Spread Offense 10/27/17: College Football Week 9 Preview

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta


WEEK 9 TOP TEN

10. Wisconsin (last week: 10)
9. Oklahoma (last week: 8)
8. Notre Dame (last week: 9)
7. Clemson (last week: 7)
6. Miami (last week: 6)
5. Ohio State (last week: 5)
4. TCU (last week: 4)
3. Georgia (last week: 3)
2. Penn State (last week: 2)
1. Alabama (last week: 1)

After a week in which we saw 7 teams in the top 25 lose to unranked teams, including 4 teams in the top 10, this past Saturday went chalk. The only movement in my top 25 is a flip flop of Notre Dame and Oklahoma after the Fighting Irish put on a dominating performance against USC while Oklahoma needed a last minute touchdown to beat Kansas State.

The rest did what they were supposed to do and took care of business. Penn State extracted revenge on Michigan after their 49-10 loss to the Wolverines last season to the tune of 42-13. Alabama remained dominant while once again letting Tennessee know just how far away they are to becoming competitive rivals again. TCU did what every team does to Kansas and Miami held off Syracuse, who was looking for their 2nd straight big upset.


HEISMAN WATCH

5. Josh Adams, RB, Notre Dame
4. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Much like my top 10 ballot, there's not much change to this list. The only thing different from last week is that reigning Heisman winner Lamar Jackson has fallen out of the top 5 and has been replaced by RB Josh Adams. The Notre Dame RB ran all over USC last Saturday, gaining 191 yards on the ground with 3 TD's. On the season, Adams has 967 yards on only 105 carries(9.2 YPC) with 8 touchdowns.

1-4 holds steady, as Saquon Barkley furthered himself as the clear cut favorite after an 108 yard, 2 touchdown game against Michigan.


WEEK 9 PREVIEW


#11 Oklahoma State at #22 West Virginia - 12:00 PM

2 of the nation's best passing attacks will be on display in this game, as both Oklahoma State and West Virginia love to air it out. OKSU's QB Mason Rudolph has thrown for 2,650 yards and 19 touchdowns in their 7 games this season and he will look to have a lot of success against a WVU defense that gives up 460 total yards a game. But while West Virginia gives up more total yards per game, Oklahoma State gives up more passing yards per game as the Cowboys give up just under 400 yards through the air. That's where the Mountaineers offense could find their big advantage, QB Will Grier has over 2,400 yards passing this season with 24 touchdowns. This game may come down to whoever has the ball last, but expect a lot of passing and a lot of scoring in this game.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 44-34


#3 Georgia vs Florida - 3:30 PM

The world's largest outdoor cocktail party takes place annually in Jacksonville, FL. For Florida, they are hoping the "throw out the records in a rivalry game" cliché hold true here, because on paper this seems like a big mismatch. Florida is still struggling on offense, the Gators have only scored 17 points in each of their last 2 games, both resulting in a close loss. Georgia on the other hand, has been putting up 40+ points consistently this season and are a bit more rested as they had a bye last weekend. The Bulldogs know that scoring 20 points or more will result in a win, unless Florida can find an offense, so look for Georgia to stay aggressive to get the lead and protect the lead by not turning the ball over once they have it as they may be the only way that the Gators have a chance to pull this one off.

PREDICTION: Georgia 31-13


#14 North Carolina State at #9 Notre Dame - 3:30 PM

Two of the hottest teams in the country right here, with Notre Dame currently on a 5 game win streak and North Carolina State winning their last 6. Notre Dame's bread and butter has been the run game, RB Josh Adams is putting himself in Heisman discussion and QB Brandon Wimbush adds some running ability on option plays. North Carolina State has a bit more balanced of an offense, QB Ryan Finley rarely turns the ball over and RB Nyheim Hines has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last 3 games. The determining factor in this game could come down to the trenches, where a couple of potential top 10 NFL picks will be facing off. Notre Dame OT Matt McGlichey may be the best offensive lineman in the country, as many project him to be the first OL selected in the draft. NC State's DE Bradley Chubb will be a tough task though as he too is a top NFL prospect and can disrupt both the run and pass game. North Carolina State will need a balanced offense with no turnovers and for Bradley Chubb to be a difference maker in order to win here while Notre Dame needs to continue to run the football effectively in order to win.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 31-20


#2 Penn State at #6 Ohio State - 3:30 PM

This will be the game of the week right here as a battle for Big Ten East division along with a playoff spot hangs in the balance. The Ohio State Buckeyes have seemed to turn it around after their lopsided loss to Oklahoma in week 2, putting up 50+ points in 4 of the last 5 games. There is still skepticism out there though as they have not played a ranked team so their offensive output may be due to competition, this will be the big test to see if the offense is for real or just fool's gold. Penn State goes as RB Saquon Barkley goes, as the Heisman frontrunner commands full attention from the opposition and even then, he's usually not contained. QB Trace McSorley can beat the defense with his legs as well as he is a real good decision maker when it comes to the option run. He can also pull back make plays with his arm, with TE Mike Gesicki and WR DaeSean Hamilton being his main targets. Ohio State's defensive front 7 will be a huge factor here, they will need to keep containment on Barkley and McSorley while making sure they do not give up the big play. Two evenly matched teams with a ton at stake here, doesn't get much bigger than this for a regular season game.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 26-24

Spread Offense 9/14/17: College Football Week 3 Preview

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta

Plenty of statements were made in week 2, as there are definitely some shake ups in my top 10 after a week that featured 4 big games.


WEEK 3 TOP TEN

10. Oklahoma State (last week: NR)
9. Louisville (last week: 10)
8. Michigan (last week: 9)
7. Washington (last week: 5)
6. Georgia (last week: 8)
5. Clemson (last week: 6)
4. Oklahoma (last week: 7)
3. Penn State (last week: 4)
2. USC (last week: 3)
1. Alabama (last week: 1)

Clemson, Georgia, USC and Oklahoma all picked up some monster wins over the weekend. Clemson answered a huge test as they stifled Auburn, Georgia went on the road with a true freshman QB to squeak out a win over Notre Dame, USC showed their potential in an impressive showing against Stanford and Oklahoma got revenge on the Buckeyes to the tune of 31-16. So with all that happening last Saturday, the rankings are jumbled up from the previous week, with Alabama the only team that didn't move as they remain the #1 team in the country.

Ohio State was the big loser of the weekend, falling from 2nd to out of the top 10. The Buckeyes are probably at 11 or 12 to me and have as much talent as any team in the country, but the offensive struggles have carried over from last season and will need to show improvement before they can truly be considered an elite team. Taking their spot in the top 10 are the Oklahoma State Cowboys, whose offense can outscore anyone and they may be finding a pretty good defense to go along with that.

Washington moved down a bit only due to not playing a good team yet while others all proved a point that they should be in the top 5. Their time is coming soon though and we will find out about the Huskies down the road.


WEEK 3 HEISMAN WATCH

5. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
4. Saquan Barkley, RB, Penn State
3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2. Sam Darnold, QB, USC
1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

After a slow week 1, the QB's all picked it up big time in week 2. Under normal circumstances, a big win on the road to the #2 ranked team in the country would bolster Baker Mayfield's Heisman hype, but Sam Darnold gashed a good Stanford defense for 4 TD's and 316 yards while Lamar Jackson put on a show against UNC with 3 passing and 3 rushing TD's.

