For college football news and my thoughts on it, catch the latest video available every Wednesday night on the Precedent Media YouTube channel.
If you can only spare one window, make it Saturday Evening. Its Avg. Game Rank of 7.0 ties for the best of the weekend, and it brings LSU at Kentucky at 6:00 PM, followed by Georgia at Alabama and USC at Penn State, both at 6:30 PM. Saturday Afternoon matches it at 7.0, with Texas at Oklahoma and UCLA at Oregon both kicking off at 2:30 PM. The Game of the Week is in the Saturday Evening window.
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
LSU (#12) at Kentucky (#7), LSU -8.5, over/under 51.5, Saturday 6:00 PM, ESPN
No game this weekend pairs two higher-rated teams, yet the AP Poll barely notices one of them. LSU sits at #10 in the AP, and Kentucky, #7 in The Precedent Ratings, is not ranked there at all. Both teams have already beaten Texas A&M, LSU by 35-6 and Kentucky by 31-21. Kentucky has won three games in a row and LSU has won two. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is off the availability report and said Tuesday he expects to be 100 percent after a hamstring injury limited him the last two weeks.
Florida State arrives on a two-game winning streak, and Louisville has lost two in a row. Both have played SMU: Florida State lost 27-24, while Louisville won 41-31. Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz is probable after playing through a lower-leg injury, and Florida State has no quarterback concerns. Florida State plays #2 Miami (FL) next week.
BYU has won four games in a row and plays #25 Notre Dame next week, but it will be without running back LJ Martin, who is expected to miss four to six weeks. Iowa quarterback Hank Brown is questionable with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, and Kirk Ferentz said Wednesday that Jeremy Hecklinski has the job in practice and Brown’s chances of playing are “not great at this point.” Washington has lost two in a row. Wyoming and San Jose State have both beaten Hawaii, Wyoming 27-10 and San Jose State 20-16. Washington State and Utah State have both lost to Washington, by scores of 24-10 and 16-14, and Washington State has lost two in a row.
Pittsburgh has won five games in a row but lost starting quarterback Mason Heintschel for the season to a torn ACL. Holden Geriner, who came off the bench to throw the game-winning touchdown in last week’s 35-33 win over Virginia Tech, gets the start. North Carolina has lost two in a row. Oklahoma State has won three straight, and UCF receiver Duane Thomas Jr. is questionable but could make his first appearance of the season. Florida comes in off a 45-17 loss at Missouri and plays #1 Texas next week. South Carolina has lost three in a row, and Shane Beamer would not commit to edge rusher Dylan Stewart playing after his one-game suspension.
Texas and UCLA have each won four games in a row, and Texas plays #4 Florida next week. Oregon has won two straight and plays #24 Nebraska next week, but quarterback Dante Moore is out with a concussion, so Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola makes his first start for the Ducks. Houston has won two in a row and plays #22 Oklahoma State next week. Ole Miss plays #10 Missouri next week. Vanderbilt has lost two in a row, but freshman quarterback Jared Curtis is probable after sitting out at Georgia, and Clark Lea said he had a full week of practice.
Georgia and Alabama have each won five games in a row. Hurricane Isaias has Tuscaloosa expecting a 90 percent chance of showers and possible thunderstorms Saturday, though the kickoff time and site are unchanged and the SEC says it is monitoring the storm. College GameDay has already moved indoors to Coleman Coliseum. Georgia will be without running back Chauncey Bowens, its leading scorer. Penn State has lost two in a row and lists 12 players out. Minnesota has won three games in a row.
Boise State and Fresno State have each won four games in a row, and one of those streaks ends Saturday night. Utah has also won four straight, and Kansas will be without backup quarterback Cole Ballard. Hawaii has lost two in a row. Arizona State is coming off a 55-19 loss to Baylor and plays #16 Texas Tech next week.
By the Numbers
Unbeaten teams: 15 teams are still unbeaten, and two games put unbeaten teams against each other: Georgia at Alabama and Indiana at Nebraska.
Biggest line: Notre Dame -38.5 over Stanford.
Closest lines: 1.5 points in two games, Georgia at Alabama (Alabama -1.5) and USC at Penn State (Penn State -1.5).
Highest total: 61.5, Arizona at West Virginia.
Lowest total: 39.5, Texas at Oklahoma.
Longest active win streaks: Ten teams have won five games in a row: Texas Tech, Alabama, North Dakota State, James Madison, Miami (FL), Pittsburgh, Indiana, Nebraska, Georgia and Notre Dame. Two of those streaks end this weekend, because Georgia plays at Alabama and Indiana plays at Nebraska.
Sleeper of the Week
Iowa (#18) at Washington (#58), Washington -3.0, over/under 41.5, Friday 8:00 PM, TV not yet listed
The Precedent Ratings put Iowa 40 spots ahead of Washington, and the AP Poll has Iowa at #20 with Washington unranked, yet Washington is the favorite. Iowa’s quarterback situation is unsettled. Hank Brown has started all five games but is questionable with a shoulder injury, and Kirk Ferentz said, “Right now, our mindset is that Heck’s got it.” That would mean the first college start for Jeremy Hecklinski, who replaced Brown in the second half of the Ohio State loss and completed all five of his passes. Washington has lost two in a row.
Storyline to Watch
Georgia (#38) at Alabama (#3), Alabama -1.5, over/under 51.5, Saturday 6:30 PM, ABC
Both teams are unbeaten with five straight wins, and the two rankings could hardly disagree more. The AP Poll has Georgia at #2 and Alabama at #6, while The Precedent Ratings have Alabama at #3 and Georgia at #38. The 1.5-point line ties for the closest of the weekend. Georgia will be without leading scorer Chauncey Bowens, and Alabama tight end Josh Ford is questionable after breaking his arm last week. Hurricane Isaias is bringing rain and possible thunderstorms to Tuscaloosa, but as of Thursday the 6:30 PM kickoff stands.
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Written by Bob Sloop