What to Watch – Week 7
Another multiple television weekend.
Illinois @ #13 Michigan State – 12:00 – We like to watch Ron Zook struggle. Doesn’t everyone? That’s not a wrong feeling. Is it? The Spartans are getting dangerously close to the top 10. Dangerously close for a team that no one had anywhere near that high. They’re a win over the Fighting Illini and a few upsets away from that becoming a reality. And at this point, it shouldn’t shock you.
Boston College @ #16 FSU – 12:00 – Is FSU back? We ask that question before every season and every season the Seminoles fizzle out. This could be the year and, after a big win over Miami, people believe. This seems like a trap game in which Boston College could trip up FSU, but if the Noles play like they have been against just about everyone not named Oklahoma, they should have few problems.
Vanderbilt @ Georgia – 12:00 – If you’re a SEC fan, do you cheer for Vandy when they’re not playing your team? I feel like you do. There’s no perfect reason why. Maybe because they’re typically the underdog. Maybe because they always seem like the outsider in the conference. But you probably find small pleasure in the occasional Commodore conference victory.
Texas @ #5 Nebraska – 3:30 – Earlier in the season, Texas was a shaky 3-0 team. Now the Longhorns are a shaky 3-2 team that has to travel to Nebraska to face the #5 team in the nation. It was pretty clear to many that Texas would take a step back in 2010. Not sure anyone pictured this. The Longhorns fell out of the polls for the first time in 10 years and with a loss to the Cornhuskers will fall even farther.
#12 Arkansas @ #7 Auburn – 3:30 – One of the ranked matchups on Saturday. Auburn can take a leap forward with a win over Arkansas. The Razorbacks can probably push themselves into the top 10 with a win over the Tigers. The SEC is kill or be killed every year, but after Alabama fell last weekend, it’s hard to imagine any team getting through undefeated. Auburn has played in some close ones so far this season and it’s hard to imagine this game being any different.
#15 Iowa @ Michigan – 3:30 – It’s been talked about since very early in the season. Defense could be what destroys the Wolverines’ season. If an opponent can slow Denard Robinson, they have a good chance to beat Michigan. That theory was proven last weekend. Iowa has a chance to do it again. The Wolverines need a big win to really be considered a player in the Big Ten. Otherwise they’re just one great star and a subpar team.
#20 Oklahoma State @ Texas Tech – 3:30 – Oklahoma State is one of two undefeated Big 12 teams that no one is talking about (Missouri is the other). The problem facing the Cowboys is that every other team in their division also has a winning record. No game will be easy for them from this point on and Texas Tech is no exception.
Cal @ USC – 3:30 – 7-4 overall, 2-3 in Pac-10 play, and ranked fifth and seventh in the conference. This isn’t first (or even second or third) on the list of 3:30 games you should be watching, but it might be worth keeping in mind. USC doesn’t typically lose three conference games. Times have changed though. This season they’ve lost two already. In 2009, they lost four.
BYU @ #4 TCU – 4:00 – Why is there a feeling that of the high-ranked “small” programs, TCU is the most likely to lose? BYU might be better than their record and the Horned Frogs still have games against Air Force and Utah. Of course now that that’s been put out there, they’ll go undefeated.
#10 South Carolina @ Kentucky – 6:00 – The letdown game. Steve Spurrier warned about it and the Wildcats want to prove it more than anything. Probability of it happening is low because the Gamecocks are as talented as their resume so far this season indicates. This is a good South Carolina team that is getting better. Hard to imagine them being a team that will go 11-1, but one that should be able to avoid the letdown after the huge win.
#1 Ohio State @ #18 Wisconsin – 7:00 – The Buckeyes need this win after they were projected to be fifth in the BCS despite a #1 ranking in the coaches’ poll. Ohio State won’t remain fifth because their schedule will help them climb the standings, but they need to get past the Badgers first. Wisconsin is a good team with a lone loss against another good team. This is no cakewalk for the Buckeyes and if they can’t stop the run, they could be in for a long night.
Mississippi State @ #22 Florida – 7:00 – More on this matchup later, but it has to make the list. The Gators could drop three in a row for the first time since…well, in a long time. They face a head coach who knows their offense better than they do and would be getting more out of it if he were still around. Serious trap game for Florida. And I’m sure the rest of the nation loves that.
Ole Miss @ #8 Alabama – 9:00 – Can the Crimson Tide rebound after the upset? Yes. Will they? Yes. Are they still the team to beat in the SEC? Yes.
#19 Nevada @ Hawaii – 11:30 – Because TBG loves that there is football starting at 11:30 at night.