Spread Offense 10/5/17: College Football Week 6 Preview

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta

Per usual, let's start off with my current top 10 ballot and a little week 5 recap.

WEEK 6 TOP TEN

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

The big "upset" over the week was Washington State defeating USC. The Trojans have been flirting with disaster all year basically and their issues with turning the ball over finally caught up to them. Of course, this was the week that I thought they would put it all together and really show how talented they are, but they continued their sloppy play and they did so against a team that was talented enough to take advantage of their mishaps. Hats off to Washington State for capitalizing on the moment and making a big statement, they jump into my top 10 now after that win.

Aside from that, the only real movement other than USC exiting the top 10 and those behind them moving up a spot was a flip flop of Oklahoma and Georgia. Georgia put it on Tennessee 41-0 and if you watch them, you can tell how good their skill position players are along with how tough that defense is and right now I can't leave them out of the top 4. Nothing against Oklahoma and we still have a lot of games left to be played, but Georgia has been impressive with knocking teams around so far and if season ended today then I can't leave them out of the playoffs.

Clemson once again shows that they are the #1 team in the country, a solid beat down of Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium further proves that this team is as good, if not better, than they were last season.


HEISMAN WATCH

5. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
4. Luke Falk, QB, Washington State
3. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
2. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Saquon Barkley takes over the #1 spot as he once again took over the game for Penn State. The Iowa game last week seemed to be a turning point, where PSU is getting away from anything other than making sure Barkley touches the ball as often as possible and he started the game on Saturday against Indiana with a 98 yard punt return. His 56 yards rushing is a bit deceiving, he also had 51 yards receiving on 4 catches and the already mentioned 98 yard punt return, Penn State is finding ways to get him as many touches as possible and he is the reason why Penn State is currently undefeated and a playoff team.

Sam Darnold is officially out of the top 5 after yet another rough outing. USC had all the capability in the world to defeat Washington State but Darnold's poor QB play, topped off with a fumble to end the game, lost them the game. Replacing him is Stanford RB Bryce Love, who has been tearing it up this season and just had himself a 301 yard 3 TD game against Arizona State last Saturday. On the season, he's already over 1,000 yards rushing and the worst game he's had has been a 160 rushing yard performance.








WEEK 6 PREVIEW



#17 Louisville at #24 NC State - Thursday 8:00 PM

NC State started the season with some hype as the "sleeper" pick in the ACC, and that hype train was quickly derailed in week 1 after a 35-28 loss to South Carolina. Since then though, the Wolfpack have regrouped nicely and have won their last 4 games. With some hype around them coming back, it is now their chance to validate themselves as they welcome a tested and proven Louisville team. They'll need QB Ryan Finley to continue his mistake free play, having yet to throw an interception on the season, and will need to find a way to slow down Louisville's QB, Lamar Jackson. Jackson is the defending Heisman trophy winner and absolutely scorched the Wolfpack last season, putting up 4 first half touchdowns en route to a 54-13 win. NC State must find an answer for him, they'll need to slow him down big time and also be able to put up points on offense in order to pull the upset off.

PREDICTION: Louisville 48-24


#13 Miami at Florida State - 3:30 PM

This may not seem like a big game, but rivalry games are so tricky to predict that this may end up being a lot better than some people may think. Florida State has won the last 7 games against rival Miami, but that streak is very much in doubt. The Seminoles have been struggling ever since QB Deandre Francois went down with a season ending injury, losing to NC State then escaping with a win against Wake Forest. Miami comes in with a 3-0 record, as it seems Head Coach Mark Richt has this team thinking of a possible ACC Championship this season. Miami hopes to have starting RB Mark Walton healthy and available for this game, and this could really help out FSU if he is either unable to play or plays but is hampered by his ankle injury. The Hurricanes definitely have playmakers elsewhere though with the passing game of QB Malik Rosier and they are also getting back WR Ahmond Richard for this game as well. Florida State will need star safety Derwin James to be everywhere out there and on offense, the Seminoles have to get the running game going. Last year's contest came down to a blocked extra point, expect anything when these rivals meet up.

