Week 6 won't have the "Top Ten Throwdowns" that last week's schedule gave us. Only one such contest, Tennessee at Texas A&M, will feature two top ten teams playing against each other.
Beyond that and the annual Red River Showdown between the Longhorns and Sooners, it's a big week in the SEC and the Pac-12. Alabama travels to an Arkansas team that is unique in its ability to match Alabama's physicality. LSU travels to Florida in arguably the SEC's most prominent mid-season series. There's no shortage of intrigue out west either. Colorado, Pac-12 South front-runner, will travel to the Coliseum in search of its first win in 11 tries against the Trojans. Washington will try to finally beat Oregon, which is riding a three-game losing streak. Stanford looks for some measure of vengeance from last week against Washington's in-state rival.
Week 6 also had the first week game prior to Thursday. So, our apologies to Arkansas State and Georgia Southern, which played yesterday. Arkansas State beat Georgia Southern by a touchdown grab in the game's final seconds.
WHAT A CATCH#FunBelt pic.twitter.com/qoO7zzIlb2
— #FunBelt (@SunBelt) October 6, 2016
Let's dive into the rest of the schedule.
Thursday
Temple at Memphis (ESPN, 8 p.m.). Memphis and Temple were both talking points for a great 2015 in the American Athletic Conference. They're also-rans this year as everyone's looking up to Houston.
Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.). Likewise, both Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech had great 2015 seasons. Western Kentucky is even the defending Conference USA champion. This may not be they year for either, though. Western Kentucky is 3-2 and Louisiana Tech is 2-3.
Friday
Clemson at Boston College (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.). Here's a game that could be of some intrigue on Friday night.
Clemson needed a second-half rally to salvage an 18-point halftime lead it squandered, ultimately beating a game Louisville squad by a yard. It'll face Boston College on a quick turnaround.
The frustrated face of BC football. (Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)
Boston College is still looking for its first ACC win in two years. It'll be asking too much for the offense to carry the Eagles against the country's No. 12 total defense. Boston College is comically bad on offense, averaging just 335 yards a game (No. 113 in the country) against even the terrible competition it has played to date.
The Eagles' defense is capable, though. It's the country's No. 1 total defense, averaging 202 yards conceded to the competition. It may well repeat as the best total defense in the country despite losing its defensive coordinator from last year to Michigan. Clemson's offense sputters and misfires regularly. A low-scoring game gives Boston College a fighting chance.
It is however unlikely that this game has a fighting chance in the Boston TV market. Game 2 of the ALDS between Boston and Cleveland will be finishing around the time this game starts. Roll Tribe.
Southern Methodist at Tulsa (ESPN2, 8 p.m.). Tulsa starts conference play this week with a home clash against Southern Methodist. Tulsa's American tilt next week is at Houston, though.
Boise State at New Mexico (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.). San Diego State's loss last week at South Alabama means it's down to Boise State and Houston for the Group of Five invite to the New Year's Six. Boise State will travel to New Mexico as 18-point favorites, hoping to avenge last year's upset loss on the blue turf.
Saturday
Cincinnati at Connecticut (CBS Sports, 11:30 a.m.). Saturday gets started a half hour earlier than usual in East Hartford. Cincinnati takes on Connecticut as a three-point favorite.
East Carolina at South Florida (ESPN News, 12 p.m.). South Florida is having itself a year finally. The 4-1 Bulls are likely the favorites to win the American East this year. It has a 25-point win over Syracuse. Even the 20-point loss at Florida State seems respectable, given how competitive the Bulls were to start the game.
Texas Christian at Kansas (ESPNU, 12 p.m.). The Horned Frogs haven't been the same team since narrowly missing the playoff in 2014 (editorial note: neener-neener). Its two losses this year mean it won't make the playoff in 2016. It'll need Oklahoma to lose twice in the Big XII if the Horned Frogs want to make the Sugar Bowl.
Few things are more #B1G than a game for a pig. (Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)
Iowa at Minnesota (ESPN2, 12 p.m.). I miss when the battle for Floyd used to be a season-ending contest, but that was prior to two waves of Big Ten expansion. Iowa ends with Nebraska, as well it should because that is one of the Big Ten's marquee November games now. Minnesota gets Wisconsin at the end of its schedule.
Maryland at Penn State (BTN, 12 p.m.). Remember when Maryland's players refused to shake hands with Penn State's players for its last trip to Beaver Stadium? That worked out well for Maryland. The Terps scored a satisfying win over a Penn State program that annually raided its territory for its best talent.
It might be worth trying again since Maryland is favored by a point in this game. Make it a tradition.
Texas vs. Oklahoma (FOX Sports 1, 12 p.m.). This is the Red River Showdown held annually in the Cotton Bowl every year.
