A Look ahead into College Football Week 2 and NFL Opening Night
“All I can say is that my life is really plain, I like the watching puddles gather rain.” – Blind Melon
Ah, good. The game is delayed. It’s Thursday evening about 6:30 and I just tuned into NBC for Thursday night football. I had forgotten about it until my Fantasy Football group were chatting about it. Turns out, I haven’t missed a thing.
Burgers are ready. I’m going to eat and then get into the football. Who is it Chiefs/ Ravens? Give me Derrick Henry for a TD. Now, I’m going to crush this burger.
And back to the computer. Ravens/ Chiefs game on NBC muted. Ravens are driving. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are getting 5-6 yards a carry, and…TD Derrick Henry!! I called it. Twenty minutes ago, before I ate my burger. Dang, Henry is looking leaner, but still running over people. 7-0 Ravens. Not the point of this blog, but all of that just unfolded, and now a commercial.
Gives me time to get to talking about the upcoming college football weekend. The same cannot be said about CFB Week 2 that I said about Week one…The matchups are better. I haven’t decided which games I am watching yet, but there are several, in fact, twelve games I like this weekend for one reason or another. Similar to last week, I’ll be looking at different angles of different games.
For example, interesting game number one of College Football Week 2 is Brigham Young @ Southern Methodist which is Friday Night 7PM/ EST on ESPN. Interesting discovery, my local movie theatre is showing the game and selling tickets. Just for curiosity’s sake, I looked up tickets and it was $26 for one movie theatre seat. It didn’t mention any food or beverage being included. Seems steep to me to watch a game on a bigger tv, but about half the theatre had sold, so somebody is paying it. Now, to the Cougars and Mustangs. I’m inclined to root for Kalani Sitake’s team from Provo, since they are so close and since he stepped out of the ‘Cougar Walk’ back in 2022 to “dap me up.” I was wearing the away colors proudly and with an even prouder ‘shit eatin’ grin on my face. I told him “good luck today,” and he kept moving with a brisk pace to keep leading his team of blue and white after clasping his right palm in mine and embracing me for about a second. Cool moment for me. Just another day for the upbeat Head Coach. If this game was at Lavell Edwards I would rave about that view, but because its at SMU, I’ll save that for another day. Now, SMU, who coaches them? Is it still Sonny Dykes? Nope. Just looked it up and Rhett Lashlee is down there in Dallas. Lashlee, you may remember, backed up Matt Jones for the Razorbacks at Arkansas back in the early 2000’s. He rarely played I think, and an injury ended his career. Wow, didn’t think I’d reference Matt Jones at Arkansas two times in consecutive Thursday nights. So, Lashlee is coaching at SMU in his second year, and hoping to lead this Mustang Big 12 side to a home victory. I won’t be watching this one, but two religious schools duking it out late on a Friday night is bound to be a good watch.
Now, that game is only interesting because I live close to Provo and more importantly, I basically know Kalani Sitake now. Tongue in cheek. Not really a reason but that’s how I operate. Hey, I just learned about Lashlee being the coach, so there’s that. Good luck to him. Moving right along.
I’m going to be giving 11 more game suggestions, and I feel like I need to stay on track in order to keep this shorter than Mein Kampf(720 pages). I’ll do my best.
Saturday is where the real action begins. High NOON EST we got Longhorns and Wolverines, Hogs and Cowboys, Panthers and Bearcats, Trojans and Tigers just to name the couple that interest me, with no game being bigger this weekend than my game number two, Texas @ Michigan.
Texas @ Michigan NOON FOX
We watched Michigan this past Saturday night as they pulled away late from the visiting Fresno St Bulldogs. Their defense, running game with #20 Mullings, and kicker Dominic Zvada stood out as their strong points. Tons of questions at QB for this team. Now, for Texas..The Steve Sarkisian led Longhorn side demolished Colorado St 52-0 last week, and someone somewhere says they are “4th” ranked team in the country. Led by their passing attack, the Longhorns found no trouble last week. Looking at the box score, the offense was balanced and it looks like everyone on the team contributed on some level. 11 receivers caught at least one pass and eight players had a rushing attempt. It appears to have been a near flawless game without committing one turnover. Over 99,000 Texans packed out their stadium in Austin cheering them on to that easy win. But now, QB Quinn Ewers, WR Isaiah Bond, and the rest of Longhorn offense will have to perform with 99,000+ opposing fans cheering and jeering in the “Big House” just as loudly against them this week. This game is interesting on many levels, but the main one I’m interested in is Michigan’s defense versus this explosive Texas offense. This game could end up being a weird 19-10, or 27-18 score. Most likely in favor of the Longhorns, but it also could be a clear cut Longhorn stampede. We shall see. I know nothing.
