CFB TV Guide and Open Thread

In the year 1900, civil engineers unleashed a series of freshly dug canals and channel locks in quite literally reversing the flow of the Chicago River. The engineering marvel essentially solved the problem of water-borne disease that had as recently as 1885 been responsible for killing 12% of Chicago’s population.

That was big.

Frederic Bartholdi’s dream became a reality nearly 11 years after his work began in New York Harbor. Lady Liberty was introduced to the world in October 1886, three years before the Eiffel Tower would be constructed in Paris. Since then, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of hope, freedom and peace to people from all across the globe.

That was big.

In 2008, the work product of tens of thousands of engineers from over 100 countries became a reality when the European Organization for Nuclear Research unveiled the single largest machine ever built by mankind in Geneva, Switzerland. The Large Hadron Collider is a particle collider that is allowing scientists to pursue the most bold theories presented in the world of quantum physics including ideas on interdimensional transport.

That was big.

And now I bring you to Week 3 of the College Football 2016 season. Ok, it may not be as big as the Chicago River, Statue of Liberty or Hadron Collider, but it will be big by sports standards. There may not be a more meaningful week of football the remainder of the season when it comes to stacking up post-season resumes for teams that are contending.

Here are some things that I’ll be watching.

The Road to the Playoffs Goes Through the South...

Many are buzzing that the SEC may not be the first or, even, second best conference in CFB this year.

That may or may not be true. Regardless, it is hard to imagine a scenario where the playoffs don’t go through the South. The biggest matchup today is Alabama’s road trip to Ole Miss.

Ole Miss has won two in a row in this series, including a dramatic six-point victory in Tuscaloosa last year. However, Ole Miss needed all of five turnovers to squeak out that win. I don’t see that happening today. The conditions are going to be wet and mushy in Mississippi today. That bodes well for the Tide.

...Or This South

ESPN College Gameday is in Louisville today to cover the matchup between #2 Florida State and #10 Louisville. There is no doubt this game has enormous playoff implications. I suspect that many of you are looking to me to pick the Louisville upset.

I’d love to.

But I can’t see it happening. Mostly because we haven’t actually seen Louisville play anybody with anything resembling a college level defense. There is no doubt that the Cards can rack up points, but I don’t know if they have enough to outscore the immensely talented Seminoles, freshman QB or not.

The Upset Pick

I try to pick an upset - a real upset - every weekend. Sometimes I have more conviction than in other times. I felt very strongly about Houston beating Oklahoma two weeks ago and now, here we are, with the Cougars having a clear line of sight to the playoffs. Last week, I felt an “urge” but not a conviction to pick Virginia Tech. That was close, but not quite.

So, where do we go this week? And how strongly will I feel about it?

FCS North Dakota State is traveling to #13 Iowa today and my upset radar is blowing up. The last five times NDSU has traveled to visit an FBS opponent, they won. Let me repeat that, NDSU has a FIVE GAME WINNING STREAK ON THE ROAD AGAINST FBS OPPONENTS.

Are you kidding me?

The Hawkeyes are feeling pretty good about themselves coming off of a huge blowout over rival Iowa State last weekend. They might be feeling pretty good about themselves. A feeling of satisfaction combined with the fact that NDSU athletes have been playing against Iowa athletes all of their lives has me thinking that this is an upset special. I’m going with NDSU in a tight one today.

This is your open thread post for college football. We have the full schedule below. Enjoy.

Week 3 College Football Schedule

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