Week Three College Football Viewing Guide

Well, we missed the Thursday night game since conference realignment just won't stop and keeps messing up our schedule. So you missed my witty take on USF-Rutgers. Lucky you. Fortunately, there's a whole slate of games that feature exactly two really good games, both of which happen to be on at the same time.

Saturday

Cal at Ohio State (12:00, ABC): FIve star hoops recruit Jabari Byrd committed to Cal this week. That will likely be the end of the Bears' good news. Ohio State is rolling under Meyer with a pair of impressive wins. The Buckeyes would likely be the favorites in the Big 10 if, you know, they were eligible to win it. Yes, I will make that joke every week until further notice.

Wake Forest at Florida State (12:00, ESPN): On paper, this is a mismatch. But Wake Forest has ruined Florida State's "FSU is back!" season four of the past six years. Wake is coming off a 28-27 against North Carolina. QB Tanner Price has been solid for the Deacons so far, but FSU's killer defense might be too much for him.

Arkansas State at Nebraska (12:00, ESPN2): Dear Nebraska, you lost in dramatic fashion to UCLA. This week you have Arkansas State followed by Idaho State, which I can only assume is the third or fourth best team in IDAHO. If you don't win these two games, Pitt will allow Steve Pederson to fly out there and fire Bo Peilini personally.

#16 TCU at Kansas (12:00, FX): I forgot until right now that Charlie Weis coaches at Kansas. My day is made. Kansas just lost to Rice and TCU just won a game 56-0 so this should end well.

#1 Alabama at Arkansas (3:30, CBS): Amazing what one year will do. Just last year, this was maybe the second most anticipated games of the season with national title implications. Just a few months later, Arkansas is coming off a loss to an FCS team with a lame-duck coach while Alabama looks poised to run the table. Again.

Navy at Penn State (3:30, ABC): Penn State. They're like Pitt but on national television on Saturdays. Bill Belton should be back for Penn State and he was probably the difference against Virginia. That he is instant offensive power and a former Pitt commit just makes my heart hurt. MOVING ON.

North Carolina at #19 Louisville (3:30 ESPN2): #goACC.

Virginia at Georgia Tech (3:30 ESPNU): Georgia Tech bounced back big time after their overtime loss at Virginia Tech with a beat down of FCS Presbyterian. Virginia is coming off a huge win against a hobbled Penn State that the Cavilers almost lost anyway. Give me Georgia Tech all day long as Virginia plummets to 0-2 in the Coastal Division by week three.

Portland State at Washington (4:00, FX): Washington hobbled home to the Pacific Northwest after taking an absolute beating by LSU. Portland State just lost to North Dakota. Woof.

#18 Florida at #23 Tennessee (4:00, ESPN): Tyler Bray is good. Like top-five NFL draft pick good. He also throws beer cans at cars, a fact that makes me miss college exponentially. Both teams have had a quality win already (North Carolina State and Texas A&M), but I think the Vols expose Florida as still being a year away from competing in the SEC East.

Arizona State at Missouri (7:00, ESPN2): Todd Graham keeps winning games and this makes me sad. Missouri took their SEC beating last week at the hands of Georgia, so hopefully they'll be up to knocking off the Sun Devils so I can learn to smile again.

Western Kentucky at Kentucky (7:00, ESPNU): Every week, I pick a game or two that it doesn't matter what I write, no one will watch. This is that game.

#2 USC at #21 Stanford (7:30, FOX): So not only has this been a tremendous game for the past few years, it's being called by Gus Johnson. If that's not enough to get you to watch this game, I don't know what to tell you. Yes, Andrew Luck and Jim Harbaugh are gone to the NFL. But Stanford is still soldiering on with Josh Nunes under center and David Shaw on the sidelines. Are they enough for the unstoppable Lane Kiffin BCS deathstar? Doubt it.

#20 Notre Dame at #10 Michigan State (8:00, ABC): The Irish really weren't challenged by Navy in Ireland but, oh boy, they almost lost to Purdue at home after that. Perennial goat Tommy Rees had the opportunity to play hero this time and came through big time on Notre Dame's final drive for the 20-17 win. The problem for the Irish is that Michigan State ain't Purdue. Le'Veon Bell is just an absolute beast and the Spartans' defense is the best since 300. Notre Dame

#14 Texas at Mississippi (9:15, ESPN): Despite having a BCS-winning coach, a stacked roster and convincing wins over their first two opponents, I still refuse to believe Texas is any good this year. I don't know why, but last year just poisoned my opinion of the Longhorns this season. A win over a non-SEC caliber Ole Miss will do little to change my mind. That said, Ole Miss is definitely remains in my top five of places I want to tailgate.

#25 BYU at Utah (10:00, ESPN2): One of the most underrated rivalries in college football. That probably has something to with these teams playing in Utah, but nonetheless, there is some bad blood here. Utah is coming off a pretty ugly loss to Utah State and the loss of senior quarterback Jordan Wynn. BYU, on the other hand, was impressive in their first two games and have last year's beatdown at the hands of the Utes as extra motivation.

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