LegendaryGT
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- Oct 18, 2009
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Week 3 is a sensible week with a solid line-up. An underrated Thursday game from the bargain bin, some low-calorie evening snacks on Friday, and an even distribution of diversified time investments on Saturday makes this the upper middle class of football weekends. So ready up your mid-tier cable packages, put off your yardwork for Sunday, grab a bottle of something nicer than Jack Daniels but not too nice, and enjoy the latest installment of your weekly primetime TV drama. You're living the dream.
Thursday, September 15
7:30 PM - Houston at Cincinnati. In the only Thursday night matchup, the Houston you know and love takes on the Cincinnati you don't and dont. Greg Ward Jr and Catalon, two of the starriest players on the Houston offense, sat out the Lamar game for injuries, and this Cincinnati game is on a short week. In the American conference, this spells trouble. Cincinnati just finished beating up on its own power 5 opponent, pulling in a mighty haul of 5 interceptions in a single game. This, after vacuuming up 3 turnovers in their tune up game against Tennessee-Martin, means we have two turnover-focused defenses in play. Cincinnati probably doesn't have the chops on either side of the ball that Houston does, and so should be a fair underdog, but in a Thursday night game between American conference teams with a forecast that clearly calls for turnovers, anything can happen. I'm putting Houston on upset alert.
Friday, September 16
8:00 PM - Baylor vs Rice drinking game. Rules of the game: you die of alcohol poisoning.
9:00 PM - Arkansas State at Utah State. If you're a fan of games that will stay close for more than a quarter, this one might be for you.
9:30 PM - Arizona State vs UTSA drinking game. Rules of the game: somehow, this much alcohol brings you back to life.
Saturday, September 17
12:00 PM - Florida State at Louisville. College Gameday goes to Louisville for a colossal battle in the ACC in what will likely be one of the most playoff-impactful games of the season. Two phenomenal quarterbacks, two talented defenses, two really good coaches, a stadium named after a pizza joint, there's nothing not to like about this game. Just to make it even better, I will imagine that Jimbo Fisher still sounds like a half frog-man / half West Virginia moonshiner and Petrino is coaching in a neck brace.
12:00 PM - Temple at Penn State. Last year, Temple beat the brakes off Penn State. Penn State looks to have improved a little on offense, while Temple maybe isn't quite the spoil sport it was last year, but this is still a Matt Rhule coached team with a recent history of reaching outside its own conference and touching people. These people, most recently.
12:00 PM - North Dakota State at Iowa. North Dakota State survived its trap game with Eastern Washington (the guys who upset Washington State in game 1) and now heads to Kinnick Stadium to present the Big Ten West favorite with its third most challenging game of the regular season. As much as it might sound like I'm making a big deal out of NDSU, I am also saying that Iowa has a really really easy schedule. Iowa has got a little bit of a reputation for being the best boring team in the land, but this could still be a really exciting game. Easton Stick is not Carson Wentz, but he's still pretty dang good, maybe one of the best quarterbacks the Hawkeyes will face, and they clearly know how to use their playbook over there. Meanwhile, they are saying this Iowa team is Kirk Ferentz's masterpiece, although even if it's not, he still has infinity years to try again. Iowa will win by multiple scores, but it'll still be a fun game.
12:00 PM - Miami at Appalachian State. The mighty Tennessee struggled with App State, then went on to crush a Virginia Tech team that sprinted out to a lead and then promptly forgot how to use their hands. App State went and smothered ODU in what was definitely a trap game, and now will get another shot at glory. After tasting it and then having it slip away in overtime on a seriously garbage fumble, you'd think App State is going to come with their minds rite for this one, and they'll have home field advantage this time. Miami, who has been effortlessly destroying nobodies at home to start the season, needs to be ready for a game.
12:30 PM - Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech. Vanderbilt put up a scary 47 points against MTSU, despite being outgained by more than 150 yards, allowing 6.1 yards per pass, 4.6 yards per rush, and being held to 4-12 on third downs. By all statistical indications except the score, MTSU dominated. Their QB went 38/65 for 399 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. How did Vanderbilt compile such a huge lead, then? Simple: their average starting field position on touchdown drives was inside MTSU territory. They returned the one MTSU interception 59 yards, and each of four MTSU punts for an average of 49 yards a pop. Throw in a kick return for 47 yards as well, and this team didn't have to go very far to find paydirt. Vanderbilt's stout defense forced field goal attempts from the 22 and 27, forced turnovers on downs at the 15 and the 35, and picked up a fumble at the 28 to prevent MTSU from turning yards into points on long drives. What does this mean for Tech? Not a whole lot, except that Vanderbilt is probably exhausted right now. The Jackets aren't going to throw 65 passes (and they haven't even run 65 total plays in a game yet this season), so Vanderbilt's performance against an air-tempo offense isn't predictive. Their special teams play might be, though. Paul Johnson and co need to be very careful not to allow huge returns on punts and kickoffs. What's that you say? They are having trouble in the punting game? Crap.
