After this week, some teams will have played half their regular season schedule. Think about that for a second: 50 percent of this story is over. For some schools, this is great. They’re 6-0! Yay! For others, there are still six more games, and that could feel like an awful lot if things aren’t exactly going so well.
But even the teams that hated their first half can still mess around and screw up one of the happier teams’ seasons. That’s the beautiful thing about this game. There’s a giant upset right around the corner, and it’s easy for us – we just have to watch it. (We saw one on Thursday when Washington beat USC.)
So let’s do that, okay? Let’s watch some football. Here are all the games you need to keep an eye on in Week 6. Remember, games are Eastern time and such.
The Early Slate
FRONT AND CENTER
Noon: Oklahoma (-17) at Texas (ABC)
It’s the Red River Revolution presented by Big Tex. Get on board, make some tasty treats, drool at all the State Fair shots, and watch Texas try and find a way to right the ship in a big way against a potent Sooners offense that is looking more and more like a potential Big 12 title threat.
Noon: Illinois at Iowa (-11) (ESPN2)
Illinois and Iowa are a combined 9-1. Football is so fun.
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
Noon: Indiana at Penn State (-7) (ESPN)
This is a really big game for both teams worth keeping on your iPad just in case it gets wacky and weird. The season can go one of two ways for Indiana and Penn State, win or lose. If the Nittany Lions pull it out, they’re 5-1 headed into a game against Ohio State in Columbus. For all the jokes made at their expense after that Temple loss, things could be a lot worse. As for Indiana, the Hoosiers are hoping last week’s almost-doesn’t-count game against the Buckeyes doesn’t turn into a multi-game hangover. Beating Penn State in Happy Valley would show that 4-0 start was no fluke.
Dog Day Afternoon
FRONT AND CENTER
3:30 p.m.: Northwestern at Michigan (-7.5) (Big Ten Network)
The over/under on this game is 35. It will probably go under. That doesn’t mean this game won’t be enjoyable. Both defenses are incredible, and these are two of the best teams in the Big Ten.
3:30 p.m.: Georgia Tech at Clemson (-7) (ABC/ESPN2)
How will the Tigers follow up their huge GameDay win over Notre Dame? Can Georgia Tech salvage a rough start to the season, and end the slide that saw the Yellow Jackets lose their last three games (against Notre Dame, Duke and UNC)? This is sneakily one of the more intriguing games of the entire day.
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
3:30 p.m.: Georgia (-3.5) at Tennessee (CBS)
Something feels odd about this game, like when you walk into a room and you sense something awry. It’s not a ghost I don’t think. (Although I’m not ruling it out. They’re among us all the time.) I’m just saying I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one make its way to the main screen out of necessity before the evening games get rolling.
Under The Lights
FRONT AND CENTER
7 p.m.: Oklahoma State at West Virginia (-7) (ESPN2)
The Cowboys’ hot start has been impressive, even if they’re beating teams by the slimmest of margins. They can take a big step forward if they can go into Morgantown and beat West Virginia. The Mountaineers want to put the loss to Oklahoma behind them – and they’re favored in this game by a touchdown – but it’s always tough to score on the stout Oklahoma State defense, that year in and year out is one of the more underrated in all of college football.
8 p.m.: Miami at Florida State (-9) (ABC)
I’ll just leave this right here:
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
7:30 p.m.: Florida (-4) at Missouri (SEC Network)
Florida’s on letdown watch, especially against a Missouri team that has made a habit of wrecking SEC East seasons since the Tigers entered the league.
The Late Show
FRONT AND CENTER
10 p.m.: Cal at Utah (-7.5) (ESPN)
Jared Goff against that ferocious Utah defense? Yes, please. And raise your hand if you thought Cal and Utah would be the last two remaining Pac-12 undefeated teams! Just kidding, you can’t raise your hand when you’re holding pizza and beer.
