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Don't miss a thing in college football this weekend. With the Trojans out of town, you should be glued to your TV set all day. Here's the best games to catch on Thursday, Friday and each of the main Saturday time slots:
Thursday night: Miami at Virginia Tech
No Thursday night Pac-12 game this week, so normally, I'd tell you to watch East Carolina because it's unlikely you have and they have some talent, but unfortunately they are going to dominate a UConn program that still hasn't recovered since Randy Edsall left. Remember when Miami and Virginia Tech joining the ACC was going to make it the super conference? Yea...about that. Try to relive those glory years in what will end up being a close game.
Friday night: No. 6 Oregon at Cal
Skip the early games until the end. None of the teams are good, but that doesn't mean there won't be a great finish. Just watch the Pac-12 matchup, even though it is unlikely the Cal offense can keep up with an Oregon offense that is going to shred through the Golden Bears' defense. But look to see where USC can exploit Cal's defense in a couple of weeks.
Saturday morning: Rutgers at No. 16 Nebraska
What a conference matchup in the Big 10...or whatever. Rutger is 5-2, but that's on the backs of wins over stalwarts like Howard, Navy and Tulane. Watch to see one of Buck Allen's top running back competitor for postseason awards: Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah.
Saturday early-afternoon: No. 22 West Virginia at Oklahoma State
Mid-day Big 12 football makes for some entertaining viewing. There will be lots of points and it'll be fun. Also check in on Texas Tech's trip to TCU and No. 1 Mississippi State playing on the road at Kentucky.
Saturday late-afternoon: No. 4 Alabama at Tennessee
The football probably won't be great (though Tennessee is quickly improving under Butch Jones), but how could you miss Lane Kiffin's first game back in Knoxville? The signs should be great. Expect a chant or two to be directed at Alabama's new offensive coordinator as well. The cutaways to the crowd may be better than the game action. Also, keep an eye on Ole Miss playing at night in Death Valley. How does a team dealing with new success and expectations react to one of the toughest places to play ever?
Saturday evening: No. 20 USC at No. 19 Utah
You're going to be watching the Trojans playing in Salt Lake City obviously, but during the commercial breaks or on your second screen, you should be keeping an eye on No. 14 Arizona State's trip to Washington. The Trojans need some help to make the Pac-12 Championship Game thanks to ASU's hail mary victory at the Coliseum. Chris Petersen's team hasn't done much this season, but they don't turn the ball over and Petersen definitely has the coaching chops to pull off an upset.
And here's the full college football TV viewing schedule for Week 9:
Thu, Oct. 23, 2014 | Time (PT) | TV |
Connecticut @ (18) East Carolina | 4:00 PM | ESPNU |
Miami (FL) @ Virginia Tech | 5:00 PM | ESPN |
Fri, Oct. 24, 2014 | Time (PT) | TV |
South Florida @ Cincinnati | 4:00 PM | ESPN2 |
Troy @ South Alabama | 4:30 PM | ESPNU |
Brigham Young @ Boise State | 6:00 PM | ESPN |
(6) Oregon Ducks @ California Golden Bears | 7:00 PM | FS1 |
Sat, Oct. 25, 2014 | Time (PT) | TV |
UAB @ Arkansas | 9:00 AM | SECN |
Minnesota @ Illinois | 9:00 AM | ESPNU |
Texas @ (11) Kansas State | 9:00 AM | ESPN |
Rutgers @ (16) Nebraska | 9:00 AM | ESPN2 |
Maryland @ Wisconsin | 9:00 AM | BTN/BTN2 |
North Texas @ Rice | 9:00 AM | FSN |
Memphis @ Southern Methodist | 9:00 AM | ESPNN |
North Carolina @ Virginia | 9:30 AM | ESPN3/ESPNGP |
San Jose State @ Navy | 10:00 AM | CBSS |
Northern Illinois @ Eastern Michigan | 10:00 AM | ESPN3 |
(25) UCLA Bruins @ Colorado Buffaloes | 11:00 AM | P12N |
Akron @ Ball State | 11:00 AM | ESPN3 |
Massachusetts @ Toledo | 11:00 AM | ESPN3/ESPNGP |
Ohio @ Western Michigan | 11:00 AM | ESPN3 |
Georgia Southern @ Georgia State | 11:00 AM | ESPN3 |
Kent State @ Miami (OH) | 11:30 PM | ESPN3 |
(1) Mississippi State @ Kentucky | 12:30 PM | CBS |
Michigan @ (8) Michigan State | 12:30 PM | ABC/ESPN3 |
Georgia Tech @ Pittsburgh | 12:30 PM | ESPNU |
Boston College @ Wake Forest | 12:30 PM | ESPN3/ESPNGP |
(22) West Virginia @ Oklahoma State | 12:30 PM | ESPN |
Texas Tech @ (10) TCU | 12:30 PM | FOX |
Oregon State @ Stanford | 12:30 PM | ESPN2 |
Florida Atlantic @ (23) Marshall | 12:30 PM | FS1 |
Louisiana Tech @ Southern Miss | 12:30 PM | AMSN |
Central Michigan @ Buffalo | 12:30 PM | ESPN3 |
Vanderbilt @ Missouri | 1:00 PM | SECN |
Old Dominion @ Western Kentucky | 1:00 PM | |
UNLV @ Utah State | 1:00 PM | ESPNN |
Temple @ UCF | 2:00 PM | CBSS |
(15) Arizona Wildcats @ Washington State Cougars | 3:00 PM | P12N |
Syracuse @ (21) Clemson | 4:00 PM | ESPNU |
UTEP @ Texas-San Antonio | 4:00 PM | AMSN |
Wyoming @ Colorado State | 4:00 PM | ROOT |
Texas State @ Louisiana-Monroe | 4:00 PM | ESPN3/ESPNGP |
(3) Mississippi @ (24) LSU | 4:15 PM | ESPN |
(4) Alabama @ Tennessee | 4:30 PM | ESPN2 |
South Carolina @ (5) Auburn | 4:30 PM | SECN |
(13) Ohio State @ Penn State | 5:00 PM | ABC |
(20) USC Trojans @ (19) Utah Utes | 7:00 PM | FS1 |
(14) Arizona State Sun Devils @ Washington Huskies | 7:45 PM | ESPN |
Nevada @ Hawaii | 8:59 PM | OCPV |