Who knew Charlie Strong might be coaching for his job in this game? This might be something we could have expected before the season started, but not after the Notre Dame win. Perhaps LSU's dismissal of Les Miles adds a sense of urgency to Texas for the Tom Herman sweepstakes. If it doesn't move soon, LSU will, or will at least get Jimbo Fisher as a consolation prize. Texas officials vow the Longhorns won't sack Charlie Strong mid-season, but LSU may compel it to that course.
Things went south quickly for Charlie Strong, namely for the defensive unit. The Longhorns weren't great defensively against Notre Dame, but Notre Dame is a loaded team on offense. However, subsequent implosions at California and at Oklahoma State led Charlie Strong to take defensive play-calling duties from Vance Bedford. This is almost always a canary in the coal mine.
Oklahoma is an 11-point favorite, even if it has inexplicably blown these games against Texas in which it was favored by a wide margin.
Notre Dame at NC State (ABC, 12 p.m.). That NC State is even on national television in a battle of unranked teams is already a major victory for its athletic department. The Wolfpack are even favored by three against the Irish.
LSU at Florida (ESPN, 12 p.m.). SEC folk who pine for the days when its conference strength was more than just Alabama may look at this contest with some nostalgia. It was arguably the best series in the conference when the conference was its best.
It's mostly been Florida heartbreak in this series of late. LSU has won five of the last six. (Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports)
Things are a bit different now. LSU has an interim coach. Florida is doing fine even if its past two games saw it squander a massive lead in Knoxville and herp-a-derp past Vanderbilt for the second straight year.
There are three lingering questions for this game. One, will Leonard Fournette play? He hasn't practiced all week and Ed Orgeron seems to think the answer is "no."
Two, will this game be played at all? It's firmly in Hurricane Matthew's path. Central Florida and Tulane canceled their game on Friday. Nikki Haley, South Carolina's governor, seems to think the Georgia-South Carolina game won't be played in Columbia. Everyone's hedging bets this weekend.
Three, also considering the Texas A&M-Tennessee game later in the afternoon: how many wins will the SEC East secure against the SEC West this year? It's been looking rather grim for the SEC East so far.
Auburn at Mississippi State (SEC Network, 12 p.m.). This might effectively decides who finishes last in the SEC West.
Houston at Navy (CBS Sports, 3 p.m.). Fans interested in whether Houston had a loss on its schedule after the Oklahoma game may have circled this contest in Annapolis as a likely candidate. Navy is difficult for everyone. However, that was one quarterback ACL tear ago for the Midshipmen. Houston is favored big (-17) in this game.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.). Iowa State nearly beat Baylor last week. Was that more an indictment on Baylor or signal that Iowa State may finally have turned a corner under first-year head coach Matt Campbell? We'll find out in Stillwater.
Indiana at Ohio State (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.). This is your personal game of the week. Stay tuned to Eleven Warriors for comprehensive coverage of this game.
Purdue at Illinois (BTN, 3:30 p.m.). Purdue inexplicably won its last visit to Champaign. Its one of just two Big Ten wins Darrell Hazell has in four years at Purdue. A win again means Illinois, which has lost three straight, is looking at a dead last finish in the Big Ten West.
Virginia Tech at UNC (ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.). Both snuck into the AP Poll this week. North Carolina earned it after beating Florida State in Tallahassee. Virginia Tech had a bye.
UNC's kicker, seen here tomhawk-chopping FSU's fans, has no chill. (Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports)
It's rare for both teams to play this game ranked. It's rare for North Carolina to play at home against a ranked team of any kind. It last happened in 2008 when No. 21 UNC defeated No. 22 Georgia Tech. The last home game for UNC against a ranked opponent was the highly anticipated 1997 clash between No. 2 Florida State and No. 5 UNC.
BYU at Michigan State (ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.). I'm a sucker for a good non-conference game conspicuously placed in the middle of a conference schedule. It's rare for a Big Ten team to do this.
Michigan State, which has two conference losses already in consecutive games, will need to get off the schneid on Saturday. It's a six-point favorite on Saturday against the Cougars.
Tennessee at Texas A&M (CBS, 3:30 p.m.). This is basically the game of the week in the country. The No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies host the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers and ESPN's College GameDay.
Still a distinct possibility. (Prevail and Ride)
Some recurring theme will prevail in this contest. It might be the theme of the "September Aggies". Recall that Texas A&M is a combined 17-1 in August and September since 2013. It's a combined 9-12 in the past three seasons in October and November. Texas A&M turns into a pumpkin this time of the year. It almost started last week in Columbia when the Aggies struggled to beat a bad South Carolina team.
