Kudos and apologies to 305Buck, who's owned this topic in the past---whenever possible, I try to respect and honor thread ownership/copyright rules---but with the Buckeyes off in Week 9, this thread is for 11W's CFB junkies to get a fix by weighing in on a relatively stress-free October Saturday's slate (stress-free meaning OSU not playing). Here are some of today's better games. Feel free to comment or add your own.
Early Games
- 3-4 UCLA @ 7-0 Indiana (-26.5), FOX: The Bruins' turnaround have made them the darlings of CFB. Playing the #2 on the road at 9 am PT is a recipe for disaster. We won't have to wait until midnight--Cinderella's carriage will turn into a pumpkin by 3:30 ET today.
- 6-1 Ole Miss @ 6-1 Oklahoma (-5.5). ABC: John Mateer was terrible for the Sooners against Texas but played much better last week @ South Carolina. Loser falls behind in the CFP race, leaving very little margin for error moving forward.
- 5-2 Northwestern @ 5-2 Nebraska (-7.5), FS1: If not for UCLA and PSU's collapse, Northwestern might be the B1G's biggest surprise. After starting 1-2, the Cats have won four straight, including a big win in a hostile environment at PSU. The spread tells me Vegas isn't impressed but the Matt Rhule to Penn Stare rumor clouds are swirling. Will Nebraska be focused or distracted?
Midafternoon Games
- 6-1 Missouri @ 6-1 Vanderbilt (-2.5), ESPN: One name that seems to be flying below the head coach sweepstakes is Vandy's Clark Lea. Have the Dores shut the door on him leaving?
- 7-0 BYU @ 5-2 Iowa State (-2.5), FOX: A lot at stake for both teams but more for BYU because even if the Big XII managed to get two teams into the CFP, Iowa State's not likely to be one of them. The Cyclones have zero margin for error and I don't have that much faith in Matt Campbell.
- 5-2 Minnesota @ 5-2 Iowa (-8.5), CBS: That line is ridiculous. Vegas must think Iowa's going to win 9-0. Which it just very well might. It would be 100% on brand. My daughter will be at the game; for her sake I'm pulling for the Hawkeyes.
- 5-2 Illinois @ 5-2 Washington (-3.5), BTN: The two best B1Gs Ohio State has played pair off. I don't know what other games BTN has aired this year but this may be the best of them.
Evening/Prime Time Games
- 7-0 Texas A&M (-2.5) @ 5-2 LSU (ABC): The natives are restless in Baton Rouge. If there was ever a can't lose game, this one carries more weight for LSU, which plays at Alabama next, than TAMU.
- 7-0 North Dakota State (-4.0) @ 7-0 South Dakota State, ESPNU: FCS 1 vs 2 and possible NCG preview. The winner could have the pole position for the 1 seed but the loser could be second, setting up a final showdown.
- 6-1 Houston @ 5-2 Arizona State (-7.5), ESPN2: The Cougars have been living dangerously with two 3-point wins in their last four games. They were blown out by Texas Tech, which lost to ASU.
- 5-2 TTUN (-13.5) @ 3-4 Michigan State (NBC): Hoping against hope but never say never--miracles do happen, like this one from 10 years ago:
