Break out the chips and cold drinks, but let Chris Dufresne handle the remote. Each Friday, the Los Angeles Times' national college football writer handicaps what's worth watching, and skipping, on the upcoming menu of games.
All times eastern.
No. 22 Brigham Young (2-1) at Michigan (2-1)
Noon, ABC
BYU's motto: Don't touch that dial. The Cougars defeated Nebraska on a Hail Mary pass, then defeated Boise State on another late heave, and then played UCLA to a one-point defeat that wasn't decided until Myles Jack intercepted a Tanner Mangum pass in the final minute.
Southern (2-1) at No. 7 Georgia (3-0)
Noon, SEC Network
This is going to be terrific. Not the game, the halftime show. According to ESPN.com, Georgia has taken a bold step forward in making SEC games against lower-level teams more palatable by demanding that Southern bring its world-class marching band. Part of the contractual agreement includes a stipulation that the band, known as "The Human Jukebox," must accompany the football team to Athens, Ga. The band will be slotted nine minutes of playing time at halftime. Too bad the game can't be nine minutes and the halftime show 60.
Other games:
Noon.: Central Michigan at Michigan State, Big Ten Network; Southern Mississippi at Nebraska, ESPNews; Georgia Tech at Duke, ESPN2; Southern at Georgia, SEC Network; Central Florida at South Carolina, ESPNU; Louisiana State at Syracuse, ESPN; Navy at Connecticut, CBS Sports Network.
12:30 p.m.: Delaware at North Carolina, Prime; Indiana at Wake Forest, KDOC.
12:30 p.m.: Nicholls State at Colorado, Pac-12 Networks.
3 p.m.: Rice at Baylor, FS West; Maryland at West Virginia, FS1.
Tennessee (2-1) at Florida (3-0)
3:30 p.m., CBS
Tennessee has a Florida problem, having lost 10 straight games to the Gators dating to 2005. Tennessee has been outscored by an average of 13.9 points during the streak. The Volunteers' chances in this improved a bit this week when Florida announced the suspensions of backup quarterback Treon Harris and cornerback Jalen Tabor.
Massachusetts (0-2) at No. 6 Notre Dame (3-0)
3:30 p.m., NBC
Any previous Massachusetts claim that the football team has "never lost to Notre Dame" probably comes to an end when the programs meet for the first time.
Louisiana Monroe (1-1) at No. 12 Alabama (2-1)
4 p.m., SEC
No one is suggesting Nick Saban's career at Alabama has come full circle after last week's painful home defeat to Mississippi. However, this game provides an interesting twist for those who suggest Saban's dynasty is coming to an end. In 2007, Saban's first season at Alabama, a Sun Belt team that most Alabama teams would have been expected to clobber visited Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 17. Final score that day: Louisiana Monroe 21, Alabama 14.
No. 3 Texas Christian (3-0) at Texas Tech (3-0)
4:45 p.m., Fox
Upset alert: TCU could get severely challenged by a team riding high on the hog after last week's upset win at Arkansas. TCU has lost several top defensive players and, this week, had two players arrested on suspicion of robbery.
No. 14 Texas A&M (3-0) at Arkansas (1-2)
7 p.m., ESPN
Texas A&M is off to another hot start and will be looking to take advantage of an Arkansas team reeling after consecutive losses to Toledo and Texas Tech. Texas A&M won last year's game, 35-28 in overtime, then skidded to a 2-5 finish.
No. 9 UCLA (3-0) at No. 16 Arizona (3-0)
8 p.m., ABC
Let's hope ESPN's "GameDay" didn't have a flowery feature planned about the star linebackers, Myles Jack and Scooby Wright. UCLA announced this week Jack was out for the season with a knee injury. Arizona has played two games without Wright, who is listed as questionable for this one.
No. 18 Utah (3-0) at No. 13 Oregon (2-1)
8 p.m., Fox
Quarterbacks Travis Wilson (shoulder) and Vernon Adams Jr. (finger) sat out last week's games. Both will be game-time decisions, but all signs indicate both will be back for this important Pac-12 Conference opener.
3:30 p.m.: North Texas at Iowa, ESPNU; San Diego State at Penn State, BTN; Oklahoma State at Texas, ESPN; Virginia Tech at East Carolina, ESPN2; Tennessee at Florida, CBS; Miami (Ohio) at Western Kentucky, CBSSN.
4 p.m.: Middle Tennessee at Illinois, ESPNews.
5 p.m.: California at Washington, Pac-12.
7 p.m.: Vanderbilt at Mississippi, ESPNU; Colorado State at Texas San Antonio; CBSSN.
7:30 p.m.: Mississippi State at Auburn, ESPN2; Missouri at Kentucky, SEC.
8 p.m.: North Carolina State at South Alabama; Hawaii at Wisconsin, BTN.
No. 19 USC (2-1) at Arizona State (2-1)
10:30 p.m., ESPN
A tough call for USC fans who don't like Steve Sarkisian. Defeat could set the dominoes tumbling toward an ugly finish that leads to Sarkisian's ouster. Victory keeps USC in the divisional race with a chance to still make the College Football Playoff.
10:30 p.m.: Fresno State at San Jose State, CBSSN.
About the Author