PREDICTION: Miami 23-20


#23 West Virginia at #8 TCU - 3:30 PM

The lone Saturday game of the week that features 2 ranked teams here, TCU looks to remain perfect as they host the West Virginia Mountaineers. TCU is coming off a huge win at Oklahoma State two weeks ago and after a bye week last weekend, looks to continue their momentum here. This game will be about the offenses, West Virginia has the 2nd ranked offense in the entire country and QB Will Grier and RB Justin Crawford look to balance it out and do what Oklahoma State was unable to, put up the necessary points against the Big 12's 2nd best defense. TCU will also rely on their QB-RB combo, with QB Kenny Hill and RB Darius Anderson leading the way for the Horned Frogs offense. If they play like they did against Oklahoma State then this will be extremely tough for West Virginia to pull off the upset. This game should have plenty of offense and do not be surprised if we see another road upset in the Big 12 here.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 44-37


Michigan State at #7 Michigan - 7:30 PM

Much like the Miami-Florida State game, this is also a rivalry which on paper seems to be a lopsided game. Michigan State is 3-1 this season, totaling their wins from a horrific 2016 season. QB Brian Lewerke seems to have a lot of upside and they'll need him to come up big against a tough Michigan defense in order to bring the Paul Bunyon Trophy back to East Lansing. The biggest issue for MSU this season has been their running game, Lewerke is also the leading rusher on the team even though he only has 248 yards total in 4 games and RB LJ Scott is averaging under 4 yards a carry. It won't get any easier to establish a run game for MSU, as they'll face a Michigan defense that's only allowing 69.3 yards a game(and that includes a rush heavy triple option Air Force team.) Michigan will be without QB Wilton Speight as John O'Korn will get the start, and he'll basically be asked to just manage the game and make some plays when available while the run game and defense will be tasked to win the game. For the first time ever, this rivalry will be played under the lights, and is the primetime game of the week.

PREDICTION: Michigan 27-13

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.

TV Tonight 11.8

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

NBA
Hawks @ Cavaliers (FOX Sports Ohio/NBA TV, 7pm)
Pelicans @ Kings (NBA TV, 10:30pm)

NFL
Inside The NFL (Showtime, 9pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
A Season With Florida State Football (Showtime, 10pm)

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WWE SmackDown Live (USA, 8pm)

Channel Zero: Candle Cove (Syfy, 9pm)
Real Husbands Of Hollywood (BET, 9pm)
The Gary Owen Show (BET, 9:30pm)

Aftermath (Syfy, 10pm)
Ink Master (Spike, 10pm)
Chopped (Food Network, 10pm)
Drunk History (Comedy Central, 10:30pm)

TV Weekend 10.28 - 10.29

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

Caught On Camera With Nick Cannon (FRI, NBC, 8pm)
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (FRI, ABC, 8pm)
MacGyver (FRI, CBS, 8pm)
The Vampire Diaries (FRI, The CW, 8pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 8pm)

Dateline NBC (FRI, NBC, 9pm)
Shark Tank (FRI, ABC, 9pm)
Hawaii Five-0 (FRI, CBS, 9pm)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (FRI, The CW, 9pm)
Z Nation (FRI, Syfy, 9pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 9pm)

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

--

Saturday Night Live Classic (SAT, NBC, 10pm)
Saturday Night Live (SAT, NBC, 11:30pm)

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2016 WORLD SERIES
Game 3: Indians @ Cubs (FRI, FOX, 8pm)
Game 4: Indians @ Cubs (SAT, FOX, 8pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Navy @ South Florida (FRI, ESPN 2, 7pm)
Yale @ Columbia (FRI, NBC Sports, 7pm)
Air Force @ Fresno State (FRI, ESPN 2, 10:30pm)