Only change is UCLA QB Josh Rosen now making the list at #5, replacing UGA RB Nick Chubb. Rosen led a huge 34 point comeback win over Texas A&M in week 1 with a 491 yard and 4 TD performance, and followed it up with a 326 yard and 5 TD performance against Hawaii. This combined with UGA seemingly wanting to be a RB by committee team, as RB Sony Michel had more carries and rushing yards against Notre Dame, means that Rosen is in while Chubb is out.


WEEK 3 PREVIEW

#23 Tennessee at #24 Florida - 3:30 PM

One of the biggest rivalries in the SEC kicks off here, with the Tennessee Volunteers headed to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators. Last season, Tennessee broke an 11 game losing streak to the Gators as they made a big 28 point comeback to win 38-28. Their season collapsed after that however, so this season they are really needing this one in order to be on the track of making the SEC title game. The Volunteers will look to their offense to put up the points, they've score 40+ in both outings this season. Florida has to figure something out at QB, they've only played one game due to last weeks game being cancelled, but they put up some atrocious numbers in their opener against Michigan. If Florida cannot find any consistency on offense then this could be a long game, and long season for them.

PREDICTION - Tennessee 28-16


#3 Clemson at #14 Louisville - 8:00 PM

This game has electric written all over it. Clemson passed their first big test last week, with a 27-6 win over Auburn. The offense still looks good and QB Kelly Bryant is finding his stride at QB. Louisville's defense has not been impressive this season so far, so Clemson has the ability to put up some big numbers in this game and put it out of reach. But the big matchup in this game will be Louisville QB Lamar Jackson against the front 7 of Clemson. The Tigers kept Auburn in check all last week, the defensive line especially dictated the entire game. They now face the most electric dual-threat QB in the country in Lamar Jackson, who is eyeing his 2nd Heisman trophy. If he is able to find a rhythm and beat the pressure that Clemson will be sending then this game will be going Louisville's way. The game will undoubtedly come down to who gets the better of who between Jackson and the Clemson front 7, expect this one to be a pretty high scoring affair.

PREDICTION - Clemson 37-33


Texas at #4 USC - 8:30 PM

This game is only a marquee match-up due to the programs involved and it's the first meeting between them since their epic game for the BCS national championship back in 2005. Texas is still in a growing pains period, and in week 1 they took a lopsided loss at home to Maryland by a score of 51-41. They followed it up with a 56-0 win over San Jose State, but they will be walking into the belly of the beast here Saturday night as they head to Los Angeles. The Trojans showed exactly what they are made of, and their championship talent was on display last Saturday. They took care of Stanford 42-24 with QB Sam Darnold leading the way with 4 TD passes, 2 of them to star WR Deontay Burnett, and they showed off their 2-headed RB tandem with both Ronald Jones II and Stephen Carr going over 100 rushing yards. Texas will need to play lights out here and hope that USC has an off game in order to possibly pull off the upset, again it's a cool game just based on the history of the programs but don't expect another instant classic between them here.

PREDICTION - USC 56-31

TV Weekend 12.2 - 12.3

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

Caught On Camera with Nick Cannon (FRI, NBC, 8pm)
Last Man Standing (FRI, ABC, 8pm)
I Love Lucy Christmas Special (FRI, CBS, 8pm)
The Vampire Diaries (FRI, The CW, 8pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 8pm)
Dr. Ken (FRI, ABC, 8:30pm)

Dateline NBC (FRI, NBC, 9pm)
Shark Tank (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
Hawaii Five-0 (FRI, CBS, 9pm)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (FRI, The CW, 8pm)
Z Nation (FRI, Syfy, 9pm)

Blue Bloods (FRI, CBS, 10pm)
Van Helsing (FRI, Syfy, 10pm)
ELeague (FRI, TBS, 10pm)
--

It's A Wonderful Life (SAT, NBC, 8pm)
Doctor Who (SAT, BBC America, 8:25pm)
Saturday Night Live; Emma Stone, Shawn Mendes (SAT, NBC, 11:30pm)

======

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Western Michigan vs. Ohio (FRI, ESPN 2, 7pm)
Colorado vs. Washington (FRI, FOX, 9pm)

Temple @ Navy (SAT, ABC, 12pm)
Louisiana Tech @ Western Kentucky (SAT, ESPN, 12pm)
Troy @ Georgia Southern (SAT, ESPN 2, 12pm)
Kansas State @ TCU (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 12pm)
Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma (SAT, FOX, 12:30pm)

Baylor @ West Virginia (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 3:30pm)
Alabama vs. Florida (SAT, CBS, 4pm)
Arkansas State @ Texas State (SAT, ESPN 2, 7:30pm)
San Diego State @ Wyoming (SAT, ESPN, 7:45pm)
Clemson vs. Virginia Tech (SAT, ABC, 8pm)
Wisconsin vs. Penn State (SAT, FOX, 8pm)

NFL
Top 10: Dallas Cowboys (FRI, NFL Network, 8pm)
A Football Life: Troy Aikman (FRI, NFL Network, 9pm)

NBA
Cavaliers @ Bulls (FRI, ESPN, 8pm)
Rockets @ Nuggets (FRI, ESPN, 10:30pm)

Nuggets @ Jazz (SAT, NBA TV, 9pm)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
St. John's @ Tulane (FRI, ESPNews, 8pm)
Alabama @ Texas (FRI, ESPNU, 9:30pm)

Wake Forest @ Richmond (SAT, ESPNU, 12pm)
UCLA @ Kentucky (SAT, CBS, 12:30pm)
Saint Joseph's @ Villanova (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 1pm)
West Virginia @ Virginia (SAT, ESPNU, 2pm)
Illinois @ VCU (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 3pm)
Stanford @ Kansas (SAT, ESPN, 3:30pm)
Xavier @ Baylor (SAT, ESPN 2, 3:30pm)
Wichita State @ Colorado State (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 5pm)
Gonzaga @ Arizona (SAT, ESPN, 5:30pm)
Maine @ Duke (SAT, ESPN 2, 5:30pm)
BYU @ USC (SAT, ESPNU, 8pm)

NHL
Blackhawks @ Flyers (SAT, NHL, 1pm)
Red Wings @ Penguins (SAT, NHL, 7pm)
Blue Jackets @ Coyotes (SAT, FOX Sports Ohio, 8pm)

GOLF
Hero World Challenge, Third Round (SAT, NBC, 2:30pm)

MMA & BOXING
Bellator MMA Live (FRI, Spike, 9pm)

The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale - Prelims (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 8pm)
Bellator MMA Live (SAT, Spike, 9pm)
The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 10pm)

SOCCER
English Premier League: West Ham United FC vs. Arsenal FC (SAT, NBC, 12:30pm)

OTHER SPORTS
SKIING: FIS Alpine, Val d'Isere Super G (SAT, NBC, 5pm)

Spread Offense 11.25.16: Top 5 College Rivalry Weekend Games

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta


So a couple of months ago, I attended a concert in which Slayer was one of the bands performing. In between songs about midway through their set, lead singer Tom Araya talked to the crowd and said "every single one of our songs is a love song." Now, if you know Slayer then you understand the confusion most of us had. If you don't know them then let's just say that they are a loud, head banging type thrash metal band that centers around some pretty dark lyrics. He then continued by saying that "they are considered love songs to him because they love making music and playing it for us, and we are here tonight because we love hearing music."

