7 College Football Games to Watch (While You’re Not Watching Penn State)

This weekend has some outstanding options, without even mentioning other Big Ten or 3:30 p.m. games not included below. Let’s go.

(#9)BYU at (#21)Boise State
9:45 p.m., FS1 (Friday)

Our very own Patrick Koerbler described this as the Game of the Century, which is good enough for me to tune in. BYU is looking to crash the playoff party, and Boise State is likely the only thing standing in their way of a perfect 10-0 regular season. Boise State always, always, always shows up for games like this, and with a 2-0 start and the bulk of the season ahead for them, there is plenty on the line.
Prediction: BYU- 41, Boise State-38

Air Force at Army
11:30 a.m., CBS

Get an early start with a hard-fought battle between two service academies, which also give you an excellent excuse to crack open that first beer before noon.
Prediction: Army-27, Air Force-19

(Ed. note- it was a nice thought, but the Air Force-Army game with the early kickoff has been cancelled.)

Arizona State at (#20)USC
Noon, FOX

The PAC-12 is back! And so is the prospect of USC losing to unranked teams! It feels like we’ve been here every year with the Trojans. Yes, they have talent, but they also have a tendency to get off to a slow start with a couple bad losses in their first month of play. We don’t really know what to expect, but I’ll go with history repeating itself.
Prediction: Arizona State-28, USC-24

West Virginia at (#22)Texas
Noon, ABC

There’s a strong possibility this will be the most flat-out entertaining game of the day. Both teams are coming off fantastic performances, as West Virginia pounded then-#16 Kansas State while Texas toppled #6 Oklahoma State, which had been the last remaining undefeated Big 12 team up to that point.
Prediction: Texas-42, West Virginia-40

(#7)Texas A&M at South Carolina
7 p.m., ESPN

I just have a feeling about this one based on what I’ve seen from these two teams. South Carolina seems to give its best shot as a deep underdog, while the Aggies seem due for an upset.
Prediction: South Carolina-24, Texas A&M-20

(#1)Clemson at (#4)Notre Dame
7:30 p.m., NBC

Sometimes you just have to throw your support behind one of two undesirable options and just roll with it. Clemson would likely roll under normal circumstances, but will be without Heisman candidate Trevor Lawrence and a host of other starters, giving the Irish a chance to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Clemson-30, Notre Dame-26

Washington State at Oregon State
10:30 p.m., FS1

This will probably be an absolutely meaningless game between two teams who will finish at the bottom of the conference, but it’s sure nice to welcome back PAC 12 After Dark and watch college football until about 3 a.m.
Prediction: Oregon State-27, Washington State-23