Louisville @ Virginia (SAT, ABC/ESPN 2, 12pm)
Penn State @ Purdue (SAT, ABC/ESPN 2, 12pm)
Michigan @ Michigan State (SAT, ESPN, 12pm)
West Virginia @ Oklahoma State (SAT, FOX, 12pm)
Kent State @ Central Michigan (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 12pm)
UCF @ Houston (SAT, ESPNU, 12pm)

Northwestern @ Ohio State (SAT, ESPN, 3:30pm)
Florida @ Georgia (SAT, CBS, 3:30pm)
Baylor @ Texas (SAT, ABC, 3:30pm)
Miami @ Notre Dame (SAT, NBC, 3:30pm)
Texas Tech @ TCU (SAT, ESPN 2, 3:30pm)
Washington @ Utah (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 3:30pm)
Maryland @ Indiana (SAT, ESPNU, 3:30pm)
Cincinnati @ Temple (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 3:30pm)

Nebraska @ Wisconsin (SAT, ESPN, 7pm)
Kansas @ Oklahoma (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 7pm)
Auburn @ Mississippi (SAT, SEC, 7:15pm)
Tennessee @ South Carolina (SAT, ESPN 2, 7:15
New Mexico State @ Texas A&M (SAT, ESPNU, 7:30pm)
Clemson @ Florida State (SAT, ABC, 8pm)

Washington State @ Oregon State (SAT, ESPN 2, 10:45pm)
Stanford @ Arizona (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 11pm)

NFL
Top 10: Playoff Finishes (FRI, NFL Network, 8pm)
A Football Life: Pat Tillman (FRI, NFL Network, 9pm)

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

Magic @ Cavaliers (SAT, FOX Sports Ohio, 7:30pm)
Pelicans @ Spurs (SAT, NBA TV, 8pm)
Timberwolves @ Kings (SAT, NBA TV, 10:30pm)

NHL
Blue Jackets @ Ducks (FRI, FOX Sports Ohio, 10:30pm)

Penguins @ Flyers (SAT, NHL, 7pm)

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 9.16 - 9.17

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

Z Nation, PREMIERE (FRI, Syfy, 8pm)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 8pm)
Masters Of Illusion (FRI, The CW, 8pm & 8:30pm)

New Japan Pro Wrestling (FRI, AXS TV, 9pm)

Burgers, Brew & Que (FRI, Food Network, 10pm)
ELeague (FRI, TBS, 10pm)
Dark Matter, SEASON FINALE (FRI, Syfy, 10pm)
Quarry (FRI, Cinemax, 10pm)
High Maintenance, PREMIERE (FRI, HBO, 11pm)

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Baylor @ Rice (FRI, ESPN, 8pm)
Arkansas State @ Utah State (FRI, CBS SportsNet, 9pm)
Arizona State @ Texas-San Antonio (FRI, ESPN 2, 9:30pm)

Florida State @ Louisville (SAT, ABC, 12pm)
Miami @ Appalachian State (SAT, ESPN, 12pm)
North Dakota State @ Iowa (SAT, ESPN 2, 12pm)
Iowa State @ TCU (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 12pm)
Ohio @ Tennessee (SAT, SEC, 12pm)
Akron @ Marshall (SAT, CBS SportsNet, 12pm)
Georgia State @ Wisconsin (SAT, Big Ten, 12pm)

Oregon @ Nebraska (SAT, ABC, 3:30pm)
Alabama @ Mississippi (SAT, CBS, 3:30pm)
Pittsburgh @ Oklahoma State (SAT, ESPN, 3:30pm)
Boston College @ Virginia Tech (SAT, ESPNU, 3:30pm)
Colorado @ Michigan (SAT, Big Ten, 3:30pm)
Western Michigan @ Illinois (SAT, ESPNews, 4pm)
East Carolina @ South Carolina (SAT, SEC, 4pm)

