What to Watch – Week 1
Yes, there were college football games on last night. Yes, there is a game tonight. Yes, there are even games on Sunday and Monday. But Saturday is college football day. Saturday is the day we look forward to. Saturday is the day we dedicate 24 hours to the pursuit of being the über fan. Saturday is the day when you are expected to do little more than arrange as many TVs as you can into one room, make sure your fridge is packed, and enjoy the day with friends and family. Enjoy it, because when it’s over, we have to wait an entire week for it to come back around.
Here are the games you should be watching on Saturday:
Central Arkansas @ Hawaii – 1:05 – I include this game for one reason and one reason only. That’s not 1:05 PM. That’s 1:05 AM!!! I can’t back this up in any way, but that could be a record. Spend Friday night out on the town and come home after the bars shut down and, oh look, college’s football is on! What a great time of year this is.
Navy @ Ohio State – 12:00 – Navy hasn’t had a losing season since 2002. Last year, they beat a ranked Wake Forest team. Two years ago, they defeated Notre Dame. Do they have a shot at upsetting Ohio State? No. None at all. But we can dream.
Minnesota @ Syracuse – 12:00 – For those of you wondering what you could possibly gain out of going to Duke on a basketball scholarship: a chance to play quarterback for one of the worst BCS schools of recent years.
Western Kentucky @ Tennessee – 12:21 – The Lane Kiffin era in Knoxville begins against the team many believe will be the worst in the FBS this season. Offense, in this one, you will not find. Offensive displays of football, yes sir.
San Jose State @ USC – 3:30 – It doesn’t really matter who starts at quarterback for the Trojans, but Mitch Mustain has reached “I’d just like to see him do well” status. Even though he’s third on the depth chart, there’s a good chance we’ll see Mustain in this one.
Georgia @ Oklahoma State – 3:30 – The first of three ranked matchups of the day. Although they have the chance to be good, some think the Cowboys are ranked too high. I feel the same way about the Bulldogs. But that doesn’t mean I’m looking past October 31st.
Nevada @ Notre Dame – 3:30 – Did you know NBC televised college football?
Western Michigan @ Michigan – 3:30 – Year two has gotten off to a rocky start for Rich Rodriguez at Michigan. The Broncos have beaten the last two Big Ten (Eleven) opponents they’ve faced.
Missouri @ Illinois – 3:40 – The Fighting Illini are supposed to surprise some people this year. They were supposed to do the same last year.
The Citadel @ UNC – 6:00 – UNC took a step forward between Butch Davis’ first and second seasons at Chapel Hill. Many think they have a chance to take another step in season three. Here’s the thing though: take away Davis’ one truly great year as a college coach (in 2000, he guided Miami to 11-1 and a final ranking of #2 in the polls) and you have a coach with a rather pedestrian 52-32. Even with that season included, Davis is 63-33. Not bad, but not nearly as impressive as people make him out to be.
Charleston Southern @ Florida – 7:00 – The title defense begins. And before anyone gets all uppity about “Utah was undefeated, the Gators didn’t deserve the title!” take a step back and realize something. It’s not Florida’s fault they got put in the BCS National Championship Game. Just like it’s not Oklahoma’s. Would it have been interesting to see the Gators and the Utes be able to play one another after the bowl games were over? Sure. But, currently, it doesn’t work that way. Florida was selected to participate in a game deemed to be played for the national title. They won and have every right to claim the title because of that fact. So before you get all worked up over what happened last season, know that you would be perfectly comfortable with the way it turned out if your team had been in Florida’s or Oklahoma’s shoes.
BYU @ Oklahoma – 7:00 – The second of the three ranked matchups. BYU should have a good season. They really have a shot at doing something special in 2009. Unfortunately for them, all that starts next week.
Wofford @ USF – 7:00 – 99.9% of the country won’t see this game. I almost wish I was among that percentage. Watching it on Bright House’s sports channel will be very painful. Luckily for me, the Gator game is on at the same time and gets the big TV and, therefore, the volume.
Alabama @ Virginia Tech – 8:00 – The premier game on Saturday’s slate. Alabama’s top running back is eligible to play. Virginia Tech’s is out for the season with an injury. To me, that makes a difference. The Crimson Tide make it two in a row against high-ranked ACC teams to open the season.
LSU @ Washington – 10:30 – End your night with an SEC team travelling to the far reaches of the country to prove to the Pac-10 that Southeastern Conference Football is bigger, better, faster, and stronger. Then again, this is Washington we’re talking about.