Perhaps Tennessee is more "snakebitten" than "charmed" after all. Tennessee was a fast starter last season, but blew second half leads in three of its four losses in 2015. This year, the Volunteers have started slow in almost all its contests but have finished strong in the second half to win. It even has that Hail Mary at Georgia and the furious rally against Florida for its first win against the Gators in 12 years to its credit. However, that could end with a loss in College Station.
Texas A&M is a seven-point favorite. It'll look for its first win in the series too. Both programs have met twice in bowl games. Texas A&M lost the 2005 Cotton Bowl to Tennessee, 38-7. It lost the 1957 Gator Bowl to Tennessee by a score of 3-0.
Colorado at USC (Pac-12 Network, 4 p.m.). Colorado is on top the Pac-12 South and ranked for the first time since 2005. However, it's a five-point underdog for the road trip to the Coliseum.
A Colorado win would be its first in the series. The two teams have played 10 times, all USC wins by an average of 24 points.
Vanderbilt at Kentucky (SEC Network, 4 p.m.). Vanderbilt already lost to South Carolina to start the year. A loss at Kentucky almost guarantees it a last place finish in the SEC East just two weeks into October.
Alabama at Arkansas (ESPN, 7 p.m.). Alabama looks almost untouchable in the SEC this year. Alabama may not be that great this year, but no one in its conference looks as good. That should be enough to propel Alabama to another SEC championship and playoff berth.
Yet, no team seems to play Alabama as tough as Arkansas, even in its three straight losses to Alabama under Bert. Arkansas might be the only team that can match Alabama on sheer physicality. Others that try to run right at Alabama get devoured (see: Georgia and Michigan State last year).
Arkansas has been a bit more difficult for Saban to handle even if the result has been Alabama victories every year that Saban has been in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama is a 14-point favorite, but it seems unlikely that it covers that. Alabama almost lost in its last visit to Fayetteville in 2014. Alabama won by just 13 last year in Tuscaloosa too.
Michigan at Rutgers (ESPN2, 7 p.m.). Michigan lost in its last trip to Rutgers. Expect this to be a bloodbath in favor of the Wolverines.
Texas Tech at Kansas State (ESPNU, 7 p.m.). Kansas State is 2-2 this year (losses at Stanford and West Virginia), but it's an eight-point favorite against the Red Raiders.
Georgia at South Carolina (SEC Network, 7:30 p.m.). It's a matchup of former defensive coordinators for Nick Saban. In fact, both Kirby Smart and Will Muschamp remember each other from their college days at Georgia even if the freshman Smart was unwilling to bother the fifth-year senior Muschamp.
"I didn’t really know Will... Will was a fifth-year senior and I was a first-year freshman. So, I was the little prick on scout team, running around. He was the big man on campus and I was the shaved-head freshman. We didn’t hang out."
There's still a fair bit of pessimism that this game could be played. Nikki Haley, South Carolina's governor, has already declared a state of emergency in Columbia and has expressed her own reservations about the feasibility of this contest on Saturday.
Washington at Oregon (FOX, 7:30 p.m.). Washington scored a decisive win in a "Top Ten Throwdown" last week, but beating Oregon might mean more. The Huskies haven't beat Oregon since 2003. The Huskies are nine-point favorites.
Florida State at Miami (ABC, 8 p.m.). Throw up your "U"s and crank the volume on your "Seventh Floor Rap". Miami's back. The Hurricanes are undefeated and ranked in the top ten, having its best season since 2005.
It's a slight favorite this game, but some simulations are leaning toward a 3-2 Florida State team that's already effectively out the ACC Championship picture.
This is another game that's at jeopardy because of Hurricane Matthew. Florida State has already delayed its travel plans because of it.
California at Oregon State (Pac-12 Network, 9 p.m.). Oregon State is still looking for that elusive first Pac-12 win in Gary Andersen's tenure. It's a 14-point underdog at home to the Golden Bears.
Arizona at Utah (FOX Sports 1, 10 p.m.). The 4-1 Utes will look to rebound from a close loss in Berkeley last week against a 2-3 Arizona program that's just taking on water at the moment.
Odds makers think UCLA is better than its two early losses indicate. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
UCLA at Arizona State (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.). East Coasters who like to stay up past midnight to watch West Coast football should at least be pleased with the variety of options on Saturday night. Vegas is weirdly bullish on the Bruins. They're 10-point favorites on the road at a 4-1 Arizona State program.
Washington State at Stanford (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.). Both had different weekends. Washington State hammered Oregon for its first win over the Ducks in Pullman since 2003. Stanford got smashed in Seattle and will try to take out pent-up frustration on the Cougars.
UNLV at San Diego State (ESPNU, 10:30 p.m.). San Diego State is out the New Year's Six hunt with a big loss at South Alabama, but it could still get Donnel Pumphrey a Heisman invite this year. Pumphrey leads the country in rushing yards per game with 187.5 yards per contest.