That's what rivalry week is, even though it's referred to as "hate week." This week is about hating your rival, but also about embracing the spirit of what this week is all about and having fun with it. You hate your rival but there's nothing to hate about this week, instead of "hate week" it's really "love to hate week."

This year is no different, and many rivalry games have a lot on the line in this penultimate weekend of college football. Though we are 2 Saturdays away from knowing who is in or out of the playoffs, most playoff potential teams have a "lose and you're out" situation for them, essentially making this a playoff game.

These 5 rivalry games are especially meaningful to not only their respective schools, but also have the most meaning going forward as far as the playoffs are concerned.

5. #13 Auburn at #1 Alabama - Nov 26th, 3:30pm
The Iron Bowl is traditionally one of the best rivalries in college football, though this year there really isn't much on the line.

Alabama has clinched the SEC West and is almost assured a playoff spot barring a loss here and a loss in the SEC title game. They won't take this game lightly though with bragging rights on the line here against their bitter rival.

Auburn is looking for the upset here as there is still a shot that they could get into a New Year's 6 bowl game. A win would also put some doubt into people's minds on Alabama being a playoff team, and would at least set up Alabama in a must win game in the SEC title game. Winning this rivalry game and pinning their rival's backs up against the wall is more than enough incentive for the Tigers here.

4. South Carolina at #4 Clemson - Nov 26th, 7:30pm
This Palmetto state rivalry game will be about a big underdog on the road attempting to play spoiler.

South Carolina's season has been underwhelming under 1st year Head Coach Will Muschamp. They are 6-5 on the season, but have a bit of momentum going for them as they have won 4 of their last 5 games. They look to capitalize on that momentum and end their regular season on a huge positive note with a win over their non-conference rival, which would knock Clemson out of playoff contention.

Clemson knows what's at stake here and they know they are facing a rival with nothing to lose. The Tigers are already in the ACC title game but they are just 1 loss away from falling out of the playoffs, losing to their rival and watching their playoff hopes slip away would just add insult to injury.

Will Clemson take a step closer to the playoffs or will South Carolina step up and knock them out?

3. #15 Florida at #14 Florida State - Nov 26th 8pm
2 weeks ago, the college football playoff rankings were turned upside down when the #2, #3 and #4 ranked teams all lost. That opened up a glimmer of hope for the Florida Gators, who may somehow control their own destiny now. Florida does have 2 losses, but a backloaded schedule of LSU, Florida State and Alabama means that by winning out then they could backdoor their way into the college football playoffs.

They were #23 at the time, and after a win  over #16 LSU, they have now jumped to #15. Heading to their in-state rival will be step 2 in order to keep hope alive, and a big win here could vault them up into the top 10 heading in championship week.

Florida State will not be headed to the playoffs this season, but this is always a huge rivalry game for them and they could still find themselves in a New Years 6 bowl with a win here. A loss here though and they won't be playing in a prestigious bowl so they will need this game in a big way.

Florida needs this to have any chance at getting into playoff discussion while Florida State looks to cap off a regular season with a win as they head to a big bowl game.

2. #5 Washington at #23 Washington State - Nov 25th, 3:30pm
A few short years ago, both teams came into this game with winless records. Now, they come into this game with the winner advancing to the Pac-12 title game.

Washington State started the season off 0-2, including a loss to an FCS school. They then rattled off 8 straight victories before having that streak snapped last weekend by Colorado. While they won't be in the playoffs this season, a win and Pac-12 title berth would be huge for this growing program.

Washington has only one blemish on their schedule, a loss to USC, and have playoff aspirations still as a win here and in the Pac-12 title game could secure them a spot in the top 4. A loss though in either and they are eliminated from contention.

The Apple Cup decides the winner of the Pac-12 North division, both teams entering the game with a 7-1 conference record. Washington State can get a big program boost while knocking their rival out of the playoffs, Washington can continue their road to the playoffs with a big win and Pac-12 title berth.

1. #3 Michigan Wolverines at #2 Ohio State Buckeyes - Nov 26th, 12pm
The biggest rivalry has the biggest playoff implications, starting with the loser being eliminated from contention.

Michigan has a fairly simple playoff road, win this game and they are in the B1G title game. Win the title game and they are a lock for the playoffs, simply put, Michigan is one of the few teams that controls their own destiny.

Ohio State has a bit more murky of a path, as a win does not guarantee them a spot in the B1G title game. They need a win plus a Penn State loss, but if they win and PSU also wins then that will open up a major discussion on if a team that didn't win their conference should still go to the playoffs. They will be at the mercy of the playoff committee, and while it seems the majority of people feel that they will be in regardless, it all depends on how other teams' season finish and they may end up sliding from #2 to #5 and miss the playoffs.

Ask either team though and they'll tell you that it's all about this game, the playoff scenarios and next opponents do not matter to them right now. This game is just as big, if not bigger, than a playoff game. 

10 years ago we were given a #1 vs. #2 matchup that ended up being the game of the century, this year has shades of that game in the making. Winner keeps an inside track to the playoffs, loser has to pine over this loss for a year while being eliminated from the playoff discussion.

Spread Offense, Week 9: The Cure for Complacency

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta

The past few weeks in college football have felt like treading water. Only a few games of note each week, no real shake ups in the top 10, just sort of staying afloat in one spot. When a pattern like this keeps up then it's easy to get complacent and start to not enjoy or really get interested in the games each week.

College football fans should have no worries about that going forward though, as week 9 snaps everyone out of that funk. Big games and some rivalries are slated for this weekend which fill each time slot, guaranteeing that a big game will be going on at all times. Week 9 takes us down that last turn as we go into the home stretch of the regular season, this week is definitely something that will keep fans glued to their TV's.

SATURDAY OCT. 29TH

People are starting to take notice of #10 West Virginia, with good reason. The Mountaineers are undefeated, putting up 15 points per game more than they are giving up and have now entered the playoff discussion. Dana Halgorsen has his squad playing well, and this weekend will be another test for them as the Oklahoma State Cowboys welcome WVU to Boone Pickens Stadium for a noon kickoff. While Oklahoma State is looking to get back into the Big 12 hunt along with regaining their top 25 status, they are currently 5-2 but one of those losses was on a controversial last play against Central Michigan. OKSU will need QB Mason Rudolph to play a very good game, the Cowboys' offense is a pass heavy spread so he will have to perform in order to get this upset win. West Virginia, however, has one of the better defenses and will look to put pressure on Rudolph all game. In  last week's game against Kansas, Rudolph was sacked 5 times and WVU will look to blueprint that game plan in order to get to him multiple times. The Mountaineers have done a great job of shutting down teams that are known for their high powered offense, giving up only 17 points to Texas Tech and 10 points to TCU, so being able to hold Oklahoma State to well under their season average of 41 points a game could end up being the deciding factor.

