RSVLTS.com will be traveling to Tempe, AZ this weekend to check out Arizona State as they host UCLA. In honor of our escapades we give you the best college football games of the weekend.
Cincinnati @ #16 Louisville
Friday, October 26th 8pm EST
The Bearcats dropped the ball last week when they lost their game at Toledo. Had Cincinnati won that game we would be looking at #21 vs #16 squaring off in a match up of undefeated teams, a game that the Big East could take some pride in. Instead the game lost some of its glamour with Cincy dropping out of the BCS rankings. The Big East is now left with two undefeated ranked teams (#16 Louisville & #15 Rutgers). And the conference needs it to stay that way until those teams meet on Nov 27th in the final game of the season. For that to happen the Cardinals need to take care of business at home this weekend (Rutgers also needs to handle Kent St at home but that shouldn’t be a problem). Teddy Bridgewater has been having a stellar, yet under-the-radar, season. Completing 73% of his passes with 11 TDs and only 3 INTS.
#2 Florida @ #10 Georgia
Saturday, October 27th 3:30pm EST
I know the schedule says that Florida is playing “AT” Georgia but let’s not kid ourselves. The annual rivalry is, again, being played in Jacksonville, only an hour and a half drive from the famed “Swamp”. With the Gators basically playing a home game the outcome should end up in Florida’s favor. Georgia got rocked when they traveled to South Carolina in their only match up against a ranked opponent this year. So for the Bulldogs to keep any hope of a national championship, or even a shot at the SEC Championship game, alive they need this win badly. A win against Florida would propel Georgia right back into the mix in the SEC East and breath life back into their title dreams. Florida on the other hand controls their own destiny. All they have to do is win the rest of the way and they’ll get their shot at the crystal football. However, running the table isn’t exactly a given in the stacked SEC. If they can survive in Jacksonville they have two cupcake match ups before their rivalry game with #12 Florida State to end the regular season, followed by what would most likely be a SEC title game against #1 Alabama.
#14 Texas Tech @ #3 Kansas State
Saturday, October 27th 3:30pm EST
Kansas State jumped over Oregon in this weeks BCS standings. The Wildcats will need a good showing against Tech this week, if they want to stay at #3. They have already gotten through the meaty part of their schedule and with only one more game left against a team currently ranked in the BCS Top 25 (#23 Texas) they will be coasting while many other teams in the title chase will be picking up steam and playing nationally ranked (and more importantly, nationally televised games). So a strong showing against a surprisingly good Red Raiders team can go a long way in securing their spot at the top of the rankings. Texas Tech put themselves on the map this year by trouncing then-ranked #5 West Virginia at home, they followed that up with a triple overtime shoot out against TCU in Forth Worth. Their lone loss is to an Oklahoma team that has been making their opponents look pretty silly the past few weeks. Look to Heisman front-runner Colin Klein to control the game again this week. Whether he will do it with his arm or legs is still up in the air.
#5 Notre Dame @ #8 Oklahoma
Saturday, October 27th 8pm EST
Two of the nations most storied franchises are going to square off in a match up that will go a long way in deciding who will be playing in the national championship. On one side you have the Fighting Irish’s #2 ranked scoring defense giving up less than 10 points a game, matched up against the #5 scoring offense of the Sooners. Notre Dame’s schedule looked absolutely brutal to start the season. Although they haven’t looked great all season, they weathered the storm and now sit at 7-0 after match ups against then-ranked #10 Michigan state, #18 Michigan and #17 Standford. They also played two neutral site games (vs Navy in Ireland and vs Miami in Chicago). Even if they can travel to Norman, OK and pick up the win,they still have a date with #9 USC to end the season. All this means that the Irish only played two home games against un-ranked opponents. Compare that to the Oklahoma who has only played two games away form home (one of them being against UTEP). What Oklahoma lacks in strength of schedule, they more than make up for in points scored. The Sooners are racking up almost 45 points a game. On top of that, their only loss to Kansas State looks better and better with each win that the Wildcats rack up. It’s safe to say that whoever wins this game will be gaining some valuable ground in the rankings. Also, keep your eyes on Notre Dame’s LB Manti Te’o, Te’o has a chance to become the first ever defense only Heisman Trophy winner.
#11 Mississippi State @ #1 Alabama
Saturday, October 27th 8:30pm EST
Yes, Alabama is the best team in the country. No, this probably won’t change after this game. But, this is by far their biggest challenge of the season. They crushed then-ranked #8 Michigan in Cowboys Stadium to open the season and haven’t been tested since. The Crimson Tide have taken care of business in typical Nick Saban style, crushing opposing offenses with the #1 defense in the country. Saban’s squad is surrendering an anemic 8.3 points a game, best in the country. They’re also attacking with a balanced offense led by Heisman hopeful AJ McCarron that is averaging about 220 yards rushing and passing. This weekend’s match up kicks off a three week span where Alabama will be truly tested. After this week’s game, the Tide travel to Death Valley to take on #6 LSU then come home to Tuscaloosa to take on #20 Texas A&M. Mississippi State is currently ranked #11 but, like ‘Bama, have their first challenge of the season this weekend. The Bulldogs have only played two away games, against Troy and Kentucky (combined record of 5-10). They haven’t even had an opponent ranked in the top 25 at any point in this season. Playing Alabama isn’t exactly the first big challenge most teams want to face, but if they are able to pull of the upset they can prove that they at least belong in the conversation of the top teams in the country.
BONUS Game
UCLA vs Arizona State
Saturday, October 27th 3pm EST
The Roosevelts are traveling to Tempe to check out Arizona State as they host UCLA. Both teams are 5-2 and looking to stay within striking distance of #9 USC in the Pac-12 South and keep their outside chance of making it to the Pac-12 Championship game alive. UCLA showed some promise and was ranked #22 after beating then-ranked #16 Nebraska. But, the Bruins followed that up with a loss to Oregon State. Arizona State was ranked #24 in the USA Today Poll before getting routed at home by Oregon. But even with the rout last week I’ve been assured by a Sun Devil’s fan that, “Win or Lose, Devils still booze!” So we are really looking forward to the game. If you happen to be tailgating make sure you find us and get some stickers or t-shirts.
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Bold Upset Prediction of the Week:
#7 Oregon St @ Washington
Saturday, October 27th 10:15pm EST
The Beavers have exceeded all expectations this year and propelled themselves to #7 in the BCS ranking. This week they head to Seattle to take on Washington. Although Washington’s record stands at 3-4, Steve Sarkisian is usually good for one big upset every year. And this game definitely fits the mold. An over-performing team travels to play an under-performing, upset minded team with an upset minded coach with some great athletes on his roster.
