We have a rare week on our hands where Notre Dame’s opponents might be playing a more entertaining and stronger collection of games than the national spotlight section of these articles. Each side features two games between ranked teams and the next tier games from Irish opponents look more appealing.
For some programs we’re half-way through the regular season. This sport goes by too damn fast.
Enemy Watch
Texas (+10.5) at #20 Oklahoma
#25 Virginia Tech (+2.5) at #17 North Carolina
Army (+4) at Duke
BYU (+5.5) at Michigan State
#21 Colorado (+5) at USC
Fresno State (+9.5) at Nevada
Syracuse (+2) at Wake Forest
#23 Florida State (+3.5) at #10 Miami
Washington State (+7.5) at #15 Stanford
The Red River Shootout is upon us again as Texas more or less has put the word out that Charlie Strong is done after this year in their early movement to pick up Tom Herman. If that doesn’t take all the air out of this rivalry a combined 4 losses certainly will!
Virginia Tech visiting North Carolina is a sneaky good game to start sorting things out in the ACC and it’s also a really good time to get a look at the Hokies before they visit South Bend. Also, Mitch Trubisky and Jerod Evans have been absolutely tearing it up this year combining for 2,681 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just 1 interception.
BYU’s insane schedule continues with another trip back east to visit struggling Michigan State. The Spartans have been partying like its 2004 dropping games following a victory over Notre Dame, and even lost to Indiana for the first time in 10 years.
Colorado can score lots and lots of points. They put up 28 on a very good Michigan defense but otherwise haven’t been held under 40 all season. Prepare for fireworks in the Coliseum.
I’m not sure when the last time Miami came in favored over FSU but the Seminoles have won 6 straight in the rivalry and 9 out of the last 11 meetings. This is the beginning of a super tough run of games for the Hurricanes. If they make it through unscathed before coming to Notre Dame they are going to be ranked super high.
It’s an interesting game this weekend for Stanford who has to rebound from their loss to Washington and not lose to the Cougars’ explosive offense. The Cardinal have been superb in recent years rebounding and not letting themselves fall out of the divisional race this early.
Raised Eyebrow Game
#6 Houston (-17) at Navy
At some point Houston has to get into a tussle with someone while being a sizable favorite, right? That Cougar defense has been crushingly good so this could be a disaster pick, although with Navy you never know it could be an amazing pick.
Double Raised Eyebrown Game
UCLA (-4.5) at Arizona State
If the feel-good story in Colorado doesn’t continue someone has to step up and win the Pac-12 South. In a vacuum this game isn’t all that exciting but at the end of the year it might be an important one that could’ve decided the division. Or, it’s a completely forgettable game for a couple of average teams who knows.
National Spotlight
LSU (-1) at #18 Florida
#9 Tennessee (+6.5) at #8 Texas A&M
#1 Alabama (-13.5) at #16 Arkansas
#5 Washington (-8.5) at Oregon
More SEC dominance in this section, you guys. LSU visiting Florida isn’t really that interesting anymore beyond the subtext of Ed Orgeron totally getting the Tigers to play awesome down the stretch only to divide the whole LSU community as they go elsewhere for a new head coach who won’t be Tom Herman.
Tennessee has a super easy ending to their schedule. In order to get there they have to go through hell. Up next, a visit to the #12thMan followed up by another contest with a team from Tuscaloosa. Geez, how much does Tennessee have left in the tank?
Speaking of the Tide, they get to visit Fayetteville a place where they visited in 2014 and barely skated by with a victory. Alabama also struggled last year with Arkansas. If there’s going to be one loss on their schedule…
So, things aren’t going so well for Mark Helfrich at the moment. He’s in some deep water with lots of talk about Oregon letting him go and firing a coach for the first time in roughly 90 years. Does it seem crazy? Well, the Ducks need to get it turned around quickly. They’ve lost 3 straight and after this (likely) loss to Washington and still have to deal with USC, Stanford, and Utah. Good luck!
Do you have more information on the Charlie Strong situation? The Tom Herman sweepstakes are a factor, but given the state of the big 12, couldn’t strong still win it and thus be in a strong position to keep his job?
Nothing really solid, just lots of rumor out there, much of it being relayed by reputable sources. I think it would take a pretty miraculous turn of events for him to keep his job at this point – Texas was just about ready to can him last year when the offense was a train wreck. Fast forward to this year, and he’s a defensive coach with a defense that’s a train wreck. Beating Oklahoma would be somewhat helpful, I guess, but probably nothing short of a Big 12 title will save Strong.