By The Pigskin Prognosticator, PubClub.com College Football Expert
The schedule makers must think that college football fans like to wake up on Saturday mornings to watch or go to games. We do not, okay.
It’s okay in Indiana, which is hosting ESPN’s College Game Day for the first time, meaning students will probaly pull an all-nighter and not the kind that involves cramming for a mid-term. Elsewhere it’s a yawn before the yelling, a chill before the chills until the effects of the first cocktail start to take hold.
And people are consuming plenty of cocktails around the country, some in celebration (Oregon, Georgia), some in relief (Knoxville, Baton Rouge), some in disappointment (Austin, Norman) and one place in sheer shock and disbelief at the sudden decline of the program (Alabama).
Now onto the games. All times Pacific because the Prognosticator lives on the West Coast.
Friday, Oct. 25
Rutgers at USC (5 p.m., FOX)
Troy nation has had it up to here with the tumbling Lincoln logs assembled by an offensive-minded coach who stuggles with every other aspect of the game. And if you think the fan base is charge up about a Friday night game against Rutgers, then you don’t know your cardinal from your gold. Plenty of good seats will be available in the Coliseum. Winner: USC
Saturday, Oct. 26
Nebraska at Ohio State (9 a.m., FOX)
The Bucks get to take even more luster off a faded program that is so rusted it should be featured on American Pickers. This is merely a stretching exercise until next week’s show in State College. Winner: Ohio State
Notre Dame at Navy (9 a.m., ABC)
The Midshipmen sail at the break of day hoping for a happy voyage at home. The anchors are aweigh for team that has yet to sink. They have hardly faced a gauntlet in the schedule, tho and the Domers provide their most monumental challenge. They can do what Northern Illinois did and control the clock but will this be enough to control the Irishmen? Winner: Notre Dame
Washington at Indiana (9 a.m., BTN)
Alabama fans would gladly ship Kelen DeBoer back to the Dawgs, tho they need more than him this year. Last year’s depleted roster isn’t restocked and the new sleuth in Seattle doesn’t have the yet have the answers. The Hoosa Men will be pumped up by Game Day’s appearance but are without thier starting quarterback. How the team adjusts will say a lot about it. Winner: Indiana
Oklahoma at Ole Miss (9 a.m., ESPN)
If Lame Kiffin would spend as much time coaching as he does on yacking and posting on social media, then Ol’ Miss might have a chance to make the playoffs. But you can’t change the spots on a leopard and he can only hope that the Boomers keep from booming. Winner: Ole Miss
Illinois at Oregon (12:30 p.m., CBS)
The Waddlers are hoping to taste the victory champagne in Champaign, tho before they pop the cork they will need to ice down the Bielema Bunch. Things may not be bubbly all the time but in the end the visitors will be raising a glass to celebrate. Winner: Oregon
Missouri at Alabama (12:30 p.m., ABC)
The visiting Felines hope to earn their stripes with a big SEC win and get to face a secondary as depleted as the fan base. The latter has run into the plate-glass reality that this team isn’t what was presented against Georgia. There’s enough talent to turn on a dime and get back into SEC and playoff contention but it’s obvious from the past few weeks this is a low Tide and not a high Tide. Winner: Alabama.
Texas at Vanderbilt (1:15 p.m., SEC Network)
Now who in the world would think that the Prognosticator would be evaluating this game at the start of the season? But the long-dormant ‘Doors are suddenly a threat the Steers must combat. Sark created a bit of a quarterback issue with his benching and then re-inserting Quinn Ewers against Georgia, which showed the head coach may not be as in control as it appeared to start the season. Unlike Alabama, tho, the Horns will be able to figure out how to occasionally stop Diego Pavia on occasion. Winner: Texas
Florida State at Miami (4 p.m., ESPN)
The days of Wide Right and Wide Left, of big-time bragging rights, of the camera-shaking old Orange Bowl stadium and national championships on the line, are gone into history. For one thing, the Orange Bowl no longer exists so that environment will never be duplicated. This Canes team is surviving storms on a weekly basis but the Spears seem unable to mout any kind of attack to threaten any team. Winner: Miami
Penn State at Wisconsin (4:30 p.m., NBC)
The Pennsylvania Felines conme into Madison stalking a mediocre opponent, looking to finish them off for a quick meal before licking their chops for next week against Ohio State. Mission accomplished. Winner: Penn State
LSU at Texas A&M (4:30 p.m., ABC)
The fortnate Felines from Louisiana crawl into State College hoping to assult the Battalion and gain the upper had in the SEC. In their way, tho, are a ready bunch of Cadets and loud followers who will make life crazy in Kyle Field. The 12th Man – the collection of men and women who stand the whole game and make more noise than a charging brigade of soldiers – will be enough to send the visitors home with their tail between their legs. Winner: Texas A&M
Michigan State at Michigan (4:30 p.m., BTN)
This game, which has produced some memorable moments in the past that had the national glued to TV sets, is this year of interest only to those with allegiances to either school. Sparty isn’t hopeless while Big Blue is starting to look that way tho when it’s over the Big House crowd will be the difference. Winner: Michigan
The Pigskin Prognosticator has covered college football for daily newspapers across the country and has been doing this column for PubClub.com for more than 10 years..
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