Texas A&M @ Auburn (SAT, ESPN, 7pm)
Mississippi State @ LSU (SAT, ESPN 2, 7pm)
Ohio State @ Oklahoma (SAT, FOX, 7:30pm)
Michigan State @ Notre Dame (SAT, NBC, 7:30pm)
USC @ Stanford (SAT, ABC, 8pm)

UCLA @ BYU (SAT, ESPN 2, 10:15pm)
Texas @ California (SAT, ESPN, 10:30pm)

NFL
Top 10: Free Agents (FRI, NFL, 8pm)
A Football Life: Curtis Martin (FRI, NFL, 9pm)

MLB
Tigers @ Indians (FRI, STO, 7pm)
Yankees @ Red Sox (FRI, MLB, 7pm)

Yankees @ Red Sox (SAT, FOX, 1pm)
(SAT, MLB, 1pm)
Tigers @ Indians (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 4pm)
(SAT, MLB, 10pm)

NASCAR & RACING
Camping World Truck: Chicagoland (FRI, FOX Sports 1, 8:30pm)
XFINITY Series: Chicagoland (SAT, NBC, 3:30pm)

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

UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson - Prelims (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 8pm)
UFC Fight Night: Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Johnson (SAT, FOX Sports 1, 10pm)

HOCKEY
World Cup of Hockey Preview (FRI, ESPN 2, 7pm)
2016 World Cup of Hockey: Team USA vs. Team Europe (SAT, ESPN 2, 3:30pm)

SOCCER
English Premier League: Everton FC vs. Middlesbrough FC (SAT, NBC, 12:30pm)

WNBA
Minnesota Lynx @ Indiana Fever (FRI, NBA TV, 7pm)
San Antonio Stars @ Los Angeles Sparks (FRI, NBA TV, 10:30pm)

OTHER SPORTS
Volleyball: FIVB World Tour Finals, Women's Gold Medal Game (SAT, NBC Sports, 4pm)

Spread Offense: College Football Week 3: A Storm On The Horizon

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta


While week 2 provided us with some stunning games and dramatic finishes, it lacked the overall "star power" as there were no games featuring teams in which both were ranked. Week 3 makes up for that though, as we are treated to not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 games that involve both teams being ranked, one of them being an early season conference game.

This week will start to shape the playoff contenders to the playoff pretenders as we head into a full schedule of conference games in the weeks to come. The storm is definitely coming and it will provide some great games.

SATURDAY SEPT. 17TH

We kick off Saturday's noon slate of games with the game that ESPN's College Gameday will be tailgating for. #2 Florida State at #10 Louisville, in a game where both offenses will be on full display.

Florida State overcame early game woes against Ole Miss to make a big comeback and pull out a win against the Rebels. Redshirt freshman QB Deandre Francois seems to be getting very comfortable in the pocket and Heisman hopeful RB Dalvin Cook is helping by taking a ton of pressure off of him. When they are running on all cylinders, they've shown how unstoppable they can be, and may in fact be the best team in the ACC (Clemson was the preseason landslide favorite in the conference.)

Speaking of what a team is capable of when running on all cylinders, the Louisville Cardinals have turned plenty of heads this season already with their high powered offense. Led by QB Lamar Jackson, who accounts for 13 TD's, the Cardinals have put up 132 points in 2 games. The detractors will say that it was against Charlotte and Syracuse, but Louisville will have home field and a big time chance to prove that they are for real in this game against the Seminoles.

In the 3:30 games, we will see the #22 ranked Oregon Ducks travel to Lincoln to face the unranked(for now) Nebraska Cornhuskers. Oregon always seems to have a lightning quick, score at will offense, and this year seems no different as they have put up 53 and 44 points in their 2 games. Their defense seems to be the question though as they gave up 28 points to UC Davis and 26 points to Virginia. On the other hand, Nebraska has not only been scoring a lot of points but their defense is not giving up many. The Cornhuskers look to make a big statement here by welcoming in the Ducks, if they can slow down that Oregon offense  then this game is very winnable for them.