Ok, speed it up here. Is this guy gonna finish or what?
Also at Noon is Arkansas at Oklahoma Ston ABC.
Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s offense was perfect last week against Pine Bluff, scoring on every drive. Let’s see what they can do against the Cowboys on the road in Stillwater. Hogs vs Cowboys just sounds like an old pulp western novel. Saturday it’s the fiery Mike Gundy vs the ‘hot seated’ Sam Pittman. I like the Big 12/ SEC crossover, and this one is just 186 miles apart. Three hours up 412 to the 44 will get you there. This one could get heated. Bring it on!
Next, we have Pitt at Cincinnati on ESPN. Now this sounds more like an early march Men’s Basketball matchup, but these football games can sometimes be a diamond in the rough. I know nothing about either team, but name recognition alone will make me want to check in on the ACC/ Big 12 matchup.
The last game I’m highlighting at NOON is the Memphis Tigers hosting the Troy Trojans on ESPNU. I always root for my hometown Tigers, and the Troy Trojans just has a nice humm ring to it. Tigers need to take this team seriously.
Ok. Moving onto the 3:30 EST window. Three games catch my eye:
Baylor @ Utah 3:30 EST FOX
Iowa st @ Iowa 3:30 CBS
Cal @ Auburn 3:30 Espn2
Utah and Baylor both with their first test of the season, in this Big 12 matchup. That’s weird to type. Utah should be in the Pac 10 or 12 or whatever…goodbye PAC. This will be my first time watching both of these teams, and this game might make my “list of three” that will come out 9/6 afternoon.
Iowa/ Iowa st is obvious. I mean, every year the game is like 10-7, 19-17, or something wild. The defense scores, the Qb’s hit their receivers in their shoelaces, and punters win games. That’s Hawkeyes/ Cyclones. Let the chaos happen.
California @ Auburn is only interesting because I want to see Auburn in a competitive game and ideally, lose… At least, I hope it’s a competitive game. Heck, I hope they all are. That’s why they are on the list. I’m, hoping to avoid the 7 TD deficit games. Moving on.
Two games in the early primetime slate look tasty. Both games feature red home teams. Both home stadiums can get crazy loud. At night, these two stadiums seem to look smoky and humid every time I see them on tv. Or its raining or snowing. Either way both Nebraska and NC State look similar and are hosting tough opponents. The Volunteers meeting the Wolfpack in Charlotte and the Sanders led Buffaloes head into Lincoln. Both games have the potential to be great in their own way. I look for UT to defeat the Wolfpack handily in the second half, and the two Big 12 rivals Nebraska and Colorado to exchange blows and have the game decided one way or another late in the game. Someone by one score. Take it for what you want.
Tennessee @ North Carolina St 7:30 EST ABC
Colorado @ Nebraska 7:30 NBC
Tired yet? Don’t give up on me now.
The college football Saturday continues late into the Saturday night and will continue into Sunday morning on the East coast with what could be two of the most exciting games of the day:
Texas Tech @ Washington St 10:00Pm EST FOX
Mississippi St @ Arizona St 10:30 Pm ESPN
All I see here is points, and three former Mike Leach led teams. Rest in peace you offensive pirate genius. Damn I miss Mike Leach. We all do.
These are hella late night games, so they better supply points. Don’t care who wins, but at least one of these better be 45-42.
That’s it for now. Settling into the second half of this opening NFL game. Chiefs are up 20-10. Damn, Pacheco runs hard. #20 Mullings for Michigan runs like him. Can you tell he impressed me?
I’ll be back tomorrow with the three games I’ll be watching on Saturday. Get excited about the weekend. If you are a fan of the old college football, well stick with me because we might share an opinion or two. Watching for fun is easier.
Find the humor and keep on movin’
Whit W.