Has last weekend’s heavy meal of football digested yet? Might need to fast 40 hours or so to get the gut clear and ready to do it all over again. Run some hills, swim some laps, do some burpees so you can justify that third slice of pie on Sunday afternoon. Dessert will have to wait.
This week’s football meal begins with a tasty bite on Thursday Night as 2-0 Wake Forest are hosting 2-0 North Carolina St. The Wolfpack were relentless against Virginia last week and will be looking to build upon that performance. Wake Forest is a 7-point home underdog. That’s a lot considering this is a regional and conference rivalry and a Thursday Night game. Thursday is a night that loves a home underdog upset. One that comes to mind happened way back in 2006. November 9th, 2006, to be exact.
The Louisville Cardinals travelled to Piscataway to take on Rutgers. Louisville and Rutgers were both undefeated to that point and Rutgers was a short home underdog. The night before the game, I had a vivid dream that the Scarlett Knights won the game by three on a game winning field goal as time expired. It was clear as day. The following night the Scarlett did exactly that by winning 28-25 on a field goal as time expired. I don’t have many moments like that one, but that was certainly a Thursday night home underdog game worth remembering.
While neither NC St or Wake are nationally ranked and neither seem to have rosters built to make the playoffs, this game will be entertaining. Only twenty-two long miles separate these two campuses, so there is going to be tension. I’ll take the “home team getting points. What’s better than that” as Brent Musburger would’ve said.
So, Thursday I’ll watch Wake at 5:30. By the time that game goes to half, it’ll be time to tune into the D.C. airwaves to catch the second tasty bite that features Josh Jacobs and Green Bay and Deebo Samuel and Washington. By the time that game reaches half, I’ll turn the dial back over to the conclusion of the ACC bout, and if I’m conscious when it’s over, I’ll fumble my way back over to Prime to catch the end of the NFL game. Doubtful.
The following day, Friday Night Lights will be the priority, but there are some good college matchups scheduled that are worth keeping an eye on. Colorado at Houston is intriguing, Kansas St at Arizona should be a highly contested game by both sides, and New Mexico at UCLA should be a close game by the end.
Moving on to Saturday. The round version of football kicks the day off at 5:30 when Arsenal host Nottingham Forest. COYG! Early start, but it’ll be easy to get out of bed for that one. It’s been two weeks since the Gunners lost 1-0 at Anfield. Let’s get a good win to start the day.
After that it’ll be time to take to the hills and find some tall trees and fresh air. I’ll get lost somewhere in the Wasatch for a few hours which will mean that I’ll miss the first window of games. The Hometown Tigers, Badgers, and Ducks all play at Noon as does Georgia Tech.
Saturday Afternoon temps will be hot across the land. So will the action be in the afternoon window of games. At 1:30 Uga takes on Smokey in Neyland, USC plays Purdue in West LaFayette, Washington St travels all the way to Denton to take on North Texas, SMU takes on Missouri St in Springfield, Pitt brawls with West Virginia in Monongalia County, and Oregon St plays Texas Tech in Lubbock just to name a few of the games that interest me.
I didn’t even mention Utah Tech playing at Idaho. It kicks at 2:00 inside the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. I’ll blaze with the Trailblazers and take the upset over the Vandals.
Roughly a half hour after this game kicks, the red-hot Bulls from Tampa will take on the Hurricanes in Miami. If they can pull the upset, they will have begun the season 3-0 with wins over Boise St, Florida, and Miami. “Strong and competitive at every position and as experienced as any team in the country” is how I wrote it back in July. South Florida is proving this to be true so far. The Bulls will showdown with the Tigers in Memphis on October 25th. That game will carry a lot of playoff juice if both teams keep winning between now and then.
So, like I said, the afternoon action will be as hot as the temps.
Saturday Night I’ll settle in for Texas A&M at Notre Dame, the Ohio Country rivalry between the Buckeyes and Bobcats, the Utes in Laramie, Duke at Tulane, Air Force in Logan, Stanford hosting BC, and the “Golden” game as the Gophers play the Bears in Berkeley. Oh yeah, and the game that will probably draw the most eyes Florida at LSU.
So, it’s not just football on Saturday. Only during dawn, the afternoon, evening, night, and if I want to watch the Hawaii game, overnight portions of Saturday. Like when you take in any heavy meal, moderation is necessary.
The Round version kicks off Sunday’s football action at 9:30 with the Manchester Derby. City are hosting United.
This game will lead straight into the NFL Sunday where the LA Rams will play in Nashville, Daniel Jones and the Colts will host Courtland Sutton and Denver, and Justin Jefferson and the Vikings will host Bijan and Atlanta along with an entire slate of games.
The Eagles/ Chiefs play at 2:30 but it doesn’t grab me like it should. I find myself gravitating towards this Indy/ Denver matchup. Two teams coming off season opening wins that are hungry and have a lot to play for.
Denver’s offense is led by Bo Nix, J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey, Courtland Sutton, and Evan Ingram and a defense led by Pat Surtain and Dre Greenlaw. Talent is all over the field. Indianapolis is not so different as they have MVP candidate Daniel Jones at the helm with Jon Taylor by his side on offense and a defense that is cemented on the back end by Safety Nick Cross and Cornerback Charvarius Ward. This is the game I’ll be watching on Sunday afternoon after the Cam Ward led Titans beat the Rams in Nashville.
Justin Jefferson vs Bijan Sunday Night will be the refreshing Topo Chico that settles the tummy after the long heavy football meal.
So that’s how I’m approaching this full weekend of football both round and oblong. “Football is just a game, Doc, but I love it.”- Coach Boone
Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’
Whit W.