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Oct 22, 2023
6:02:02pm
krindorr Truly Addicted User
What to watch in Week 9

Here's the best games to watch in each time slot. For week 7. This won't necessarily always be the top game since I'm looking at this as a BYU fan, meaning that BYU games, future BYU opponents, and conference play will get a slight bonus.  This week, there's great games...but they're mostly all at the same time that BYU plays, plus a couple intriguing late night options.

Honestly, pass on these games this week.  You can maybe talk yourself into UTEP @ Sam Houston St (Wednesday 6PM, ESPN2) as a chance for Sam Houston to finally get a win (they're fabored by 3.5).... or maybe Jacksonville St vs Florida International (Wednesday 5PM, CBSSN) to get a look at Florida International, who is likely to determine if Arkansas coach Sam Pittman keeps his job (a loss to FIU would hurt his reputation AND lower his buyout by over $5M)...but if you're watching any of these, it's just because you're desperate for football and will watch whatever happens to be on.   Nobody is seeking out any of these games

Saturday Morning (Pre-Noon Mountain)

Saturday Morning is about future opponents...because it's certainly not about high-profile marquee games. West Virginia @ UCF (10AM, FS1) is probably the top game.  We play West Virginia next week, it's the closest line among P5 games (UCF favored by 7) and it's intriguing to see what both these teams actually are, as they've both been all over the map.

The secondary games are also Big 12-centric:

  • #6 Oklahoma @ Kansas (10 AM, FOX) matches up a future BYU opponent against a former BYU opponent.  Oklahoma looked mortal against UCF (which was encouraging) and is only favored by 10 against Kansas, so it's a chance for us to see any weaknesses they may have.  

  • Houston @ Kansas St (10 AM, ESPN2) sneaks in as a possible game-to-watch due mostly to weak competition.  We don't play either team and won't play either team...until next year.  But at least they are Big 12 teams and have some common opponents.  Kansas St is favored by 16.5

Saturday Afternoon (Noon-3 Mountain)

And this time frame is loaded with great games.  For us, there's no question that the game to watch is BYU @ #7 Texas (1:30 PM, ABC) (even if Texas is favored by 19.5), but there's some other great ones to keep an eye on. 

These include

  • #8 Oregon @ #13 Utah (1:30 PM, FOX) - Watch because you hate Utah and want to see them lose (Oregon is favored by 5).  Watch because you love the Big 12 and want to see someone in the future Big 12 finish ranked (right now Utah is the only one, though Kansas St and Oklahoma St did get a few stray votes).  Or just watch because it's likely the best game of the day (there's a reason Gameday is there).
  • Iowa St @ Baylor (1:30 PM, ESPN+) - Another fantastic game, with a tight line (Baylor favored by 1.5!)  and a chance to scout a future opponent against a team we've played a few times.  This is as good as any game in the morning, even if it's relegated to the third spot here.
  • Normally, I don't go beyond 3 games.... but I'd be remiss to not mention the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party with  #1 Georgia vs #26 Florida (1:30 PM, CBS) in Jacksonville as by far the toughest test Georgia has faced (they're still favored by 14.5) or #20 Duke @ #18 Louisville (1:30 PM, ESPN) as a close (L'ville favored by only 4) matchup of ranked teams.  Just a great window for football. 

Saturday Prime (3-5:30 Mountain)

Given how strong the early afternoon window is, you'd hope this primetime slot would follow it up well, but... yeah.  There's not any relevant games...or high-profile games...or really any close game.  #21 Tennessee @ Kentucky (5 PM, ESPN) is probably the best one.  It's not related to BYU, it's not nationally relevant... but it's a ranked team in a probable close game (Tennessee by 3.5)

If that's not your choice, other options include:

  • Colorado @ #23 UCLA (5:30 PM, ABC) - Colorado is a future Big 12 team.  And UCLA is ranked.  So... that's enough to be one of the better options at this time.  UCLA is favored by 17, but maybe Colorado rekindles some early season magic?
  • #3 Ohio St @ Wisconsin (5:30 PM, NBC) - Not related to BYU, but anytime one of these top 5 teams has a real challenge, it's worth watching.  I'm not sure this qualifies as a real challenge (Ohio St is still favored by 14), but it's a better matchup than most Ohio St games.

Saturday Evening (6-8:30 Mountain)

A bit more to choose from than normal this week, with nothing great....but quite a few decent games and honestly probably better than prime-time this week.  From a BYU perspective, the obvious choice is Cincinnati @ Oklahoma St (6 PM, ESPN2). Matches up a former opponent vs a future opponent and will be nice to see if Oklahoma St continues to get their act together (they're favored by 8)

Worthwhile alternatives are:

  • #11 Oregon State @ Arizona (8:30 PM, ESPN) - Oregon St still only has one loss and controls their destiny in the PAC.  Arizona is under-the-radar feisty and will be joining the PAC.  Decent game (Oregon St favored by only 4) in the late offering with no competition.
  • Washington St @ Arizona St (6PM, PAC12) - Take everything above and scale it down by about 50%.  The lesser of the PAC2 remainders plays the lesser (Big 12-bound) AZ school in a game predicted to be a little less close (Wazzu by 6.5)
  • #17 North Carolina @ Georgia Tech (6PM, ACCN) - North Carolina looks to rebound after an embarrassing loss to Virginia.  Georgia Tech has been...not terrible.  Not good, but not terrible, and they did beat Miami.  UNC favored by 11.5
This message has been modified
Originally posted on Oct 22, 2023 at 6:02:02pm
Message modified by krindorr on Oct 22, 2023 at 6:08:46pm
krindorr
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krindorr
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