Games of the Slot: Week 9
Breaking down which game to watch at each time slot this weekend
Last week seemed a little light on quality games on the surface, and that was right from the jump with Ohio State-Penn State turning into a pass-adverse slog. Hopefully this weekend has some better games in store for us.
If you need to know what to watch this week, look no more. SID Sports has you covered.
All times are Eastern.
Friday Night
Game of the Slot: Florida Atlantic at Charlotte (7:30 p.m. EST, ESPN2)
It’s Sicko time, y’all!
Charlotte is not a good team and are in the first year of what could be a lengthy rebuild under Head Coach Biff Poggi. And yes, that’s actually his name. They are coming off one of their two wins on the season, a 10-7 affair against East Carolina, so the 49ers have that going for them.
Florida Atlantic is also in a rebuild phase under first-year head coach Tom Herman. That’s much more promising on the surface than Biff Poggi leading your program, but so far, that’s only amounted to one more win for the Owls.
This game shakes up as kind of a stinker, but it’s the only game on Friday night, so that’s what we get. Charlotte is only scoring 14.6 points per game in the American conference, so that’s mighty concerning. At least FAU has shown signs of life on offense, scoring 24.1 points per game.
Saturday - 12 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: 6 Oklahoma at Kansas (FOX)
Hoo boy, the noon slate is not looking too appealing this weekend.
I decided to go with a Big 12 matchup that has a ton of potential to be entertaining. Kansas is on the road with a murky quarterback situation since we don’t know the health of starter Jalon Daniels. Luckily for the Jayhawks, backup Jason Bean has been serviceable so far this season, appearing in four games and carrying a stat line of 913 yards, nine touchdowns and two picks. Last week, in a loss to Oklahoma State, Bean had one of his better games, throwing for 410 yards and five touchdowns while tossing both of his picks.
He’ll need to keep that rolling against a Sooner defense that’s stifled everyone they’ve come across, allowing only 16.1 points per game. Oklahoma is still undefeated, and climbing as high as fifth in this week’s SID Sports Top 25. Oklahoma didn’t have the best showing against UCF last week, narrowly escaping with a 31-29 home victory.
Multi-Box Games: Houston at Kansas State (ESPN2); South Carolina at Texas A&M (ESPN); 4 Florida State at Wake Forest (ABC)
Told you it’s a weak slate. Houston came up just shy against Texas a week ago, and now get to travel to Manhattan to take on a surging Kansas State team. The Wildcats are very much in the Big 12 title hunt, so that’s worth watching. South Carolina at Texas A&M has some anxiety on both sidelines. Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher has one of the nation’s hottest seats, but Shane Beamer’s seat is quickly warming at South Carolina. Both coaches need a win here, but who’s going to get it? Finally, we have Florida State taking on another overmatched ACC opponent in Wake Forest. The Seminoles have struggled in these games in the past (see Boston College), but will they again this week?
3-4 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: 8 Oregon at 13 Utah (3:30 p.m., FOX)
Another week, another top-notch PAC-12 matchup. Man, am I going to miss the madness in this conference.
Washington seems to have one of the PAC-12 Championship spots locked up, and this game could very well determine who will face the Huskies.
Both teams have one loss in narrow games: Oregon to Washington and Utah to Oregon State. Both teams have elite defenses: Oregon is only allowing 17 points per game, while Utah is only allowing 15. This game will come down to the offenses.
Oregon certainly has an edge in that department with Bo Nix having fun under center and one of the best tailbacks in the nation in Bucky Irving. Utah, however, has a gritty pig farmer in Bryson Barnes that plays the exact brand of football Kyle Whittingham and the Utes want.
I don’t think this game will have the fireworks we saw when Oregon and Washington squared off, but this will still be a very good game. If you like defenses, this matchup will certainly be a treat.
