I'd make a joke about how the unranked teams matter too, but my own team will soon be joining the unranked level at the rate they're going, so I'll avoid it this week. Anyway, I gathered a list of 19 games not involving ranked teams that I have my eye on for one reason or another.
Northern Illinois at Ohio
Not too sure about this one to be quite honest, it's just a throw of the dart for me. And my dart throw says Northern Illinois wins a shootout.
My Call: Northern Illinois 37, Ohio 34
Bowling Green at Toledo
Both of these teams can score a ton and both are better at home than away. Advantage Toledo.
My Call: Toledo 41, Bowling Green 38
UTEP at Rice
With very little doubt as to who the best team in Conference USA and it looking like Louisiana Tech is perhaps the second best team in the conference, we're more at a debate as to who the third best is. These two teams both come in with 6-4 overall records, 4-2 in conference play. We like Rice to leave 7-4 and 5-2 in the standings.
My Call: Rice 27, UTEP 19
Air Force at San Diego State
Thinking that Air Force gets caught looking ahead to next weekend's visit from Colorado State and gets tripped up here by the Aztecs.
My Call: San Diego State 34, Air Force 30
Eastern Kentucky at Florida
It's official, Will Muschamp will be relieved of his duties as Florida's head coach at the end of the regular season. Can the Gators become bowl eligible? They need one more win to do that; and this is somewhat of a tricky test after losing in overtime to South Carolina on Saturday. My guess is the Gators win, but Eastern Kentucky is a team that's 9-2 overall and 5-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play, so Florida can't afford to completely overlook them.
My Call: Florida 30, Eastern Kentucky 14
South Alabama at South Carolina
Typical South Carolina this year would be to figure out a way to lose a game like this and then win on the road against Clemson the following week. Except there's one flaw here, South Alabama isn't good enough to beat even this mediocre Gamecocks club. Bowl eligibility happens with this win. The defense won't always be great, but the offense should light it up.
My Call: South Carolina 49, South Alabama 20
Northwestern at Purdue
Not sure how Northwestern went into South Bend and beat Notre Dame, but they did. I'll say they go into West Lafayette and beat Purdue as well. That said, the Wildcats are a bit inconsistent, so a letdown wouldn't shock me, hence I'm picking a close game.
My Call: Northwestern 30, Purdue 24
Penn State at Illinois
Real shot for the Illini to keep bowl hope alive facing a Penn State team that could be looking ahead to its game with Michigan State next weekend. That said, I just don't trust Illinois.
My Call: Penn State 16, Illinois 14
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest
Gotta admit it, Virginia Tech deserves credit for their win over Duke. Frank Beamer pulled off one more surprise. It wouldn't be a surprise if they win here and become bowl eligible. This will be one of those games where the Hokies win with defense.
My Call: Virginia Tech 21, Wake Forest 13
Louisville at Notre Dame
Very similar teams go at it here. Notre Dame is trying to bounce back from a surprising loss to Northwestern while Louisville is looking to make it two straight road victories following that tough home loss to Florida State. Because I think the Irish have a better QB and know they're at home, I'll take them to bounce back.. barely.
My Call: Notre Dame 24, Louisville 23
Maryland at Michigan
Another game where I'm just gonna be throwing the dart and hoping for the best. God only knows why, but it landed on Michigan. They need this game more than the Terps, who are already bowl eligible. The Wolverines could still become bowl eligible even if they lose this game, but to do so, they'd need to beat Ohio State on the road. That's very likely not gonna happen. I expect them to bring their full focus to this one and become bowl eligible here.
My Call: Michigan 27, Maryland 24
Syracuse at Pittsburgh
James Connor can just bulldoze his way through the Syracuse defense and set up a game at Miami where it's win and become bowl eligible or lose and stay home for bowl season.
My Call: Pittsburgh 26, Syracuse 14
South Florida at Memphis
USF is so bad that it almost lost to SMU team that is some kind of awful. Memphis should get it done here without much of an issue.
My Call: Memphis 34, South Florida 17
Stanford at California
An upset wouldn't surprise me at all in this one, but I just don't trust Cal's defense quite enough to pull it off. Cardinal by a couple.
My Call: Stanford 30, California 28
Appalachian State at Louisiana-Lafayette
Rajin' Cajun fever has hit the Sun Belt Conference once again. Louisiana-Lafayette didn't get off to the best start this year due in part to a tough early part of the schedule, but they sure have figured it out in conference play as they enter this game with a 6-0 conference mark. They leave it with a 7-0 conference mark and looking solid to make it a perfect 8 for 8 next week.
My Call: Louisiana-Lafayette 37, Appalachian State 23
Miami (FL) at Virginia
Bad spot for Miami after blowing it against Florida State, just don't know if I trust the Cavs to be able to take full advantage of what should be a vulnerable ball club. I'll answer myself... I don't.
My Call: Miami (FL) 23, Virginia 20
Cincinnati at Connecticut
Being an Auburn fan, I have seen Tommy Tuberville teams lose games like this. And they do have a poor enough defense to where UConn should stand a chance in this one. But I do think Gunner Kiel should do enough to keep the Huskies at bay.
My Call: Cincinnati 38, UConn 27
Boise State at Wyoming
Altitude shouldn't be too much of an issue for Boise State. They'll come out of Laramie with a win.
My Call: Boise State 27, Wyoming 21
Oregon State at Washington
Shocker of the week this last weekend was pulled by the Beavers; upsetting then #6 Arizona State 35-27 in Corvalis. This one is in Seattle though, and the Huskies won't want to be an under .500 team in the first season of new head coach Chris Peterson. They'll do just enough to skate past.
My Call: Washington 28, Oregon State 23
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