A Unique Look At This Week’s Top Games – The Ones That Still Are Scheduled, Anyway
The schedule makers have been doing as much juggling the past week as a circus clown. Except this isn’t funny.
Confusing, now that’s a different matter. Tennessee was scheduled to play Vanderbilt but the Commodores are instead now playing Missouri. Colorado is taking on San Diego State instead of USC. Washington was set to play the Apple Cup but almost wound up playing BYU.
Wisconsin, which has only had three games this season, won’t be playing at all. Nick Saban is sidelined for the Iron Bowl with a runny nose and on Friday, Ryan Day tested positive and will miss the Illinois game and then late Friday night that matchup was canceled.
But this is the situation in the COVID-19 era and we just have to take ’em as we get ’em.
Now onto this week’s games. All times Pacific because the Prognosticator lives in San Diego.
Friday, Nov. 27
Iowa State at Texas (9 a.m., ABC)
A small Cyclone is headed to Austin, but whether or not it turns into a big storm depends on whether or not the soft-tackling Bevos can steer clear of creating a turbulent defensive effort. Because that would really put a damper on things for not just the home team but its head coach. Winner: Texas
Notre Dame at North Carolina (12:30 p.m., ABC)
The Irishmen take a trip to Tobacco Road and hope not to get tar on their heels, which would severely impede their progress to the College Football Playoffs. They had better throughly wash their feet before this one, or they will get stuck in the turf watching the Blue Rams smoke them for touchdowns. That could very well happen but somehow, the Domers will be slick enough to escape with the W. Winner: Notre Dame
Oregon at Oregon State (4:30 p.m., ESPN)
Things aren’t very civil in the original craft beer state when it comes to the Civil War. It’s certainly a heady rivalry and the Waddlers aren’t exactly pouring it on opponents, so the Beavers sure are eager to experience the sweet taste of an upset victory. In the end, tho, the hosts will be like day-old beer left out on the bar counter – flat. Winner: Oregon
Saturday, Nov. 28
Ohio State at Illinois (9 a.m., FS1)
Note: This game has been canceled.
The Indians, fresh off a feast in Nebraska, return to the teepee in hopes of roasting a few Nuts around the ‘ol campfire. They better have piles of firewood, tho, because even with the head Nut back at home, the visitors are going to extinguish any hopes of an upset early, leaving behind only smoldering kindling. Winner: Ohio State
Maryland at Indiana (9 a.m., ESPN2)
The surprising “Hoos-yas” are one of the upbeat college football stories this fall and they hope to continue that against a team that hasn’t taken the field in three weeks. The Hard Shells were just hitting their stride with Brother Tua as starting quarterback but must now find their sea legs again, and in a hurry. The inland Indiana’ers won’t exactly be providing water wings to help them. Winner: Indiana
Penn State at Michigan (9 a.m., ABC)
The battered Mountain Cats take on the bruised Big Blue & Black in the battle of the Big 10 busts. The teams have but two wins combined, with the Pennsylvania boys putting up a goose egg. This week, they will be having more egg on their faces. Winner: Michigan
Auburn at Alabama (12:30 p.m., CBS)
The Pachyderms will be without the Saban-toothed Tiger as the Birds’ good fortune continues, this time occurring even before there’s an opening kickoff. This should slow down the Mac truck offense only slightly, tho the misdirection and trickery of the sly visitors will play early havoc with the defenders; how quickly they can adjust with the Master of In-game Adjustments at home on his couch remains to be seen. In the end, tho, the Tide-al wave will wash the Gus Bus along Paul Bryant Drive all the way down to Highway 82. Winner: Alabama
Pittsburgh at Clemson (12:30 p.m., ABC)
Note: This game was moved to ABC from ESPN after the Colorado-USC was canceled
The Dabo Cats are screaming at the Spears for the cancelation of last week’s Florida State game because they are now back at full strength and want to remind folks they are not scaredy cats. The Pitt Felines might be tho, once they get a look at Trevor and rest of the roarin’ rebels from down South. Winner: Clemson
Colorado at USC (12:30 p.m., ABC)
Note: This game is canceled and the Buffs are now taking on San Diego State.
Troy may be fighting mad at being overlooked by the college playoff selection committee and will be looking to stack the Trojan horse with as many playmakers as possible. They will find some comfort in this game tho they are not playing cross-town rival UCLA as is the tradition on Thanksgiving Weekend. That is because the presence of Karl Dorrell on the other sideline will be enough to remind them of the happy times of the Pete Carroll era. Although, as Trojan fans will be reminded of time and time again during the game, Hot Seat Helton is not Pete Carroll. Winner: USC
LSU at Texas A&M (4 p.m., ESPN)
The beat-up Bayou boys come limping into State College with Coach O beating the upbeat drum, but not all the “Geaux Tigers” that come rumbling out his mouth will make a difference on the field. The Cadets are waiting in ambush and and won’t stop firing until they get every once of last year’s 50-7 trouncing out of their system. The crowd will be limited but that’s okay because the hosts won’t need any 12th Man to win this one. Winner: Texas A&M
Arizona at UCLA (5 p.m., FOX)
The Trampolines bounced up to put up a gallant effort last week at Oregon with a backup quarterback which, of course, foretells a complete faceplant against the not-so-wild Cats. Such is life in the den of the Baby Bears. Winner: Arizona
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