Also at noon, we have an in-state rivalry up in Michigan. In week 3 of this season, Michigan State beat Notre Dame handily and it was then that everyone circled October 29th as an undefeated showdown with the Michigan Wolverines. Then a streak of 5 straight losses happened and instead of welcoming their rival to East Lansing at 7-0, they do so with a 2-5 record. Michigan held up their end of the deal, the #2 team in the country is undefeated and will look to end a 5 game losing streak to their rival and knowing their Head Coach, they aren't going to take it easy on the Spartans even if they put the game away early. Michigan State will have to hope for the "throw the records out in rivalry games" cliché, win the turnover battle and somehow move the ball on offense. Michigan needs to go out there and put an end to this one early, MSU has nothing to lose so the Wolverines have to bury them quickly and keep them down.

At 3:30, we have the "World's largest outdoor cocktail party", and yes I will always refer to this game as such regardless of the push to change it's name. #14 Florida and Georgia meet in Jacksonville for this annual rivalry game, with the Gators looking to remain atop the SEC East standings. For Georgia, this could notch their first big win under 1st year head coach Kirby Smart, and they really need this one after losing 3 of their last 4 games. The Gators have a healthy Luke Del Rio at QB now, which gives the offense the potential to put up a lot of points. Stagnant while he was out with injury, the offense broke out big time last week by putting up 40 points against Missouri. For Georgia, they are in a transition year now with freshman QB Jacob Eason, hoping to get him the necessary experience to prepare him for the next 2 seasons when they feel they can make a run at the SEC title. Florida's offense should make them the favorite to win this one, but a win for Georgia would be a big statement going forward.

And the game most will be watching at 3:30 is a Pac-12 showdown, as #4 Washington plays at #17 Utah. The Huskies seem to be a year ahead of schedule, with QB Jake Browning having as Heisman contending season. Washington is currently a playoff team and a win would solidify their ranking even more since some believe that a 1 loss Louisville is currently more deserving of that 4th playoff spot. The Utes are a hiccup against Cal away from also being undefeated and this game is personal for QB Troy Williams. Williams was at Washington to start his collegiate career but transferred after the 2014 season. He is looking to prove what he can do out there, but it will not be easy against one of the best defenses in the country.

Utah, however, has been a chameleon when it comes to winning games, winning close games(31-27 against USC), defensive games(19-14 against Oregon State) and offensive shootouts(52-45 against UCLA.) If there's a team that can figure out a way to beat Washington regardless of the type of game it is, Utah is that team. They are equipped to play close games going into the 4th quarter while Washington hasn't been challenged this year, winning every game by at least 24 points. That, along with the Utah home crowd, could be a big factor if it is a close game in the 2nd half.

At 7pm, the Big Ten West takes the stage with the #7 Nebraska Cornhuskers facing the #11 Wisconsin Badgers. The undefeated Cornhuskers can all but ensure a trip to Indianapolis with a win here to play in the Big Ten title game, while the Badgers need this win to keep their Big Ten title hopes alive. Nebraska should have star WR Jordan Westerkamp back for this game, which will be a huge plus for them as they go up against one of the stingiest defenses in the country. The Badgers have given up the fewest TD's in the country, having played against 4 teams that were ranked in the top 10 at the time of their games makes it even more impressive. Wisconsin defense does so well because they control the trenches, so Nebraska will need some very good offensive line play and will turn to dual threat QB Tommy Armstrong to play mistake free ball. Nebraska looks to remain unbeaten while Wisconsin's backs are against the wall, a ton is at stake in this game.

Then the 8pm primetime slot is an ACC battle amongst teams that have recently dominated the ACC Atlantic division. The #3 Clemson Tigers go on the road to Tallahassee to face the #12 Florida State Seminoles. Florida State has battled back well after a blowout loss against Louisville and a heartbreaking loss to North Carolina earlier in the season. They look to get back into the top 10 and remain alive for a ACC title game berth here as a loss all but eliminates them from contention. Giving up the big play has haunted the Seminoles all season and they now face a Clemson offense that is capable of putting up big numbers. Last we saw of Clemson though, they escaped with an OT win at home against North Carolina State. They have been Jekyll and Hyde all season on offense, they looked every bit as good in their win over Louisville as they did bad in their win against NCSU. Heisman candidate Deshaun Watson can get the offense rolling again here though and a win against Florida State really puts them in the driver's seat for the ACC Atlantic title.

 Louisville will also be watching this game intently as a Florida State win not only puts the Seminoles back in the division hunt, but the Cardinals get that much needed Clemson loss since the Tigers own the head to head tiebreaker. Doak Campbell stadium will be alive and rocking Saturday night when these two ACC heavyweights do battle, the ACC Atlantic picture will become very clear with a Clemson win and very murky with a Florida State win.

Spread Offense, College Football Week 6: The Bridge Episode

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta

Now that was a fun last Saturday, wasn't it? Last second dramatic wins with multiple lead changes in the final minute in the Tennessee-Georgia and North Carolina-Florida State game, 2 Big Ten heavyweights in Michigan and Wisconsin just pulverizing each other in a great defensive game, and did Louisville and Clemson put on a show or what? Last Saturday delivered big time overall, those types of exhilarating games are what makes this sport so great.

Each season of a TV series has something called a bridge episode. TV series typically start fast to hook you in followed by an episode or two that is more about building characters and storylines by being dialogue heavy while taking away the majority of action. That episode's purpose is to bridge the beginning of the season to the finale, hence the "bridge episode" name. This is what week 6 seems to be, with only 4 games involving 2 ranked teams it seems as though this will be less about the action on the field and more about what's to follow based off of this week. We are starting to get into conference play and we have some rivalry games this week so it will still hold everyone's attention, but this will be a natural come down after week 5's fantastic games and finishes. 

SATURDAY OCT 8TH

Noon kickoffs are headlined by Texas and #20 Oklahoma playing in their annual Red River Rivalry game. Oklahoma came in to last year's game at a perfect 5-o and ranked #10 in the country while Texas was a disappointing 1-4 at the time. They always say to throw the records out in a rivalry game though and last year was a perfect example, as the Longhorns handed Oklahoma their only regular season loss by a score of 24-17. This year, both teams are in need of a big win as Oklahoma just evened their record out to 2-2 after outlasting TCU 52-46 last weekend, and a promising start to the season for Texas has turned sour after 2 straight losses. Texas coach Charlie Strong will be calling defensive plays now after the Longhorns gave up 49 points to Oklahoma State, some reports are saying that this is a make or break game for him as far as determining his future as coach of the team.

They'll need to slow down an Oklahoma offense that finally got rolling last weekend and looked like the playoff contender that they were expected to be. Oklahoma's main concern will be the 2 QB system that Texas runs, last week they had a ton of problems with stopping TCU and Texas is the type of team that could put up some points if they find a weakness. The luster may be off this rivalry game a bit since both teams are just 2-2, but there's a lot at stake for these two teams and always expect some great moments when bragging rights are on the line.

We also have LSU at #18 Florida at noon. The post Les Miles era started out big for LSU as they rolled Missouri 42-7. Florida gets their starting QB back, Luke Del Rio, as they hope that provides a spark on the offense that they were missing last weekend against Vanderbilt. They still managed to win but the offense was stagnant overall and they coasted to a 13-6 victory. Can a rejuvenated LSU team go on the road and knock off a healthy Florida team on the road? It's a pretty big task for interim head coach Ed Orgeron.

