It’s finally fall! Not like “fall” where we think it’s fall because there’s football and that means it’s fall, I mean real deal there is a different smell in the air, everything is cooling down, holy heck why are there so many pumpkin beers out, I thought it was July a couple weeks ago fall. And that’s perfectly okay. Time moves on, and for some teams, this means the nightmare will be over sooner than they thought. For still others, the dream of a special season is right in their minds, and the next few weeks will solidify that dream or crush it into a bunch of pieces.
So put on your layers, get the crock pot back out of hiding, embrace those fall spices, and put on some football. There are worse ways to celebrate the death and eventual rebirth of nature.
Here’s your full viewing guide for Week 4. (All times are in EST, so make sure to factor that in if you live in a place that is not using that time zone. I know, I know, East Coast bias.)
The Early Slate
FRONT AND CENTER
Noon: BYU at Michigan (-6.5) (ABC)
This will be a really good test for Jim Harbaugh’s team. Obviously, that quarterback situation isn’t ideal right now, but if the Wolverines have really improved, they should be able to beat a talented and feisty Cougars team in Ann Arbor. That said, it won’t be easy. BYU almost went into the Rose Bowl and beat UCLA, and the Cougs maybe finally found a running back in Adam Hine.
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
Noon: Georgia Tech (-7.5) at Duke (-3.5) (ESPN2)
Both teams need a bounceback win in a big way, and these league games always get weird in the Coastal. Duke missed a big opportunity to grab a signature non-conference win after it couldn’t get it going (and turned it over too many times) against Northwestern last week, and the Yellow Jackets likely want to put last week’s loss to Notre Dame behind them and prove they’re still a threat to win the ACC.
Note: Watch Kansas vs. Rutgers at your own peril. We aren’t suggesting it, but we know you have to do what you want to do. You’re all adults. Just be careful, please. I care about your well being.
Dog Day Afternoon
FRONT AND CENTER
3 p.m.: Maryland at West Virginia (-17) (Fox Sports 1)
This game certainly isn’t going to end up being one that has playoff implications, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be interesting or fun or downright bonkers. First and foremost, this is a good gauge of how good West Virginia really is this season – Dana Holgorsen’s squad has looked mighty impressive in the non-conference slate so far, but it’s always hard to tell against opponents like the ones they’ve played, and we only have two games of data to use. And there could be some points in play, like a lot of them. Maryland did give up 48 to Bowling Green a couple weeks ago.
4:45 p.m.: TCU (-7) at Texas Tech (FOX)
Now we’re talking. These Big 12 shootouts are what we live for in the afternoons, and this is the first real one of those we get to see this year. Texas Tech is trying to build even more momentum off the Arkansas win last weekend, and an upset of TCU would definitely wake up some folks to what the Red Raiders are trying to do after last year’s disappointing season. And for the Horned Frogs, they still have playoff aspirations following all that preseason buzz. Losing in Lubbock would derail that mighty quickly.
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
3:30 p.m.: Tennessee (-1.5) at Florida (CBS)
Is this the year the Vols finally get a win in Gainesville again? Maybe? Maybe! With all the high hopes and expectations for Tennessee at the start of the year, a win over the Gators almost feels like a necessity. But this is Tennessee vs. Florida, so things are going to get weird and probably be ugly as all getup. Just hug your friends, and try to smile through it. It’ll all be okay.
Under The Lights
FRONT AND CENTER
8 p.m.: UCLA (-3) at Arizona (ABC)
The football gods took Myles Jack away from us, and they are vengeful gods, and this is not fair. But from a football standpoint, this couldn’t be a worse time for the Bruins, who narrowly escaped BYU last week and now have to go into Tucson, and hey look, Scooby Wright might be playing, too. Good luck, Josh Rosen!
8:30 p.m.: Utah at Oregon (-11.5) (FOX)
The second of the great Pac-12 match-ups on Saturday, this one is certainly a contrast in styles. Everybody remembers that crazy Kaelin Clay play from last year that kind of turned the tide in a big way.
The Utes want revenge, and they’re a strong team in all three phases of the game. This should be fun.
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
7:30 p.m.: Mississippi State at Auburn (-3) (ESPN2)
Take your pick of the evening SEC tilts, and you’re well within your rights to watch Texas A&M vs. Arkansas or Missouri vs. Kentucky if you’d prefer to, but I’m really curious to see how Auburn responds after putting Sean White in at quarterback. Sink or swim, buddy.
The Late Show
FRONT AND CENTER
10:30 p.m.: USC (-5.5) at Arizona State (ESPN)
USC, coming off a loss, is going to Tempe to play in a #Pac12AfterDark game that really has no other competition for our eyeballs? Yes. Crack open a soda pop and let’s go crazy.
