Notre Dame is back on the field this weekend as home dogs to the Miami Hurricanes. It’s been that kind of season, you know. Elsewhere across the country 9 undefeated teams remain after last week’s stunning upset of Ohio State by Penn State.

By the way, if Notre Dame completed 8 passes, converted 2 third downs, got out-gained by nearly 150 yards, and lost the turnover battle, we’d probably lose to freakin’ UTEP right now. Yet, that’s what it took for Penn State to topple the Buckeyes. So, that’s cool.

Enemy Watch

THURSDAY

#25 Virginia Tech (-4) at Pittsburgh

California (+16) at USC

FRIDAY

#22 Navy (+8) at USF

SATURDAY

Duke (+6.5) at Georgia Tech

Boston College (+14.5) at NC State

Army (+6.5) at Wake Forest

#8 Baylor (-3) at Texas

Virginia Tech faced off against our current opponent in Miami and won that game handily. They’re now back in the polls and road favorites against a Pitt team that is quietly 5-2 and #31 in the F/+ rankings.

Speaking of being quiet, USC has won 3 straight and looked pretty impressive doing so. Now they’re heavy favorites on a Thursday night game against Cal in one of those situations where bad Trojan teams would typically falter.

Once again, Navy can’t get any respect! Actually, Notre Dame is ahead of the Middies in F/+ for what its worth. Check out USF, though. They’re 34th(!!!) and that means Willie Taggart is definitely Doing Good Things™.

I’m pretty sure one of two scenarios are going to occur this weekend in Austin. One, the Horns upset Baylor and the country exhales that we won’t have to deal with the uncomfortableness of the Bears in the playoffs while a Charlie Strong revival lasts about 36 hours before dying swiftly. Or, the Bears win 65-6 and Strong might be fired.

Raised Eyebrow Game

#10 West Virginia (-4) at Oklahoma State

Week after week the Mountaineers keep winning. Has anyone watched them yet? Please, someone speak up and tell us what magical medicine Holgo is giving his players this year. Oh, this feels like the type of game West Virginia loses to a decent but kind of off-the-radar team on the road.

Double Raised Eyebrow Game

#24 Penn State (-11.5) at Purdue

This smells like a super huge let down game for Penn State. They couldn’t possibly lose to Purdue though, right? Well, anything is possible in college football friends.

National Spotlight

#2 Michigan (-23.5) at Michigan State

#14 Florida (-7.5) at Georgia

#4 Washington (-10) at #17 Utah

#7 Nebraska (+9) at #11 Wisconsin

#3 Clemson (-4.5) at #12 Florida State

Michigan State’s win last year over Michigan was so much fun and so ridiculous that there’s literally no way the football gods dish out anything other than an enormous beat down in favor of Harbaugh & Co. That’s too bad, but we’ll always have the 2015 game.

If you think the Pac-12 is underrated and full of some pretty good teams you might disagree but Washington’s trip to Utah might be their last real test before the playoffs. Assuming they stay undefeated, you know what I meant.

It’s not very often you’ll see a top 10 team getting almost double-digits against a team ranked lower than them. That’s what Vegas calls not believing in the Cornhuskers!

This feels like a huge game in Tallahassee this weekend but guess what? The Tigers can still lose and make the playoffs. They will have the tie-breaker over Louisville and should probably still get into the top 4 at 12-1. That’s a small downside to the playoffs.