The 3:30 games give us 2 of the 4 games involving 2 ranked teams. In ACC action, we have the #25 Virginia Tech Hokies going on the road to face the #17 North Carolina Tar Heels. The Hokies have moved on from "Beamer ball" and are now running a full time spread offense under 1st year head coach Justin Fuente. The switch is paying off right now, as they are averaging 40 points per game and QB Jerod Evans has found himself on some Heisman sleeper lists. After suffering their lone loss on the season (45-24 to Tennessee), the Hokies have shut out Boston College 49-0 and rolled East Carolina 54-17. North Carolina has also been putting up some impressive numbers on offense, along with pulling out games in crunch time. In back to back weeks, the Tar Heels outscored Pitt 14-3 in the 4th quarter to win 37-36 then had a last second drive against Florida State culminating in a 54 yard game winning field goal for the 37-35 win. Bud Foster's Virginia Tech defense may be the key factor in this, he's one of the best at game planning and disguising blitzes in order to rattle the opposing teams' QB, if he can dial up a game plan to get Mentor, Ohio's own Mitch Trubisky off his game then that will be the deciding factor. It will be close though and North Carolina thrives in close games, expect this game to play out in the final minutes.

We also have the #9 Tennessee Volunteers at the #8 Texas A&M Aggies. Tennessee seems to be living a charmed life, they start slow and sloppy and as it looks like they are going to lose, they seem to do just enough to get the win. OT win against Appalachian State, uninspired win against Ohio, 21 point comeback against Florida and then last week, a last second Hail Mary win over Georgia. This will be their toughest task to date, Texas A&M looks very good and Kyle Field provides a big home field advantage. The Aggies use a balanced attack to put up nearly 40 points and 520 yards per game, with QB Trevor Knight leading the charge for them. Their defense also seems legit this season, as 24 points is the most that they have given up in a game. If they hold Tennessee to that then they have a very good chance of winning this game. This game will tell us a lot about both teams, starting with how serious a contender each team is going forward.

The 7 pm start time takes us to Fayetteville where the #16 Arkansas Razorbacks host the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide. Arkansas looks for a statement win right here to show that they aren't a middle of the road type team. QB Austin Allen is the type of QB that has given Alabama's defense problems in the past and the Razorbacks are going to need him to play at his peak in order to win this game. Arkansas will also look to their 2 RB's, Rawleigh Williams and Devwah Whaley, to provide a big punch and balance out the attack so the Crimson Tide won't have the benefit of keying on Allen. If Arkansas does become one dimensional then that plays right into Alabama's hands, their defense thrives on getting after the QB to force sacks and turnovers. The Crimson Tide offense will look for the same success as Texas A&M had against Arkansas, which is the big play.

The Razorbacks, while a good defensive team overall, are susceptible to giving up big plays and that was their Achilles heel in their 45-24 loss to the Aggies. The Tide does have the weapons, both in their running and passing game, to score quickly and Arkansas has got to do a better job of containment if they want to stay in this game. This is Alabama's 1st of 4 straight big games with Tennessee on deck, Texas A&M in the hole and LSU awaiting after a bye week. Arkansas needs this one badly if they want any shot of earning the SEC West title.

Then our 8pm primetime matchup pits 2 in-state rivals against each other, with the #23 Florida State Seminoles facing off against the #10 Miami Hurricanes. At the beginning of the season, not many people would have believed that FSU would be the team with 2 losses while Miami is undefeated. The Seminoles rebounded against South Florida after the beating they took against Louisville, only to lose on a last second field goal last week to North Carolina. FSU certainly has the talent on offense, starting with RB Dalvin Cook, but miscues on defense have haunted them this season. Mark Richt has revitalized the Miami program already in his 1st season as head coach, and people are starting to buy into this team. This will be their chance to really prove it though as they have yet to play a ranked team and their opponents have a combined 7-13 record.

Their offense, led by QB Brad Kaaya and RB Mark Walton, have been lighting up the scoreboard while their defense has been one of  the stingiest in the country. If they can take advantage of FSU's problems on defense and keep their offense rolling then this could be a long night for the Seminoles. We will see just how good they are though in this game, whether they are a contender in the ACC or fool's gold that put up numbers due to softer competition. Rivalry games always bring an added amount of intrigue and with two teams ranked in the top 25 and with the history they have for playing close, memorable games, then this is a perfect game for that 8pm time slot.

TV Weekend 9.23 - 9.24

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

Last Man Standing, PREMIERE (FRI, ABC, 8pm)
Hell's Kitchen, PREMIERE (FRI, FOX, 8pm)
MacGyver, PREMIERE (FRI, CBS, 8pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 8pm)
Masters Of Illusion (FRI, The CW, 8pm & 8:30pm)
Dr. Ken, PREMIERE (FRI, ABC, 8:30pm)

Dateline NBC (FRI, NBC, 9pm)
Shark Tank, PREMIERE (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
The Exorcist, PREMIERE (FRI, FOX, 9pm)
Hawaii Five-0, PREMIERE (FRI, CBS, 9pm)
Z Nation (FRI, Syfy, 9pm)

Blue Bloods, PREMIERE (FRI, CBS, 10pm)
Burgers, Brew & Que (FRI, Food Network, 10pm)
Van Helsing, PREMIERE (FRI, Syfy, 10pm)
Quarry (FRI, Cinemax, 10pm)
High Maintenance (FRI, HBO, 11pm)

======

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
TCU @ SMU (FRI, ESPN, 8pm)
USC @ Utah (FRI, FOX Sports 1, 9pm)

Florida State @ South Florida (SAT, ABC, 12pm)
Georgia @ Mississippi (SAT, ESPN, 12pm)
Iowa @ Rutgers (SAT, ESPN 2, 12pm)
Nevada @ Purdue (SAT, ESPNews, 12pm)
Colorado State @ Minnesota (SAT, ESPNU, 12pm)
Wisconsin @ Michigan State (SAT, Big Ten, 12pm)
Kent State @ Alabama (SAT, SEC, 12pm)
Syracuse @ Connecticut (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 1pm)

Duke @ Notre Dame (SAT, NBC, 3:30pm)
Penn State @ Michigan (SAT, ABC, 3:30pm)
Florida @ Tennessee (SAT, CBS, 3:30pm)
BYU @ West Virginia (SAT, ESPN 2, 3:30pm)
Miami (OH) @ Cincinnati (SAT, ESPNews, 3:30pm)
Pittsburgh @ North Carolina (SAT, ESPNU, 3:30pm)
Boise State @ Oregon State (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 3:30pm)

LSU @ Auburn (SAT, ESPN, 6pm)
Houston @ Texas State (SAT, ESPNU, 7pm)
Nebraska @ Northwestern (SAT, Big Ten, 7:30pm)
Oklahoma State @ Baylor (SAT, FOX, 7:30pm)
Stanford @ UCLA (SAT, ABC, 8pm)
Louisville @ Marshall (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 8pm)

Arkansas @ Texas A&M (SAT, ESPN, 9pm)
California @ Arizona State (SAT, ESPN 2, 10pm)

NFL
A Football Life: Rodney Harrison (FRI, NFL Network, 9pm)

