College Football Preview, TV Schedule, Rooting Guide and Open Thread

There are some great football games coming in Week 5. The two best offensive teams in the nation square off in the Big 10. A couple of upstart ranked Big 12 teams battle it out for conference supremacy. The PAC has a couple of very interesting out of conference games both involving ranked opponents.

This a good weekend for some football. Let’s jump in to the UW Fan’s Week 5 Rooting Guide.

UCLA at Colorado (Friday Night)

Root for: decent television announcing

It really doesn’t matter to UW fans who wins this. The real interest here is the fact that UW plays both of these teams, including UCLA in one week’s time. So watch this game.

#12 West Virginia at #25 Texas Tech

Root for: Texas Tech

The Mountaineers are one of two remaining undefeated teams left in the Big 12. Since it is my dream that the eventual Big 12 champion ascend to their title with two losses, it is imperative that we start sticking some losses on some teams.

The Red Raiders have been surprising this season and already have one win in their conference. But they also already have one loss and, I don’t think, should be taken as anything more than an dark horse candidate in the Big 12 this season. Thus, you should have no compunction about rooting for Kliff Kingsbury and his rising young defense to take down Will Grier and high flying West Virginia compatriots.

#18 Texas at Kansas State

Root for: Kansas State

I think now would be a good time for the wheels to fall off of the Texas bus and to stick the Longhorns with their second loss of the season. I’d be fine for them to win the Big 12 after that.

#7 Stanford at #8 Notre Dame

Root for: the PAC

Here is an interesting factoid: the last time an undefeated Stanford played an undefeated Notre Dame gentlemen with names like Knute Rockne and Pop Warner were still coaching (h/t to Chip Patterson of CBS Sports). The Cardinal and Irish have never played each other when both were ranked as top 10 teams. So this is a big deal.

It should be obvious that UW benefits if Stanford defeats, maims or destroys Notre Dame. Recall last year that these same Golden Domers destroyed the eventual PAC 12 champion USC Trojans 49-14 in an October affair that permanently damaged the perception of the conference for the remainder of the year.

The conference is running out of opportunities for really meaningful out of conference wins. This would be a big one for the PAC should the Cardinal pull it off. Should it happen, it would also have the added benefit of compromising the resume of an independent contender for a playoff spot. This could be especially meaningful if UW runs the table in the PAC and is in contention for the final playoff spot.

#19 Oregon at #20 Cal

Root for: Cal

How strange is it to see Cal ranked in the top 20? I get that they are undefeated ... but they didn’t even play last weekend.

Either way, the rooting guide for this game is really about divisional positioning. If you think as do I that the biggest “watch out” for UW on the schedule this year is the road trip to Eugene, then it is to UW’s benefit to see Oregon get hit with their second loss. That way, UW can still recover from a possible loss to Oregon and still win the division by handling business head to head with Stanford and Cal.

#4 Ohio State at #9 Penn State

Root for: the placekickers

The Penn State Nittany Lions lead the nation in scoring with 55.5 points per game. The Ohio State Buckeyes are second with 54.5 points per game. Between the two of them, 61 TDs have been scored in 8 games (> 7 per game). In that same time, only four field goals.

Just four!!! That is insane.

The Nittany Lions have kicked only one FG this season against their 31 touchdowns. They have as many safeties as they have FG conversions. If I were a kicker for the Nittany Lions, or for either team in this game, I would have a strong desire to feel some love.

So, let’s root for the kickers in this prime time match up.

It should be a good weekend for football. Your TV and Streaming guide is below. This is your Week 5 Open Thread.