Multi-Box Games: 20 Duke at 18 Louisville (3:30 p.m., ESPN); 1 Georgia at Florida (3:30 p.m., CBS); Miami (Ohio) at Ohio (3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network)
I’ve got to say, calling Duke at Louisville a premier game is weird, but I’m behind it. Riley Leonard will play, but certainly isn’t fully healthy. Louisville also has a fun offense under Head Coach Jeff Brohm and quarterback Jack Plummer. I’m not saying to expect a shootout, but it’ll be good. Then, we head to the Swamp to find out if Florida is actually a decent team or not. Georgia will likely win this game easily, but the Gators have looked a lot better since their season-opening loss to Utah. Finally, we have the de facto MAC East championship game between Miami of Ohio and Ohio. Two of the league’s best offenses—and quarterbacks in Ohio’s Kurtis Rourke and Miami’s Brett Gabbert—will face off in what should be some vintage #MACtion.
6-8 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: 21 Tennessee at Kentucky (7 p.m., ESPN)
The AP Poll has Tennessee ranked and Kentucky on the outside looking in, I have it the other way. Either way, this is a pretty evenly-matched game for a ranked against unranked affair.
Tennessee had a great first half against Alabama last week, but that turned around quickly when the Tide posted 24 unanswered in the second half to earn a 34-20 victory over the Vols. On the season, Tennessee has been two different teams: one that can hang with and beat anyone, and one that struggled against FCS Austin Peay.
Kentucky is coming off a bye week after two losses to Missouri and Georgia. If the Wildcats want to show they’re a decent SEC team, they need this game. Quarterback Devin Leary has been up and down, much like Tennessee’s Joe Milton III, and needs to rebound in a big way.
This game could easily go either way, but I gave the Wildcats a ranking boost over Tennessee because of their defense. They certainly can pose a unique threat to Milton and the Volunteer offense, but will need that to be backed up by at least a decent game by Leary and Ray Davis.
Multi-Box Games: 3 Ohio State at Wisconsin (7:30 p.m., NBC); Old Dominion at 25 James Madison (8 p.m., ESPNU); 5 Washington at Stanford (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1)
Ohio State-Wisconsin isn’t the biggest of matchups like in years past, but a game in Camp Randall between these two teams under the lights never disappoints. Maybe this is the game that Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo learns to give the ball to Braelon Allen. Old Dominion may be sitting at 4-3, but they are undefeated in the Sun Belt and are heading into a rivalry matchup at James Madison that nobody really expects them to win. That’s a recipe for some good old fashioned college football madness. Finally, Washington struggled against Arizona State last week, and Stanford is surprisingly competitive in Year Zero under Troy Taylor. I don’t think they can keep up with the Huskies, but you never know.
PAC-12 After Dark
Game of the Slot: 11 Oregon State at Arizona (10:30 p.m., ESPN)
This is one of those games that have PAC-12 After Dark madness written all over them.
Oregon State has been very good this season outside of a loss to Washington State, who Arizona annihilated 44-9 last week.
Arizona isn’t getting a ton of respect, but they definitely should. Between their domination of Wazzu and close losses to USC and Washington, Jedd Fisch’s Wildcats are a solid squad. One of these days, they’re going to pull off an upset that many won’t expect.
Oregon State is a good team, don’t get that wrong. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is playing solid football that compliments the Beavs strong defense well. Outside linebackers John McCartan and Andrew Canfield Jr. are living in the opposition’s backfield, which could make things very difficult for Noah Fifita, who should start for Arizona with Jayden de Laura still nursing an ankle injury.
Multi-Box Game: UNLV at Fresno State (10:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1); New Mexico at Nevada (10:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network)
Fresno State got off to a hot start this season, but an in-conference loss to Wyoming took some of the luster off the Bulldogs. UNLV is surprising, holding a 6-1 record and looking like an early Mountain West championship contender. Both squads have talented offenses and defense will likely be optional in Fresno. New Mexico at Nevada, however, is our Toilet Bowl of the week. Neither team is good, and Nevada may be the worst non-transitioning team in the nation. I’m not going to say I’m excited to see how these teams play, but it’s definitely a Sicko game.