But the big game at 3:30 that most will be watching intently, will be the #1 team in the country playing their Achilles heel. The Alabama Crimson Tide have only lost 3 games in the past 2 seasons, 2 of those losses have been to the Ole Miss Rebels. The #19 team in the country needs this game big time, as they have already lost 1 game this season and any chance of playoffs will fade away with another loss. In order for Ole Miss to win this one, it will be in the hands of QB Chad Kelly and his offensive line. If Kelly has time then we can see him make some plays happen out there and have Ole Miss in position for an upset bid. The Crimson Tide, looking to exercise their Ole Miss demons, will be keeping pressure on Kelly while getting their offense rolling the way it did against USC. All signs point to the Tide here, but Ole Miss has had their number in the past.

Then we head to 7:30, where we will see non-conference rivals face off as #12 Michigan State heads to South Bend to take on the #17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Spartans had a less than stellar performance in their season opener against Furman, where their defense looked every bit as good as we've come to know from them but their offense looked rather lackluster. Thanks to an oddly timed bye in week 2, MSU has had an extra week to prepare for Notre Dame and work out the kinks with their offense. The Fighting Irish are fighting for their playoff lives in this game, as they have already lost once this season. The 2 QB controversy seems to be past them now as Deshone Kizer has taken the ranks and the offense has flourished under him. Notre Dame will need him to perform at his peak against this defense in order for them to win, a big win in front of their home crowd would put them right on track as a potential playoff team.

In the other 7:30 game, a big clash in Norman will happen with the #14 Oklahoma Sooners welcoming the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes to town. Oklahoma is 1-1 with a loss to the Houston Cougars while Ohio State is 2-0 with wins over Bowling Green and Tulsa. The biggest test for Ohio State is how their young team of first time starters handles the hostile environment that they'll be walking into. Also, early season struggles on the offensive line could be the place that Oklahoma exploits in order to slow down J.T. Barrett and the OSU offense. The Sooners will need to establish the running game, which they are capable of doing, and also get QB Baker Mayfield back into Heisman form in order to put up the necessary points to win this game. Oklahoma is in a "do or die" situation when  it comes to the playoffs as one more loss seals their fate, while Ohio State looks to remain unblemished and staying on course to the playoffs.

While the 1st quarter is finishing up in those 7:30 games, our 8pm game will be set for kickoff. The ABC prime time game features a conference game which has budded into a nice little rivalry as of late. The USC Trojans will be taking on the#7 Stanford Cardinal, an early season Pac-12 game that has the writing on the wall of being a very good showdown. The Trojans are looking to jump back into the rankings after being demolished 52-6 by the Alabama Crimson Tide in week 1. They have the playmakers, but it looks to be another year of preseason hype followed by in-season let down. They could reclaim some of that hype though and play spoiler here, as the Stanford Cardinal are the favorites to win the Pac-12 again and make a strong case for the playoffs. Stanford seems to center around one guy, Christian McCaffrey, as he is that 5 tool player that just does it all for Stanford. They may have also found a solid QB in Ryan Burns to help the offense out even more, making Stanford an even tougher task to defeat. If USC is going to pull off the upset, they'll need to fully utilize their playmakers and get some turnovers on defense, otherwise this Cardinal team looks to be too much for the Trojans to handle.

And finally, if you are a night owl or have some insomnia, there's a pretty good game that kicks off at 10:30 this week. The #11 Texas Longhorns head out on the road to play the Cal Golden Bears. While this Texas team made a big statement by defeating Notre Dame in week 1, many still think the jury is still out on them. They've played well before and have won big games in the past, but have also had many lapses and lost games that they should have won(including last season's game against Cal.) The Golden Bears are still looking for that big leader now that Jared Goff is in the NFL, and new QB Davis Webb could be that guy. So far, Davis has looked the part and has filled the shoes of Goff rather nicely, but Cal's defense has been a big problem for them, giving up 45 points in a loss to San Diego State last week. Cal will need the defense to step up big time, especially against the run, and will look to Davis to lead the offense down for numerous scores. Texas will continue to use their 2 QB system, Shane Buechele as the starter with Tyrone Swoopes coming in for designed run plays. That back and forth system has shown a bunch of positive results so they will keep going with that until it gets stopped (if it does.) Texas will also have to keep an eye on Cal WR Chad Hansen, who has developed into a go-to playmaker and could be the big factor in this game. If Texas continues to do what they've been doing on offense then it looks as though Cal will have no answer for them. A big night crowd in Berkeley combined with Texas' road woes(1-4 last season) could play a role in this late night affair.

