Games to Watch: Week 3

We're back with a preview of the upcoming weekend.  This looks like one of those weekends with a more interesting early slate than primetime.


Thursday
7:30 PM
Rutgers at South Florida, ESPN.  Another Big East matchup on Thursday.  I hope it turns out better than last week's snooze fest.

Saturday
Noon
Wake Forest at Florida State, ESPN.  FSU gets it first FBS and conference foe.  This should be the first time we see what Florida State can actually do.

Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, ESPNU.  This year, it's a non-conference game, but next year, it will be in conference.  Hopefully, the Hokies managed to tune up during the game against Austin Peay after looking a bit shaky on Labor Day.  It's also the first time these two have met since both were in the Big East.  I seem to remember the last meeting being an embarassing loss for VT.  I don't forsee the same outcome this time.

12:21 PM
ULM at Auburn, SEC Network.  A week ago, this would not even register for me.  But after ULM beat then-#8 Arkansas and sent them out of the polls, and Auburn started 0-2, this could turn into an interesting matchup.

3:30 PM
Alabama at Arkansas, CBS.  The Sun Belt took some of the luster off of this game last week.  Back then, this was a game between two top-10 teams. 

Virginia at Georgia Tech, ESPNU.  This could be a vital game in the ACC Coastal Division.  A loss would almost certainly take GT out of contention, at least until November.  The outcome of this game could also possibly impact the stakes of the annual VT-UVA matchup on Thanksgiving weekend.

Navy at Penn State, ABC/ESPN2.  Will Penn State start 0-3, or can they finally find their first win?

4:30 PM
JMU vs. West Virginia.  This is an interesting matchup at FedEx Field.  Normally these neutral site games at NFL stadiums are for two FBS schools, not an FBS/FCS matchup that is actually farther for both schools to travel than if it was just a home game for either.  On top of that, I can't find any TV information.  That's probably to avoid the embarrassing high number of empty seats.  This matchup sure is a headscratcher.

6 PM
Florida at Tennessee, ESPN.  This will help set the tone for the SEC East.  It's also the site of GameDay.

7:30 PM
USC at Stanford, FOX.  This probably won't be the thriller we got last year, but it will probably show us exactly what kind of team Stanford is this year. 

8 PM
Notre Dame at Michigan State, ABC.  Both teams get to show if they deserve their rankings.