College Football Saturday Week 8 Open Thread

College football is a weird animal. Two weeks ago I wrote that there were not a lot of compelling games to watch. On paper, there were a lot of mismatches that would probably only excite the respective fanbases involved. Then, as if to spite me personally, KSU took #2 TCU to the wire, coming just short of an upset. Rutgers made Michigan State earn their win, Utah exposed California for the pretenders they turned out to be, and, Texas went out and upset Oklahoma in the game formerly known as the Red River Rivalry. I guess I spoke too soon.

Last weekend promised to be much better with Michigan & Michigan State; Notre Dame & USC; and Oregon & Washington squaring off. We were not disappointed. I don't have to remind you how Michigan lost in yet another unbelievable, last second, jaw dropping, 'you can't make this up,' play that I'm sure is still haunting the Wolverine faithful.

This week we have another less than compelling line up of games, at least on paper. The line up is so uncompelling that ESPN's College Gameday broadcast from Harrisonburg, VA, home of FCS James Madison who hosts their rival Richmond. Previous weeks, nay previous seasons, have taught us that you turn your back on CFB at your own risk. And, while no one can predict which of today's 50 games will end up as nail biters or news worthy in some form; these are some games worth considering.

Kansas State at Texas - 9am, FOXS1

~ Traditionally a power program, Texas has fallen on hard times this year, while traditionally under rated and traditionally over achieving Kansas State each look to add another W to their record.

#25 Pittsburgh at Syracuse - 9am, ESPNU

~ Actually, I'm not sure why I included this one.

#21 Houston at Central Florida - 9am, ESPN news

~ The Cougars are undefeated and QB Greg Ward Jr is tied with Heisman hopeful Leonard Fournette with 14 TDs a piece. UCF is a pushover, so we may see some fireworks that affect the Heisman race.

#6 Clemson at Miami - 9am, ABC

~ Miami used to be one of the premier programs in CFB and Clemson used to be one of it's laughing stocks. The tables have turned, and now it's Clemson who is jockeying for a position in the playoffs. Miami has a defense predicated on turnovers. I smell a trap!!

Texas Tech at #17 Oklahoma - 12:30pm, ABC/ESPN2 regional

~ Oklahoma is still Oklahoma, and proved it last week, shutting out KSU. Texas Tech meanwhile can score points and will look to test the Sooner defense.

Tennessee at #8 Alabama - 12:30pm, CBS

~ Once a proud rivalry, it has become completely one sided since Coach Satan set up shop in Tuscaloosa. I have soft spot for the Tennessee Volunteers, so I for one, will be rooting for the upset.

#15 Texas A&M at #24 Mississippi - 4pm, ESPN

~ Probably the only real premier match up today, these are the only two ranked teams facing each other today. Both teams are coming off losses last weekend, so you can expect a lot of effort from both sides.

#3 Utah at Southern California - 4:30pm, FOX

~ This is realistically the premier match up today for any Bruin. #3 Utah is undefeated and steam rolling the competition. Southern Cal is 3-3 and has lost the last two. And yet. somehow the Trogans are favored. Don't get me started on favortism in CFB.

Washington at #10 Stanford - 7:30pm, ESPN

~ On paper not much to see; but Stanford is trucking, trying to secure a spot in the playoffs, while Huskies football under Chris Petersen continues to grow under his influence.

Enjoy your games, Bruins!

Sat, Oct 24, 2015
12:00 PM ET ABC	(6) Clemson	at	Miami (FL)
12:00 PM ET SECNWatchESPN	Auburn	at	Arkansas
12:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	NC State	at	Wake Forest
12:00 PM ET ESPNUWatchESPN	(25) Pittsburgh	at	Syracuse
12:00 PM ET FS1FoxSportsGo	Kansas State	at	Texas
12:00 PM ET FSNFoxSportsGo	Army	at	Rice
12:00 PM ET ESPNWatchESPN	Iowa State	at	(2) Baylor
12:00 PM ET ESPN2WatchESPN	Northwestern	at	Nebraska
12:00 PM ET ASN	Southern Miss	at	Charlotte
12:00 PM ET ESPNNWatchESPN	(21) Houston	at	UCF
12:30 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Boston College	at	Louisville
1:00 PM ET CBSS	Tulane	at	Navy
1:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Bowling Green	at	Kent State
2:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Fresno State	at	Air Force
2:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Miami (OH)	at	Western Michigan
3:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	(19) Toledo	at	Massachusetts
3:00 PM ET BYUTV	Wagner	at	BYU
3:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Central Michigan	at	Ball State
3:30 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Ohio	at	Buffalo
3:30 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Eastern Michigan	at	Northern Illinois
3:30 PM ET ASN	Middle Tennessee	at	Louisiana Tech
3:30 PM ET FSNFoxSportsGo	North Texas	at	Marshall
3:30 PM ET ABC/ESPN2WatchESPN	Texas Tech	at	(17) Oklahoma
3:30 PM ET BTNBTN2Go	Wisconsin	at	Illinois
3:30 PM ET ESPNWatchESPN	Penn State	at	Maryland
3:30 PM ET ABC/ESPN2WatchESPN	Indiana	at	Michigan State
3:30 PM ET ESPNUWatchESPN	(23) Duke	at	Virginia Tech
3:30 PM ET CBSSEC Live	Tennessee	at	(8) Alabama
3:30 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Virginia	at	North Carolina
4:00 PM ET PAC12Pac-12 Live	Washington State	at	Arizona
4:00 PM ET SECNWatchESPN	Missouri	at	Vanderbilt
4:00 PM ET ESPNNWatchESPN	SMU	at	South Florida
4:00 PM ET MWC	Hawaii	at	Nevada
4:30 PM ET FS1FoxSportsGo	Kansas	at	(14) Oklahoma State
4:30 PM ET CBSS	Connecticut	at	Cincinnati
5:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Louisiana-Monroe	at	Idaho
6:00 PM ET	Old Dominion	at	FIU
7:00 PM ET ESPN2WatchESPN	(9) Florida State	at	Georgia Tech
7:00 PM ET ASN	Florida Atlantic	at	UTEP
7:00 PM ET ESPN2WatchESPN	(15) Texas A&M	at	(24) Mississippi
7:00 PM ET ESPNUWatchESPN	Western Kentucky	at	(5) LSU
7:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	South Alabama	at	Texas State
7:00 PM ET RSNW	New Mexico	at	San Jose State
7:30 PM ET SECNWatchESPN	Kentucky	at	Mississippi State
7:30 PM ET FOXFoxSportsGo	(3) Utah	at	USC
8:00 PM ET ABC	(1) Ohio State	at	Rutgers
8:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN	Troy	at	New Mexico State
10:15 PM ET ESPN2WatchESPN	Wyoming	at	Boise State
10:30 PM ET FS1FoxSportsGo	Colorado	at	Oregon State
10:30 PM ET ESPNWatchESPN	Washington	at	(10) Stanford
10:30 PM ET ESPNUWatchESPN	San Diego State	at	San Jose State

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