TV Tonight 9.13

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

MLB
Indians @ White Sox (STO, 8pm)
Dodgers @ Yankees OR Orioles @ Red Sox (MLB, 8pm)

HOCKEY
World Cup Exhibition: Team USA vs. Team Finland (ESPN, 7pm)

NFL
Inside The NFL (Showtime, 9pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
A Season With Florida State Football (Showtime, 10pm)

SOCCER
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: FC Dallas vs. New England Revolution (ESPN 2, 10pm)

WNBA
Minnesota Lynx @ Chicago Sky (ESPN 2, 8pm)
Phoenix Mercury @ Los Angeles Sparks (NBA TV, 10:30pm)

BOXING
Premier Boxing Champions (FOX Sports 1, 8pm)

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WWE SmackDown Live (USA, 8pm)
America's Got Talent (NBC, 8pm)

Mad TV (The CW, 9pm)

Atlanta (FX, 10pm)
Better Late Than Never (NBC, 10pm)
Halt And Catch Fire (AMC, 10pm)
Ink Master (Spike, 10pm)
Chopped (Food Network, 10pm)
Chrisley Knows Best (USA, 10pm & 10:30pm)
Ridiculousness (MTV, 10pm, 10:30pm)

TV Tonight 9.6

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

MLB
Astros @ Indians (STO, 7pm)
Blue Jays @ Yankees OR Cardinals @ Pirates (MLB, 7pm)

SOCCER
FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifying: United States vs. Trinidad and Tobago (FOX Sports 1, 8pm)
FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifying: Mexico vs. Honduras (FOX Sports 1, 10pm)

NFL
Inside The NFL (Showtime, 9pm)
Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Los Angeles Rams (HBO, 10pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
A Season With Florida State Football (Showtime, 10pm)

TENNIS
2016 U.S. Open Tennis, Men's and Women's Quarterfinals (ESPN, 7pm)

WNBA
Minnesota Lynx @ Los Angeles Sparks (NBA TV, 10:30pm)

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WWE SmackDown Live (USA, 8pm)
America's Got Talent (NBC, 8pm)
Bachelor In Paradise (ABC, 8pm)

Bachelor In Paradise: After Paradise (ABC, 9pm)
Zoo, SEASON FINALE (CBS, 9pm)
Mad TV (The CW, 9pm)

Atlanta, PREMIERE (FX, 10pm)
Better Late Than Never (NBC, 10pm)
Mistresses, SEASON FINALE (ABC, 10pm)
Halt And Catch Fire (AMC, 10pm)
Chopped (Food Network, 10pm)
Chrisley Knows Best (USA, 10pm & 10:30pm)
Ridiculousness (MTV, 10pm, 10:30pm)

Wild N' Out Stand-Up Comedy Special (MTV 2, 11pm)

TV Tonight 9.5

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

MLB
Astros @ Indians (STO, 7pm)
Diamondbacks @ Dodgers (MLB, 8pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Mississippi @ Florida State (ESPN, 8pm)

TENNIS
U.S. Open, Round of 16 (ESPN 2, 7pm)

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WWE Raw (USA, 8pm)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC, 8pm)
Bachelor In Paradise (ABC, 8pm)
So You Think You Can Dance (FOX, 8pm)

Rizzoli @ Isles (TNT, 9pm)

The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe (Comedy Central, 10pm)
Running Wild with Bear Grylls (NBC, 10pm)
Mistresses (ABC, 10pm)
Major Crimes (TNT, 10pm)
Mary and Jane (MTV, 10pm)
Loosely, Exactly Nicole (MTV, 10:30pm)

Spread Offense 8.31.16: It's College Kickoff Time!