MLB
White Sox @ Indians (FRI, STO, 7pm)
Yankees @ Blue Jays (FRI, ESPN 2, 7pm)
Giants @ Padres OR Rockies @ Dodgers (FRI, MLB, 11pm)

Royals @ Tigers (SAT, FOX, 1pm)
Yankees @ Blue Jays OR Rangers @ Athletics (SAT, MLB, 4pm)
White Sox @ Indians (SAT, STO, 7pm)
Phillies @ Mets OR Diamondbacks @ Orioles (SAT, MLB, 7pm)
Rockies @ Dodgers OR Giants @ Padres (SAT, MLB, 10pm)

NASCAR & RACING
XFINITIY Series: Visitmyrtlebeach.com 300 (SAT, NBC Sports, 8pm)

MMA & BOXING
Bellator Kickboxing (FRI, Spike, 9pm)

UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Lansberg - Prelims (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 8pm)
UFC Fight Night: Cris Cyborg vs. Lina Lansberg (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 10pm)

SOCCER
English Premier League: Arsenal FC vs. Chelsea FC (SAT, NBC Sports, 12:25pm)

GOLF
2016 TOUR Championship, Third Round (SAT, NBC, 12pm)

Spread Offense, Week 4: For You Fall Wedding Enthusiasts...

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta

At TripleThreatCLE.com, I understand that the majority of the audience here are Ohio State Buckeyes fans. Some of which, many months ago, looked at OSU's 2016 schedule and said to themselves "Oh look, a bye week on September 24th, what a perfect time to have our wedding!"

This article here is the counterpoint to that thought process though. Without going into detail of the short-sightedness of thought that everyone at your wedding is also OSU fans, the point is that just because your favorite team is on a break, doesn't mean the college football world stops turning. There are a bunch of great games this weekend and many of your guests will be huddled together by a TV or a smartphone at your reception, oblivious to the wedding reception festivities while racking up the bar tab as they silently wonder why someone would pick a wedding time during the SEC on CBS game of the week.

Here are the highlighted games of week 4, as conference games start becoming regular and the stakes become higher.

SATURDAY SEPT 24TH

Two Noon games to start the college football day off on the right foot.

#24 Ole Miss has become the new "Clemsoning", 2 losses this season due to completely melting down. First, a 28-6 lead in the 2nd quarter in week 1 against Florida State which resulted in a 45-34 loss, then this past weekend again Alabama which saw them blow a 24-3 2nd quarter lead on their way to a 48-43 loss. They face a Georgia team this weekend that has been doing the opposite of them, the #12 Bulldogs are 3-0(somehow) with 2 wins coming on 4th quarter comebacks(UNC, Mizzou) and the other win being a 2 point win against Nicholls State. They haven't been impressive, but they've won while Ole Miss has looked unbeatable at times, yet has lost twice. Here's Chad Kelly and Ole Miss' last shot at any season salvaging, if they can lock up Nick Chubb and get themselves a big home win then their reputation may start to change. But right now, it's tough to put much stock into the 2016 version of"Clemsoning".

Also at noon is a inter-division B1G game as #8 Michigan State hosts #11 Wisconsin. The Spartans came out and laid a beatdown on Notre Dame for 3 quarters last weekend, they went conservative which led to Notre Dame making the score look closer than the game was. They will have to turn right around and play the same kind of game if they want to remain unbeaten though, as Wisconsin's defense seems up to the task. The big issue with the Badgers though is they may be without star RB Corey Clement again this week, huge advantage to Michigan State if he cannot play. The Badgers rely heavily on Clement, as witnessed in their week 1 win against LSU, while they looked rather unflattering against Georgia State without him. If MSU can continue to play offense like they did against the Fighting Irish then Wisconsin will have to get creative in order to score points and pull this game out.

We then head to the 3:30 games, where once upon a time this was a nationally meaningful rivalry game. Back in the 90's, Phillip Fulmer's Tennessee Volunteers and Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators had 2 of the top programs and they would meet every year in a big time grudge match. Players like Peyton Manning, Danny Wuerffel, Tee Martin, and Jesse Palmer were all involved in these games as was Jamal Lewis, Fred Taylor, Peerless Price and Ike Hilliard. The past decade though hasn't shown much of a rivalry. Tennessee had fallen off once Fulmer was let go and after a few national championships under Urban Meyer, Florida has also been struggling for national recognition. Add in that Florida has won 11 straight games and this once proud rivalry has turned into just another game. This year could be the rekindling that this rivalry needs though, both teams being 3-0 and ranked in the top 20. The #19 Florida Gators will turn to new starting QB Austin Apply now that Luke Del Rio is out as they look to continue their winning streak in Knoxville against the #14 Tennessee Volunteers. With Del Rio out, Tennessee's defense will do whatever they can to pressure the new starting QB and suffocate the Gators' offense.

They'll also need their own QB, Josh Dobbs, to play a real good game against a stout Florida defense. They'll also need to get it going early, in all 3 games so far they have come out sluggish and that could hurt them big time in this game. While this has been a 1-sided rivalry with Florida winning 11 straight, 4 of those wins have come by 1 point so expect a close game that comes down to the final play here.

The 8pm prime time game gives us a look at the Stanford Cardinal again, as last week they had no issues with putting away the USC Trojans.The #7 team in the country will be on the road this time and going up against USC's cross town rivals, the UCLA Bruins. The focus as usual will be on RB Christian McCaffrey who looks to continue his Heisman campaign on a national stage. UCLA will need their standout QB Josh Rosen to have an electric game for them, which he is more than capable of. Last year's game between these two teams produced a 56-35 final score, with players like McCaffrey and Rosen on the field do not be surprised to see another high scoring game.

And at 9pm, we have another SEC game to highlight. The #17 Arkansas Razorbacks and the#10 Texas A&M Aggies will be heading to AT&T field in Dallas (Arlington) in a battle of 2 ranked teams that people are still trying to figure out if they are a contender or not. Arkansas notched a huge win in week 2 over TCU in overtime, while A&M had a big win in week 1 over UCLA, but both teams are still on the fence when it comes to national respect. Both teams can prove themselves here with a win, Texas A&M has a QB in Trevor Knight that just seems to play better as the situation gets tighter. Arkansas is more balanced, as all Bret Bielema teams seem to be, but also has a QB in Austin Allen that puts his team on his shoulders whenever they need a big drive and score. Both teams are averaging over 34 points a game and will be on a neutral field indoors, this game is a catapult for the winner going forward and will bring them that respect and attention that they deserve.

