College Football TV-Watching Guide – Week 9
After a week of clarity in the Big Ten, order in the SEC West, and VIRGINIA (!!!), we look ahead once again for you to play your Saturday right and watch the games that matter the most. Let’s dive in.
MUST WATCH GAMES
12:00 PM: N/A
Nothing to see in the first TV window yet again to stop the presses for. Florida State and Penn State should both cruise to wins to stay in the top ten of the national rankings.
3:30 PM: #1 Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators (+14) – CBS
Life without All-American TE Brock Bowers begins for the top-ranked Bulldogs after his high ankle sprain against Vanderbilt two weeks ago. Against the last place Commodores it wasn’t an issue. In a matchup with the Gators it could present problems.
Georgia is coming off a bye week where it could try and develop QB Carson Beck’s chemistry with other wide receivers on the roster to try and fill Bowers’ production that is being lost. Dominic Lovett and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint will have their roles increased and Oscar Delp will take over the tight end spot in the meantime.
The Gators got an off week as well after its comeback win against South Carolina behind QB Graham Mertz’s two touchdowns inside the final five minutes. Mertz has been leading the way with a resurgent season as one of the most accurate passers in the nation, and his combo with WR Ricky Pearsall hit for big plays late against the Gamecocks.
Should be another intriguing matchup in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, and even though Georgia should win this game should be very telling into the Bulldogs ability to contend for a third straight title.
3:30 PM: #8 Oregon Ducks @ #13 Utah Utes (+6.5) – FOX
The Ducks bounced back with a win over Washington State last week after falling on the road to Washington, and now face another conference opponent that seems to be surging at the right time.
For an offense that has had massive struggles this season, the Utes have finally begun to put up points the last two outings. In fact, the 68 points that Utah scored in wins over USC and Cal over the last two weeks is more than the 65 points the offense scored in the four other games against Power-5 teams this season. QB Cam Rising is officially out for the season and Bryson Barnes is doing just enough to propel a strong rushing attack.
Oregon will have to keep up the pace against Utah to hold the Utes at bay. The Bo Nix and Troy Franklin connection has been the combo that gets this unit going, and as long as Nix continues to protect the ball like he has this year the Ducks should be able to take care of Utah and continue its march back to a rematch with Washington.
BACKGROUND NOISE
12:00 PM: #6 Oklahoma Sooners @ Kansas Jayhawks (+9.5) – FOX
- The Sooners were able to escape a scare last Saturday against UCF after the Knights missed a two-point try late in the game that would’ve tied it. Now Oklahoma hits the road to face a 5-2 Kansas squad fresh off a disappointing loss to Oklahoma State and looking to get back on track.
3:30 PM: #20 Duke Blue Devils @ #18 Louisville Cardinals (-4) – ESPN
- Duke battled through injury to its most important player to keep last week’s game at Florida State close, but Riley Leonard reaggravating his ankle late was too much to overcome in a loss to the Seminoles. The Cardinals still have a track to the ACC title game after a loss to Pittsburgh, but will need to win this game for it to stay that way.
7:30 PM: #21 Tennessee Volunteers @ Kentucky Wildcats (+3.5) – ESPN
- The Volunteers stuck it to Alabama early but didn’t have the juice to make it through four quarters. The usually efficient run game never got going and the Crimson Tide defense put a clamp down on the win. Kentucky will be fresh off a bye week, but also two straight losses to Georgia and Missouri, and need QB Devin Leary to seriously turn it around to have a shot on Saturday night.
THE PERFECTLY TIMED GET RIGHT GAMES OF THE WEEK
12:00 PM: Indiana Hoosiers @ #10 Penn State Nittany Lions (-31.5) – CBS
4:00 PM: #24 USC Trojans @ Cal Bears (+10.5) – Pac-12 Network
7:00 PM: #5 Washington Huskies @ Stanford Cardinal (+26.5) – FS1
