Monthly Archives: October 2016

What to Watch – Week 9: The Best of This Week’s College Football Games

Vaught-Hemingway stadium

Vaught-Hemingway stadium

The games are ranked using a zero- to five-star scale. Five stars meaning that you should make every human effort possible aside from committing a crime to watch this game (it’s time your children learned to feed themselves) and zero stars meaning you probably shouldn’t waste your time.

See the second half of the post for this week’s viewing guide.

Games are ranked using a super-scientific system comparing the overall quality of the two teams and the closeness of the match-up. The quality of each team is found using Brian Fremeau’s, Bill Connelly’s, ESPN’s, and Ed Feng’s advanced stats ranking systems.

PICK RESULTS

All Games Pct. Upset Picks Pct.
Last Week 10-4 .714 3-3 .500
Overall 77-29 .726 14-9 .609

Without further ado: the games. All times AZ. Picks in CAPS.

GAME OF THE WEEK 

#15 AUBURN at Ole Miss
Sat., Oct. 29, 4:15 PM, SECN
Upset Alert
Note: a composite ranking using the four systems mentioned above puts Auburn at (12) and Ole Miss at (11)

THREE-STAR GAMES

#7 Nebraska at #11 WISCONSIN**
Sat., Oct. 29, 4:00 PM, ESPN
Upset Alert
Composite computer top 25: (17) Nebraska vs. (9) Wisconsin

UPDATE: Switched my pick to Pitt.

#25 Virginia Tech at PITT*
Thu., Oct. 27, 4:00 PM, ESPN
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

#3 CLEMSON at #12 Florida St.
Sat., Oct. 29, 5:00 PM, ABC

Texas Tech at TCU
Sat., Oct. 29, 12:30 PM, ESPN2

#10 WEST VIRGINIA at Oklahoma St.
Sat., Oct. 29, 9:00 AM, FOX
Upset Alert
Composite computer top 25: (24) West Virginia

#22 Navy at SOUTH FLORIDA**
Fri., Oct. 28, 4:00 PM, ESPN2
G5 Game of the Week / Upset Alert
Composite computer top 25: Navy unranked

MIAMI at Notre Dame
Sat., Oct. 29, 12:30 PM, NBC

Cal at USC
Thu., Oct. 27, 7:30 PM, ESPN
Composite computer top 25: (19) USC

Duke at GEORGIA TECH
Sat., Oct. 29, 9:00 AM, WatchESPN (streaming)

#8 BAYLOR at Texas
Sat., Oct. 29, 12:30 PM, ABC
Composite computer top 25: (14) Baylor

*Upset picks
**Vegas favorite despite lower ranking
***Vegas underdog despite higher ranking


VIEWING GUIDE

The top three games during each time slot are listed below starting with the games that are projected to be the most fun to watch. All times AZ.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

#25 Virginia Tech at Pitt
4:00 PM, ESPN
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

Appalachian St. at Georgia Southern
4:30 PM, ESPNU

Ohio at Toledo
4:30 PM, CBSSN

THURSDAY NIGHT

Cal at USC
7:30 PM, ESPN

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

#22 Navy at South Florida
4:00 PM, ESPN2
G5 Game of the Week / Upset Alert

San Diego St. at Utah St.
5:00 PM, CBSSN

FRIDAY NIGHT

Air Force at Fresno St.
7:30 PM, ESPN2

SATURDAY MORNING

#10 West Virginia at Oklahoma St. 
9:00 AM, FOX
Upset Alert

Duke at Georgia Tech
9:00 AM, WatchESPN (streaming)

UCF at Houston
9:00 AM, ESPNU

SATURDAY MIDDAY

Texas Tech at TCU
12:30 PM, ESPN2

Miami at Notre Dame
12:30 PM, NBC

#8 Baylor at Texas
12:30 PM, ABC

Maryland at Indiana 
12:30 PM, ESPNU

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

#15 Auburn at Ole Miss 
4:15 PM, SECN
Game of the Week / Upset Alert

#7 Nebraska at #11 Wisconsin 
4:00 PM, ESPN
Upset Alert

#3 Clemson at #12 Florida St. 
5:00 PM, ABC

SATURDAY NIGHT

Stanford at Arizona 
8:00 PM, FS1

Washington St. at Oregon St.
7:45 PM, ESPN2

UNLV at San Jose St.
7:30 PM, CBSSN
Toilet Bowl

What to Watch – Week 8: The Top College Football Games and Viewing Guide

Tiger Stadium a.k.a. Death Valley

Tiger Stadium a.k.a. Death Valley

The games are ranked using a zero- to five-star scale. Five stars meaning that you should make every human effort possible aside from committing a crime to watch this game (it’s time your children learned to feed themselves) and zero stars meaning you probably shouldn’t waste your time.

See the second half of the post for this week’s viewing guide.

