebert who has completed 76.4 percent of his passes in Pac-12 contests. He is getting needed protection from an offensive line that has a combined 113 starts. The Ducks are averaging a conference best 42.3 points per game.
| TIME | GAME | CHANNEL |
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| 3:30 | BAYLOR at TEXAS | ESPN |
| 3:30 | UCF at MEMPHIS | ESPN2 |
| 3:30 | TEXAS A&M at SOUTH CAROLINA | SEC NET |
| 3:30 | ARMY at SAN JOSE STATE | ESPNU |
| 3:30 | TEMPLE at NAVY | CBSSN |
Afternoon Siesta
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When: 7:00 TV: ESPN Series: 3–2 (Alabama) Favorite: Alabama (-28.5) |
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REASON TO WATCH This is the first time Missouri has ever played in Tuscaloosa. |
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The Storyline
Alabama (6–0) hosts Missouri (3–2) for the first time in Tuscaloosa. The last time these schools played, the Tide defeated the Tigers 42-13 in the 2014 SEC Championship Game. This is the 98th homecoming game for Alabama and the team has won 15-straight homecoming tilts. and has an overall rein to College Station to play Texas A&M (3–2) for the first time in 65 years.
Last week, Missouri's Drew Lock became the ninth player in SEC history to throw for 10,182 career passing yards. This week, he can move into 7th place on the SEC all-time passing list if he throws for 164 yards. Lock will replace Kentucky's Jared "Hefty Lefty" Lorenzen.
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When: 7:00 TV: FS1 Series: 5–1 (WV) Favorite: WV (-6.5) |
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REASON TO WATCH Many believe the hopes of a Big 12 team making the CFP are riding on West Virginia. |
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The Storyline
Head coach Matt Campbell and Iowa State (2–3) are seeking their first win over West Virginia (5–0) in Ames. The cyclones are riding high after defeating No. 25 Oklahoma State (48-42) last week in Stillwater. Over the past two seasons, ISU is undefeated against Big 12 teams in the month of October.
West Virginia is playing Iowa State for the first time ever in the month of October. The previous six games were played in November. Dana Holgorsen has a road record of 6–9 as WVU's head coach. The Mountaineers are one of five Power Five teams to rank in the top 25 in scoring offense and scoring defense.
| TIME | GAME | CHANNEL |
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| 7:00 | UCLA at CALIFORNIA | PAC-12 |
| 7:00 | No. 16 MIAMI at VIRGINIA | ESPN2 |
| 7:00 | HOUSTON at EAST CAROLINA | CBSSN |
| 7:00 | VIRGINIA TECH at NORTH CAROLINA | ESPNU |
Prime Time Players
| TIME | GAME | CHANNEL |
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| 7:30 | OLE MISS at ARKANSAS | SEC NET |
Games After Dark
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When: 10:30 TV: FS1 Series: 12–0 (USC) Favorite: USC (-7) |
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REASON TO WATCH The Buffaloes have never defeated USC and in 12 games have been outscored 419-169. |
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The Storyline
Colorado (5–0) is currently the Rodney Dangerfield of college football. The Buffaloes are undefeated, ranked 19th and are 7 point dogs to two-loss USC. However, history might be a reason for the Vegas line. This is the 13th meeting of the schools and Colorado has never defeated the Trojans.
| TIME | GAME | CHANNEL |
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| 10:15 | HAWAII at BYU | ESPN2 |
| 10:30 | WYOMING at FRESNO STATE | ESPNU |
| 10:30 | BOISE STATE at NEVADA | CBSSN |
There are some decent games that are nicely spread out. Remember, a weekend of mediocre college football is better than a weekend without college football.
ICYMI
The Rundown: Minnesota at No. 3 Ohio State
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