By Pat Luhta, @PLuhta

After a long, long offseason, college football is officially back! Fans around the country will be treated to games from Thursday through Monday as the NCAA rolls out the red carpet to spotlight their product in a big way. College football takes full advantage of a 3-day weekend combined with no NFL games to start the season out with a huge bang. Here's what to look forward to on the first full slate of games of the season.

Thursday Sept. 1st

Thursday games are more of the appetizer, something to watch but nothing that would fill a college football fans' hunger.

The SEC will be on display as the big game of the night is a conference match-up between South Carolina and Vanderbilt. While neither team is ranked, the intrigue here is Will Muschamp in his 1st season as Gamecocks Head Coach, taking over for Steve Spurrier who retired after 11 seasons at South Carolina. Muschamp was once the heir apparent at Texas, but after a disasterous tenure as Head Coach of the Florida Gators, he is now looking to bounce back and regain that coaching reputation that he once had.
Again, it may not be much but it's football. 

Other games of note: Appalachian State at #9 Tennessee, Oregon State at Minnesota.

Friday Sept. 2nd

While Thursday was something to just get us started, Friday offers us a big spotlight game.

Kansas State at Stanford gives us a big time Heisman candidate in Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey looks to lead the Cardinal this season to another Pac-12 title and hopefully a playoff berth this season. The Heisman runner-up goes up against a Kansas State defense that allowed over 450 yards of offense. Uncertainty at QB could be the achilles heel for Stanford, Kevin Hogan is now gone and Head Coach Davis Shaw has said that both Ryan Burns and Keller Chryst will play as they are not yet ready to name either as a lock for the job.

In order for Kansas State to pull off the upset, they will have to rely on their offense to keep pace with Stanford. QB Jesse Ertz is back as starter after a season-ending injury on the first snap of the season last year,  he along with their run game attack could cause problems for Stanford.

Other games of note: Colorado State vs. Colorado at Sports Authority field in Denver, Northwestern St at #23 Baylor and Furman at #12 Michigan State.

Saturday Sept. 3rd

And away we go! The first Saturday of College Football delivers in a big way with marquee matchups at every turn.

The noon games give us a big time matchup as the #3 Oklahoma Sooners are at the #15 Houston Cougars. Oklahoma looks to return to the playoffs this season, but a big test to start the season(both this week and in week 3 against Ohio State) could derail their chances. QB Baker Mayfield is a Heisman candidate and could start an early campaign with a statement win here. Houston bursted onto the scene last season under 1st year Head Coach Tom Herman. Led by QB Greg Ward Jr., Houston rolled to a 13-1 record last season capping it off with a Peach Bowl win over Florida State. They are experienced and have performed well on the big stage before, this game could be very dynamic.

Heading into 3:30, we have not one but two big match-ups.

#13 UCLA and their sophomore phenom QB Josh Rosen look to be the team to knock Stanford off in the Pac-12. The Bruins will head to Texas A&M to take on an Aggies team that had quite a tumultuous offseason. On paper, UCLA is the better team and should win this game. The Bruins are a potential playoff team while the Aggies have seen both their 5 star QB recruits transfer, numerous current commits back off their commitment after a coach's tweet and 2 assistant coaches suspended after degrading comments towards women(at a symposium for female fans to help educate them about the game). But never count out the Aggies at home, Kyle Field provides one of the biggest home field advantages in the country and will be a big struggle for UCLA to get over that key component there.

