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If you can only spare one window this weekend, make it Saturday Evening (Avg. Game Rank 6.8). All four games kick at 6:30 PM: Kentucky at Oklahoma, Notre Dame at BYU, Wisconsin at UCLA and Oklahoma State at Houston. Saturday Early (Avg. Game Rank 7.2) is a close second, and it’s where you’ll find the Game of the Week, Florida at Texas at 11:00 AM.
A quick note on the numbers. Every team rank in this guide comes from The Precedent Ratings, with the AP Poll used only for comparison. The number in front of each game is its Game Rank, which orders the weekend’s games using both teams’ ratings. In each window, a lower Avg. Game Rank means a stronger slate. Only FBS-vs-FBS games are included, and all kickoff times are Central.
Game of the Week
Florida (#15) at Texas (#3), Texas -10.5, over/under 51.5, Saturday 11:00 AM, ABC
The weekend’s top game by Game Rank puts the third-rated team in the country against the 15th. The AP sees a wider gap, with Texas seventh and Florida unranked. The two have no common opponents yet. Texas comes in off a loss and Florida has dropped two in a row, and the Gators may be without starting quarterback Aaron Philo, who is questionable with a shoulder injury. If he can’t go, Florida would turn to a quarterback making his first career start.
Purdue has won two in a row while Washington has lost three straight, and both played Minnesota: Purdue won 41-13, Washington lost 27-24. Washington may also be without starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who is questionable with a rib injury and not expected to play, and starting linebacker Xe’ree Alexander is out with a high-ankle sprain. Memphis brings a three-game win streak to Tulane. Appalachian State, on a two-game skid, has a quarterback question of its own, with Malachi Singleton questionable with an ankle injury, and faces James Madison next week.
Two of the weekend’s hottest teams meet in Bloomington: Indiana has won six in a row and Ohio State four. Ohio State will be short-handed, with running back Ja’Kobi Jackson, who has started recent games, among several players ruled out. Mississippi State and LSU both come in off a loss, and Mississippi State starting quarterback Kamario Taylor is questionable with a foot injury. Cincinnati and West Virginia share a common opponent in Arizona, which beat Cincinnati 34-7 and West Virginia 52-31. West Virginia has lost three straight, and Cincinnati faces Texas Tech next week.
Georgia, now No. 1 in the AP poll after a 20-17 win at Alabama, has won six straight. The Bulldogs will be without running back Chauncey Bowens, their touchdown leader, while Auburn is missing sack leader Xavier Atkins to a suspension. Both beat Vanderbilt: Georgia 38-14, Auburn 21-15. Alabama, coming off that loss to Georgia, visits a Tennessee team that has won two in a row, and Tennessee starting quarterback Faizon Brandon is questionable with a shoulder injury; a backup is reportedly set to start. Missouri has won two straight and beat Florida 45-17, the same Florida team that beat Ole Miss 52-28. Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons, listed as probable, returns to Oxford, where he used to play. UNLV and Air Force each carry three-game win streaks, and both played North Dakota State: UNLV won 13-7, Air Force lost 38-32.
Notre Dame and BYU are the only unbeaten teams meeting this weekend, and Notre Dame’s six-game win streak ties for the longest in the country. BYU will play without starting running back LJ Martin, out with an ankle injury. Kentucky has won four in a row, but leading rusher CJ Baxter is questionable; Oklahoma’s key offensive tackle Michael Fasusi is also questionable and nearing a return. UCLA has won five straight, including a 17-15 win at Oregon, but reportedly lost starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a season-ending knee injury in that game. Wisconsin arrives with four straight wins. Oklahoma State (four straight) and Houston (three straight) both beat UCF, Oklahoma State 42-28 and Houston 27-17.
Nebraska and Oregon both come in off a loss. Oregon is still without starting quarterback Dante Moore, out with a concussion. Nebraska is without starting safety Jamir Conn. Utah has won five in a row while Colorado has lost three straight, and Utah faces Houston next week. Wake Forest brings a three-game win streak to California.
By the Numbers
Unbeaten: 9 teams are still perfect, and only one game matches two of them: Notre Dame at BYU.
Biggest line: Miami (FL) -21.5 against Florida State.
Closest lines: three games at 1.5 points: UNLV -1.5 at Air Force, West Virginia -1.5 against Cincinnati, and Appalachian State -1.5 at Coastal Carolina.
Highest total: 63.5, Cincinnati at West Virginia.
Lowest total: 40.5, Northern Illinois at Wyoming.
Longest win streaks: James Madison, Indiana, Georgia and Notre Dame have each won six in a row. None of them play each other; Indiana hosts Ohio State (four straight), and Notre Dame visits BYU (five straight).
Sleeper of the Week
UNLV (#46) at Air Force (#44), UNLV -1.5, over/under 48.5, Saturday 2:30 PM, CBSSN
Two teams two spots apart in the ratings, both on three-game win streaks, and neither in the AP poll. The road team is a slim favorite in one of the weekend’s three closest lines. They also share a common opponent: UNLV beat North Dakota State 13-7, while Air Force lost to North Dakota State 38-32.
Storyline to Watch
Notre Dame (#23) at BYU (#9), Notre Dame -10.5, over/under 46.5, Saturday 6:30 PM, ABC
The weekend’s only meeting of unbeatens comes with a split verdict. The AP has Notre Dame second and BYU eighth, but The Precedent Ratings flip it, with BYU ninth and Notre Dame 23rd. Even so, Notre Dame is a 10.5-point road favorite. Notre Dame’s six-game win streak ties for the longest in the country, BYU has won five straight, and BYU will be without starting running back LJ Martin.
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Written by Bob Sloop