Games are ranked using a super-scientific system comparing the overall quality of the two teams and the closeness of the match-up. The quality of each team is found using Brian Fremeau’s, Bill Connelly’s, ESPN’s, and Ed Feng’s advanced stats ranking systems.

PICK RESULTS

All Games Pct. Upset Picks Pct.
Last Week 10-3 .769 2-0 1.000
Overall 67-25 .728 11-6 .647

Without further ado: the games. All times AZ. Picks in CAPS.

GAME OF THE WEEK 

#23 Ole Miss at #25 LSU**
Sat., Oct. 22, 6:00 PM, ESPN
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch
Note: a composite computer analytics ranking puts Ole Miss at #8 and LSU at #9

FOUR-STAR GAMES 

#6 Texas A&M at #1 ALABAMA
Sat., Oct. 22, 12:30 PM, CBS
Composite computer top 25: #7 Texas A&M, #1 Alabama

THREE-STAR GAMES

BYU at BOISE ST.
Thu., Oct. 20, 7:15 PM, ESPN
G5 Game of the Week / Overtime Watch
Composite computer top 25: #24 Boise

#19 Utah at UCLA**
Sat., Oct. 22, 1:00 PM, FOX
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch
Composite computer top 25: Utah un-ranked

#6 Texas A&M at #1 ALABAMA
Sat., Oct. 22, 12:30 PM, CBS
Composite computer top 25: #7 Texas A&M, #1 Alabama

MIAMI* at Virginia Tech
Thu., Oct. 20, 4:00 PM, ESPN
Composite computer top 25: #13 Miami

TCU at #12 WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Oct. 22, 12:30 PM, ABC or ESPN2
Upset Alert
Composite computer top 25: #22 West Virginia

TEXAS* at Kansas St.
Sat., Oct. 22, 9:00 AM, ESPN2
Overtime Watch

Oregon at CAL
Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30 PM, ESPN
Overtime Watch

COLORADO* at Stanford
Sat., Oct. 22, 12:00 PM, PAC12
Composite computer top 25: #17 Colorado

#10 WISCONSIN at Iowa
Sat., Oct. 22, 9:00 AM, ESPN
Composite computer top 25: #12 Wisconsin

#17 Arkansas at #21 AUBURN**
Sat., Oct. 22, 3:00 PM, ESPN
Upset Alert
Composite computer top 25: Arkansas un-ranked, #10 Auburn

Indiana at NORTHWESTERN
Sat., Oct. 22, 9:00 AM, BTN

SOUTH FLORIDA at Temple
Fri., Oct. 21, 4:00 PM, ESPN

NC State at #7 LOUISVILLE
Sat., Oct. 22, 9:00 AM, ABC
Composite computer top 25: #6 Louisville

*Upset picks
**Vegas favorite despite lower ranking
***Vegas underdog despite higher ranking


VIEWING GUIDE

The top three games during each time slot are listed below starting with the games that are projected to be the most fun to watch. All times AZ.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

Miami at Virginia Tech
4:00 PM, ESPN

Troy at South Alabama
4:30 PM, ESPNU
Blowout Warning

THURSDAY NIGHT

BYU at Boise St.
7:15 PM, ESPN
G5 Game of the Week / Overtime Watch

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

South Florida at Temple
4:00 PM, ESPN

FRIDAY NIGHT

Oregon at Cal
7:30 PM, ESPN
Overtime Watch

San Jose St. at San Diego St.
7:30 PM, ESPN2

SATURDAY MORNING

Texas at K-State
9:00 AM, ESPN2
Overtime Watch

#10 Wisconsin at Iowa
9:00 AM, ESPN

Indiana at Northwestern
9:00 AM, BTN

NC State at Louisville 
9:00 AM, ABC

SATURDAY MIDDAY

#19 Utah at UCLA
1:00 PM, FOX
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

#6 Texas A&M at #1 Alabama
12:30 PM, CBS

TCU at #12 West Virginia
12:30 PM, ABC or ESPN2
Upset Alert

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

#17 Arkansas at #21 Auburn
3:00 PM, ESPN
Upset Alert

#16 Oklahoma at Texas Tech
5:00 PM, FOX

#2 Ohio St. at Penn St. 
5:00 PM, ABC

Mississippi St. at Kentucky
4:30 PM, SECN

SATURDAY NIGHT

#23 Ole Miss at #25 LSU 
6:00 PM, ESPN
Game of the Week / Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

Washington St. at Arizona St. 
7:00 PM, PAC12

Fresno St. at Utah St.
7:30 PM, CBSSN
Toilet Bowl

The Best College Football Games and Viewing Guide for Week 7

 

The games are ranked using a zero- to five-star scale. Five stars meaning that you should make every human effort possible aside from committing a crime to watch this game (it’s time your children learned to feed themselves) and zero stars meaning you probably shouldn’t waste your time.