TV Weekend 1.8 - 1.9

By @nevaRWilliams

Undateable (FRI, NBC, 8pm)
Last Man Standing (FRI, ABC, 8pm)
MasterChef (FRI, FOX, 8pm)
Undercover Boss (FRI, CBS, 8pm)
Reign (FRI, The CW, 8pm)
Superstore (FRI, NBC, 8:30pm)
Dr. Ken (FRI, ABC, 8:30pm)

Dateline NBC (FRI, NBC, 9pm)
Shark Tank (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
Hawaii Five-0 (FRI, CBS, 9pm)

Blue Bloods (FRI, CBS, 10pm)

------

J. Cole Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming (SAT, HBO, 10pm)


======

NFL PLAYOFFS
Chiefs @ Texans (SAT, ESPN/ABC, 4:15pm)
Steelers @ Bengals (SAT, CBS, 8pm)

NBA
Cavaliers @ Timberwolves (FRI, ESPN/FOX Sports Ohio, 8pm)
Thunder @ Lakers (FRI, ESPN, 10:30pm)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Western Michigan @ Akron (FRI, ESPNU, 7pm)
Valparaiso @ Oakland (FRI, ESPN 2, 7pm)
WOMENS: Xavier @ Creighton (FRI, FOX Sports 1, 7pm)
WOMENS: Connecticut @ Houston (FRI, ESPN 2, 9pm)
Utah @ Colorado (FRI, FOX Sports 1, 9pm)

DePaul @ Georgetown (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 12pm)
Maryland @ Wisconsin (SAT, ESPN, 1pm)
Oklahoma State @ West Virginia (SAT, ESPNU, 1pm)
LSU @ Florida (SAT, CBS, 1:30pm)

Creighton @ Seton Hall (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 2pm)
Baylor @ Iowa State (SAT, ESPN 2, 3pm)
Kansas State @ Oklahoma (SAT, ESPNews, 4:30pm)
Princeton @ Pennsylvania (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 4:30pm)
Florida State @ Miami (SAT, ESPN 2, 5pm)
Nebraska @ Rutgers (SAT, ESPNU, 5pm)
Kentucky @ Alabama (SAT, SEC, 6pm)

Texas @ TCU (SAT, ESPNU, 7pm)
Memphis @ Connecticut (SAT, ESPN 2, 7pm)
Michigan State @ Michigan (SAT, Big Ten, 7pm)
North Carolina @ Syracuse (SAT, ESPN, 8pm)
Auburn @ Missouri (SAT, ESPN 2, 9pm)
Kansas @ Texas Tech (SAT, ESPNU, 9pm)
East Carolina @ Temple (SAT, ESPNews, 9pm)

FOOTBALL
NCAA FCS: North Dakota State vs. Jacksonville State (SAT, ESPN 2, 12pm)
U.S. Army All-American Bowl (SAT, NBC, 1pm)

NHL
Sabres @ Blackhawks (FRI, NHL Network, 8:30pm)

Hurricanes @ Blue Jackets (SAT, FOX Sports Ohio, 7pm)
Penguins @ Canadiens (SAT, NHL Network, 7pm)

GOLF
Hyundai Tournament Of Champions, Third Round (SAT, NBC, 4pm)

TV Weekend 12.4 -12.5

By @nevaRWilliams

The 18th Annual Mark Twain Prize For American Humor: Eddie Murphy (FRI, TV One, 8pm)
Undateable Live (FRI NBC, 8pm)
Last Man Standing (FRI, ABC, 8pm)
The Amazing Race (FRI, CBS, 8pm)
MasterChef (FRI, FOX, 8pm)
Reign (FRI, The CW, 8pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 8pm)
Truth Be Told (FRI, NBC, 8:30pm)
Dr. Ken (FRI, ABC, 8:30pm)

Grimm (FRI, NBC, 9pm)
Shark Tank (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
Hawaii Five-0 (FRI, CBS, 9pm)
World's Funniest (FRI, FOX, 9pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS, TV, 9pm)

Blue Bloods (FRI, CBS, 10pm)
The Knick (FRI, Cinemax, 10pm)
Z Nation (FRI, SyFy, 10pm)
Satisfaction (FRI, USA, 10pm)

------

It's A Wonderful Life (SAT, NBC, 8pm)
Da Vinci's Demons (SAT, STARZ, 8pm)

Ash vs Evil Dead (SAT, STARZ, 9pm)
Doctor Who (SAT, BBC America, 9pm)

Saturday Night Live: Ryan Gosling, Leon Bridges (SAT, NBC, 11:30pm)

======

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois (FRI, ESPN 2, 8pm)

AAC Championship: Houston vs. Temple (SAT, ABC, 12pm)
Texas vs. Baylor (SAT, ESPN, 12pm)
Conference USA Championship: Southern Mississippi vs. Western Kentucky (SAT, ESPN 2, 12pm)

SEC Championship: Florida vs. Alabama (SAT, CBS, 4pm)
SWAC Championship: Alcorn State vs. Grambling State (SAT, ESPNU, 4pm)
West Virginia @ Kansas State (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 4:30pm)

Mountain West Championship: Air Force vs. San Diego State (SAT, ESPN 2, 7:30pm)
PAC 12 Championship: Stanford vs. USC (SAT, ESPN, 7:45pm)

ACC Championship: Clemson vs. North Carolina (SAT, ABC, 8pm)
Big Ten Championship: Iowa vs. Michigan State (SAT, FOX, 8pm)

NBA
Nets @ Knicks (FRI, ESPN, 7pm)
Cavaliers @ Pelicans (FRI, ESPN/FOX Sports Ohio, 9:30pm)

Cavaliers @ Heat (SAT, FOX Sports Ohio/NBA TV, 8pm)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Indiana State @ Butler (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 12pm)
Temple @ Wisconsin (SAT, CBS, 12:30pm)
Syracuse @ Georgetown (SAT, FOX, 1pm)
Arizona @ Gonzaga (SAT, ESPN, 3:15pm)
Harvard @ Kansas (SAT, ESPN 2, 3:15pm)
Virginia Military Institute @ Ohio State (SAT, Big Ten, 4:30pm)
Buffalo @ Duke (SAT, ESPN 2, 5:15pm)
WOMENS:Notre Dame @ Connecticut (SAT, ESPN, 5:15pm)
Western Kentucky @ Xavier (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 8:30pm)
Texas A&M @ Arizona State (SAT, ESPN 2, 10:30pm)

NHL
Panthers @ Blue Jackets (FRI, FOX Sports Cincinnati, 7pm)

Predators @ Red Wings (SAT, NHL Network, 7pm)
Bruins @ Canucks (SAT, NHL Network, 11:30pm)

GOLF
2015 Re/Max World Long Drive Championship (SAT, NBC, 5pm)

MMA & BOXING
Bellator MMA Live: 147 (FRI, Spike, 9pm)

SOCCER
Chelsea FC vs. AFC Bournemouth (SAT, NBC, 12:30pm)

TV Weekend 11.28-11.29

By @nevaRWilliams

Haven (Friday, SyFy, 7 PM)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Friday, SyFy, 8 PM)
Girl Meets World (Friday, Disney Channel, 8 PM)
The Amazing Race (Friday, CBS, 8 PM)

Grimm (Friday, NBC, 9 PM)
Shark Tank (Friday, ABC, 9 PM)
Frosty The Snowman (Friday, CBS, 9 PM)
Yes, Virginia (Friday, CBS, 9:30 PM)
Constantine (Friday, NBC, 10 PM)
Z Nation (Friday, SyFy, 10 PM)
------
The Flight Before Christmas (Saturday, CBS, 8 PM)
The Story Of Santa Claus (Saturday, CBS, 9 PM)
48 Hours (Saturday, CBS, 10 PM)
Atlantis (Saturday, BBC America, 9 PM)
Black Dynamite (Cartoon Network, 10:30 PM)
Saturday Night Live Classic, Ben Affleck, N.E.R.D. (Saturday, NBC, 10 PM)
REPEAT: Saturday Night Live, Chris Rock, Prince (Saturday, NBC, 11:30 PM)