Thursday, September 15
7:30 PM - Houston at Cincinnati. In the only Thursday night matchup, the Houston you know and love takes on the Cincinnati you don't and dont. Greg Ward Jr and Catalon, two of the starriest players on the Houston offense, sat out the Lamar game for injuries, and this Cincinnati game is on a short week. In the American conference, this spells trouble. Cincinnati just finished beating up on its own power 5 opponent, pulling in a mighty haul of 5 interceptions in a single game. This, after vacuuming up 3 turnovers in their tune up game against Tennessee-Martin, means we have two turnover-focused defenses in play. Cincinnati probably doesn't have the chops on either side of the ball that Houston does, and so should be a fair underdog, but in a Thursday night game between American conference teams with a forecast that clearly calls for turnovers, anything can happen. I'm putting Houston on upset alert.
Friday, September 16
8:00 PM - Baylor vs Rice drinking game. Rules of the game: you die of alcohol poisoning.
9:00 PM - Arkansas State at Utah State. If you're a fan of games that will stay close for more than a quarter, this one might be for you.
9:30 PM - Arizona State vs UTSA drinking game. Rules of the game: somehow, this much alcohol brings you back to life.
Saturday, September 17
12:00 PM - Florida State at Louisville. College Gameday goes to Louisville for a colossal battle in the ACC in what will likely be one of the most playoff-impactful games of the season. Two phenomenal quarterbacks, two talented defenses, two really good coaches, a stadium named after a pizza joint, there's nothing not to like about this game. Just to make it even better, I will imagine that Jimbo Fisher still sounds like a half frog-man / half West Virginia moonshiner and Petrino is coaching in a neck brace.
12:00 PM - Temple at Penn State. Last year, Temple beat the brakes off Penn State. Penn State looks to have improved a little on offense, while Temple maybe isn't quite the spoil sport it was last year, but this is still a Matt Rhule coached team with a recent history of reaching outside its own conference and touching people. These people, most recently.
12:00 PM - North Dakota State at Iowa. North Dakota State survived its trap game with Eastern Washington (the guys who upset Washington State in game 1) and now heads to Kinnick Stadium to present the Big Ten West favorite with its third most challenging game of the regular season. As much as it might sound like I'm making a big deal out of NDSU, I am also saying that Iowa has a really really easy schedule. Iowa has got a little bit of a reputation for being the best boring team in the land, but this could still be a really exciting game. Easton Stick is not Carson Wentz, but he's still pretty dang good, maybe one of the best quarterbacks the Hawkeyes will face, and they clearly know how to use their playbook over there. Meanwhile, they are saying this Iowa team is Kirk Ferentz's masterpiece, although even if it's not, he still has infinity years to try again. Iowa will win by multiple scores, but it'll still be a fun game.
12:00 PM - Miami at Appalachian State. The mighty Tennessee struggled with App State, then went on to crush a Virginia Tech team that sprinted out to a lead and then promptly forgot how to use their hands. App State went and smothered ODU in what was definitely a trap game, and now will get another shot at glory. After tasting it and then having it slip away in overtime on a seriously garbage fumble, you'd think App State is going to come with their minds rite for this one, and they'll have home field advantage this time. Miami, who has been effortlessly destroying nobodies at home to start the season, needs to be ready for a game.
12:30 PM - Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech. Vanderbilt put up a scary 47 points against MTSU, despite being outgained by more than 150 yards, allowing 6.1 yards per pass, 4.6 yards per rush, and being held to 4-12 on third downs. By all statistical indications except the score, MTSU dominated. Their QB went 38/65 for 399 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. How did Vanderbilt compile such a huge lead, then? Simple: their average starting field position on touchdown drives was inside MTSU territory. They returned the one MTSU interception 59 yards, and each of four MTSU punts for an average of 49 yards a pop. Throw in a kick return for 47 yards as well, and this team didn't have to go very far to find paydirt. Vanderbilt's stout defense forced field goal attempts from the 22 and 27, forced turnovers on downs at the 15 and the 35, and picked up a fumble at the 28 to prevent MTSU from turning yards into points on long drives. What does this mean for Tech? Not a whole lot, except that Vanderbilt is probably exhausted right now. The Jackets aren't going to throw 65 passes (and they haven't even run 65 total plays in a game yet this season), so Vanderbilt's performance against an air-tempo offense isn't predictive. Their special teams play might be, though. Paul Johnson and co need to be very careful not to allow huge returns on punts and kickoffs. What's that you say? They are having trouble in the punting game? Crap.
