From the Bird’s Nest: Five Intriguing NCAA Games This Weekend
As always, there are some pretty interesting games around college football this weekend. And, as always, there are some that really interest me for various reasons. Here are five to keep an eye on:
- 1
Oklahoma State at Texas A&M
ESPN Gameday may be in Morgantown, but this is the premiere game in college football this weekend. The Cowboys bring their high-powered offense into the Big XII opener in College Station. A&M is ranked in the top twenty in both offense and defense, but they haven’t come close to facing an offense like Oklahoma State’s. The winner of this game becomes the biggest threat to the Oklahoma Sooners. An especially big game for OSU, since they get the Sooners in Stillwater.
- 2
LSU at West Virginia
If there’s an ambush game waiting to happen, it’s in Morgantown where LSU will be facing its third Top-25 opponent..with none of those games in Tiger Stadium. WVU’s new coach, Dana Holgorsen, is as good an offensive mind as there is in America and Morgantown is a really tough place for visitors to win. Non-conference games sandwiched between two league foes is never an easy task. If the Tigers survive, they’ll have survived September, and could very well be undefeated when they go to Tuscaloosa in November.
- 3
Florida State at Clemson
The Seminoles gave Oklahoma their best shot last weekend and for about fifty minutes, it was good enough. But the Sooners got a couple of late scores to break FSU’s heart. Clemson, meanwhile, beat the defending national champs last week. How well FSU handles losing…AND…how well Clemson handles winning will be a key in this one.
- 4
Arkansas at Alabama
Bama is a double-digit favorite? Really? Although Arkansas is having to play without Knile Davis, they’re scoring points in bunches. Obviously they haven’t played a game against a defense like ‘Bama’s. But the Tide offense hasn’t exactly been a juggernaut. If the Hogs avoid turnovers, this one might be closer than pundits (and the oddsmakers) think.
- 5
Ohio at Rutgers
What, you say? Well, the Bobcats are undefeated at 3-0 and they’ve done it all against non-conference opponents. They’re a slight underdog on the road this week against the Scarlet Knights from the Big East. But if they win that one, it’s nothing but conference play and the ‘Cats might be tough to beat. Watching teams from the non-AQ conferences that are beating people are always worth watching. Ohio, Houston and FIU are those teams right now.
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