======

NBA
Clippers @ Rockets (Friday, NBA TV, 8 PM)

Pelicans @ Wizards (Saturday, NBA TV, 7 PM)
Pacers @ Cavaliers (Saturday, FOX Sports Ohio, 7:30 PM)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NIT Season Tip-Off, Final (Friday, ESPN 2, 7 PM)
Orlando Classic, Second Semifinal (Friday, ESPN 2, 9 PM)
Rutgets @ Vanderbilt (Friday, NBC Sports, 7 PM)
Bradley vs TCU (Friday, CBS SportsNet, 7 PM)
Las Vegas Invitational, Consolation (Friday, FOX Sports 1, 8 PM)
La Salle vs. Virginia (Friday, NBC Sports, 9:30 PM)
Las Vegas Invitational, Final (Friday, FOX Sports 1, 10:30 PM)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Virginia @ Virginia Tech (Friday, ESPN, 8 PM)

Michigan @ Ohio State (Saturday, ABC, 12 PM)
South Carolina @ Clemson (Saturday, ESPN, 12 PM)
Cincinnati @ Temple (Saturday, ESPNews, 12 PM)
Illinois @ Northwestern (Saturday, ESPNU, 12 PM)
Kentucky @ Louisville (Saturday, ESPN 2, 12 PM)
West Virginia @ Iowa State (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 12 PM)
Purdue @ Indiana (Saturday, Big Ten, 12 PM)
Georgia Tech @ Georgia (Saturday, SEC Network, 12 PM)

Grambling State vs. Southern (Saturday, NBC, 2:30 PM)
Michigan State @ Penn State (Saturday, ABC, 3:30 PM)
Notre Dame @ USC (Saturday, FOX, 3:30 PM)
Mississippi State @ Mississippi (Saturday, CBS, 3:30 PM)
Florida @ Florida State (Saturday, ESPN, 3:30 PM)
Rutgers @ Maryland (Saturday, ESPNU, 3:30 PM)
Baylor @ Texas Tech (Saturday, ESPN 2, 3:30 PM)
Minnesota @ Wisconsin (Saturday, Big Ten, 3:30 PM)
San Jose State @ San Diego State (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 3:30 PM)
Connecticut @ Memphis (Saturday, ESPNews, 4 PM)
Kansas @ Kansas State (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 4 PM)

Wake Forest @ Duke (Saturday, ESPNU, 7 PM)
Pittsburgh @ Miami (Saturday, ESPN 2, 7 PM)
Auburn @ Alabama (Saturday, ESPN, 7:30 PM)
Oregon @ Oregon State (Saturday, ABC, 8 PM)
Utah State @ Boise State (Saturday, ESPN 2, 10:15 PM)

NHL
Canucks @ Blue Jackets (Friday, FOX Sports Ohio, 7 PM)
Jets @ Bruins (Friday, NHL Network, 7 PM)

Capitals @ Maple Leafs (Saturday, NHL Network, 7 PM)
Blue Jackets @ Predators (Saturday, FOX Sports Cincinnati, 8 PM)
Blackhawks @ Kings (Saturday, NHL Network, 10 PM)

SOCCER
English Premier League: Sunderland AFC vs. Chelsea FC (Saturday, NBC, 12:30 PM)

TV Weekend 9.19.14 - 9.20.14

By @neveRWilliams

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Connecticut @ South Florida (Friday, ESPN, 8 PM)

Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech (Saturday, ESPN, 12 PM)
Western Illinois @ Northwestern (Saturday, ESPNews, 12 PM)
Iowa @ Pittsburgh (Saturday, ESPNU, 12 PM)
Bowling Green @ Wisconsin (Saturday, ESPN 2, 12 PM)
Eastern Michigan @ Michigan State (Saturday, Big Ten, 12 PM)
Troy @ Georgia (Saturday, SEC, 12 PM)

Florida @ Alabama (Saturday, CBS, 3:30 PM)
Utah @ Michigan (Saturday, ABC, 3:30 PM)
Virginia @ BYU (Saturday, ESPN, 3:30 PM)
Texas A&M @ SMU (Saturday, ESPN 2, 3:30 PM)
North Carolina @ East Carolina (ESPNU, 3:30 PM)
Louisville @ Florida International (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 3:30 PM)
Rutgers @ Navy (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 3:30 PM)
Texas State @ Illinois (Saturday, ESPNews, 4 PM)
Massachusetts @ Penn State (Saturday, Big Ten, 4 PM)
Indiana @ Missouri (Saturday, SEC, 4 PM)

Mississippi State @ LSU (Saturday, ESPN, 7 PM)
Northern Illinois @ Arkansas (Saturday, ESPNU, 7 PM)
Miami (Ohio) @ Cincinnati (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 7 PM)
Oklahoma @ West Virginia (Saturday, FOX, 7:30 PM)
Clemson @ Florida State (Saturday, ABC, 8 PM)
Miami @ Nebraska (Saturday, ESPN 2, 8 PM)
Oregon @ Washington State (Saturday, ESPN, 10:30 PM)
San Diego State @ Oregon State (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 10:30 PM)
Louisiana-Lafayette @ Boise State (Saturday, CBS SportsNet, 10:30 PM)

MLB
Indians @ Twins (Friday, STO, 8 PM)
Tigers @ Royals (Friday, ESPN 2, 8 PM)
Giants @ Padres OR Rangers @ Angels (Friday, MLB Network, 10 PM)

Tigers @ Royals (Saturday, FOX, 1 PM)
Phillies @ Athletics OR Blue Jays @ Yankees (Saturday, MLB Network, 4 PM)
Indians @ Twins (Saturday, STO, 7 PM)
Reds @ Cardinals (Saturday, FOX Sports 1, 7 PM)
Rangers @ Angels OR Giants @ Padres (Saturday, MLB Network, 10 PM)

NFL
A Football Life: Brandon Marshall (Friday, NFL Network, 9 PM)

MMA
Bellator MMA Live (Friday, Spike, 9 PM)

SOCCER
MLS: Colorado Rapids @ Real Salt Lake (Friday, NBC Sports, 10 PM)
MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps FC @ Portland Timbers (Saturday, NBC Sports, 5 PM)
MLS: Seattle Sounders FC @ New York Red Bulls (Saturday, NBC Sports, 7:30 PM)

NASCAR
Nationwide Series, VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 (Saturday, ESPNews, 7:30 PM)

======

Girl Meets World (Friday, Disney, 8:30 PM)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Friday, SyFy, 8 PM)
Big Brother (Friday, CBS, 8 PM)
Utopia (Friday, FOX, 9 PM)
The Knick (Friday, Cinemax, 10 PM)
Z Nation (Friday, SyFy, 10 PM)

Doctor Who (Saturday, BBC America, 8 PM)
On The Run Tour: Beyonce and Jay Z (Saturday, HBO, 9 PM)
Hell On Wheels (Saturday, AMC, 9 PM)
Outlander (Saturday, STARZ, 9 PM)
Intruders (Saturday, BBC America, 10 PM)

Hottie Thursday, 6.5.14: Hannah Rogers

Florida Gators pitcher, Hannah Rogers