CFB Channel Cruisin’ Week 4: Rivalries and non-conference matchups highlight this week’s slate
After an exciting week last week, there’s no game that’s the caliber of USC-Ohio State, but there’s not a letdown in the least.
This weekend’s slate offers up several rivalry games, a few key early conference matchups, and some good non-conference showdowns as well, and it all gets started tonight. That’s right, tonight, which is why I‘m bringing this week‘s Channel Cruisin‘ to you a day early.
Wednesday
Louisville vs. Kansas St., 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2: Kansas St. obliterated North Texas and Montana St. to the tune of 114-16, and if Louisville’s offense can play more like it did against Tennessee Tech than it did against Kentucky, this could be a high-scoring showdown.
Thursday
Colorado vs. West Virginia, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN: Could West Virginia be set up for a second straight upset? Colorado is trying to prove that they could be a player in the Big 12 North, and the Mountaineers are trying to prove that they’re still a force to be reckoned with after getting completely dominated by East Carolina.
Friday
Connecticut vs. Baylor, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2: This one’s actually worth watching, folks. 3-0 UConn is move into top-25 consideration and is led by one of the nation’s leading rushers in Donald Brown, who has run for 200 yards in back-to-back games, while the 2-1 Bears are led by true freshman QB Robert Griffin, who took over for Kirby Freeman early in a season-opening loss to Wake Forest and has led the Bears to wins in his first two starts, including last week’s 45-17 rout of Washington State in which he ran for a school-record 217 yards and accounted for 346 yards and three touchdowns.
Saturday
Michigan St. vs. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC - Remember the last time Notre Dame went to East Lansing? Notre Dame trailed 37-21 heading into the 4th, but the Irish scored 19 unanswered touchdowns to shock the Spartans 40-37, helping kickstart a downward spiral that saw Michigan State lose eight of their last nine games, resulting in John L. Smith getting fired. MSU has won eight of the last 11 in this rivalry, but ND’s three wins have come in the last three trips to East Lansing.
Tennessee vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS: Florida and Georgia are considered to be the prohibitive favorites in the SEC East (and the SEC), but Tennessee could throw a wrench into Florida’s plans if they can notch their first win against rival Florida since 2004.
Auburn vs. LSU, 7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN: Alabama figures to play a part in the SEC West race, but this is the early spotlight matchup in the division, as #6 LSU visits #9 (CP) Auburn. The last four games in the series have all been close, and if the last two games at Auburn (7-3 in 2006, 10-9 in 2004), this one will come down to the defenses. For what it‘s worth, Auburn has won the last four meetings at Jordan-Hare.
Arizona St. vs. Georgia, 8 p.m. ET, ABC: I’m guessing that ABC liked this one a lot better before ASU lost to UNLV on Saturday. I certainly did. Still, it shapes up to be a good game, and you can’t write off the Sun Devils even after their dud against the Runnin’ Rebels.
Regional Game That Should Be National: Oregon vs. Boise St., 3:30 p.m. ET - Oregon lost starting QB Nate Costa before the season started and has now lost Justin Roper for the next few weeks. Boise St. has eyes on moving into the top 25 and pushing into that BCS buster picture again. You’ve got to like Oregon holding serve at Autzen, but this one could be pretty entertaining.
National Game That Should Be Regional: Arizona St. vs. Georgia, 8 p.m. ET, ABC - Really, I think this should be a good game, and I think the Sun Devils could win. But, I’m downgrading it in the wake of ASU dropping the ball against UNLV, which undoubtedly does take some of the shine off of this one, with the Sun Devils having dropped from the top 15 out of the rankings.
Time Slot Worth Getting Picture-in-Picture For: Saturday night - Auburn-LSU, Florida St.-Wake Forest, Arizona St.-Georgia, all on at the same time. Nice, very nice. The afternoon comes in a close second though.
Keep An Eye On: In lieu of there not really being a marquee late game this week, I thought I’d throw this in. Arkansas hosts Alabama in the early JP Lincoln Financial Raycom game (12:30 p.m. ET). The last time have been thrillers, and after getting a couple of easy rides after their win over Clemson, the Tide could get a test from Arkansas and their new pass-happy offense, which has come in handy in comeback wins over Western Illinois and UL-Monroe, the latter of whom Nick Saban has fond memories of.
Then, there’s North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN2). The ACC Coastal Division is wide open, and the Tar Heels could stake their claim as a favorite if they can beat the defending conference champs and preseason division favorites, who are clearly better with Tyrod Taylor not sitting on the bench. What will Brandon Tate do this week?
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