See the second half of the post for this week’s viewing guide.

Games are ranked using a super-scientific system comparing the overall quality of the two teams and the closeness of the match-up. The quality of each team is found using Brian Fremeau’s, Bill Connelly’s, ESPN’s, and Ed Feng’s advanced stats ranking systems.

PICK RESULTS

All Games Pct. Upset Picks Pct.
Last Week 13-4 .765 3-0 1.000
Overall 57-22 .722 9-6 .600

Without further ado: the games. All times AZ. Picks in CAPS.

Neyland Stadium

Neyland Stadium

GAME OF THE WEEK 

#1 ALABAMA at #9 Tennessee
Sat., Oct. 15, 12:30 PM, CBS

UCLA at WASHINGTON ST.
Sat., Oct. 15, 7:30 PM, ESPN
Overtime Watch

FOUR-STAR GAMES 

UCLA at WASHINGTON ST.
Sat., Oct. 15, 7:30 PM, ESPN
Overtime Watch

UPDATE: I was reminded this morning that the analytics don’t know or care that Josh Rosen may be injured. This game gets a four-star rating based on him playing at full-strength. Same goes for the ASU/Colorado game below and ASU’s QB situation.

THREE-STAR GAMES

STANFORD* at Notre Dame
Sat., Oct. 15, 4:30 PM, NBC

Arizona St. at COLORADO
Sat., Oct. 15, 5:00 PM, PAC12

#1 ALABAMA at #9 Tennessee
Sat., Oct. 15, 12:30 PM, CBS

North Carolina at #16 MIAMI
Sat., Oct. 15, 12:30 PM, ESPN2

NORTHWESTERN* at Michigan St.
Sat., Oct. 15, 12:30 PM, BTN
Overtime Watch

#20 WEST VIRGINIA at Texas Tech
Sat., Oct. 15, 9:00 AM, FS1
Upset Alert

#2 OHIO ST. at #8 Wisconsin
Sat., Oct. 15, 5:00 PM, ABC

Mississippi St. at BYU
Fri., Oct. 14, 7:15 PM, ESPN
P5/G5 Showdown

K-State at #19 OKLAHOMA
Sat., Oct. 15, 9:00 AM, ESPN

Minnesota at MARYLAND
Sat., Oct. 15, 9:00 AM, ESPNU

USC at Arizona
Sat., Oct. 15, 12:30 PM, FOX

#12 OLE MISS at #22 Arkansas
Sat., Oct. 15, 4:00 PM, ESPN

*Upset picks
**Vegas favorite despite lower ranking
***Vegas underdog despite higher ranking


VIEWING GUIDE

The top three games during each time slot are listed below starting with the games that are projected to be the most fun to watch. All times AZ.

WEDNESDAY

Appalachian St. at Louisiana-Lafayette
5:00 PM, ESPN2

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Memphis at Tulane
5:00 PM, ESPNU

Duke at #7 Louisville
4:00 PM, ESPN
Blowout Warning

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mississippi St. at BYU
7:15 PM, ESPN
P5/G5 Showdown

San Diego St. at Fresno St.
7:00 PM, CBSSN
Blowout Warning

SATURDAY MORNING

#20 West Virginia at Texas Tech 
9:00 AM, FS1
Upset Alert

K-State at #19 Oklahoma
9:00 AM, ESPN

Minnesota at Maryland
9:00 AM, ESPNU

SATURDAY MIDDAY

#1 Alabama at #9 Tennessee
12:30 PM, CBS
Game of the Week

North Carolina at #16 Miami
12:30 PM, ESPN2

USC at Arizona
12:30 PM, FOX

Northwestern at Michigan St. 
12:30 PM, BTN
Overtime Watch

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Stanford at Notre Dame 
4:30 PM, NBC

Arizona St. at Colorado 
5:00 PM, PAC12

#2 Ohio St. at #8 Wisconsin 
5:00 PM, ABC

SATURDAY NIGHT

UCLA at Washington St.
7:30 PM, ESPN
Game of the Week / Overtime Watch

Nevada at San Jose St.
7:30 PM, CBSSN
Toilet Bowl

Colorado St. at #15 Boise St.
7:15 PM, ESPN2
Blowout Warning

The Best College Football Games and Viewing Guide for Week 6

UPDATE: Georgia/South Carolina moved to Sunday. Viewing guide has been updated.

UPDATE: The LSU/Florida game has been postponed.

The games are ranked using a zero- to five-star scale. Five stars meaning that you should make every human effort possible aside from committing a crime to watch this game (it’s time your children learned to feed themselves) and zero stars meaning you probably shouldn’t waste your time.

See the second half of the post for this week’s viewing guide.