And in the other 3:30 big game, #5 LSU heads way north to take on Wisconsin with the game being played at Lambeau Field. The focus for LSU centers around RB Leonard Fournette, with some saying that he's not only a Heisman candidate, but the Heisman frontrunner. Wisconsin though is always known for the rough, tough defense and although they lost their defensive coordinator(to LSU, ironically), their defense that ranked #2 in total yards last season looks to continue their dominance and do what they can to contain Fournette. LSU's speed may prove to be the biggest factor as they may make it tough for Wisconsin to move the ball much on offense, even with Corey Clement returning after a hernia cut his 2015 season short.

Sandwiched in between the 3:30 and the 8pm games, is a big 5:30 matchup between two ranked teams. #22 North Carolina takes on #18 Georgia on a "neutral" field(game is played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta), in a game that could be decided by UNC's run defense. North Carolina's run defense seemed to be non-existent toward the end of last season and with RB standout Nick Chubb being medically cleared to play for the Bulldogs, it could be a matter of how improved the Tar Heels are, if at all. UGA still has not named a QB even, so North Carolina's ability to stop Chubb and make their QB throw looks to be the big factor.

And then, the main event kicks off at 8pm! With the game being played at Jerry World in Dallas, the #20 USC Trojans face off against the defending national champs and preseason ranked #1, the Alabama Crimson Tide. This game will feature playmakers everywhere on the field, from Alabama's Cam Ridley and O.J. Howard to USC's JuJu Smith-Schuster, Adoree Jackson and Ronald Jones II. The Alabama defense though, will be the big thing to watch as they have 1st round talent at all 3 levels, including 2 at linebacker. USC will need newly named starting QB Max Browne to be smart and precise with his decisions in order for the Trojans to win this game, utilizing his playmakers while not turning the ball over. Alabama yet again is replacing their starting QB and RB, with the way they recruit though there's little doubt that they have the players to step up and not miss a beat on offense. This top match-up is the type of fireworks on week 1 that gets the college football fans' heart racing!

But there's still 1 more to go on this Saturday night, kicking off at 9pm. Under the lights at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Auburn Tigers host the #2 Clemson Tigers. Clemson QB Deshaun Watson will be the center of attention here, as he seems to be garnering the most Heisman hype but the Tigers have their eyes set on getting back to the college football championship game and avenging their loss to Alabama. Auburn is a team with a lot of unknowns, especially on offense. There isn't a lot of experience and numerous true freshmen may be getting some playing time, not exactly a good formula for going up against the #2 team in the country. They will need that home crowd to give them the big, much needed advantage but looks like Clemson will be too much for them.

Other games of note: Bowling Green at #6 Ohio State, Hawaii at #7 Michigan, Rutgers at #14 Washington.

Sunday Sept. 4th

On Sunday, we get one primetime game that kicks off at 7:30 pm between 2 blue blood programs, with #10 Notre Dame heads to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns. Both teams have big questions marks at QB, Notre Dame saying they will play 2 QB's while Texas is not announcing who their starting QB is. While some are considering Notre Dame as a possible playoff team this season, the Irish are among the teams that are returning the least amount of starters, and also have a few players suspended for this game. The Longhorns are looking for a statement win to start the season and build on that. Although they only won 5 games last season, two of those wins came against Oklahoma and Baylor. If the Longhorns can start the season with a big win and use it to propel them this season, then they could end up as a "surprise" team in the Big 12.

Monday Sept. 5th

One last game to cap off week 1, Monday Night Football college edition starts up at 8 pm. #11 Ole Miss and #4 Florida State link up in the Citrus Bowl, quite the grand finale for an epic Holiday weekend of games. Florida State boasts Heisman hopeful Dalvin Cook at RB,who will be relied on heavily as Florida State will be starting redshirt freshman Deandre Fracois at QB(although last time they started a redshirt freshman, it turned out ok for them.) Ole Miss, on the other hand, has no questions about their starting QB as Senior Chad Kelly may be a dark horse Heisman candidate this season. This game should be electric with both offenses being able to move the ball and create big plays, as this game could just be a perfect ending to an exhilarating opening weekend.