We have a pretty solid week ahead of us complete with some quality matchups from Notre Dame’s opponents and a few tremendous national games wrapped around a bunch of big SEC games which will go a long way to wrapping up the story that is our favorite southeastern conference. Let’s not forget our stories rivals kick things off early this weekend, either.

Enemy Watch

FRIDAY

USC (+3) at #24 Utah

Stuff is bad at Notre Dame right now but the Fighting Irish are looking like a well-oiled organization compared to USC right now. Insubordination! Clay Helton getting punched!?? Max Browne already benched and oh here you go Sam Darnold how about a Friday night game against a typical swarming Utes defense?

SATURDAY

Nevada (+5.5) at Purdue

#11 Wisconsin (+5.5) at #8 Michigan State

East Carolina (+11.5) at Virginia Tech

Syracuse (+3.5) at UConn

Army (-14) at Buffalo

#7 Stanford (-3.5) at UCLA

Dare I say good, competitive games for everyone this week? Purdue has been off our radar for a while and Darrell Hazell has the Boilers turning around now. Just kidding, they’ll probably lose to Nevada. I can’t be the only one who sees a major let down game for the Spartans. I’m not sure it’ll cost them this weekend, though. I’m prepared for a far less impressive offensive effort from MSU which will lead to plenty of discussion over here.

Somewhat of a tough game for Virginia Tech, although East Carolina did just drop a game to South Carolina. I suppose that could still make the Pirates pretty good. They were good enough to beat NC State two weeks ago. Nobody walks into Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field and lays down points against Bob Diaco. Good old blue eyes has his work cut out against that fast and feisty Babers offense which will be a good scouting report chance for us before we invade MetLife Stadium next weekend.

So, Army has played 3 FBS opponents and is +84 in points and looking quite good. Really looking forward to playing them right after Navy when the Black Knights get a good, long scouting report on us with Ken N. trading tips all throughout the week. Also, watch out for the downfall of UB coach Lance Leipold, already 0-2 this season with 30 points scored. The Bulls are a 0-12 candidate, and remember, Leipold was perhaps the most well regarded coach below D-1 a couple years ago.

Stanford feels like they’ve gotten over a big hump already this season but in reality their fun is just getting started. Here comes UCLA, Washington, Wazzu, and our Irish in consecutive weeks.

Raised Eyebrow Game

#5 Clemson (-9.5) at Georgia Tech

Anyone care to wager on an outright upset, here? Well, it’s crossed my mind a bit with the Thursday night placement and Clemson looking ahead to Louisville next week. This would be such a college football upset should it come to pass.

Double Raised Eyebrow Game

BYU (+6.5) at West Virginia

This could be a fun little game outside of the national spotlight. Certainly a weird matchup with the Cougar crowd invading Morgantown. We also haven’t seen much of the Mountaineers yet in a big year for Dana Holgorsen.

National Spotlight

#12 Georgia (+7) at #23 Ole Miss

#13 Florida State (-6) at USF

#19 Florida (+6.5) at #14 Tennessee

LSU (-3.5) at Auburn

Oklahoma State (+8.5) at #16 Baylor

#3 Louisville (-25.5) at Marshall

#17 Arkansas (-5.5) at #10 Texas A&M

#9 Washington (-9.5) at Arizona

Georgia’s run game has been going downward all season and they struggled mightily with Missouri last week. Still, that’s a lot of points against an Ole Miss team that just got beat up by Alabama.

FSU-USF was one of my “Sneaky Good Game” and it came true that the Seminoles would be coming into this one looking to bounce back from a loss.

Tennessee has lost 11 straight to Florida and get a chance to face Austin Appleby of former Purdue fame at quarterback. If the Vols can’t break the streak at home it may never happen.

Big hot seat game on The Plains as the loser of LSU-Auburn is going to be looking over their shoulder once the final whistle blows.

Here we are with the Hogs and Aggies ranked so highly. The good thing is that someone has to lose now. It’s become a birthright for Sumlin & Co. to start their decline now and Arkansas certainly is comfortable winning this much so early in the year. Something has to break on Saturday.