Five Intriguing Games This Weekend – From the Bird’s Nest
Week three of the college football season has some conferences having early league games and a couple of Top 25 non conference matchups.
Here are the games I'll be paying attention to this weekend.
(12) LSU (2-0) at (7) AUBURN (2-0) (-10') 2:30 CBS--Which offense will we see out of LSU this week? Will it be the one that was efficient against nationally ranked Miami, or will it be the lackluster performance we saw against Southeastern in week two. Last week was a trap game for LSU sandwiched around two big games, so I'm a bit forgiving for the game against the Lions. But LSU will need to have its best offensive game of the year against Auburn's Tigers who still aren't pleased about what happened to them in Tiger Stadium last year. Keeping Auburn's defense away from Joe Burrow is a must.
(17) BOISE STATE (2-0) at (24) OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0)(-2) 2:30, ESPN--Boise State probably has their best team since Brian Harsin took over as head coach and their offense looks especially good so far. We know Oklahoma State can score as well. The over/under of 64 1/2 is pretty interesting. The team that turns it over the least probably wins this one.
NORTH TEXAS (2-0) AT ARKANSAS (1-1) (-7) 3 pm, SEC Network--Hogs fans were pretty happy with that opening week win but the Hogs laid an egg last weekend on the road. Meanwhile, the Mean Green have had a resurgence and are one of the favorites in Conference USA. If the line of just 7 surprises you, it really shouldn't. Arkansas had better not overlook this one. The Green are capable.
ARKANSAS STATE (1-1) (-1) at TULSA (1-1) 6:00 pm, CBSSports Network--Arkansas State fans are less than please with Blake Anderson's OOC record. This game is a chance to quiet the critics. No one in Jonesboro will be unhappy with a 3-1 record entering conference play, especially considering the loss was to Alabama. Tulsa won't be a pushover after taking Texas to the limit in Austin last week. Whether the Golden Hurricane has a letdown or is fighting mad could be the difference in this one.
(4) OHIO STATE (2-0) (-12') at (15) TCU (2-0) 7:00 ABC--Neither team has had a real test yet. It's the final game before the return of Urban Leyer to the sidelines. Ohio State's offense has been pretty scary so far this season. Can the Horned Frogs pull off the upset at home. Everyone not in the state of Ohio certainly hopes so.