Hey guys, we made it through another week and are rewarded with another weekend of football. This week has two quality matchups that even then blue bloods have to give attention. UCF and Memphis square off in Orlando, while San Diego State and Northern Illinois face off for a late night tilt in California.
Let’s take a look at this weekend’s games and the need to know information.
Five Upset Opportunities:
- Marshall at Cincinnati (-3.5)
- Memphis at UCF (-4)
- Central Michigan at Boston College (-7.5)
- Northern Illinois at San Diego State (-11)
- Navy (-8) at Tulsa
Biggest Line:
- UTEP (+23.5) at Army
Five Closest Lines:
- Marshall at Cincinnati (-3.5)
- MTSU at FAU (-3)
- BYU (-1.5) at Utah State
- Akron (-3) at Bowling Green
- Air Force (-2.5) at New Mexico
Biggest G5 Over P5 Favorite:
- None
Five Storylines to watch:
- Rashaad Penny versus the NIU defense.
- Everything UCF/Memphis
- Troy’s Defense versus LSU.
- Brent Stockstill’s health.
- The rush totals in Air Force/New Mexico.
Week Five Schedule:
9/29:
- BYU at Utah State, CBSSN, 7:00 PM
9/30:
Morning:
- USF at East Carolina, CBSSN, 11:00 AM
- Houston at Temple, ESPNU, 11:00 AM
- NMSU at Arkansas, SECN, 11:00 AM
- Rice at Pitt, ACCN, 11:00 AM
- Central Michigan at Boston College, AACN, 12:00 PM
Well, this isn’t the most ideal slate of games to start the day. South Florida and Houston should roll to easy conference wins, while New Mexico State and Rice should get pummeled. The Aggies could stay close to Arkansas, but they do not have the depth to go a full 60 minutes. The only interesting game of this bunch is CMU at BC with the Chippewas actually looking like a live underdog pick.
Afternoon:
- Ohio at UMass, 2:30 PM
- UTEP at Army, CBSSN, 2:30 PM
- Navy at Tulsa, ESPNU, 2:30 PM
- Buffalo at Kent State, ESPN3, 2:30 PM
- Texas State at Wyoming, 3:00 PM
- UConn at SMU, ESPN News, 3:00 PM
- EMU at Kentucky, SECN, 3:00 PM
Ok, today is not looking like a great day to watch quality games. By far, the Navy/Tulsa game has the potential to be the most watchable with Tulsa needing this win to avoid a 1-4 start to the season. Otherwise, we have some of the worst G5 teams in the nation playing during this window and an Eastern Michigan team that will have a tough time going to Lexington and getting a win.
Late Afternoon:
- Miami at Notre Dame, NBCSN, 4:00 PM
- Akron at BGSU, ESPN3, 5:00 PM
Let’s just pretend this section of the day never existed and move on.
Primetime:
- Troy at LSU, ESPNU, 6:00 PM
- Charlotte at FIU, 6:00 PM
- MTSU at FAU, 6:00 PM
- South Alabama at Louisiana Tech, ESPN3, 6:00 PM
- Marshall at Cincinnati, ESPN3, 6:00 PM
- North Texas at Southern Miss, 6:00 PM
- Ball State at WMU, ESPN3, 6:00 PM
- Coastal Carolina at ULM, ESPN3, 6:00 PM
- Air Force at New Mexico, CBSSN, 6:00 PM
- Memphis at UCF, ESPN2, 6:00 PM
Here is the golden portion of the night. In this window, we have Marshall/Cincy, UNT/USM, Air Force/New Mexico, and Memphis/UCF. Of these games, it is the AAC matchup that everyone will be watching. ESPN respected this game enough to give it the ESPN2 slot in the coveted 6 CST/7EST start time. I believe that Memphis is the better team as a whole, but few teams are playing as well as the Knights. The Ferguson/Miller combination will decide this game.
Late Night:
- Nevada at Fresno State, 9:00 PM
- Northern Illinois at San Diego State, CBSSN, 9:30 PM
- SJSU at UNLV, ESPNU, 9:30 PM
- Colorado State at Hawaii, 10:59 PM
Stay up late and watch some late night MWC. The Nevada/Fresno and SJSU/UNLV games are a bit of trash to keep on in the background if you do not have CBSSN. Luckily, I do and I will be watching the Aztecs host a MAC program for a 9:30 CST kickoff. That time is key as NIU is going to be playing much later in this game than any other game this season. It will alter their routine and take them out of their comfort zone. The test of a good team is adjusting to a situation like this and coming out on top. If they can manage the starting time, all they have to do is stop arguably the hottest running back in the nation in Rashaad Penny. It is not insurmountable, but that is asking a lot out of Northern Illinois.
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