BLITZING SEVEN: "Stay Home Saturday" Your TV Guide to The Best Saturday of The Year
This weekend is "Stay Home Saturday" featuring the best slate of match-ups we’ve seen this year. As a public service here is your guide to the best games to watch in the three major broadcast windows (all times Eastern). It might be worthwhile to pack a cooler, get three or four devices to watch games, put on a pair of Depends adult diapers and make plans to stay on the couch for twelve straight hours.
Here are you seven assignments for “Stay-Home Saturday.”
NOON TIME SLOT (2 devices needed)
1. #11 Oklahoma State at #25 West Virginia (ABC—Watch on Big Screen TV): With these two quarterbacks this could be a true shootout between Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph (Nation’s #1 pass offense) and WVU QB Will Grier (Nation’s #4 pass offense). The offenses are so good that they may outscore the team’s basketball squads when they play. This is a dangerous game for the Cowboys as West Virginia is just two plays from being unbeaten.
2. Rutgers at Michigan (Big Ten Network—Watch on Smartphone): I know you’re thinking this could be a train wreck. Exactly. Michigan is coming off a disaster at Penn State and Rutgers is on a two-game Big Ten Win Streak. The Scarlet Knights have improved defensively and Michigan has struggled moving the ball. The reason to watch will be to see how Michigan responds, how antsy their fans will get and how quickly the booing starts. Watch this on your smartphone because it is not tablet-worthy.
3:30 PM TIME SLOT (You’ll need FOUR devices):
3. #2 Penn State at #6 Ohio State (FOX—Watch on Big Screen TV): This is a heavyweight battle between two playoff-caliber team. While Saquon Barkley is clearly in the Heisman hunt JT Barrett could ignite a candidacy of his own with a great game and a big win. After their open week will Ohio State pull any surprises on Penn State? In 2011 during Penn State’s last win in Columbus they sprung a surprise wildcat run game, had no turnovers and played strong defense. When these two teams play they keys have been turnovers and run game. OSU is careful with the football and will be the first team Penn State has played that is proficient on the ground and through the air. For Penn State they bring the best defense the Buckeyes will face and the second best offense (behind Oklahoma). If Penn State QB Trace McSorley can avoid trouble with his feet and force Ohio State out of their 3rd-down man coverages they could have a good day.
4. #14 NC State at #9 Notre Dame (NBC—Watch on Tablet): For Notre Dame it is another week and another playoff-play-in game. After dispatching USC last week people all over the country started to believe in the Irish. NC State has playoff aspirations of their own with a 6-1 record and games at #9 Notre Dame this week and at home against #7 Clemson next week. If the Wolfpack win both of those games they too will be in the playoff hunt. Expect physical play from both teams.
5. #4 TCU at #25 Iowa State (ABC—Watch on Smartphone): These are two of the biggest surprise teams in the country. TCU started the season out of the Top 25 but did receive votes while Iowa State was not even an afterthought. Suddenly this is an important conference clash. TCU is the lone undefeated team in the Big 12 and Iowa State is among a group of four teams knotted at 3-1 in the Big 12. In any other season people would be talking about TCU QB Kenny Hill as a dark horse Heisman candidate. He will be just too much for ISU.
6. #3 Georgia Vs Florida in Jacksonville (CBS—Watch on Apple Watch): If you have an extra tablet or a friend’s smartphone then you can use that to watch the game formerly known as The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. The wolves are starting to track Florida Head Coach Jim McElwain and a win here or at least playing a great competitive game would do a lot to restore the faith of the Gator faithful. With Florida’s offensive struggles they will need a great day from their defense. Expect the Gators to stunt and blitz to force Georgia’s young quarterback Jake Fromm to shoulder the load offensively.
PRIMETIME 8:00 PM:
7. Georgia Tech at #7 Clemson (ABC –Watch on Big Screen TV): With Georgia Tech running the ball over and over again this game may be done in time for your local news to come on the air at 11 p.m. Clemson’s d-line will have to be ready to play off low blocks and cut blocks and play option football. The great thing about college football is the great variety of offensive systems and this is an example of two different ones. The option run game versus the Clemson spread. Against the spread the best defense is a ball control clock-eating offense that keeps your opponent’s offense off the field. Do not be surprised if Georgia Teach makes a strong run at upsetting the Tigers.