Games are ranked using a super-scientific system comparing the overall quality of the two teams and the closeness of the match-up. The quality of each team is found using Brian Fremeau’s, Bill Connelly’s, ESPN’s, and Ed Feng’s advanced stats ranking systems.

PICK RESULTS

All Games Pct. Upset Picks Pct.
Last Week 11-6 .647 2-1 .667
Overall 44-18 .710 6-6 .500

Without further ado: the games. All times AZ. Picks in CAPS.

Sun Life a.k.a Hard Rock Stadium

Sun Life a.k.a Hard Rock Stadium

GAME OF THE WEEK 

#23 Florida St. at #10 MIAMI
Sat., Oct. 8, 5:00 PM, ABC
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

FOUR-STAR GAMES 

#9 Tennessee at #8 TEXAS A&M
Sat., Oct. 8, 12:30 PM, CBS
Upset Alert

#21 Colorado at USC**
Sat., Oct. 8, 1:00 PM, PAC12
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

#25 Virginia Tech at #17 NORTH CAROLINA
Sat., Oct. 8, 12:30 PM, ABC
Upset Alert

THREE-STAR GAMES

#25 Virginia Tech at #17 NORTH CAROLINA
Sat., Oct. 8, 12:30 PM, ABC
Upset Alert

#21 Colorado at USC**
Sat., Oct. 8, 1:00 PM, PAC12
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

Texas Tech at K-STATE
Sat., Oct. 8, 4:00 PM, ESPNU
Overtime Watch

Notre Dame at NC STATE
Sat., Oct. 8, 9:00 AM, ABC
Overtime Watch

AUBURN at Mississippi St.
Sat., Oct. 8, 9:00 AM, SECN

LSU** at #18 Florida
Sat., Oct. 8, 9:00 AM, ESPN
Upset Alert

Georgia Tech at PITT
Sat., Oct. 8, 9:30 AM, CW / WatchESPN (streaming)
Overtime Watch

MARYLAND at Penn St.
Sat., Oct. 8, 9:00 AM, BTN

BYU* at Michigan St.
Sat., Oct. 8, 12:30 PM, ESPN2
P5/G5 Showdown

Washington St. at #15 STANFORD
Sat., Oct. 8, 7:30 PM, ESPN

Arizona at #24 UTAH
Sat., Oct. 8, 6:00 PM, FS1
Upset Alert

#5 WASHINGTON at Oregon
Sat., Oct. 8, 4:30 PM, FOX

IOWA at Minnesota
Sat., Oct. 8, 9:00 AM, ESPN2

Temple at MEMPHIS
Thu., Oct. 6, 5:00 PM, ESPN
G5 Game of the Week

UCLA at ARIZONA ST.*
Sat., Oct. 8, 7:30 PM, ESPN2

#20 OKLAHOMA vs. Texas (in Dallas)
Sat., Oct. 8, 9:00 AM, FS1

*Upset picks
**Vegas favorite despite lower ranking
***Vegas underdog despite higher ranking


VIEWING GUIDE

The top three games during each time slot are listed below starting with the games that are projected to be the most fun to watch. All times AZ.

WEDNESDAY

Georgia Southern at Arkansas St.
5:00 PM, ESPN2

THURSDAY

Temple at Memphis
5:00 PM, ESPN
G5 Game of the Week

Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech
5:00 PM, CBSSN

FRIDAY

#3 Clemson at Boston College
4:30 PM, ESPN
Blowout Warning

SMU at Tulsa
5:00 PM, ESPN2

Boise St. at New Mexico
6:00 PM, CBSSN

Note: Tulane at UCF has been postponed.

SATURDAY MORNING

Notre Dame at NC State 
9:00 AM, ABC
Overtime Watch

Auburn at Mississippi St.
9:00 AM, SECN

Georgia Tech at PITT 
Sat., Oct. 8, 9:30 AM, CW / WatchESPN (streaming)
Overtime Watch

LSU at #18 Florida 
9:00 AM, ESPN
Upset Alert

SATURDAY MIDDAY

#9 Tennessee at #8 Texas A&M
12:30 PM, CBS
Upset Alert

#21 Colorado at USC
1:00 PM, PAC12
Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

#25 Virginia Tech at #17 North Carolina
12:30 PM, ABC
Upset Alert

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

#23 Florida State at #10 Miami 
5:00 PM, ABC
Game of the Week / Upset Alert / Overtime Watch

Texas Tech at K-State 
4:00 PM, ESPNU
Overtime Watch

#5 Washington at Oregon
4:30 PM, FOX

SATURDAY NIGHT

Washington St. at #15 Stanford
7:30 PM, ESPN

Arizona at #24 Utah
6:00 PM, FS1
Upset Alert

UCLA at Arizona St.
7:30 PM, ESPN2

SUNDAY!

Georgia at South Carolina 
11:30 PM, SECN